Design isn’t just a function—it’s becoming the heartbeat of organizations and product strategies.
In this video, Abhijit Thosar, Product Strategy and Design Leader at VMWare, shares his bullish view on the evolution of design in the next five years. With design’s role expanding beyond just user experience and interface to influencing company strategy and sustainability, Abhijit believes the future of design will be pivotal to solving humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Learn how designers can prepare for this transformation and why it’s essential to view design as a core competency alongside communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
In this video, you’ll discover:
• The expanding influence of design within organizations
• Why design leaders must seize opportunities beyond the traditional design scope
• How design will play a key role in sustainability and inclusive design
• The future of design education and its integration into the broader problem-solving framework
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Timestamps:
00:09 – Design’s growing influence in organizations
00:29 – Design thinking and its broader applications
00:52 – Preparing for leadership opportunities in design
01:10 – Design’s role in sustainability and responsible practices
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[00:09]
Question: “How do you think the design landscape will change in the next five years? What are your insights—and how can designers prepare?”
Response:
That’s a big one—and honestly, I’m incredibly bullish on where design is headed. And I’m not just being optimistic for the sake of it. This is based on what I’ve seen over the last two decades—the amplification of design’s voice inside organizations and in society as a whole.
Design isn’t just about aesthetics anymore. People are using design for creative problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking—it’s become a central part of how we tackle complex challenges.
In the next 5, 10, even 20 years, I see design becoming even more integrated into company strategies and education systems. Ideally, we’ll start seeing design taught alongside core skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. It’s that fundamental.
Design is no longer just about UI/UX or physical products—it’s about solving real human challenges. From sustainability to inclusion to responsible innovation, designers are uniquely positioned to lead with systems thinking and empathy.
But here’s the catch:
We, as design leaders, need to be ready. When those opportunities arise—whether in business, education, or public policy—we must step up. That means dropping the “design” title if needed and embracing broader leadership roles. The future doesn’t just need design leaders—it needs leaders who come from design.
[03:00]
And yes, it all starts with empathy—the cornerstone of Design Thinking. That’s where innovation begins.
