HI all
I am also on a Board and I wanted to make a simple point that is not different to what Ian has stated.
Designers on Boards is not business as usual.
There is a significant movement in Australian corporate governance at the moment - diversity on Boards (and diversity means different skills/attitudes/backgrounds etc - not simply Women on Boards). There is much discourse about this in certain circles - and some real change in some places (not all!).
regards
Kerry
Dr Kerry London
Senior Lecturer
Postgraduate Director (Architecture and Industrial Design)
School of Architecture & Built Environment
University of Newcastle
AUSTRALIA
tel: + 61 2 49 21 5778
>>> Ian Rooney <[log in to unmask]> 11/17/05 6:41 AM >>>
Hi Jan
No military line up here .)
>I was actually referring to the possibility that whether you are on the boards or in the board room
you may already be distanced from the factory, field, society and the life of people who I will now
clarify may be very different than yourself.
I am on a couple of boards, but I am also found in studios, classrooms, even factories and very much
apart of society. But I also understand the decisions I may help to make in the board room and
brands, products and services I represent have a larger influence and reach on society, than I could
ever have stood lecturing in a classroom.
I agree with you..... that *Self reflective process* for everyone to have a *broad perspective on our
own actions*, everyone including corporate organisations that are run by people.
> And the issue of design from the beginning is a very old one.
Yes its an *old one*... but you would be surprised what a new idea that sounds to many board rooms
members and organisations.
>Of course designers should be there from the beginning, but by the same token so should the
diversity of experts, vested interests, and those who will be affected by the outcomes. I know that
image may strike terror in the hearts of designers who have no doubt worked in situations where
designers' work was diminished to the point of non-existence or watched really poor design decision
making on the part of groups
I can only talk from my personal observations..... many designers welcome specialist knowledge,
diversity of experts and welcome people with vested interests. They like to be brought in from the
beginning and be well informed. Designer are educated and are educating themselves with as you
described the *Skills and knowledge* which are *underpinned by a commitment to equity*. Which is
very edvident on this list.
>I am just suggesting that perhaps this kind of leadership and leadership arena may not be the place
where innovative and equitable design solutions to environmental and social ills is likely to take
place. The bottom line intention may preclude that.
>What you say is true, but the basic paradigm may be a problem. Design IS hard to explain and hard
to sell, the image this brings to mind is of a battle. Mutually beneficial design outcomes come out of
consensus building not competitive struggle. It is far easier and quicker in the long run to build
synergy than engage in battle.
(Competitive struggle / battle?) NASA race to the beyond earth, BP race to go beyond petroleum has
created many innovations and environmental design solutions that now benefit us directly. I am sure
there is alot of room for leadership and design thinking here.
>We have big social and ecological problems globally, how about we look at what kind of knowledge
we might need to deal with those.
We have lots social and ecological problems globally because of the actions of these organisations
(i.e. BP) have taken.
>I think it is precisely for this reason inclusion is necessary, because diversity is necessary, so in a
sense I agree with you that designers should be in the board room but that alone especially
combined with doing business as usual, will not solve the problems.
Designers in the boardroom is *not business as usual*, and they can solve problems! That in my
mind is *necessary diversity*!
Kind regards
Ian Jarvela-Rooney
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