You are on page 1of 13

Good design

is good business.

{ a speech by Thomas Watson }


+ +
D E D I C AT I O N for those who see farther
{ a speech by Thomas Watson } +++

One of the first corporate


pioneers to advocate design’s role in the busi-
ness world was Thomas J. Watson, Jr. (1914-
1993), former CEO of IBM. Watson estab-
lished IBM as one of the twentieth century’s
most famous brands, as he sees it, with the
help of design. The “Good Design is Good
Business” lecture – delivered by Watson at the
University of Pennsylvania Wharton’s School
of Business – reveals how design contributed
to IBM’s ideology. From architecture to prod-
uct design, Watson argues that good design
offers to serve people and products in achiev-
ing their full potential therefore making good
business. Observing IBM’s success, design’s
indispensability to corporate growth is clear
– producing excellent returns not only to the
business but also to human beings.
+

+ After entering a business + which, fortunately for me,


was headed by my father, I
eventually came to see design
become one of the major
reasons for the success of
the IBM Company over the past
eighteen or nineteen years. We had relatively
+ good design in the days before I ever got
there, but one night in the early 1950s, as I
was wandering along Fifth Avenue, I found
myself attracted to typewriters sitting in front
of a shop window. They were on stands with
rolls of paper in them for anybody’s use.
They were different colors and very attrac-
tively designed (In those days you could have

1
an IBM typewriter in any color as long as it vacuum tubes, which seemed from the inside
was black, as Henry Ford said about his “Tin design to be the very epitome of modern tech-
Lizzie.”). I went into the shop and also found nology. We thought it was time for the outside
attractive, modern furniture in striking colors to match the inside. That was a design prob-

with a kind of collectiveness. The nameplate lem. We took all of the top-level people in the
IBM design in contrast with that of Olivetti
over the door was Olivetti.
and a number of other companies. We wanted
Subsequently, I went to Italy and met Mr.
to improve IBM design, not only in architec-
Adriano Olivetti, one of the great industrial
ture and typography, but color, interiors – the
leaders of Italy. He had a completely organ-
whole spectrum.
ized design program that included company
The only person in my experience who
buildings for employee housing – which was
knew anything about design was Eliot Noyes.
popular in Italy at that time – as well as
During the war, I had become interested in
Olivetti offices, products, colors, brochures,
gliders. Eliot Noyes was head of the glider
and advertisements.
program in the Air Force and we had flown
Shortly after this, in 1955, a close IBM
gliders a few times together. After the war he
friend of mine, manager of our IBM business
became a prominent industrial designer, so I
in Holland, sent me a very thick letter in
had asked him to join us in the Pocono
which he said: “Tom, we’re going into the
Mountains. At the end of three days, he con-
electronic era and I think IBM designs and
vinced us to do an about-face in our design
architecture are really lousy. I’ve collected a
trends. From that day to this, Eliot Noyes
lot of Olivetti brochures and pictures of their
had given fifty percent of his time to the IBM
buildings, as well as brochures and pictures of
Company, never as an employee, always as an
IBM. Put them all out on the floor and have a
independent consultant. It has been a won-
look down each column and see if you don’t
derful relationship.
think we ought to do something.” The
With Eliot’s arrival, we organized our
Olivetti material fitted together like a beauti-
design plans. We had just three factories in
ful picture puzzle. At that time we didn’t have
those days. In every IBM factory and labora-
a design theme or any consistent color pro-
tory today, there is a design section free to
gram. All we had were some very efficient
change the exteriors of our machines, if it
machines, not too well packaged, and some
does not hinder their function, in order to
competence in the new field of computers. In
make them fit a cohesive and attractive
fact, we were building our first family of
design. It is done autonomously at each lab
computers — the 700 series. They worked on

2 3
and plant, but always under the general
supervision of Eliot Noyes. Eliot also travels,
lectures, and advises people to come to the
various centers of designs here and abroad
and to keep their ideas modern and fresh.
Furthermore, as we design these machines,
we are aware of our position at the cutting
edge of technology in electronics, a technolo-
gy which can often be physically beautiful.
+
The actual mechanisms themselves make
lovely pictures, so we finally put in safety
glass and let the customer or observer look
into the machine mechanism itself, rather
than try to hide it under a cover. At the same
time we began to work on good office and
showroom interiors. We have used probably
“We feel that good design must primarily hundreds of interior decorators over the past
+ +
serve people, and not the other way around” twenty years.
After Eliot Noyes, we took on Paul Rand
to work on design and Charles Eames to do
films, exhibitions, and museum activity.
Charlie has designed the exhibit called
“Computer Perspective,” which was on dis-
play in our Manhattan office building. He
+ knows how to explain computers to the pub-
lic. Charlie can put what a computer does
into a little cartoon-like film and in the
course of twelve minutes have everybody in
the room understanding the main computer
functions, what the world is looking for from
computers, and how they work.
In the course of fifteen years, from 1956
to 1971, we built about 150 plants, laborato-

