Do Designers make good Managers? Or Can a Corporate Manager lead a creative team?
In a complicated corporate world, we are here with a complex question - Can a Designer lead a creative team better or a Corporate Manager? One understands design and the other understands all the norms of businesses.
A prolonged debate ensued among my creative colleagues. Very obviously the creative lot was emotionally connected to its statements- only a designer can understand or can lead a design firm. Whereas, others from diverse background raised questions about Revenues, Time management, Scalability of the business, Deliverables etc., aspects designers are often unburdened with. We decided to list down a few points in favour of both and then take a call.
Designers
This is a special breed that works within restraints, like that of time, budget, location, materials etc. Given the restraints designers often solve problems after carefully examining the issues. They take risks and rigorously tend to challenge the norm. They willingly accept their mistakes, flaws and are fearless to experimentation. Their myriad questions often lead to all probable answers. Above all, designers enjoy ideation to arrive at solutions. In short, a designer can imagine the world from multiple perspectives—those of clients, end users and customers.
Managers
In today’s risky business world which is characterized by incessant financial crisis and corporate failure, a Manager brings varied skills to the table. They are not just exceptional at motivating their teams and coordinating with various rungs in the corporate world but they constantly have to apply themselves to various aspects of running the business. Marketing, Human Resource Management, Accounting, Information Technology, Strategizing- Managers today, besides being specialist of their own departments have to have their finger on the pulse of every other department to ensure that the business runs like a well oiled machine. They stand tall when the going gets tough and ensure that goals are achieved come what may. Now, when it comes to deciding who can lead a design studio or a team of designers, debate erupts.
Both have very strong qualities in their favour. But this makes it really difficult to make up our minds. Why don’t you share your thoughts?
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