Job design for good design practice

Good design practice requires more than individual strategies and methodology. The work of designers has to be supported by the organisation to enable designers to interact with colleagues proactively, to share relevant information and to learn collectively. Based on a framework of proactive design and psychological theories, four criteria for job design are developed, i.e. control over the design process, availability and clarity of design-relevant information, feedback on results and management support. The tasks of 19 designers from large, medium-sized and service companies were assessed according to the criteria. The results highlight areas for improvement in the different types of companies. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.