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January 30, 2008

11:53 am | 0 recommendations | 5 comments

Is the Design Revolution Here? Can Designers get to the top of a publicly traded company?

| posted by Fast Company staff

In the past months I’ve read several articles and blogs about the possibility that Jonathan Ive, SVP of Industrial Design at Apple, could succeed Steve Jobs as CEO. As far as I can tell this is only a rumor, but it prompts the questions: Is corporate America ready for the design revolution? Can designers be CEOs? I can only imagine how much fun that would be, not only for the people working in these companies but for the consumers, finally getting products and services that go beyond their expectations. And imagine what that would do to the stock price.

Although to many, designers as CEOs, may sound like a crazy idea. I believe designers could do very well as top executives. Designers have a unique set of skills that combined with traditional management knowledge could create a new kind of leader, more in tune with today’s needs. Why? Because they know how to explore possibilities, connect the dots, simplify complex information down to a relevant summary and remind of us of context and humanity. They know how to work closely with engineers, marketers and outside manufacturing contractors. Rather than being simple stylists, they're leading innovators in the use of new materials and production processes.

With this I am not advocating that any designer can be a good CEO, but a few have a unique set of skills that are more relevant to today’s and tomorrow’s competitive markets. Where almost everything is commoditized and differentiation can only come from thoughtful products and services, companies must go farther than just talking about design and begin using it.

Design is a powerful tool that is just being discovered and mildly used by most companies and strategically implemented by a few. I wonder how long it will take for most board of directors to understand the value of design and make bold moves to utilizing it?

manuel
manuel@manuelsaez.com

Tags: Design
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Comments | 5

January 30, 2008 at 2:14pm

Siddharth Kambe

I agree, Manuel. Design sensibility from a broad viewpoint arms the individual with multiple facets which can be used effectively in a executive position, which is much needed in todays ever-changing market.

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January 31, 2008 at 10:52am

Colin Nourie

Manuel, I agree that the right designer with a broad set of skills could be a fantastic CEO. Creativity is a core currency of the future of business especially here in the US. Everyday more and more executive programs are becoming hybrids of MFA's and MBA's and this new generation of leader will be those hybrid CEO's that you are talking about in your post. Designers are intrinsically motivated by constraints and vision. What better position for the right designer to be a company's top visionary blended with the constant constraints of money, markets, employees and of course the opinionated shareholders.

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February 1, 2008 at 4:40am

Mikester

It's so easy to become a CEO.... just start working for YOURSELF instead of THEM.....

Be willing to endure hardship for a time. Stop waiting for permission to succeed....

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February 5, 2008 at 10:06am

Charley Bush

There are now eight of us currently from Art Center College of Design enrolled in an exchange program with INSEAD business school in Singapore. To myself, your article could not have arrived any sooner as many of us see the methodologies presented through design growing beyond the walled garden of traditional design careers. However reading through your articles and others like it we run into the same question... "what does the term design mean?" and "What is a designer?" The term is now synonymous with everything from fashion to graphics to cars to business. In some ways the terms may be more applicable to methodologies than any particular field. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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February 5, 2008 at 10:16am

manuel

Charley, Thanks for the note. These questions are in my mind too and I do have my opinion and answers for you, however I think they are worthy of a new post. I will follow up with a couple of posts on this and on design education which, to my believe is where we can improve.

manuel

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