mdh students develop new ideas for the Samurai Museum Berlin

How do you develop a new business model for a museum? That was the challenge students at Mediadesign Hochschule took on together with a unique industry partner.

This week, Alexander Jöchel, Director of the Samurai Museum Berlin, visited mdh. The museum was recently nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award 2026, making it one of just 34 nominated museums from 17 European countries.

Learning through real-world projects, not just textbooks

At mdh, learning goes beyond theory. Our students regularly work on real challenges from the creative and digital industries, presenting their ideas directly to the people who could one day bring them to life.

For the Samurai Museum, students developed innovative solutions on multiple levels:

• Master's students in the Digital Leadership programme, led by Prof. Dr. Mario Lucas, presented digital business strategies centered around one key question: How can a modern museum make its revenue strategy less dependent on visitor numbers?
• Media Design students, supervised by Prof. Carsten Giese, created innovative product prototypes for the museum shop. Their concepts were presented on site, where they could be explored, tested, and discussed directly with the museum's director.

The strongest ideas emerge when they are tested against real-world challenges. That is exactly what studying at mdh is all about. Rather than working exclusively with fictional case studies, our students develop solutions for companies, institutions, and organizations from professional practice.

Collaborating with partners such as the Samurai Museum Berlin gives students the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, build industry connections, and strengthen their portfolios with real projects before they graduate.

Study Digital Leadership – Shape the Future

The Digital Leadership programme at mdh combines management, digital transformation, and the creative industries. Throughout the programme, you'll learn how to develop digital strategies, lead innovation processes, and guide organizations through digital transformation.

A key feature of the programme is its strong practical focus. Working with real industry partners, you'll apply concepts such as artificial intelligence, digital business models, innovation, and change management to real business challenges—not just in theory, but in practice.

Digital Leadership (M.A.) at a glance

• Degree: Master of Arts (90 ECTS)
• Duration: 3–5 semesters (full-time or part-time alongside your career)
• Start Dates: October 1, 2026, or April 1, 2027
• Language: English
• Campus: Berlin
• Practical Experience: Around 30% of the programme consists of real-world projects with industry partners.

Do you want to do more than talk about the digital future and and actively shape it?

The Digital Leadership (M.A.) at mdh gives you the opportunity to work on real business challenges while studying and gain valuable practical experience for your future career.

Ready to become part of the Digital Leadership (M.A.) programme?

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