BUSINESS DESIGN CLUB
Great ideas don’t just happen, they’re designed.
Who We Are
The Business Design Club is Rotman’s hub for human-centered innovation. Through workshops, case competitions, and industry collaborations, we help students explore how design thinking can transform business challenges into opportunities.
What Is Business Design?
Think of it this way: a company presents you with a business problem. Instead of taking it at face value or shoehorning a prepackaged solution onto the issue, you dig a little deeper. Business design can help you with that.
Why Business Design?
Business Design combines design thinking with strategic insight. It empowers leaders to ask better questions, craft bold solutions, and drive lasting change.
More Business Design @Rotman
The Business Design Initiative at the Rotman School of Management is an education centre that brings together students, researchers and industry to tackle real-world business challenges to advance innovation practice and learning.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Here are some that are frequently asked by members of the Business Design Club.
Events
Experience Design in Action.
Learn: Instill a new way of thinking to solve complex problems.
Practice: Apply design tools through case competitions and sprints.
Develop: Build an innovation mindset and career-ready portfolio.
Network: Join a community of creative problem-solvers at Rotman and beyond.
BDC Kickoff + Social
Sept 5
Start the year with energy! Meet the BDC team, learn about our mission, and discover the exciting opportunities for this year.
Around the World of Strategy
Sept 19
Explore how global companies use design and strategy to solve complex problems, with insights from practitioners across industries.
Business Design 101
Sept 20
A crash course in the foundations of business design. Perfect for anyone curious about design thinking and its applications.
Storytelling Workshop
Oct 11
Learn the art of crafting compelling narratives that inspire action. Because great ideas need great stories.
D&I Service Design Case Competition
Oct
Team up to tackle real-world challenges through a diversity and inclusion lens.
Mentorship Program Kickoff
Oct
Launch into mentorship with alumni and industry professionals who will guide your design journey throughout the year.
Koru Problem Hunt
Nov
A one-of-a-kind case competition where teams define their own problem and design a solution from scratch. Focused on scoping and ideation.
Design X1 - Industry Night
Dec 1
Structured networking at its best. Students are paired with industry professionals for speed networking, followed by open mingling. Maximize high-quality connections and gain exposure to diverse design careers.
Rotman Design Challenge
Feb-Mar
BDC’s flagship international case competition. Compete with top schools, solve real business problems, and make your mark.
Designing for Impact
Mar
Learn how design can drive social, environmental, and business value. A session on designing with purpose.
Portfolio Workshop
Nov-Jan
A hands-on, 3-part series that takes you from zero to hero in building a business design portfolio. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio to impress potential employers.
Design X2 - Industry Night
Mar
Our second industry night! Another chance to expand your network, strengthen connections, and explore new paths in design through meaningful conversations.
Rotman Design Challenge
The Rotman Design Challenge is a case competition held every year by the BDC that welcomes the design community at large and focuses on real-life issues. Get to know more about the RDC, previous challenges and industry sponsors.
OUR CLUB ❤️
THE BDC.
A diverse team of Rotman MBAs united by a shared belief: that business and design are stronger together.
We're here to facilitate student-to-industry connections and give students opportunities for practical application or design frameworks.
