Arts Principles

main “This book is a pithy, pragmatic compilation of the uniquely personal ideas that have powered Art Gensler’s leadership in building his remarkable firm.”—Ted W. Hall—Director Emeritus, McKinsey & Company The Book

Art’s Principles reveals the blueprint behind one of the most successful professional services firms, giving career-minded individuals the tools they need to excel in business. The book covers the essentials of leadership, talent acquisition and operations, while outlining the creative strategies that propelled a small business into one of the largest and most admired in its industry.

This guidebook is full of well-tested ideas that are applicable to someone running a small, medium or large professional firm — or running any project where people, profit and customers matter.

Endorsements

Art spent a lifetime building not only one of the world’s best architectural design firms, but a great professional services enterprise. The lessons he has set down will serve a generation of leaders who are seeking to create the best professional services firms for the 21st century. Martin Koffel Chairman & CEOURS Corporation

Art’s Principles is such a gift to all of us and gives us yet another reason to admire Art Gensler. His firm's success has been nothing short of amazing. Reading this book helps illuminate why Gensler has had such an impact at the intersection of design, architecture and business. There is so much detailed practical knowledge here for all individuals, regardless of industry. It is a must read. David Kelley Founder and ChairmanIDEO

For years, CEOs have wanted to know the secrets behind Art Gensler’s success in building the #1 design firm in the world. Here they are in the form of the Principles that guided his leadership — principles, as he often said, that he never learned in architecture school. There is no “silver bullet” here. Rather these are principles which, taken together, define the culture of the Gensler firm. Jim Edgar Edgar, Dunn & Company and Brand Paradigm LLC

Art Gensler is the original design thinker. His experience building a successful client-focused, design-centric, international firm is relevant for students, architects, designers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. This book has valuable lessons for anyone who cares about developing businesses that are not just profitable, but also innovative, sustainable, and meaningful. Stephen Beal PresidentCalifornia College of the Arts

Art always asks lots of questions with a unique sense of humor. As a result his products turn out to be exactly what you want, and the process is fun. He then gives credit to everyone but himself. From our experience, this has created the culture of Gensler which has allowed it to grow successfully for so many years. James E. Rohr Retired Chairman and CEOPNC Financial Services Group

It is a must-read for anyone working in or trying to build a professional services firm – which is a very large part of the global economy. Architects and designers may be interested, but the lessons Art describes apply to law, accounting, advertising, business consulting, and many other firms. Martin Manley Executive DirectorHult International Business School

Authors

Arthur Gensler

Arthur Gensler is an architect and entrepreneur who founded the Gensler design firm in 1965. The business has thrived for 50 years, growing from a three-person office to the largest design firm in the world. Its success is based on a combination of exceptional design services, innovative leadership, and team-oriented infrastructure. An early advocate of social networking, Art cultivated enduring relationships with a diverse range of clients, including Bank of America, Gap, and Cushman & Wakefield. A graduate of Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, he has earned many honors, including the Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1995, as well as Ernst & Young’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, Gensler received the American Institute of Architects’ “Firm of the Year” award.

Michael TS Lindenmayer

Michael is an entrepreneur, educator, and writer. He thinks about the core business and design principles required to reach scale and make an impact. For the past 20 years, he has applied these to for-profit and not-for-profit ventures in the US, Europe, South Asia, and Latin America. He is an associate fellow at the University of Chicago’s Booth Business School. He contributes to Forbes and is the co-author of Charity and Philanthropy For Dummies.

Together with Arthur Gensler, Michael co-founded an education platform that teaches the core concepts shared in Art’s Principles.

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Latest News

Fortune Art shares the most important lesson Steve Jobs taught him Inc. Magazine Art Gensler praised for finding the keys to employee happiness San Francisco Gate This feature story highlights the many milestones of Art’s career Forbes Art’s Principles co-author Michael Lindenmayer authors a column on Art, the “Learning Leader” Interior Design Magazine Interior Design Magazine’s editor in chief brings her camera crew to Gensler’s San Francisco office for a chat with Art Building Design + Construction This in-depth article covers Art’s story from family-owned business to largest architecture firm Teknion: Design Does Matter In this video, Art shares advice on client relationships and stresses design’s potential to make the world a better place Back to top