Design doesn’t need a seat. It needs a spine!

“Designers don’t think strategically or tie their work to business impact”
Right. And everyone else is just so laser-focused on business goals.

Let’s be clear—this story isn’t about our capabilities. It’s corporate-speak for "Let’s keep design out of the big decisions…and underpaid”

And here’s the worse part: (Many) designers repeat this nonsense too.

By claiming that design hasn’t "earned" its seat at the table, we reveal an inferiority complex—as if product and engineering earned their powers by submitting a 50-slide ROI deck. (Spoiler: they didn’t).

If someone doesn’t value design, no PowerPoint deck is going to change their mind.
That’s their problem, not yours.

Here’s what our playbook needs to be:
1. Measure impact in ways that matter to us.
2. Stop begging for respect.
3. Work with people who respect our craft—(and pay accordingly).

Life’s too short to explain (again) why good design is good business.