Counting pennies in the love zone

The design manager is dead! Long live the passion manager!

Things got a bit steamy during a seminar at the Chartered Society of Designers in Bedford Square last week. Everyone, but everyone, mentioned how important passion is when invigorating companies through design excellence. One attendee was heard to exclaim: “There ought to be a discipline called `passion management’.” Well, indeed. But how do you best manage passion? Is it something to be nurtured, or controlled?

Business in general is not noted for being passionate about design. But money, that’s another kettle of fish. Panel member John Boult from Product First told of a client whispering sweet nothings about design: “He said `this design lark is great – it makes people pay more for a cheaper product’.” Swoon!