What I offer:
Insight:
Compelling, opinionated, and actionable perspectives on how automobility, technology, design, and culture are evolving and what that means for your businesses.
Opportunity mapping:
Clarifying your research, strategy and design challenges, the opportunities they present, and the ones you should address first.
Design research:
Connecting the dots between your business objectives, your customers’ current and future needs, and the most effective ways to meet them.
Design strategy:
Creating and communicating a clear vision and rationale for the future of your brand, your products, and your design execution.
Executive coaching:
Serving as an impartial, external, and trusted thought partner to senior design leaders.
What I can help you with:
If you’re trying to make sense of a shift in technology, culture or consumer behaviour:
I’ll provide you with a deep dive in to what you need to know, the implications for your business, and the actions you need to take.
If you’re drowning in data and don’t know what it all means:
I’ll help you focus on the essential and show you how to act on it.
If you’re struggling to prioritise a bunch of competing objectives:
I’ll help you determine what’s not important, what is, and what to do next.
If you know you need to change how you do things, but don’t know where to start:
I’ll show you how the best in the business do it, and work with you to make it your own.
If you’re struggling to get your stakeholders on board:
I’ll help you craft a clear vision and a great story to share it.
If you want to bring in outside help or land that next project:
I’ll guide you to an informed choice, built on knowledge gleaned from years of procuring and selling strategic design services.
You might have other challenges too. Get in touch to see if we’re a fit.
Who I’ve worked with:
What people say about working with me:
“I had the opportunity to have Drew in my User Experience and research team where Drew had in incredibly important role in pioneering and building the Geely Design User experience organization from scratch and develop its culture, its team members and the process; it is my pleasure to recommend Drew.
Drew has a unique ability to combine an in-depth understanding of the automotive industry, the fundamentals of good design, and an unparalelled depth of knowledge gathered across sectors, to help us see new opportunities. And because he has an intimate knowledge of the design and development process, he can help to make those opportunities real.
I loved working alongside Drew, and hope that one day I can do that again.”
Lars Falk, Head of Zeekr Design Operations
“I found myself lucky of working with Drew. His dedication, expertise, and insight are nothing short of exceptional. He possesses a quite unique blend of technical knowledge, market analysis, business development skills, and cultural patterns. This have been proven invaluable to our joint project.
What makes Drew a standout professional, is his ability to effectively communicate complex ideas. This is a rare skill.
Drew expertly applies this knowledge, offering innovative solutions and insightful analysis that are both strategically astute and operationally practical.
Beyond his professional skills, Drew's positive attitude and commitment to fostering a collaborative work environment make him a pleasure to work with.
Without a doubt, any organisation would benefit from having Drew Smith on their team. But I also hope that he continues working with us.”
Kostas Stylidis, CEO, Intended Future
“As soon as I write this recommendation, the accolades I choose will be out of date, such is the speed that this fabulous mind travels.
Both a pleasure and a challenge to work with. The challenge part being on my side, trying to keep up with Drews talent to see straight through a problem with a beautiful, exciting and effective creative solution.
I would love to work with Drew again, to achieve great outcomes for my clients but also to feel the excitement of collaboration and the thrill of learning.
Drew, hats off to you you are one of the most influential collaborators in my career and I hope our work (and personal lives) meet again.”
Amanda Squires, Chief Customer Officer, European Innovation, Accenture
“Drew is a natural, confident and knowledgeable leader… He has demonstrated the ability to think at both the macro and micro levels and has provided a keen perspective that has been invaluable to helping us shape a compelling story for relevant presentation audiences.
In addition, he is great at engaging clients. During meetings, he works to understand all the relevant views around the table and states his opinions in such a way that he challenges the thinking of others without being offensive. (A very rare talent nowadays).”
Jessica Clements, Head of Strategy, Jam 3
“Drew's knowledge about design - specifically in the field of transportation, is unsurpassed in my view, and this is something he uses to great effect in his work as a consultant and strategist. He has worked with and advised numerous companies on their future strategies, and from my own experience of working with Drew, I cannot recommend him highly enough.”