I came across this presentation at the blog of a P&G brand manager — it covers the strategic importance of design to businesses:
It’s hard to underestimate the importance of design in industries like high tech, but as you can see from the examples in the slideshow, it’s a critical point of differentiation across the board, from Walmart to medical devices. A couple examples jumped out at me. First, the LifeStraw:
It’s a simple device, but with revolutionary impact. The second one has a fascinating story — the redesign of Target’s pill bottles. This NY Magazine article gives the details. Amazing how good design can both provide competitive advantage (admittedly, not always sustainable unless a patent can be secured) and improve lives.
I definitely recommend the blog above, Hard Knox Life, as well. Very illuminating thoughts on marketing, a discipline that is changing rapidly as social media and the Web dramatically impact how brands and reputations evolve.
Read the full article: Why design matters