Unveiling Design Leadership: A Case Study of Philips’ Chief Design Officers Stefano Marzano and Sean Carney

Embedded within a doctoral investigation centered on the Chief Design Officer's role, this article delves into the designer's capacity as a functional leader driving innovation to a strategic echelon, illustrated through the Philips case study.

Philips, a global conglomerate, has undergone substantial organizational shifts in the past three decades, evolving from perceiving design as an external element to incorporating it intrinsically as a functional facet. Amid this evolution, the influence of two Chief Design Officers, Stefano Marzano, and Sean Carney, has been prominent. Their impact transcends inter-functional collaboration and corporate design culture, manifesting primarily in the integration of design principles into the company's strategic vision.

This study's findings contribute by affirming the circumstances wherein design assumes a functional and strategic role under the leadership of a Chief Design Officer. Through an integrative methodology encompassing literature review, ethnographic exploration, and empirical analyses, the research delves into the multifaceted role of Chief Design Officers in contemporary corporate landscapes. The investigation unravels the symbiotic interplay between design leadership and strategic innovation. The empirical insights from the Philips case highlight CDOs as catalytic agents of design-driven innovation, bridging creativity with pragmatic business imperatives, and exploring their responsibilities, skills, philosophy, methodologies, and initiatives. By providing empirical insights, this article advances scholarly discourse on design leadership, augmenting the comprehension of CDO influence and its transformative potential within modern enterprises.