Exploring Key Aspects of Design Management for the Future of Business

Understanding Design Management in the Evolving Business Landscape

On August 28, 2026, Concent Co., Ltd. will host a symposium that explores the concept of Design Management, emphasizing its importance for contemporary businesses. This event is particularly relevant as organizations seek to navigate the increasingly complex landscape brought forth by digital transformation.

Context of the Event

The landscape of design roles within organizations has changed significantly, resulting from the recent revision of the Digital Transformation Skill Standard (DSS-P) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Information-Technology Promotion Agency (IPA). This revision, effective from April 2026, has redefined the roles of design professionals while emphasizing the necessity for all business personnel to cultivate Design Management practices.

One key change is the new perspective on the responsibilities of designers, highlighting their expanded roles amidst collaborative efforts that drive organizational transformation. The addition of Design Management Practices as a skillset applicable to all employees demonstrates an evolving understanding of how design can be leveraged for business success.

Despite this progress, many organizations still grapple with fully integrating design into strategic decision-making processes. Often, design is confined to aesthetic considerations, neglecting the strategic involvement of designers from early stages of business planning. This limitation contributes to ongoing challenges in how organizations can effectively utilize design to enhance operations and drive innovation.

With the rise of artificial intelligence and rapidly evolving market dynamics, businesses are reassessing the competencies and roles of design professionals. Companies with established design initiatives often find themselves in continual refinement of how design can contribute to their overall strategy and value creation.

Symposium Highlights

The event will feature presentations from leading experts, including Atsushi Hasegawa (CEO of Concent), Yumiko Tanaka (Head of Experience Design at NTT Docomo Business's KOEL Design Studio), and Kazaru Yaegashi (Professor at Ritsumeikan University). These industry pioneers will discuss significant aspects of the DSS-P revisions, the shifting roles of design in business contexts, and the foundational importance of Design Management Practices.

In the latter part of the event, a panel discussion will foster deep dialogue among attendees and speakers, intersecting insights from design agencies, business sectors, and academia. This collaborative exchange is essential for exploring the evolving nature of design and its implications for organizational structures.

Who Should Attend?

This event is ideal for individuals involved in:

- Managing design teams or departments
- Driving digital transformation, service development, and organizational change
- Defining the roles and skills of design professionals and their development
- Exploring design management from a strategic perspective in business and HR
- Investigating how design can drive business and organizational transformation