[IxDA Discuss] designer/programmer ratio?

[Sherman, Paul]

I have looked at this issue in my organization. Here's what I have been
telling the product mgmt & engineering leadership in my company: 

- Our UCD team consists of:
5 interaction designers / usability analysts
1 visual designer
1 manager
1 director

- The team supports a combined team of 100 developers + product
managers. This is a ratio of about 12.5:1, or 10:1 without product
managers.

- For small teams, I recommend a "two-drink" minimum, that is, hire 1
usability & 1 design person. 

- When they ask why the team needs a manager and/or director, this is
what I say:

"You need someone to champion the cause, lead the process changes, serve
in the escalation path, and communicate in business- and tech-friendly
terms to the rest of the organization. In short, you need a leader."

HTH,
Paul Sherman

----
I'm looking to find out the desirable ratio of design staff, including
IxD and visual design people, to programmers.  It seems to be a common
phenomenon that small companies in the software industry compare
themselves to companies with large dedicated design teams (ie Apple,
Google, Yahoo), while allocating scant resources themselves to design.

I'm wondering if those who have (or have seen) a good balance could
share what they consider an ideal breakdown to be.  I realize it may
vary depending on the work...