Leadership requires commercial judgment, people management and organisational influence.
The responsibility arrives before the framework.
Leading design means managing systems, decisions, people and business outcomes.
Connect design decisions to company performance.
Manage designers, feedback, performance and development.
Build the systems behind a functioning design organisation.
Present design in the language of leadership and boards.
Measure what design contributes.
Work across product, marketing, engineering and leadership.
For experienced designers beginning to lead teams, projects or design decisions.
For senior designers and design managers preparing for Head of Design, Director and executive responsibility.
Every student receives free membership toThe Lever. Executive graduates are automatically listed on theDesign Lever Network, with their first placement fee waived.
A verifiable leadership credential.
Senior designers at a comparable career stage.
Eligible Executive graduates can enter the Design Lever Network.
Join the waitlist for the next Foundation or Executive cohort.
Join the waitlistBoth tracks run live and cohort-based, delivered hybrid in Lagos with select sessions available to remote participants. The live format is deliberate, peer interaction is a core part of the product.
Foundation asks for at least five years of design experience, with no leadership experience required. Executive is for practitioners with 8+ years and 2+ years of leadership experience. Applications are reviewed individually.
No. Executive is a standalone track for practitioners already in or moving into senior leadership. Foundation is recommended if you're earlier in the leadership transition.
On completion you become a Design Lever Certified Design Leader, a verifiable credential whose value compounds as certified practitioners prove themselves in the market.
Cohorts are small and fill on referral.Join the waitlistfor the next Foundation or Executive intake and we'll be in touch.
