At the inaugural Design Education Summit, Chooake Wongwattanasilpa, Managing Director and Head of User Experience and Design at DBS Bank takes on four common myths about designers and shares why there is a future in design careers.
Myth One – “Designers cannot lead the team”
The design team at DBS started with Chooake and three designers, using the “7 Hats of UX” structure. Today, he leads a team that has grown to more than 50 members from 13 different countries.
Myth Two – “Designers only care about how it looks”
Chooake’s team designs beyond the aesthetics of their products and services. They try to build something people will really use, and ensures it conveys an emotional value to the user. An example is the PeekBalance function on the DBS Internet banking app, which allows users to check their account balance without having to login.
Myth Three – “Designers do not understand business”
One reason for the team’s success is that they work very closely with many departments in DBS like the finance and marketing teams. The heads of DBS are strong advocates for design and include Chooake in the yearly CEO meetings where they discuss the bank’s strategies for the future.
Myth Four – “Designers cannot earn enough money for a living.”
Chooake assured aspiring designers that they will have the opportunity for career progression. He shared his own experience of moving up the ranks to become Managing Director. Many big multinational companies are also hiring for positions like Chief Design Officer so there are many well paying job opportunities for designers.
The Design Education Summit was presented by DesignSingapore Council and organised in partnership with the SUTD-MIT International Design Centre (IDC) based at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
