John Barratt, FIDSA

CEO, TEAGUE John Barratt, FIDSA, has served in top positions on IDSA’s Board of Directors—including as at-large director, chair-elect, chair and chair emeritus—and as an IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) juror. What does it mean to him to have given his time, dedication and expertise to support IDSA all these years? “Being part of an organization focused on advancing design as a profession has been an incredible experience,” says Barratt. “I believe that together, we—as a community—will have a lasting and positive impact.” Barratt is marking almost three decades in the ID profession since he earned his bachelor’s degree in three-dimensional design from Teesside Polytechnic and his master’s degree in industrial design from Leicester Polytechnic—both schools, in the United Kingdom. He began his career in 1990, working as a product designer at Exatiss Concept in Paris. After nearly five years of “exhausting hours, exhausting clients, a few design awards and 2,400 hours in the Parisian Metro”—he moved on to Philips Design in Holland. There, Barratt says he had the great fortune to work under the direction of Stefano Marzano—building and leading design teams that embodied poetic design; articulate and passionate creative direction; and a missionary zeal to exceed expectations. Spending five years at Philips, Barratt held leading positions in the Hong Kong, Eindhoven and New York City studios. In his final role as strategic design manager at Philips, Barratt established and implemented a coherent brand language across ranges of telecommunication products and initiated, mentored and implemented a future-focused ideation process for the burgeoning mobile phone market. In 1999, Barratt’s global experience in both operational and strategic roles at Philips Design facilitated his move to TEAGUE. Barratt serves as president and CEO of the legendary design consultancy founded in 1926 by Walter Dorwin Teague—an IDSA Fellow. During the IDSA Awards 2017 at the International Design Conference 2017 in Atlanta, Barratt was inducted into IDSA’s Academy of Fellows. “I’m deeply honored to join a such a talented and diverse group of creatives who have served as incredible advocates for the design profession and pushed the industry forward,” says Barratt. Under Barratt’s direction, TEAGUE’s contributions to design have been recognized with multiple IDEAs—and honors from Red Dot, Good Design and iF. In 2006, the consultancy was presented with the Design Management Institute’s Design Management Team of the Year Award. For nearly two decades at TEAGUE, Barratt has dedicated his time to building on its heritage; strengthening TEAGUE’s partnerships with some of the world’s leading brands including Boeing, Microsoft, Samsung and Intel; and pushing TEAGUE’s longstanding mission “to build a new and better world” into the 21st century.

CEO, TEAGUE

John Barratt, FIDSA, has served in top positions on IDSA’s Board of Directors—including as at-large director, chair-elect, chair and chair emeritus—and as an IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) juror. What does it mean to him to have given his time, dedication and expertise to support IDSA all these years? “Being part of an organization focused on advancing design as a profession has been an incredible experience,” says Barratt. “I believe that together, we—as a community—will have a lasting and positive impact.”

Barratt is marking almost three decades in the ID profession since he earned his bachelor’s degree in three-dimensional design from Teesside Polytechnic and his master’s degree in industrial design from Leicester Polytechnic—both schools, in the United Kingdom.

He began his career in 1990, working as a product designer at Exatiss Concept in Paris. After nearly five years of “exhausting hours, exhausting clients, a few design awards and 2,400 hours in the Parisian Metro”—he moved on to Philips Design in Holland. There, Barratt says he had the great fortune to work under the direction of Stefano Marzano—building and leading design teams that embodied poetic design; articulate and passionate creative direction; and a missionary zeal to exceed expectations.

Spending five years at Philips, Barratt held leading positions in the Hong Kong, Eindhoven and New York City studios. In his final role as strategic design manager at Philips, Barratt established and implemented a coherent brand language across ranges of telecommunication products and initiated, mentored and implemented a future-focused ideation process for the burgeoning mobile phone market. In 1999, Barratt's global experience in both operational and strategic roles at Philips Design facilitated his move to TEAGUE.

Barratt serves as president and CEO of the legendary design consultancy founded in 1926 by Walter Dorwin Teague—an IDSA Fellow. During the IDSA Awards 2017 at the International Design Conference 2017 in Atlanta, Barratt was inducted into IDSA’s Academy of Fellows. “I’m deeply honored to join a such a talented and diverse group of creatives who have served as incredible advocates for the design profession and pushed the industry forward,” says Barratt.

Under Barratt's direction, TEAGUE’s contributions to design have been recognized with multiple IDEAs—and honors from Red Dot, Good Design and iF. In 2006, the consultancy was presented with the Design Management Institute’s Design Management Team of the Year Award.

For nearly two decades at TEAGUE, Barratt has dedicated his time to building on its heritage; strengthening TEAGUE’s partnerships with some of the world's leading brands including Boeing, Microsoft, Samsung and Intel; and pushing TEAGUE’s longstanding mission “to build a new and better world” into the 21st century.

Activities for John

Board of Directors | Chair-Elect, Chair, Chair Emeritus | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

IDSA Award Winner | Fellow

IDEA Jury Chair | 2010