Designers: How far are you willing to go?

In today's professional landscape, the role of designers has transcended the confines of creative houses and agencies, extending into start-ups, consultancies, and various industries beyond their traditional domains. This shift prompts a crucial adaptation not only from the companies' perspective but also from the designers themselves.

Moving away from client-centric roles, designers find themselves embedded within corporate structures, working alongside business professionals, developers, and product managers. Navigating this transition requires a profound understanding of new values, objectives, targets, and company culture. More significantly, it demands a willingness to delve into the intricacies of the industry in which the company operates.

Be Design Articulate

To kickstart a symbiotic relationship between designers and business, articulating the importance of design becomes paramount. Design maturity is key. If your company lacks it, seize opportunities to advocate for design consideration. Develop compelling design arguments to present in meetings, garnering support from peers across disciplines. As a designer, it's your responsibility to carry the torch of design awareness wherever you go.

Communicating the value of design becomes a secondary job, requiring time and effort. Facing skepticism or resistance is inevitable, but persistence is crucial. Spark curiosity about the design process by involving colleagues from diverse backgrounds, fostering a collective understanding of how design contributes to success.

The Industry as Your New Context

Drawing from personal experience in a consultancy that spanned diverse markets, I realized the indirect relevance of seemingly unrelated subjects to my design work. Immersing oneself in various meetings—whether in tech, business, telecommunications, or banking—profoundly enriches the design process. Design, when blended with other subjects, becomes more impactful, transcending isolation.

For designers seeking to understand businesses better, delve into sketching out business models, inquire about industry-specific vocabulary, and apply newfound knowledge to deepen your understanding of design problems. In industry-driven companies, your design context extends beyond aesthetics; it encompasses the industry itself. How far should you go? As far as necessary to glean the context essential for elevating your design to its zenith. Embrace the challenge, for in the end, design is not merely about design—it's about enhancing the subject being designed.