We've all heard the stories about how Steve Jobs found inspiration for Apple products by learning about the Bauhaus, calligraphy and by practicing Buddhism. He once said, "I have always found Buddhism—Japanese Zen Buddhism in particular—to be aesthetically sublime. The most sublime thing I’ve ever seen are the gardens around Kyoto.”
And then there's Nike's CEO, Mark Parker (pictured above). He spends time with musicians, graffiti artists and other diverse talent. He once told the Wall Street Journal, “I meet regularly with our biggest retail customers, but I also go off the beaten path where I can stimulate the right side of my brain - and discover new tastes in music, fashion, cuisine.”
Here's what we take from these examples:
1. EVERY corporate executive (especially those at the most senior levels) need to make DESIGN a PERSONAL priority.
2. These executives should take a cue from Mr. Jobs and Mr. Parker and go spend time with ALL TYPES of design-minded individuals - from tattoo artists...to architects...to fashion designers - to learn about various aesthetics and trends.
Of course, the unfortunate reality is that most corporate leaders will simply delegate design to a department and agency...and have no insight or point of view of their own.