The role of the design coach - a novel approach to achieving 360 collaboration between industry and higher education
Year: 2013
Editor: John Lawlor, Ger Reilly, Robert Simpson, Michael Ring, Ahmed Kovacevic, Mark McGrath, William Ion, David Tormey, Erik Bohemia, Chris McMahon, Brian Parkinson
Author: Styger, Lee Edward Jan; Ellis, Ian
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1: Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong, Australia; 2: I.L.E Guitars, Corrimal, Australia
Section: Design Education in Industry
Page(s): 240-245
ISBN: 978-1-904670-42-1
Abstract
There is significant latent design talent within the broader business community, however, much of the design potential is isolated, and, lacks the necessary focus to manifest positive commercial outcomes. Research has indicated that this situation is due to a myopic design development process that is typically caused by the lack of larger team dynamics, reporting structures, and more formal review and feedback processes. The role of the coach is well established in business environments, where, a specialist practitioner enables an environment that supports personal and operational development. Unfortunately the concept of the design coach is not as well established because, typically, the environmental mix does not always offer foundation for reliable coaching practice. Moreover, it is often challenging to establish a credible design coach within the conflicting parameters of the creative focus and the commercial focus of the smaller design business. This paper discusses the core findings from a recent study of the assignment of a design coach from a higher educational establishment to a small Australian bespoke guitar manufacturing business, during the transition of the operation from a functional craft orientated business into a design driven business. The paper illustrates how a credible design coach can strengthen emerging design talent and assist in directing the business in returning the optimum benefit for effort. The paper also illustrates the framework for both creative and commercial engagement that was developed from the work that catalysed true design collaboration between industry and academic partners and the return contribution into the educational environment.
Keywords: Design coaching, coaching, guitar design, differentiation