Design is all about ideas

Today we had a meeting with my boss and among other things we talked about was what is important for a designer. Here's what he said (quotes):

-"Design is all about ideas. Design without a concept behind it, no matter how technically perfect, is just a decoration. Fresh ideas is what designers are getting paid for. They are what makes the designer different from the guy in the street."

-" A graphic designer should have his own opinion and should be able to express it."

-"There are two types of designers: designers who come up with ideas and designers who execute those ideas. It doesn't matter who is coming up with the idea, the executer is always doing what he is told. The one who comes up with the idea is the one who designs."