David White Passed Away on Jan. 31, 2012

David Arnold White, IDSA

David Arnold White, IDSA, CEO of the industrial design consulting firm DesignDesign, died January 31 at 60. He suffered a pulmonary embolism near his office in Kennett Square, PA.  For his daughter Erika and son Ian who worked with him in the business and those who knew him well, we mourn the loss of a mentor, friend and a person full of intelligence, extraordinary talent and humor.  David was my second cousin.  At a serendipitous meeting at the 1970 IDSA conference in Kentucky Dam, we discovered that we were both industrial design students. David and I always followed each other’s career paths and had the chance to work together on projects.  I was always inspired by the growth of his career, especially since him and his wife Linda created a fabulous family while simultaneously building a design consultancy.

“The origins of DesignDesign are founded on David White, and the experiences in his career that have shaped the business. David graduated from Philadelphia College of Art with a bachelor’s in industrial design in 1973 and supported the formation of two businesses in five years. The first, Skethea (Greek for "design"), designed, manufactured and marketed sporting goods that were sold through bicycle shops and mass merchandisers like Sears, and exported to Europe. A unique bike hanger was even accepted into the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. In the second business, Somatech, David created realistic custom breast prosthesis for wealthy mastectomy patients in NYC and Philadelphia (described in the book, "First You Cry") and marketed ready-made forms branded ‘Second Nature,’ through Bloomingdale's and America’s finest specialty stores. Despite personal and private investment, and difficult events, both businesses closed in 1978. What were initially deemed “brutal failures,” David later reflected on as invaluable learning experiences.

David promised his wife Linda, that if within his first five years, he had not made a million dollars; he'd get a "regular" job and start their family. David arrived to his first interview with Fortune 100 Company DuPont with a bag of products and was hired. Starting from the ground up, he developed enclosures and organized controls for hi-tech scientific-analysis systems. Within 17 years, he was managing the people that hired him. His expanded Industrial Design throughout DuPont and grew the staff, and while searching out the cream of the crop, gave more than 20 ID graduates their first jobs. David contributed to and managed hundreds of development programs with brilliant men and women in the science and engineering fields. Programs included the first DNA Sequencer, early digital imaging systems, the first HIV Test kit, large clinical chemistry systems, microbiology systems, centrifugations systems, radiopharmaceutical systems, microtomy products and extensive packaging systems. Before leaving DuPont, David led the Industrial Design, Mechanical Design, Electrical Design, Packaging Engineering, Graphic Design, and Environmental Testing groups within the Medical Products Business, representing $4.5 million in annually purchased services, and contributed to the broader corporate branding standards for instruments, equipment and packaging.

David left DuPont in 1994 and formed DesignDesign Inc., starting with six clients. After a year, David joined one of them, SMX, as their marketing director. SMX was an emerging venture-backed, hi-tech manufacturer of Laser Trackers for the QC of cars and planes, who was posturing to go public. David’s contributions were instrumental in growing SMX from $2 million/yr. (and nine people) to $22 million/yr. (and 90 people) in three years. Feeling confident that he could support other manufacturers’ growth, he reopened DesignDesign in 1998, reshaping it to become both an Industrial Design AND Marketing firm. In January 2007, DesignDesign acquired Centerline Design Marketing and Graphics spawning the expansion of the marketing and Web design side of his firm.

Early DD business evolved from personal contacts. Today, 80 percent of the clientele is represented by new and diverse companies throughout the Mid-Atlantic States.”

The fun always started when David arrived on the scene.  I’ll miss his bright colored socks and ties, his Philly cool and the way he made everyone around him feel special.  I can't begin to explain how much I'll miss him. He was a true asset to the profession.

- Nancy Perkins FIDSA

My dad was an incredible dad, husband and recently a fantastic grandfather. His passion for design was inspiring and he never resisted any opportunity to offer guidance and coaching to those young and mature. He had the unique ability to be both creative and engineering-minded, while also using his knowledge and experience in manufacturing to guide clients through the development of successful and cost-effective products.

His ability to see value was amazing. “People buy based on value,” he would say. He taught me, my brothers, and so many other professionals that building relationships with specialists, results in unprecedented solutions. He was practical, yet ambitious; proud, yet humble; conscientious, yet nurturing.

“Find something you love to do, work hard, do it well, and you will be successful. You spend a lot of your life working, so you should enjoy what you do.”

My dad lived every day of his life with enthusiasm, a sincere appreciation for others and with a love for life that was absolutely contagious. His contributions to product development and to the marketing and graphic industries have impacted the design world more than he ever realized. His legacy will live on in his family, at DesignDesign and through all of those who were given the opportunity to seek his insight.

- Erika Bove