These are the 5 skills of a business designer - and what they can do for your business!

There is no training for business designer, not really. The skills you need to have are too broad. So at MakerLab, we train them ourselves through an intensive two-year program. That said, the basics have to be there. Those super powers that make us sure: this person senses exactly what our customers need.

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In short, what makes a business designer "super" in the MakerLab Universe? We asked business designer Timo Moors.

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When do you use a business designer?

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Timo: "With companies that are at an important tipping point but don't have the knowledge or time to make a good, validated decision. That can be a start-up with a particular issue, but also a mature company that is at a fork in the road, where they have to choose: do we go left or right? That choice has completely different consequences either way.

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It's interesting every time. If you open the newspapers, there are always examples of companies where things are not going quite right. Then you think as a business designer: how could you have done that differently? Our work is really impactful.

And then the super skills of a business designer:

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#1 You are shiny and new

Timo: "With corporate companies you often see that they work in a certain pattern, which means they get less done than a business designer. At MakerLab, we are used to working quickly and iteratively. What we accomplish in a week with a sprint is so much more than a corporate manages in a month or more. They are stuck with procedures that they can't get out of easily. As an outsider, you can get around those and therefore make quick choices and start experimenting right away.'

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#2 You go deep quickly

Timo: "Basically, with a good product-market fit with a strong target group, you want to see sustainable growth back. If that is not the case, you know that something is not right. It is not always immediately clear what the problem is. That's why at MakerLab we do a deep dive session to find out exactly how a company works. In a few days we get to the core. To do that, we use many different models and frameworks and then it's play until you find the right fit with the customer.'

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#3 You don't come up with the brilliant idea

Timo: "Listening is key as a business designer. You can bring people along during a workshop and share experiences and knowledge, plant seeds, but you don't come up with the new idea. The team has to do that themselves, otherwise it won't land within such a company. We facilitate the workshops, help them in the right direction and provide the tools.'

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#4 You do NOT put the customer first (but then who does?!).

Timo: "In a strategy consulting firm, after a long research, they make a report indicating the chances of success of a certain choice, but we let the market decide ... i.e. the (potential) target group, our client's customer.

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MakerLab has all that theory too, but we are pragmatic - we have a lot of manufacturing skills that allow us to validate hypotheses directly. While we're still figuring out exactly what the solutions or target groups are going to be, the company can already start testing in multiple directions in the marketplace. As a result, you can generate traction very quickly with very little, creating sustainable value for a future product or service along the way.'

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#5 You are creative with solutions as well as people

Timo: "Sometimes you get hired to do one thing at a client's site and end up with a completely different solution. It's your job to discover what the right path is. Switching quickly is important, as is problem-solving and daring to steer when you think it is necessary. This also involves a bit of people skills. That you involve everyone properly, that people feel heard - stakeholders but also a team itself. You are actually a kind of coach. Of an enthusiastic and motivated team, which makes it extra fun.

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Do you recognize yourself in these qualities? We are looking for a senior business designer, check out our open position!