The Design Executive Council (DXC), the premier membership network for corporate design executives, is proud to announce its expansion to Seattle on November 7th, 2024—a dynamic hub for Fortune 1000 design leadership across technology, retail, e-commerce, and aerospace. This marks DXC’s third regional expansion, after San Francisco Bay Area and New York, tied to its aims to foster a network of senior design executives in key markets.
Seattle as a key hub for design leadership
Seattle is home to some of the world’s most influential companies and visionary design executives driving innovation across diverse industries. Founding members in the region include Chief Design Officers, VPs of Design, and board members with leadership experience at Amazon, Boeing, Cigna Health Group, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Oracle, SiriusXM Pandora, Starbucks, Workday, and more.
At DXC, our mission is to advance strategic design leadership by building a connected community of leaders who drive cutting-edge research, produce impactful media, and deliver vital business intelligence to shape the future of business and design. The launch of DXC Seattle adds a vital pillar to our growing membership network and research capabilities to understand how strategic design leadership functions across diverse companies.
Founding members gathered for an inaugural dinner to build connections and shape the vision for the Seattle hub. The event laid the foundation for DXC’s regional programming, featuring tailored in-person events, sector-focused research initiatives, and advocacy opportunities designed to tackle the unique challenges faced by companies and leaders in the Pacific Northwest.
Voices from our Seattle community:
Gordon Ching, DXC Founder & CEO, shared, “Seattle’s legacy of innovation across aerospace, technology, and retail—with significant companies like Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Nordstrom, and Starbucks—has solidified its role as a hub for strategic design leadership. Expanding to Seattle enables DXC to collaborate with visionary leaders shaping the future of design’s impact on business and society. We’re thrilled to welcome this esteemed group of executives to advance our mission together.
Matthew Holloway, VP Design at SnapLogic and DXC board advisor, shares, “Seattle is second only to Silicon Valley; it’s long been at the epicenter of design and innovation. Being a part of DXC since its founding, it’s important to me for DXC to celebrate Seattle’s role in design and the impact its design leaders are having globally.
Jeff Gelfuso, founding member and DXC Seattle Chair said: “Seattle’s thriving design community, nestled in the PNW, is home to some of the world’s most inventive companies across tech, retail, aerospace, healthcare, and travel, where top design professionals create innovative experiences while embracing the region’s vibrant culture and active lifestyle. Uniting design leaders through DXC strengthens both the global impact of these industries and the local communities that make this region so unique.
Jyoti Shukla, SVP Experience Design at SiriusXM Pandora and founding DXC Seattle member, added, “It’s fantastic to be strategizing with a group of leaders from Seattle who bring such diverse experience and insights from a variety of industries. Seattle has long been a beacon of tech innovation, and it’s incredibly refreshing to collaborate with leaders so deeply focused on human-centered design and its alignment with core business strategy.
Christina Vallery, Chief Design Officer at Cigna Health Group, shared: “Seattle’s history in tech and design is undeniable, with leaders spanning commerce, cloud, gaming, and AI. But what truly sets this city apart is its soul—the unique blend of intellectual and emotional energy that gives depth to its creative community. That energy was so evident in our recent meetup, where the vibrancy and passion of this community came alive. Not every city has this kind of richness, and it’s a gift I’m grateful for every day.
We extend our gratitude to our founding members for an inspiring conversation on design leadership. One standout moment was the exploration of gentleness as a leadership quality—often overlooked yet profoundly impactful in strengthening our effectiveness as leaders. These discussions help uncover the unique journeys required to excel in design executive roles.
As we continue to grow in Seattle and across the United States, we are looking forward to learning from the communities we serve. Our founding members have been instrumental in shaping this journey, and we are excited to build on this momentum together.
Ways to engage with our community:
- For Design Executives: Express your membership interest
- For Corporates: Express your partnership interest
