Graphic design influences ideas, opinions, and actions through branding and mass communications. The document argues that graphic designers are well-suited for leadership roles due to their ability to strategize and organize as well as imagine and create, balancing both analytical and intuitive thinking. However, while graphic designers have knowledge of corporate image, communication, trends, and human behavior, they have not typically risen to CEO positions.

1. Design + Ownership
Observations and Research Findings

2. Totem of Design
and Avenues to Influence
as measured by societal utility
• Architecture > Responsible for physical infrastructure of a society, often
representative of that society's ideals and direction
• Industrial Design > New technologies that can affect just about all facets of
humanity, from water filtration systems to automobiles and consumer goods
• Graphic Design > Branding and mass communications promulgate corporate
or individual personas and influence ideas, opinions, and actions
• Interior Design > Complements architecture and point-of-purchase
consumer experience
• Fashion Design > None? (Of almost purely aesthetic concern.)
• Advertising? Marketing?

3. The Case for Graphic Design
(work in progress)
• According to Roger Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management and
author of The Design of Business, most business are structured either around
analytical or intuitive decision making.
• Analytical organizations are resistant to change but are easily
expanded on their status quo formula of success.
• Intuitive ones are dependent on visionary leaders for success, and thus
tend to thrive or flounder depending on the current person in charge.
• Successful graphic designers need balance between the ability to strategize
and organize on one hand, and imagine and create on the other. This mastery
of both sides of the brain makes graphic designer ideal candidates for
leadership roles.

4. The Case for Graphic Design
Key areas of graphic designer knowledge pertinent to leadership
• Corporate image
• Mass communication
• Cultural trends
• Behavioral science
• If graphic designers are masters of all this, then by reading a few books from
an MBA program, they should be all set to lead as CEOs, right?
• Why hasn't this happened?