Leading with Design: Kevin Gilboe’s Journey from U-M and Beyond

Kevin Gilboe, a Stamps alum (BFA ​‘02) and design leader, came to the University of Michigan’s School of Art & Design to be surrounded by design professionals and the rich interdisciplinary community the university offers. Kevin’s time at Stamps shaped his understanding of design not just as a creative practice, but as a powerful business-building force: a foundation that has carried him across continents and industries, from launching design ecosystems in Asia to leading innovation teams at 3M. Now, as part of Design Core Detroit, he’s helping redefine what design can be locally and globally through initiatives like the Detroit Month of Design.

Looking back at your time at Stamps, what were the most formative experiences that shaped your approach to design?

Two things stand out to me most: connecting and learning from students in other fields, and the entrepreneurial focus of the Industrial Design program. My roommates included computer science students who were interning at Apple, business majors, and engineers. I gained a strong appreciation for building connections across skillsets and worldviews. Product design is always a team sport, even today as we’re stepping into the AI age.

You mentioned that faculty member Shaun Jackson (1949 — 2013) had a big impact on you.

Shaun was an entrepreneur first, seeing design as a process to create unique solutions that were both useful and desirable. He used to tell us that ​“nothing happens until it’s sold.” While this may seem a bit flippant in writing, his overall message was a deep view on how human relationships can unlock — and also block — success in design. Great ideas go nowhere without collaboration, which starts with relationship-building and buy-in. In my work with modern startup accelerators today, I don’t see a lot of difference from what Shaun was teaching us 25 years ago. He taught us to be resourceful, build relationships, see the bigger picture and get stuff done. 

What advice would you give current Stamps students about leveraging their art and design skills beyond traditional roles?

One of the leading startup accelerators just put out a public ask for ​“More Design Founders.” Design students have never had more capability to build their ideas, launch their own products and grow a company. Students at the University of Michigan have a huge advantage in access to potential partners across dozens of industries, all on one campus. My #1 point of advice: lean into relationship-building and focus on solving real problems. To me, ​“traditional role” means a designer working for someone else in a studio. This career model is far less relevant now than it once was. 

You’ve worked across cultures and industries — how has that global perspective influenced your approach to design leadership and problem-solving?

My career started in the ​“big studio” era where Design was often viewed as an exclusive, special-access-only enclave behind a locked door. This model grew up in the car industry and was later replicated by tech and consumer electronics companies. Its main purpose is to drive hierarchical control of the creative process and inhibit ​“interference” from other functions in the business. Living abroad with a 24-hour virtual team operating in six countries, I had to lead a diverse community without the physical advantage of a shared studio. 

In the end, I believe this made us more creative and effective. We spent more time in the field meeting customers, building partnerships and getting to know the real world. As it turned out, we were well-prepared for the COVID era as we were already used to virtual and hybrid workstyles. Design leadership is best grounded on truth and trust, which also happen to be prerequisites for a successful international team.

At 3M, you led multidisciplinary teams in countries across Asia. What are some of the challenges and opportunities you encountered while working in other countries?

Asia is a huge geography and the most complex place on the planet, so it’s very easy to waste time on simple logistics. We had to be choiceful and focused on the priority of building capabilities for customer engagement and business development. The reality of international business is that many traditional management concepts just don’t work, and building long-distance collaboration is key. A ​“Go And See” attitude is essential, as there is no better relationship builder than first-hand understanding. The most successful expats embrace the change in mindset that comes with living abroad.

The design field is constantly evolving. What skills or mindsets will be most valuable for the next generation of designers?

Let’s acknowledge that there is a lot of anxiety these days about AI and the global economy. We’re in a time of creative destruction where designers are increasingly empowered by technology like never before — certainly far more than my time as a student at Michigan. The future of design will be less about designing things or systems, and more about orchestrating how AIs learn to interact with people and create value. Designers can play a key role in ensuring that future technology addresses the needs of humanity. In doing this, it’s essential for designers to focus even more on people and authentic human relationships. The most valuable mindset for a designer today is to avoid narrow professional definitions and be ruthless in learning whatever is needed to build your ideas. Go where the human needs are and apply your creativity. 

What excites you most about the future of design, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and how do you see Stamps playing a role in that future?

Technology has massively democratized entrepreneurship. Many of the barriers and gatekeepers that existed when I was a student have disappeared. In the old model, design was an elite serving mass production and/​or mass marketing. What is truly exciting is to see a new concept taking shape where design is centered on creative empowerment, unlocking individual expression on a massive scale. A kid in Detroit with an idea can do today what once took a team of experts to build. Stamps, as part of the University of Michigan, is surrounded by an incredible community of experts in health care, engineering, business, and the sciences. Mastering collaboration across domains of knowledge sets students up well for future success.

What are some of the most innovative projects or teams you’ve led? What made them stand out?

At 3M, my team was often tapped as a partner in new-to-world product development and tech trends research. We could work upstream of existing product line maintenance and do field research in various countries. We developed knowledge that informed strategic planning and in some cases, public prototypes like our VR exhibitions in the early 2020s. In other cases, our work was behind the scenes with designer-to-designer collaboration with leading global brands. What made this work stand out was the direct customer engagement. How cool is it to work with inspiring designers in automotive, consumer electronics, interior design, and public transportation, just to name a few? Now at Design Core Detroit, I have the opportunity to work directly with startups, community leaders, and corporate partners at an even bigger scale.

What excites you most about the Detroit Month of Design events, and how do you see it shaping the future of design, particularly at the intersection of entrepreneurship, community impact, and Michigan’s broader creative economy?

Building Detroit’s creative economy is our primary focus at Design Core Detroit. As one of our most important programs, the Month of Design elevates the visibility and interconnectedness of our creative communities, which in turn fuels their success. Design is both a livelihood and an economic contributor through intellectual property, products, and services. In curating the Month of Design, we take great care to elevate programs that move us forward culturally and economically. 

Detroit Month of Design is unique in being deeply rooted in community while reaching across all domains of creative practice. Individual artists, local nonprofits, startups and global corporations all participate. The festival’s diversity authentically reflects Detroit and underscores how creativity is open to all. What excites me the most is how the Month continues to elevate Detroit as a vibrant creative hub. The most common phrase I hear from people visiting us is ​“wow, I had no idea!” As Michigan’s largest city and the original setting for so many creative stories, it’s on us to demonstrate excellence and bring people together.