Designers—especially communication designers—love to talk about “getting a seat at the table,” which has become a favorite buzz phrase at design/business conferences in recent years. After decades of being tacked on to the end of the business process, designers believe that by being involved in business at a deeper level—when strategy is being developed, not just when it’s being implemented—they could have a strong positive influence.
I am a designer and I agree completely with this premise. We are creative thinkers with a set of skills that are desperately lacking within large corporations and institutions. I disagree, however, that designers should be striving only for a seat at the table. In order for designers to truly make change, I believe more of us must sit at the head of the table, not just at the crowded edges. By sitting at the head of the table, designers will lead, we will set the agenda, and we will build organizations in which design methodology and creative problem solving are a vital part of the DNA, not just a clever afterthought.
So why are examples of designers leading businesses (other than design firms) so rare? This is a complex question with many possible answers.
My wife Lisa and I had been operating Schwartz Powell Design, a successful small design firm in Minneapolis, for more than 15 years when we created a second business called HealthSimple® to bring a smarter, more intuitive, and better designed approach to the daily experience of living with diabetes. Our journey along the winding road of entrepreneurship was fraught with crushing frustrations, unexpected thrills, torturous delays, and just enough success to keep us going. Ultimately, HealthSimple was acquired in 2007 by McNeil Nutritionals, a division of Johnson & Johnson.
As I reflect on our experience with HealthSimple, I begin to understand why so few designers find themselves leading non-design businesses. The entrepreneurial process is enormously challenging and risky, and most designers—despite our abundance of vision and creativity—simply do not have the information, skills, network, and resources to successfully go from a promising idea to a viable business.
To me the topic of designers and entrepreneurship is a fascinating one that is layered with big dramatic themes and subtle nuances. So, I’ve created Merge as a space to explore the topic further; to collect information, resources, ideas, and bits of inspiration; and to examine design businesses that are having success by doing things differently—all with the hope that the entrepreneurial road will be a little brighter for more designers to travel.
To be clear, I am NOT an expert in this area and I won’t be playing the role of a guru doling out morsels of wisdom. Instead, think of me as the curator, facilitator, and occasional referee.
Currently the content of Merge is sparse, but it’s growing every day, and with the help of YOU—my friends and colleagues in the business—adding comments and sending me stories, links and contacts, I hope Merge will grow quickly to become a rich and practical resource for design business leaders.
Please join the conversation and tell your friends about Merge!
—Doug Powell
7 comments
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March 30, 2009 at 1:25 am
ann Willoughby
Doug,
This is terrific. Let me think about how I can contribute.
best,
Ann
March 30, 2009 at 6:06 pm
stefan
Fabulous, Doug!
March 31, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Pat Carney
This is a terrific idea, Doug. I have forced my staff to listen to endless lectures concerning diversification. “We need to sell more than design to survive this rocky economy!”
Considering the same effort from an entrepreneurial point of view certainly resonates with me. I plan on trying it out with my studio-mates as well.
We are featuring my photography as a larger part of our design practice. I’m not planning on shooting food or a catalog full of table top work, but rather than purchasing from iStock my clients can have original work.
We are also looking at changing the employment model with some new additions to The Carney Group. I’ll keep this blog informed on how that is going.
Finally, I feel like I’m in such esteemed company—commenting after Ann Willoughby and Stephan Hartung. I will be interested to read more of their comments.
Thanks for the forum, Doug.
March 31, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Doug Powell
Thanks Pat…it’s been fun! Stay tuned and keep in touch.
March 31, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Dan Wallace
Bravo Doug!
Great idea.
This area needs thought leadership.
April 22, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Mary Scott
Hi Doug,
This is a great idea. I think you’ve identified an issue that needs to be talked about. My experience in low these many years in the design field is that most designers suffer from a lack of knowledge of financial concepts that MBAs are taught. I find it interesting that many MBA programs are exposing their students to the design process and to understanding the value of good design so it would follow that designers could be well served by understanding the principles of management, finance and the marketplace.
You have obviously proven that with tenacity and a desire to make something better, you can succeed. Designers solve problems for their clients by undertstanding the problem with a beginner’s mind and then asking what if. I feel that your probe via Merge wants to encourage designers to understand the notions of risk taking and entrepreneurial principles so they too can create and capitalize on their ideas—instead of creating and then watching somebody do it.
i am kind of rambling at this point, but I just want to say that I think designers (as well as artists and other creatives) don’t like to talk about money or it’s implications. Entrepreneur is a french work that implies opening and taking hold (of something). Thank you for pushing design practiontioners to think in ways that extend their creativity and influence. I see a seat at the head of the table in your future.
Best, Mary
April 22, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Doug Powell
Great stuff, Mary. Thanks for the thoughtful comments. Keep reading…and contributing!