Design leadership

Design leadership is a concept complementary to design management. In practice, design managers within companies often operate in the field of design leadership and design leaders in the field of design management. However, the two terms are not interchangeable.

Design leadership can be described as leadership that generates innovative design solutions. Turner defines design leadership by adding three additional aspects for design leadership,

• the difference in leading through design,
• the sustaining design leadership over time and
• the gaining of acknowledgment for achievements through design.

Turner^[1] separates the core responsibilities of design leadership in following six activities:

• envisionising of the future
• manifesting strategic intent
• directing design investment
• managing corporate reputation
• creating and nurturing an environment of innovation
• training for design leadership

References

1. ^ ^a Turner, R., Topalian, A.: Core responsibilities of design leaders in commercially demanding environments. 2002, Inaugural presentation at the Design Leadership Forum.

Further reading

• Goleman, D.: What makes a leader? Harvard Business Review 1998, Vol.76, No.9
• McBride, M.: Design Management: Future Forward. Design Management Review Summer 2007;
• Mullins, L.J.: Management and organisational behavior. (Pitman Publishing) 2004. ISBN 0-273-60039-7
• Turner, R., Topalian, A.: Core responsibilities of design leaders in commercially demanding environments. 2002, Inaugural presentation at the Design Leadership Forum.
• Zaleznik, A.: Managers and Leaders: Are They Different?. Harvard Business Review 2000, Vol. 82 No.1

See also

• Corporate Identity
• Design management
• Design
• Leadership
• Reputation management