Design is a service, not a magic spell. There are designers who do it well, and those who do it poorly; some produce profitable outcomes, and some waste money. More and more companies view design as an important strategic element of their business and are seeking partners to help them understand how it can help. If you’re setting out to do so, you’ll need to confront uncertainty about how to get the most value from the investment and carefully consider what you’re setting out to achieve. An effective client-partner relationship arrives at solutions that aren’t just creative, but useful. The following considerations will help the design you buy yield results that are actionable and effective.