Strategies for positioning design as an equal business partner / Scott Zimmer / Episode #187
Channel: Service Design Show
Date: 2023-10-26

Let's face it... In many organizations, human-centered design, unfortunately isn't yet woven into the cultural fabric.

This means that design often still needs to earn its stripes before it gets fully accepted inside an environment that's dominated by a different mindset.

And the stakes are high. Either design's influence grows, and investments shift toward it, or it risks fading into insignificance.

Right now, there's a strong debate going on in our field: How we can earn this respect without losing our design essence, the very source of our effectiveness?

Scott Zimmer, our guest this week, brings a wealth of insights on what it takes to persuade organizations to make substantial (financial) investments in design. Through his experiences in executive leadership roles, he successfully championed design, building environments where it was regarded as an equal partner rather than a replaceable resource.

In this conversation, we delve into the strategies for building bridges between business and design, ensuring mutual understanding and appreciation. 

As you'll hear, Scott offers practical, actionable steps to drive change within your organization, from the influence of job titles to crafting stories that resonate with your business partners.

So if you're interested in learning what really moves the needle in favor of design from someone who's been at the very top, make sure you don't miss this one!

~ Marc

[ 1. GUIDE 📺 ]
 
00:00 Welcome to Episode 187
04:15 Who is Scott
07:30 Lightning Round
09:00 Designers seeking respect
15:00 Respect revered
17:00 How to earn the respect 
24:30 Valuing what designers put into the table
28:45 What it means to be an equal partner
35:00 Making  a positive impression
38:15 The status quo
43:00 Bragging rights in your favor
45:30 Lessons learned
54:30 It's a bet
57:45 What's next for Scott
1:03:00 Final takeaway

[ 2. LINKS 🔗 ]
* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sczimmer/
* Org Design for Design Orgs by Peter Merholz (book) - https://orgdesignfordesignorgs.com/
* Join the waitlist -  https://www.tmpt.me 

[ 3. NEXT STEP 💪 ]
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