After my earlier disappointment with an article over on BusinessWeek, I’m happy to report that they’ve redeemed themselves beautifully. If you’re an Industrial Designer, go read writer Rachel Tiplady’s “A Continental Confab on Design” (Link) and look over the accompanying slideshow (Link). An example from the beginning of the article:

Anders Andersson, the chief executive of Swedish underfloor-heating company Thermotech, was incredulous when his marketing manager suggested a redesign of the product line. Why jazz up something that no one can see after it’s installed? But Andersson relented, hired a team of designers, and made several key changes, such as ditching his copper and brass pipes in favor of cheaper stainless steel.

Two years later, the company has saved $965,000 in manufacturing costs, and total sales were up 40% last year, to $9.7 million. “Today, I think that if a company isn’t using design, it isn’t working correctly,” says Andersson.

Go read the rest.

I’d also like to point out one particular image/page in the slideshow. Take a look at Page 3 (image above). If you read this blog you’re already aware of how I see “Product & Industrial Design” fusing with “Communications & Brand”. In fact, I see a total convergence underway. Which is why I decided to go ahead and post a comment on that disappointing article I read earlier (Link). I’m not sure if it’s just that I can’t keep my big mouth shut, or if I think there’s some advantage in getting the word out. Probably both.

{Image source: BusinessWeek online}