Abstract
The purposes of this study are first to identify the core competences of design leadership and second to propose the characteristic and effective leadership capabilities required in the design field. To propose the capabilities of reliable and meaningful core competency of design leadership, we identified core competencies through a group of experts from the top group of design leaders (Design executives, head of the design institute) rather than using a survey study based on unspecified designers. In addition, the unique interview method, AI (Appreciated Inquiry) was also used to share the actual experiences and philosophies of the interviewers, regardless of the core competencies. This study revealed that the core competences of design leadership were different from those of conventional general leadership and MOT (Management of Technology) leadership capabilities. Besides, it provided opportunities for leaders in other fields to understand and collaborate on characteristics of the design field, while demonstrating the necessity and justification of unique leadership traits in the field of design.