ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the role of design leadership in establishing a framework of design partners in a regulated environment. Although the case concerns a large multi-national company, the process and the learning from it could be of real value to many other sized businesses. The main content of this case was originally described in the Design Management Journal. Design leaders are responsible for ensuring the design expertise employed by the company is appropriate. The process was long, complicated and time consuming, largely as a result of two factors, the breadth of design expertise required and the restrictions imposed by EU legislation as to how they went about it. Of particular value is the work the Design Business Association has undertaken in preparing an excellent process to help client companies select the most appropriate consultancy for their needs. The design of a modern mega-project such as an airport is dependent on input from all manner of outside groups.
