In this insightful conversation, Audrey Crane, a partner at Design Map and a seasoned Silicon Valley consultant, shares her expertise on the evolving landscape of design. She highlights the changing mandates for design, explaining the unique power consultants have over in-house teams. Audrey discusses the intersection of creativity and constraints, the evolution of design leadership roles, and the urgent need for better collaboration between design and product teams. She also addresses the concerning decline in design investment and its potential industry repercussions.

Audrey Crane, Head of Growth at DesignMap, discusses strategies for organizations to maximize the value they get from design work, including shadow design and its relationship to organizational maturity, investing in dedicated design teams, exploring 'design enlightened' organizations, and strategies to address shadow design.

Audrey Crane, a partner at DesignMap and author of 'What CEOs Need to Know About Design,' delves into the vital role of design in today’s organizations. She discusses the shift from individual expression to user-centered problem-solving in design. Audrey highlights the necessity for better communication between designers and CEOs, while also exploring the intimacy required in research discussions. She emphasizes balancing internal and external resources in design teams, especially post-pandemic, to drive innovation and address organizational challenges.