Who can name the corporations that have these high level design posts? This is vital stuff for selling design up the ladder. Is there anyone who has tracked this?
Few product designers report under Marketing. A majority of corporate design groups report to the President. The second most popular position is under R&D.
So to summarize, Rarely, the highest ranking designer reports to the CEO.
(except when the designer started the company) There are more examples of only one layer of manegment in between; typically an Engineer (vs. MBA) correct? Both trends are increasing.
Because of the varying corporate titles I’d like to know how often a designer reports to a CEO directly.
(wasn’t that the initial posted question?)
Given how different their worlds are, and education, and trainng, and background, and interests, most CEO’s (big generalization here) and designers would have a hard time spending more than a half hour together.
Designers who report into the CEO position are scarce because, designers that can interest a boardroom full of executives, especially in a company that doesn’t come from a design orientation, for more than 15 minutes… are rare.
Given how different their worlds are, and education, and trainng, and background, and interests, most CEO’s (big generalization here) and designers would have a hard time spending more than a half hour together.
Designers who report into the CEO position are scarce because, designers that can interest a boardroom full of executives, especially in a company that doesn’t come from a design orientation, for more than 15 minutes… are rare.
Interesting point MD. I’m curious, do we think this is something that should be addressed? Should a select group of designers become integrated into the business world to better represent design at the boardroom level? Moving so far away from core design would they be able to represent design values once they fought their way into the boardroom?
I think staying close to your original values and motivations for becoming a designer becomes very complicated the more time is spent in the profession. Many designers drop out after certain accomplishments, perhaps because of these accomplishments. By that I mean, the profession seems for many to become less exciting the more bridges that are crossed. first product, first metal part, first medical product, first product in a store, etc… At ten years the fall off rate is quite dramatic.
Many designers leave for other careers or advanced degrees in another direction. Sometimes these lead back to the Boardroom. But it is a long process and a non direct route.
For a young Designer to cultivate the skills required to make an impression in the boardroom would be a terrific thing and easier today than say ten or fifteen years ago. Success in this are would also provide an interesting new model for design education.
Many companies are adding CXO- Chief experience officers. Not always designers, many of these positions are responsible for design within the corporate structure.