Jim Couch, IDSA
With over twenty five plus (25+) years of broad industry experiences, Jim has led and managed multi-disciplinary product development and design strategy programs for some of the world’s most respected brands, including companies such as Alcon, Black & Decker, Coca-Cola, Diebold, Eastman Kodak, Ford Motor Company, LG Electronics, Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson & Sons, STERIS, Xerox, and Whirlpool, among others.
As a practitioner of user-centered design, Jim has helped develop tools and processes to identify latent user needs, revitalize mature products, and develop new and novel product and service offerings. With numerous patents and design awards to his name, Jim is skilled in all aspects of product development, with a particularly strong emphasis on front-end opportunity discovery. He has served as a board member of the Industrial Design Society of America, and as a juror on the Business Week/IDSA International Design Excellence Awards program. Jim is a frequent lecturer to design, business, and academic audiences.
EXPERIENCE
Prior to working at Lextant, which he joined in 2008 and oversaw new business development, marketing and client services, Jim led the industrial design studio at Altair ProductDesign and before that was head of product development for a pre-revenue medical device start-up. Jim began his career with the international design consultancy Fitch. During his twenty-one (21) year tenure with the company he held numerous positions ultimately serving as General Manager for the Columbus, OH office.
