There has been a continuing debate on the measurement of design and if in fact it can actually be measured. But as design becomes more recognized as a key value driver to business success, CEO’s are asking, “How do I know how and where design is positively impacting our business performance?
Working with key strategic partners, such as Lynn Shook and Peggy Parskey, The Design Academy has been on a journey to develop a design metrics framework that can integrate and translate strategic objectives into design measurements that drive change and create value. 15 companies started the journey by participating in a Design Academy Masterclass Metrics workshop hosted by Better By Design government agency in New Zealand.
Gregor and Pelly were featured in Unlimited Magazine on the topic. [read article] PDF, 1.5MB
Trying to reach designers while reducing promotional costs?
Socio, economic and technological factors all have contributed to the radical changes in the way we do business today. This has significantly impacted the role of designers and their need to be in the front end of the development cycle; requiring increased technological/material, knowledge and application from suppliers to produce innovative results.
To make an impact with designers, promotions should be engaging and thought provoking, something that they will want to retain and utilize.
TDA partners have developed a {cost effective} concept for non-competitive suppliers to collectively showcase their latest technology and product applications to designers through a targeted promotion that stimulates innovative applications in an informative, appropriate and memorable manner. [Contact us for more info]
Product & Transportation Design
Healthcare and healthy living through exercise has been some of our latest design projects. We’ll keep you posted on their release. [Visit BionX] to start a healthy lifestyle.
—Pelly interview with Wealth TV on Design Challenge
LA Auto Show Design Challenge Announced
This year’s theme for the highly publicized Design Challenge between SOCAL automotive design studios is Youthmobile 2030. The concept centers around creating an automotive architecture, accessibility and ownership that is emotionally appealing to young drivers who have grown up in an age highly influenced by social networks and digital technology. Joan Gregor and Chuck Pelly are co-conference directors for the LA Auto Show’s highly successful Design Los Angeles program, now in it’s 5th year. [Contact us] to become a sponsor of Design Los Angeles.
[Register for this year’s event here]
Sustainable design capability
The Design Academy is presenting several workshops and ‘Knowledge Guides’ to help Design Managers better leverage the value of design in a global market. Current topics include: Recruiting, Motivating and Retaining Talent; Expanding Beyond the Corporate Walls; Effectively Working with Design Consultants and Conveying Design’s Value Through Meaningful Design Metrics.
We recently worked with Launch Institute on defining a customer experience and translating it into product and service concepts. Launch Institute is a global team of highly experienced management and design consultants who aim to deliver significant business growth. We focus on methodologies and techniques that tap into the latent innovation potential of your organization to launch new products, services and business models. [Visit Launch Institute]
Art Center Guest Speaker
Chuck Pelly's storied career spans over four decades; from designing the first Kurtis Kraft Go-Kart to the Scarab sport car to founding Designworks/USA which became a subsidiary of BMW, and over those four decades he has experienced everything from political upheavals, fuel embargoes to economic ups and downs. Chuck spoke at Art Center RE/source about how he weathered those years.
Vapor of Experience
This is the description given to Pelly by Gaylon White, Communications Director for Eastman Chemical in a recent interview. Chuck is part of an ongoing series of interviews and articles that help provide inspiration to Eastman’s Innovation Lab and their customers. [read why] PDF, 112KB
Chuck Pelly
The Design Academy, Inc.
The Salon is a methodology that supports The Design Academy’s philosophy of using The Power of Collective Thought™ to solve the complex issues of today’s society. Its foundation is Design, Knowledge, Creativity, Leadership and Exchange. Multi-disciplined practicing professionals participating in a casual setting contribute insights, ideas, concerns and issues to help build the foundation... [read more]
