The Designer as Turnaround Agent or Design Savior, who can think
strategically, speak the language of business and use design to drive
businesses, is in great demand today.

In the last two years, more companies have been asking for a "Vice
President of Design," or a "Creative/Design Director" who can give them an
instantly recognizable visual language for their products, or update their
existing line, create a distinctive brand personality or put them on the
map.

Examples of Design Saviors or Turnaround Agents include:

Gordon Thompson, former Global Creative Director for Nike. Did it for
its Cole Haan division, new products, new store design, updated the brand
image.

Frank Nuovo, who at one point helped Nokia's products enormously and don't
count them out yet.

Shiro Nakamura for Nissan influences automobile design, dealership design,
advertising.

Reed Krakoff breathed new life into Coach leather, its image and product
line.

Although not Ian Schrager's employee, Philippe Starck's interior and
furniture design made his hotels into destinations through design. (Now
called the Morgans Hotel Group.)

The Designer as Brand Manager

In some companies, designers are living within the businesses, no longer
isolated in a design department. They collaborate with marketing and R&D
and are as well versed in the business side of design as the brand manager.
In such a role, the design manager often selects and directs a bevy of
consulting firms and is responsible for managing the brand or a multitude
of brand's essences in all media. This is not new, but the requests for
such people are growing.

Learn more:
RitaSue Siegel Resources
Global executive search for the design management professional
An Aquent Company
www.RitaSue.com