23F Marketing grad wanting to pivot to Strategic Design/Brand Direction (Can't draw, need course/college advice)
Hey everyone,I’m 23 (F) with a Marketing degree and a few marketing internships under my belt. I want to pivot away from corporate marketing into Strategic Design Management, Brand Strategy, Visual Direction, and Creative Storytelling.My main roadblock: I cannot draw. My sketching is limited to basic stick figures and flowcharts. I have no traditional design portfolio, just my marketing case studies.I want to find master's programs (India or abroad) that focus on design strategy and psychology rather than fine art or technical illustration.I am looking at NID’s Strategic Design Management (SDM) but the 2% acceptance rate is intimidating.Are there other great colleges (M.Des or Masters in Brand Management/Direction) that welcome marketing grads without a sketching requirement?How should I present my marketing work to show "design thinking" in my portfolio?Would love any college recommendations or career advice from anyone who made a similar pivot! Thanks.
Posted Jul 13, 2026, 10:40 AM UTC