Design Operations New York 2025

Design Must Embrace ‘The Business’

Context:

• The impact of design on businesses is growing
• The demand for design talent continues to increase
• More designers are taking on leadership roles in companies across multiple sectors
• Management consulting organizations are highlighting the strategic value of design in business
• However, the reality within many organizations tells a different story - thousands of design teams with limited influence on business strategy

Required Response:

As design leaders and practitioners, we should increase our business IQ and understand how profits and efficiencies are generated.

We must:

• Help our teams understand and articulate the contribution their work makes to the business and the impact it can have
• Strengthen collaborative ties and support the healthy balance of product teams
• Get out of our comfort zone, integrate into strategic development and actively interact with business leaders to develop stronger organizational partnerships
• Foster a relationship based on mutual trust with our cross-functional partners to increase our influence and impact in the organization

As design leaders, we must evolve beyond our traditional role as champions of process and craft and fully embrace the broader business context in which we operate. By positioning ourselves as business leaders, not just design leaders, we can increase the strategic impact of design in our organizations. We are elevating the value of design and ensuring that it plays a central role in shaping the future of organizations. 

Let’s continue to lead the way.