Design at Scale
Building a human-centered culture at IBM
Doug Powell

Vice President of Design

@douglaspowell1
DesignOps Summit

November 8, 2018
This is an amazing time 

for design and designers.
2007
Arianne Miller
Lab • OPM
How do we move
beyond earning a seat 

at the table?
107 year old company •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •
Ginni! •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •
Ginni! • 2012 •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •
Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 

design and design thinking •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •
Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 

design and design thinking • 1,800 

designers •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •
Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 

design and design thinking • 1,800 

designers • 6 week onboarding •

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •
Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 

design and design thinking • 1,800 

designers • 6 week onboarding • 50 studios • 

107 year old company • 360,000 employees •
170 countries • enterprise technology for
business users • mostly cloud-based 

software • think pads • super computers •
Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 

design and design thinking • 1,800 

designers • 6 week onboarding • 50 studios • 

300 designers in ATX
Design at IBM is
decentralized
Design at IBM is
decentralized
Design at IBM is
decentralized
Product Services
Design at IBM is
decentralized
Product Services
Corporate
Design at IBM is
decentralized
Product Services
Corporate
COC
Design at IBM is
decentralized
Design Leadership
Vice President of Design IBM Fellow
Design Director Distinguished Designer
Design Program Director Design Principal
Designer
Designer
Developer
Executive
Sponsor
IT
Architect
Developer
Product 

Manager
User
Morethan140,000
IBMersarenow

badgeddesignthinkers.
ibm.com/design/thinking
Measuring the Impact
Measuring the Impact
There is no single way to measure the 

impact of design and design thinking. It is
always embedded in and dependent upon
other complex functions.
Design Program Reviews
Aggregates a collection of data and metrics 

into a cohesive story that we can deliver to our
business leaders in a way they can consume.
Know your user!
What do we know about these people?
_ Super busy
What do we know about these people?
_ Super busy
_ Data-driven
What do we know about these people?
_ Super busy
_ Data-driven
_ Opinionated
What do we know about these people?
_ Super busy
_ Data-driven
_ Opinionated
_ Competitive
What do we know about these people?
_ Super busy
_ Data-driven
_ Opinionated
_ Competitive
_ No bullshit
What do we know about these people?
_ Super busy
_ Data-driven
_ Opinionated
_ Competitive
_ No bullshit
_ They will believe!
What do we know about these people?
What can we measure?
What can we measure?
_ Staffing & Ratios
What can we measure?
_ Staffing & Ratios
_ Locations & Studios
What can we measure?
_ Staffing & Ratios
_ Locations & Studios
_ Seniority & Careers
What can we measure?
_ Staffing & Ratios
_ Locations & Studios
_ Seniority & Careers
_ Design Thinking Practice
What can we measure?
_ Staffing & Ratios
_ Locations & Studios
_ Seniority & Careers
_ Design Thinking Practice
_ Designer Health & Attrition
What can we measure?
_ Staffing & Ratios
_ Locations & Studios
_ Seniority & Careers
_ Design Thinking Practice
_ Designer Health & Attrition
_ User Sentiment
What can we measure?
_ Staffing & Ratios
_ Locations & Studios
_ Seniority & Careers
_ Design Thinking Practice
_ Designer Health & Attrition
_ User Sentiment
Future
design 

investment
roadmap
Know your
business
leaders as
users
Measure
everything you
can think of
Tell a
compelling,
concise
story
Culture
Matters
We have been measuring
employee satisfaction with
the new framework, and every
response comes back as an 8,
9, or 10. One employee
shared that ‘I've worked here
for so many years, and this is
the first time I've been
excited and engaged.’”
ibm.com/design/thinking
67
67
Diversity is a
DesignOps issue
70
Operating in Context (Doug Powell at DesignOps Summit 2018)

Operating in Context (Doug Powell at DesignOps Summit 2018)

  • 1.
    Design at Scale Buildinga human-centered culture at IBM Doug Powell
 Vice President of Design
 @douglaspowell1 DesignOps Summit
 November 8, 2018
  • 2.
    This is anamazing time 
 for design and designers.
  • 3.
  • 5.
  • 6.
    How do wemove beyond earning a seat 
 at the table?
  • 8.
    107 year oldcompany •