5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

serve people
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ries, and office buildings. Whenever we had conflict – between a good, strong-minded
one to build, we would get the names of architect and a good, purposeful company. We
three good architects from whom our own have had some lively conflicts with some of
design people would pick as appropriate for those better known architects. For example,
our needs. The names that we picked from we have a plant in Boca Raton, Florida, done
were familiar names: Mies Van Der Rohe; by Marcel Breuer. It was the third building he
Breuer; Eero Saarinen; the late Egon Eirmann did for us. He has a perfectly delightful per-
of Germany; Jacques Schader of Switzerland; sonality. He appears to be disarmingly soft,
Marco Zanuso of Italy (who is an excellent but he is like a piece of steel inside. Part of his
interior decorator as well as a designer); intended design included a large lake in front
Jorgen Bo of Denmark; Sten Samuelson of of this building with an island on it and some
Sweden; Shoji Hayashi of Japan, and the late mobiles on the island. I thought it was a great
Henrique Mindlin of Brazil. idea but it was going to add as much as
[…] $600,000 to the cost of the plant, which was
What is the definition of good design in already about $40 million. About that time
the IBM Company? We feel that good design the country also went into that economic
must primarily serve people, and not the recession of 1969 and 1970. So I had to elimi-
other way around. It must take into account nate the island, a decision which almost lost
human beings, whether they be our employees me my friendship with Marcel Breuer, which I
or our customers who use our products. Our prized highly. I made a promise to him that at
machines should be nothing more than tools some point in the future the island would be
for extending the powers of the human beings installed along with the mobiles. If any of you
who use them. As a consequence, our design, visit that plant in Boca Raton, feel free to
our colors, our building interiors are intended visualize an island in the middle of that lake.
to complement human activity, rather than It will be there one day.
dominate it. Naturally, we are interested in There has to be a certain amount of con-
good design. We try to balance the two con- flict in such matters, and one has to cajole,
siderations. We also know that you have to persuade, and even insist that the architect
pay a premium for good design, but that pre- move only a reasonable distance beyond the
mium is paid back as many different benefits last best thing he has seen or done. I have just
to the corporation in its activities. been in Rome and have seen plenty of histori-
A good architect wants to experiment, to cal reasons for not letting architects get too
pioneer. There is always a dialogue – even a far ahead of you. You may remember that the

8 9
Renaissance Pope, Julius II, had his problems
with Michelangelo (It can be argued that
Michelangelo had his problems with the Pope,
too). For Julius II, he designed a sarcophagus,
larger then Saint Peter’s basilica in which it
was supposed to rest, and so a new basilica
had to be planned. The time schedule got
completely out of hand, and Michelangelo
lost some of the support of the Pope. In the
+ IBM Company, we would call that a loss of
both cost and account control.
“If a
If a corporation decides to be a design
corporation
leader, it must have a good advisor, which is
decides why you are hearing the name “Noyes” fre-
to be quently throughout this lecture. Without a
a good advisor, the design program may be gar-
ish, or what designers call “kitsch,” as a result
+ design leader, +
of trying to go a bit too far. Experimental
it must
design, carried beyond disciplined control,
have often becomes nonfunctional, wasteful, and
a expensive. Good design has to meet functional
good requirements. It has to serve as good back-
ground and be subordinated to the human and
advisor”
machine activities it supports. It ought to cre-
+ ate a pleasant atmosphere, whether it is a
building, a computer, a piece of furniture or
and interior. In all cases, the design plan is
there only because people are there.
We built, for example, a very modern
monolithic circuitry plant in Endicott, New
York. In this plant, production was on a high-
ly automated basis with very few people and
highly mechanized production lines. The fac-

