Today, designers and business leaders are working together more closely than ever. This is driven by the successes of product-design leaders like Apple, and a macroeconomic environment that demands better risk management. At the same time, design consultancies are increasingly looked at to spearhead the development process — from consumer research to design to prototyping, manufacturing and packaging. These profound shifts in the collaboration model hold great potential to benefit both consumers and business profitability; however, they also bring new challenges on both sides of the relationship.
What follows are seven ways business leaders can better connect and collaborate with their design partners as these groups work together more closely and strategically:
• Get Empathetic
• Speak With a Unified Voice
• Find Common Language
• Know What You Know (and What You Don't)
• Ask Questions
• Be an Attentive and Respectful Dance Partner
• Dress The Part
Read this HBR blog post
