The books included on this list will give you both a broad overview of design leadership and detailed examples of design leaders in action.

The future is bright for people that can turn insight into action.

1. Design Leadership: Securing the Strategic Value of Design, Raymond Turner.

The book is based on Raymond Turner’s extensive experience and insights into the effective use of design as a business resource for competitive advantage and social benefit.

2. Rise of the DEO: Leadership by Design, Maria Giuduce and Christopher Ireland.

The book lays out—graphically and through example—how DEOs run their companies and why this approach makes sense now.

3. Redesigning Leadership (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life), John Maeda and Rebecca J. Bermont.

John Maeda uses his experience as a designer, computer scientist, and president of the Rhode Island School of Design to reveal a new model of leadership for the next generation of leaders.

4. Leadership by Design: Creating an Architecture of Trust, Richard N. Swett.

Leadership by Design is a plea to architects, designers, and leaders to expand their tool chest as we seek new leadership to design new solutions for the complex challenges facing our nation and the world.

5. Leadership by Design, Albert A. Vicere and Robert M. Fulmer.

Leadership by Design explores the shift away from traditional methods that benefit only a few towards a leadership development strategy that will drive the flexibility, commitment, and competitiveness of an entire organization.