11
tory interior looked almost like a modern tive. But if it is rigidly designed and inflexible,
drawing room. While building it, we decided an industry can go out of business within a
the cafeteria of our oldest plant, also in few decades. Certainly good design flavors the
Endicott, was outdated and that we would relationship of a corporation with its many
put a cafeteria in the lower floor of the new publics – its employees, its stockholders, its
plant. The beautiful theme of monolithic cir- customers, its social critics, and the multitudes
cuitry production was projected into the new of business watchers.
cafeteria. There were three tiers for the tables My father headed IBM from 1914 until
and unusual colors on the walls. The place his death in 1956. Because I worked a number
looked unbelievably clean, but in our other of years for him, I can tell you some of his
Endicott installations there are many oily, goals for the IBM Company which relate to
greasy screw-machine type operations. When our design program. Business growth alone
that cafeteria was opened, many of our was far from his top objective. What he want-
employees from the older plant operations ed was to win a place for IBM in the estima-
refused to come in and eat because they were tion of people, and he realized that we had to
afraid, and embarrassed, that they would soil earn it not only by what we did, but also how
it. It was overdesigned and we had to we looked. So we wore white shirts and dark
“unplush” it. It caused an uproar. Many of suits and even stiff collars. Father felt that
our oldest IBM employees are in Endicott and nonconservative dress might confuse a sales
most of them own IBM stock. When they see prospect, whose mind might stray, even envi-
money being wasted, many write immediately ously, away from the product that the sales-
to me saying, “Somebody has lost his mind man was trying to sell, to the cut of the sales-
here in Endicott. They’re taking the shrubbery man’s coat or the design of the shoes. I did
and plants out of this lovely cafeteria and manage to break away from the stiff collar.
tearing down walls.” But we finally converted We now wear more comfortable collars.
it to a place that was popular. This is a good People still smile at our dark suits and white
example of how overdesign wastes money. shirts. But we in IBM smile along with them.
Design in industry usually encompasses a The stockholding public also smiles happily at
mixture of the practical and the aesthetic. our growth and success.
Even the way an organization is designed can Long before we had enough money to
determine whether it is ugly or beautiful. If it launch a design program, we tried to look
is well designed, it can respond to the future. more successful than we really were. We had
It can change its form and it remains competi- an unusually fine showroom on Fifth Avenue

12 13
by 1926. I remember standing on the balcony only act on our tastes and instincts, tamper
to watch the parade for Lindbergh after his them with business consideration and hope
flight to Paris in 1927. I am sure if we used for good results. The Egyptian pyramids sur-
the same percentage of our earnings today vived because of sound engineering. But I
that we used on that Fifth Avenue showroom, think one reason we go to see them is their
we would own about two blocks on Fifth design – very simple, very attractive, very
Avenue. And yet it caused people to look up pleasing to the eye.
and say, "What do those letters ‘IBM’ mean?" We remember the merchant cities of
The windows helped get our products known Venice and Florence, not because of their
and this in turn helped to sell them. sophistication and wealth, but because of
[…] what resulted from that sophistication and
I think it is relatively easy to measure the wealth in the arts and in design – in painting,
impact of design on a product. As I said, we architecture, pottery, sculpture. Nobody can
could not get our typewriter division out of consciously design for posterity. But it
the red until we had it packaged in a way that behooves anyone in business today to pay full
make typists want to use it. Their hands have attention to the value of design, as long as he
to provide only an ounce of pressure instead means for the business to go on serving the
of the seven ounces that a manual typewriter nation and the world in all of the relevant
requires. But it should also look attractive on ways that spell business survival.
her desk. On several occasions I have summarized
Design is good business in countless other my belief in design as a strong business success
ways. How much business did a good-looking force: “In the IBM Company, we do not think
exhibit attract to the IBM Company? To what that good design can make a poor product
extent do good-looking facilities invite people good, whether the product be a machine or a
to apply for work at IBM? These are intangi- building or a promotional brochure or a busi-
ble things that we believe are genuine dividends ness man. But we are convinced that good
of a good design program. design can materially help make a good prod-
Everybody wants to be a part of, or do uct reach its full potential. In short, we think
business with, a winning organization. If the that good design is good business.” +
organization looks the part of good design,
people begin to think the company is going
somewhere in the world. History alone is the
ultimate judge of what good design is. We can

14 15
+ Th o m as Wat s o n , J r +

From 1956, the year of his father’s death,


until 1971, Watson served as IBM’s CEO.
He graduated from Brown University in 1937
and served as a B-24 pilot in the U.S. Army
Air Corps during WWII. After graduation, he
moved to Manhattan and became a salesman
for IBM. For the next fifteen years, Watson
would bring IBM into the eye of the modern
world, through an affinity for good design.

16 17
Th i s p u b l i c at i o n is one designed and published by

in a series of reprints of critiques,


ideas, and stories about design.

ac k n ow l e d g m e n t s
Fire Station No. 16
822 Marietta Street
Permission for reprinting
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Mr. Watson’s lecture was
404.875.0079
granted by Tiffany & Co. of
2 cvista.com
New York, New York.

This speech was first published


in The Uneasy Coalition:
Design in Corporate America,
edited by Thomas Schutte
(Philadelphia: University of
Pennsylvania Press, 1975).

You might also like