When you think of a visionary innovator, what comes to mind? A lone genius in a lab, a brilliant engineer coding late into the night, or a data scientist crunching numbers? While STEM-focused roles are critical to solving the world’s biggest problems, there’s a quiet but powerful force that often gets overlooked: the creative professional.
We’ve been conditioned...
...to view creatives—designers, artists, writers—as the “idea people,” the ones who make things look pretty or, tell a compelling story. But what if their role is far more foundational?What if the very skills that make someone a great designer—grand vision, insightful research, attention to detail, empathy, intuition, and a human-centered approach—are the same ones needed to lead the next generation of world-changing companies?
Consider some of the most iconic businesses of our time:
Companies who hold so much influence and power, and have in many ways improved quality of life for many people. From providing employment and passive income to providing platforms capable of positive global change and influence at a time when we really need it. Many were founded by designers and creatives, who went on to lead companies to success with their professional partners in other fields.
Apple was co-founded by Steve Jobs, a visionary with a deep understanding of design and user experience.
Airbnb was born from a simple need to pay rent, but its founders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, were trained designers who saw a global opportunity in hospitality and human connection.
Similarly, Pinterest was co-founded by Evan Sharp, an architect who built a visual discovery engine around the principles of design and curation.
The list goes on, from Square’s Jack Dorsey to Etsy’s Rob Kalin who democratise eCommerce for all.
And of course, Disney’s Walt Disney who even after his death provides much needed inspiration, good role models for children, smiles and joy in a world filled with an abundance of negativity, poor examples of behaviour and sadness.
Not to mention all of the companies and industries that benefit with a piggy-back off of his visionary leadership.
These weren’t just business people; they were creatives who built empires by putting humanity at the center of their vision.
The data backs this up. A 2018 study by the Design Management Institute found that companies with a strong commitment to design outperformed the S&P 500 by an impressive 211% over a 10-year period. More recently, a 2023 McKinsey report highlighted that firms with superior design capabilities saw their revenue and shareholder returns grow at a significantly faster rate than their peers.
Creatives:
Your potential to lead the future is very real and needed.
The skills you have diligently built over the years designing with passion, empathising, visualising a better way, and crafting experiences that resonate with people to better the world isn't just a "nice to have"—it's part of the global puzzle towards a better world. Don't just make the world look better; help move it forward. If you’re a founder or, established business looking for a design partner, design leadership or, mentoring in the principles of great design and effective design teams, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn.
Valeria Domanski
Design leadership | UX | UI | Websites | Creative | Production | Management
Did you enjoy this journal?I hope it was thought provoking and left you with something new to ponder.
Follow me on LinkedIn to be the first to know when I publish more insights.I'm curious to know if you agree, disagree or, have your own take you want to share on this topic. If you are looking to partner with a design leader to help you bring your project to life, reach out on LinkedIn to start a conversation.
Image credits:
Sources for statistics:
Design Management Institute, “The Value of Design” (2018)
McKinsey & Company, “The Business Value of Design” (2023)
