Andy Polaine is a design leadership coach, educator, speaker and writer who helps clients transform their organizations and themselves. For several years he worked at Fjord as Group Design Director of Client Evolution. He is co-author of Service Design: From Insight to Implementation. Andy has three decades of experience in design and innovation with clients across a broad range of industries. He teaches on the MA Service Design at the Hochschule Luzern, writes a popular newsletter called Doctor’s Note and hosts the podcast Power of Ten.
Andy is the Lead Lecturer for Leadership Studio 02 and a Guest Lecturer for Leadership Studio 01.
What excites you most about teaching at the iF DESIGN ACADEMY?
iF has always aimed to raise the bar of quality of and spread the word about high quality design. I’m honoured to be one of the academy instructors and experts and excited to apply the same thinking about quality to design leadership.
Why is your course especially relevant for design leaders right now?
In my one-to-one coaching practice, I see many design leaders going through a mid-career identity crisis. It’s lonely at the top and there is a journey into leadership on a psychological level that is rarely talked about. This has been exacerbated by the rounds of layoffs and the knock to the confidence of many design professionals. My job is to help design leaders navigate that, re-build their confidence and get their mojo back.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I really try to keep things on a human level. Any leadership role is really about relationships and the work to be done is often very personal. I try and meet people where they are at, create a safe space for them to air their vulnerabilities, fears and anxieties, and yet challenge them in that space to reflect, learn and grow.
What personal career experiences will you bring to this course, and how will participants benefit from them?
I’ve had just over thirty years of experience in the design industry, from small to large organisations and in education, working with CEOs through to undergrads. Over five years ago I started my design leadership coaching practice and have spent hundreds of hours coaching a very diverse range of clients.
How did you choose the guest experts for this course, and how will participants benefit from their experience?
I’ve aimed for a mix of experts, some working in design leadership roles at present, others who have taken a similar path to me and now help enable others. All of them are highly experienced practitioners with a wealth of experiences to share.