Tim Brown, CEO and president of the global design consultancy IDEO, will join the Steelcase Inc. Board of Directors, effective today. Brown’s experience as an industrial designer, business leader, philanthropist and author will bring additional experience and perspective to the board.

“Tim Brown is an important advocate for design thinking and the convergence of technology and design,” said Robert C. Pew III, Chair of the Steelcase Inc. Board of Directors. “He’s been a great resource for Steelcase through the years, and we’re eager to have his presence on the board to help guide the future of our business.”

Steelcase and IDEO have collaborated for more than 25 years. Brown’s addition to the Board of Directors is a natural move as the company continues to reimagine the workplace in today’s digital business landscape.

Brown has served in senior leadership roles at IDEO since 1987. He has received a number of design awards and showcased his work at top institutions, including the Axis Gallery in Tokyo, the Design Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He is a board member for IDEO.org and serves on the Mayo Innovation Advisory Council and the Advisory Council of Acumen Fund.

A frequent speaker, Brown has appeared at TED, as well as the World Economic Forum where he chairs the Global Agenda Council on the Creative Economy. He has written for numerous publications, including Harvard Business Review and The Economist. His book on how design thinking transforms organizations, “Change by Design,” was released by HarperBusiness in September 2009.