Tony Bynum Takes the Helm at the Institute of Design's Executive Academy

Feb. 03, 2025

The Institute of Design (ID) has appointed Tony Bynum as Director of its Executive Academy. ID’s Executive Academy strives to become the leading provider of B2B, work-integrated design training and development programs and champion the cross-pollination of design and business.

Part of the Illinois Institute of Technology, ID was founded by Bauhaus teacher László Moholy-Nagy in 1937 as The New Bauhaus. Almost 90 years later, its offering has evolved to develop the next generation of design-driven leadership through a unique, three-pronged model, which includes a Graduate School, Action Labs, and the Executive Academy.

The Academy’s B2B, work-integrated (WIL) approach offers design training and development at the team or organizational levels. 

Bynum likens the approach to an organ transplant.

He explained:

“The lessons must be created in the context of the body itself․ If they’re not, there’s a much higher chance the body will reject them.” 

 

As someone who spent a decade and half in the Chicago business world—before and after he earned a design degree at ID—Tony Bynum is well-versed in translating design concepts into corporate ecosystems, including at a Fortune 500 company. In his previous role at Northwestern Mutual, Bynum created a Center of Excellence which saw design concepts applied from within to current company issues.

Bynum said:

"All of my career has been helping organizations de-risk change and establish pathways for growth and transformation. All our Academy instructors have substantial practical experience. They have seen how design does and doesn’t get adopted, and they know the implications for the organization."

 

At ID, design is a strategic business tool that can help organizations seize opportunities, embrace change, and plan for the future amidst today’s rapid change and technological advancement. 

Bynum explained:

"By using partner organizations’ challenges and initiatives as the background for learning, teams can apply their learning immediately. This translates to faster return for the organization."

 

ID Dean Anijo Mathew said:

“With the kind of breakneck advancements we’re seeing today, organizations need to work at speed and demonstrate their efficacy. At the same time, most organizations need new ways to understand and map out the needs, aspirations, and value exchanges between all stakeholders to create multi-generational value for their constituents. We are thrilled to have Tony as the Academy’s Executive Director in this critical moment, as organizations are making game-changing decisions about what tomorrow looks like. His experiences integrating design learning into organizations will be critical to our partners’ future success.”