The Evolving Value of a Designer

The designer’s value has never remained fixed. It has moved from craft and execution towards research, systems thinking, strategy, facilitation and organisational influence. As making becomes faster and more accessible, that value may be shifting again. The panel will explore: • How the designer’s role and perceived value have changed over time • What organisations expect from designers today • Which capabilities are becoming more valuable and which are being overlooked • Whether design’s contribution has become harder to recognise and articulate • Where human judgement matters as execution becomes increasingly assisted • What emerging and practising designers should prepare for next The conversation will draw on the experiences of design leaders working across different organisations, disciplines and stages of practice.