The Evolution of the Roles and Functions of Design Organizations

         
Author Name WASHIDA Yuichi (Faculty Fellow, RIETI) / HIGO Ai (Research Assistant, RIETI / Hitotsubashi University)
Creation Date/NO. November 2024 24-J-029
Research Project Penetration of Quantitative Performance Indicators of the Impact of “design” on organization management
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Abstract

In-house design organizations in Japanese companies have a history spanning over 70 years, during which their organizational roles have evolved. However, investment in design as a managerial resource is still often regarded as mainly a cost-increasing factor, and the integration of design into the upstream stages of management processes remains insufficient. In recent years, the adoption of design thinking has gained traction, but its dissemination has been limited. It can be concluded that addressing both the downstream stages of design within individual business units and the upstream stages remains necessary. This study provides critical insights for considering the future role of design organizations within corporations.