DATA DESIGN PROGRAM

Data Design Program

HITOTSUBASHI UNIVERSITY
Data Design Program

Curriculum Curriculum (core courses)

  • Basics of Data & Statistics

    This class teaches the subjects that are at the core of the Data Design Program (DDP). The aim of the DDP is to produce innovative entrepreneurs, of which there is a dearth in Japan, through education of a new breed of manager: the design manager capable of utilizing data and design in linking technology and business. The objective of this course is to elevate the level of proficiency with which design managers handle data and statistical methods essential for data-based decision-making. The class imbues students with knowledge about informatics for big data, social data, and other data sets.

  • Programming Practicum

    This class will enable students to acquire and practice programming skills that are useful in actual society.

  • Information Science Fundamentals

    Information technology is embedded in our society. People around the world utilize the fruits of information technology as they go about their lives. Information is accessed through user interfaces, such as spreadsheets and word processing software, that sit atop computer operating systems. Many students are already probably proficient in handling information. Nevertheless, without knowledge of the principles and configurations of systems providing such information to society, one finds it difficult to understand, let alone utilize, more complex information systems. The goal of this course is to have students become proficient in the fundamentals of information science, thereby increasing their readiness to later learn managerial subjects pertaining to information as well as more advanced information science subjects.

  • Fundamentals of Design

    The goal of this course is to answer the question “How is it possible to have people without any knowledge or interest in design then learn about design?” Tama Art University Professor Kazufumi NAGAI (also President of HAKUHODO DESIGN Inc.) has structured this course so that a diverse variety of practitioners are invited as guest lecturers. In this course, ‘design’ refers to the general act of designing products and services and the user contact point. Why learn about design? The reason is that the value of the product or service to the user varies depending upon how attractive it is and this has significant effect on profitability and corporate management. Design is also important in creativity education finding ideas for new projects.

  • Design Thinking
    & Design Management

    This course focuses on understanding the ‘why’ in design thinking and design management. There is a great abundance of information available in case studies and practical methods about these two approaches, which are so much in vogue in business and policy circles. Nevertheless, the question as to why they are effective is almost never pursued. This course provides theoretical clues and material to this about these methods for everyone who wants to be one step ahead in design thinking and design management.

  • Media & Service Design

    ‘Media’ is the plural of medium originally referring to a means of communication and signifying, in particular, the means for communicating information broadly. Media is present in a broad array of forms from newspapers, radio, television, and other forms of mass media to the internet, SNS, and other online media. Recently, media has arrived at a new stage of development where it is not solely conveyed to a broad audience, but individualized to penetrate target demographics more appropriately. The greater use of dynamic interactivity has enhanced its value to a higher level than ever before. ‘Service’ refers to the act of a helpful activity. In a narrow sense, a person may perform a service for another person, but the meaning may also more broadly encompass cases where the agent of the service is not only a person, but an internet algorithm or community rules, or a function embedded in a product. Technological progress has blurred the boundary between media and service. This has placed greater focus on the new media-service fusion that effectively combines these via a design-type approach. This course aims to enhance students understanding through case studies of media and service design, which has continued to develop in recent years as mentioned previously, and afford them better insight into the direction this area will advance in the future.

  • 2nd-Year Workshop

    In this workshop, students are separated into groups to develop their problem-solving abilities by discovering issues that need to be addressed, offering solutions to these issues, and developing prototypes embodying their proposals. This process emphasizes the use of data as well as design concepts. In addition, the aim of this workshop is to have students develop a better understanding of the continuum that begins with problem discovery and extends to problem-solving. They will also acquire the basic ability to be able to execute that process.

Completion Requirements

The Data Design Program was launched within the Faculty of Commerce and Management. This is a three-year program starting in the second year and ending in the fourth year.

To successfully complete the program, students must earn 16 required credits and 10 elective credits for a total of 26 credits from classes offered in the DDP curriculum. Students who successfully complete the requirements will be awarded a certificate of completion by the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management.

Students may pause their studies to study abroad, take a leave of absence, or other activity. Credits earned at an institution where a student has studied abroad may be recognized, but not included among the credits required for program completion.