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Design Leadership




The term design leadership is raising attention in the recent years in combination with Design Management . Sometimes design manager are operating in the field of design leadership and design leaders in the field of Design Management , however design leadership can not be compared to Design Management , the terms are not interchangeable.


Understanding of design leadership

Design leadership can be described on one hand as leadership, that generates ''innovative design solutions'', on the other hand with ''individuals with an oustanding creativity''. 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 ''acknowledgement for achievements through design ''. Turner seperates 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 nuturing an environment of innovation

  • training for design leadership



DESIGN MANAGEMENT VERSUS DESIGN LEADERSHIP

In the every-day-business design managers often operate in the area of design leadership. But Design Management and design leadership are not interchangeable. Like the differences between Management and Leadership they differ in their Objective s, achievements of Objective s, accomplishment and outcomes. Design leadership is ''pro-active'' it leads from a Vision , over the Communication , the convey of meaning and collaboration through Motivation , Enthusiasm and attaining of Needs , to Change s, Innovation s and creative Solution s. Thereby it describes the futures needs and chooses a direction in order to get to that described future.
In contrast, design management is ''re-activ'' and is responding to a given Business Situation by using specific skills, tools, methods and techniques. Design Management and design leadership depend on each other, Design Management needs design leadership to know ''where to go'' and vice versa Design Management needs design leadership to know ''how to go there''.


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LITERATURE

  • Goleman, D.: ''What makes a leader?'' Harvard Business Review 1998, Vol.76, No.9

  • Mullins, L.J.: ''Management and organisational behavior''. Pitman Publishing, London, UK. 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




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