With the rise of the aesthetic economy, the need for design professionals has increased dramatically. Moreover, the cultivation of creative talent and ability mainly depends on education. Thus, design education must adapt to new trends and consider the social environment, as well as economic and technological factors, to increase competitiveness. This study first examines the need for design education within the industry and academic circles. We then apply Porter's diamond model as a framework and use the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to summarize the key factors of competitiveness with their weight. Finally, we generalize the content of design education to meet the needs of practical work and competitiveness enhancement through quality function deployment (QFD). The results of this study are as follows: (1) we assess the current problems and barriers within design education, (2) identify the key competitiveness factors in design education and (3) propose processes by which higher education institutions can increase competitiveness.