Design Thinking: A Strategy for Innovation

Here are some interesting insights from Linda Naiman - Creativity at Work, she has some fantastic networks...

Innovation Practices for Leaders

The revolution taking place in design — as it emerges from its traditional role of serving commerce — to a role of leading, shaping and directing the way we live and work, presents tremendous opportunities for leaders in business and government. CEOs of major corporations are now applying design principles to strategy and innovation. The success rate for innovation dramatically improves when it is designed.

P&G is using design-thinking to change its culture. Leadership is listening, learning, and deploying; cross-functional teams are cracking vexing problems across its business landscape; and visualization, prototyping, and iteration are facilitating communication internally and with customers like never before. (BusinessWeek July 28, 2008)

A design mind-set is not problem-focused, it’s solution focused, and action oriented. The purpose of design, ultimately, is to improve quality of life. Empathy is key to design success.

From a design point of view, truly innovative products speak to their users' emotions, according to Yves Behar (Fast Company 2004), who designs radical innovations to well established consumer products for companies such as Nike and Toshiba. It's the emotional connection you make with employees and customers that wins their loyalty.

The design way of thinking can be applied to systems, situations, procedures, protocols, and innovation. We can design the way we lead, manage, create and innovate.

Contact Linda Naiman for design training and consulting