The Graduate Diploma of Design Strategy and Innovation is a postgraduate qualification that sits at the intersection of creative design practice, business strategy, and systems-level innovation. It is designed to equip graduates with the tools, frameworks, and methodologies needed to drive meaningful change across complex organisational, social, and technological environments. The course integrates design thinking, design management, strategic design, systems and complexity thinking, innovation processes, and futures forecasting — preparing students to lead, implement, manage, and sustain innovation in products, services, and systems that have lasting impact on the economy, society, and the environment. It is typically completed over one year of full-time study or two years part-time, and often forms part of a nested qualification suite that includes a Graduate Certificate and can ladder into a full Master's degree.

This qualification is suited to practitioners from all professional disciplines — not just those with a design background. It is equally relevant to professionals working in business, engineering, government, healthcare, education, marketing, social enterprise, and technology who wish to extend their existing capabilities with design-led tools and strategic innovation frameworks. Employers who seek graduates from this field include management consulting firms, government agencies, technology companies, healthcare organisations, social enterprises, design studios, and large corporations undergoing digital transformation. The course is recognised by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), and graduates may be eligible for DIA accreditation, as well as membership of bodies such as the Australian Graphic Design Association and the Design Management Institute.

Most Australian providers require applicants to hold a recognised bachelor's degree (AQF Level 7 or higher) in any discipline. A minimum credit-level academic performance is typically expected — often equivalent to a weighted average mark of 60–65% or above, though this varies by institution. Some providers may consider applicants who do not hold a bachelor's degree but can demonstrate significant relevant professional or industry experience in lieu of formal qualifications, at the discretion of the academic faculty. A portfolio of design, creative, or innovation-related work is sometimes requested, particularly for applicants coming from non-design backgrounds, to demonstrate creative aptitude and readiness for postgraduate-level design study.

For international students, English language proficiency is a standard requirement. Commonly accepted tests include IELTS Academic (typically a minimum overall score of 6.5 with no individual band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT (typically a minimum overall score of 79), and Pearson Test of English Academic (typically a minimum score of 58). Some institutions accept equivalent qualifications such as completion of an approved English for Academic Purposes program. Applicants who have completed their prior degree in English may be exempt from providing separate test results. Advanced standing or credit recognition may be available for students who have completed relevant prior postgraduate study, allowing them to reduce their overall study duration.