  • 9.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees •

  • 10.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries •

  • 11.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users •

  • 12.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software •

  • 13.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads •

  • 14.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers •

  • 15.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers • Ginni! •

  • 16.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers • Ginni! • 2012 •

  • 17.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers • Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 
 design and design thinking •

  • 18.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers • Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 
 design and design thinking • 1,800 
 designers •

  • 19.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers • Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 
 design and design thinking • 1,800 
 designers • 6 week onboarding •

  • 20.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers • Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 
 design and design thinking • 1,800 
 designers • 6 week onboarding • 50 studios • 

  • 21.
    107 year oldcompany • 360,000 employees • 170 countries • enterprise technology for business users • mostly cloud-based 
 software • think pads • super computers • Ginni! • 2012 • sustainable culture of 
 design and design thinking • 1,800 
 designers • 6 week onboarding • 50 studios • 
 300 designers in ATX
  • 23.
    Design at IBMis decentralized
  • 24.
    Design at IBMis decentralized
  • 25.
    Design at IBMis decentralized Product Services
  • 26.
    Design at IBMis decentralized Product Services Corporate
  • 27.
    Design at IBMis decentralized Product Services Corporate COC
  • 28.
    Design at IBMis decentralized
  • 29.
    Design Leadership Vice Presidentof Design IBM Fellow Design Director Distinguished Designer Design Program Director Design Principal
  • 32.
  • 33.
  • 35.
  • 37.
  • 38.
  • 39.
    Measuring the Impact Thereis no single way to measure the 
 impact of design and design thinking. It is always embedded in and dependent upon other complex functions.
  • 40.
    Design Program Reviews Aggregatesa collection of data and metrics 
 into a cohesive story that we can deliver to our business leaders in a way they can consume.
  • 41.
  • 43.
    What do weknow about these people?
  • 44.
    _ Super busy Whatdo we know about these people?
  • 45.
    _ Super busy _Data-driven What do we know about these people?
  • 46.
    _ Super busy _Data-driven _ Opinionated What do we know about these people?
  • 47.
    _ Super busy _Data-driven _ Opinionated _ Competitive What do we know about these people?
  • 48.
    _ Super busy _Data-driven _ Opinionated _ Competitive _ No bullshit What do we know about these people?
  • 49.
    _ Super busy _Data-driven _ Opinionated _ Competitive _ No bullshit _ They will believe! What do we know about these people?
  • 50.
    What can wemeasure?
  • 51.
    What can wemeasure? _ Staffing & Ratios
  • 52.
    What can wemeasure? _ Staffing & Ratios _ Locations & Studios
  • 53.
    What can wemeasure? _ Staffing & Ratios _ Locations & Studios _ Seniority & Careers
  • 54.
    What can wemeasure? _ Staffing & Ratios _ Locations & Studios _ Seniority & Careers _ Design Thinking Practice
  • 55.
    What can wemeasure? _ Staffing & Ratios _ Locations & Studios _ Seniority & Careers _ Design Thinking Practice _ Designer Health & Attrition
  • 56.
    What can wemeasure? _ Staffing & Ratios _ Locations & Studios _ Seniority & Careers _ Design Thinking Practice _ Designer Health & Attrition _ User Sentiment
  • 57.
    What can wemeasure? _ Staffing & Ratios _ Locations & Studios _ Seniority & Careers _ Design Thinking Practice _ Designer Health & Attrition _ User Sentiment Future design 
 investment roadmap
  • 59.
    Know your business leaders as users Measure everythingyou can think of Tell a compelling, concise story
  • 64.
    Culture Matters We have beenmeasuring employee satisfaction with the new framework, and every response comes back as an 8, 9, or 10. One employee shared that ‘I've worked here for so many years, and this is the first time I've been excited and engaged.’”
  • 65.
  • 67.
  • 68.
  • 70.
  • 71.