The term communication design is often used interchangeably with visual communication and more specifically graphic design, but has an alternate broader meaning that includes auditory communications as well as visual. Examples of Communication Design include information architecture, editing, typography, illustration and professional writing skills applied to creative industries.
Design management refers to an approach whereby organizations make design-relevant decisions in a market and customer-oriented way as well as optimizing design-relevant (enterprise-)processes. It is a long-continuous comprehensive activity on all levels of business performance. Design management acts in the interface of management and design and functions as link between the platforms of technology, design, design thinking, management and marketing at internal and external interfaces of the enterprise.
Operational design management
The goal of operational design management is to achieve the objectives set in the strategic design management part. It deals with personal leadership, emotional intelligence and the co-operation with and management of internal communications. The following list shows what the operational design management is coping with:
function level application
operational strategy Translation of visions into strategies
Defining the role design plays in the brand.
planning Translation of strategies into a design brief.
Decisions about product quality and consumer experiences.
Defining policies for design, products, communication and brands.
structure Selection of external design agencies/individuals
Creation of alliances.
Defining of design teams and people who are in touch with designers.
Creation of an atmosphere for leadership and creativity.
finances Managing of design project budgets
Estimating of design costs.
Reducing of designcosts, resp. shift of investments from cold-spots to hot-spots.
human resources developing of competences
information Advising of product managers and CEO's.
communication Creating of symbioses between universities and other companies.
Creating of an understanding of companies goals among designers.
research & development Creation of design criteria and standards of valuation for design.