Design Management: Exploring Fieldwork and Applications

Quantifying and assessing the value of an organization’s design department can be problematic. The tools traditionally used by auditors are usually insufficient to ‘measure’ either the value of design projects or their influence within an organization. This book demystifies the design development and design management process, scrutinising it against a new set of auditing principles which illuminates its true value in a contemporary context.

Featuring a series of international case studies, Design Management: Exploring Fieldwork and Applications argues that assessment of the design function within any organization must incorporate both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The book explores a number of key themes, such as new product development, risk in design and corporate identity. Moreover, by drawing on a range of techniques from the social sciences, the authors rigorously develop means by which design may be understood accurately.

This book represents an important and timely contribution to our knowledge of the management of product and service innovation. It will be an invaluable text for students and researchers working in design and management.

Robert Jerrard is Research Professor in Design and Director of the Research Centre for Design and the Creative Industries at the Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England

Dr David Hands is Award Leader for the MA Design Management course, within the Faculty of Arts, Media and Design, Staffordshire University. His areas of expertise include: design policy analysis and implementing technology transfer systems through design. He has recently completed doctoral research into embedding ‘crime resistant’ thinking and tools into the briefing process for both product and spatial designers.