Strategies for Safeguarding a Design Profession's Long-term Success: Guidance from Kevin Bethune
In a rapidly evolving world, the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in design careers cannot be overstated. This is a lesson learned by Kevin Bethune, a renowned figure in the design industry who transitioned from mechanical engineering to a successful career in design.
Bethune's journey began at Nike, where he received informal mentorship from product designers. This marked the start of his design career, focusing on footwear design and innovation projects. His technical background in mechanical engineering proved valuable, as it allowed him to approach design problems with a user-centered perspective and strong prototyping skills.
Throughout his career, Bethune has emphasized the importance of empathizing with other disciplines, such as engineering and business, to better understand their needs and map them to overarching business objectives. This approach has been instrumental in his work with multidisciplinary teams. When working in such teams, he advises designers to accommodate other professionals in the design process, balancing essential tasks with flexibility to adapt to interdisciplinary realities.
Bethune's career has seen him serve as a co-founder of an incubator, which was eventually acquired by BCG (Boston Consulting Group) and became BCG Digital Ventures (BCGDV). As VP of Strategic Design at BCGDV, he led a large team of strategic designers who influenced corporate ventures with their clients.
Looking ahead, Bethune predicts that organizations will require teams to make sense of industry trends and use these insights to elevate user experiences. He believes that in the future, designers will need deep-and occasionally niche-expertise to deliver excellent and tangible outcomes. To stay relevant and seize future opportunities, designers should develop skills that integrate technical knowledge with creativity and foster a deep understanding of evolving tools and market needs.
Bethune also emphasizes the need for designers to create evidence of design's impact on projects, clients, and iterations to secure management buy-in for more investment in design and design teams. He advises designers to never stop learning, master the fundamentals, and investigate their curiosities to build both breadth and depth of knowledge.
In the realm of emerging technologies, Bethune suggests that designers upskill for niche design opportunities in VR and AR by considering advanced courses. For instance, the course on How to Design for Augmented and Virtual Reality, taught by Frank Spillers with extensive experience in AR and VR projects, could be a valuable resource.
On September 4th, 2019, at 4 PM UTC, Bethune will be presenting on disruptive design in a webinar, providing strategies and real-world examples to guide UX careers. This is an opportunity not to be missed for those interested in learning from a design industry thought leader.
In conclusion, Kevin Bethune's journey from mechanical engineering to design serves as an inspiring example of how one can leverage their technical background to succeed in the creative field. His emphasis on adaptability, continuous learning, and embracing emerging technologies is a testament to his forward-thinking approach to design.
- Ux design plays a crucial role in Kevin Bethune's approach as he emphasizes empathizing with other disciplines, including engineering and business, to deliver user-centered designs that map to overarching business objectives.
- In the future, as technology evolves, designers should upskill for niche design opportunities in VR and AR by considering advanced courses, such as the one taught by Frank Spillers, to stay relevant and seize future opportunities.
- Continuous learning, mastering fundamentals, and investigating curiosities are essential for designers seeking to build both breadth and depth of knowledge, as advised by Kevin Bethune, who believes these skills are necessary for career development and sustaining a competitive edge in the design industry.
