Leading Business by Design: Automotive Sector

In 2013, the Leading Business by Design research project was launched to examine how businesses – including organisations not traditionally associated with design – can benefit from it.

 

 

 

This report highlights four key findings on how the automotive sector can benefit from the use of design:

• Competitive advantage - Design is one of the most important drivers of innovation
• Effective collaboration - Good design is the result of effective collaborations and partnerships within and between organisations
• Skills - Changes in the broader automotive ecosystem increasingly require designers to develop a wider skillset
• Futureproofing - In the future, design will play a more fundamental role in integrating products and services and enhancing customer experience.

In the report, we highlight eight key recommendations for the automotive sector in how to fully leverage design-led thinking:

1. Use design strategically
2. Focus on user experience
3. Don’t just use design for premium products
4. Promote cross-functional collaboration
5. Value different viewpoints
6. Create clear processes with few decision-makers
7. Establish partnerships with new suppliers
8. Provide a broader design education

 

 

You may also be interested in our design in aerospace research, and our over-arching report into design in high-value manufacturing.