Coming this November, a new book by Thomas Lockwood and organization psychologist Edgar Papke: Innovation by Design. Why are some organizations more innovative than others? How can we tap into, empower, and leverage the natural innovation within our organizations that is so vital to our future success? Now more than ever, companies and institutions of […]
Read MoreHow to align design and corporate culture
Here is a challenging thought – I’d argue that the greatest obstacle to great design is corporate culture. Therefore, if one understands corporate culture, one could in theory and practice create and deliver much better design. This is a very powerful concept. Several years ago I began collaborating with Edgar Papke, who is a well […]
Read MoreWhat do design thinkers think?
Have you ever wondered which problem is the most important to solve? Do you focus on the smaller problem at hand, or the bigger problem that lies beneath? The answer is yes, to both. That’s what design thinkers do. They solve the issues before them, while taking a bite out of the bigger issues too, […]
Read MoreHow a 185 year old insurance company re-framed innovation
Leadership psychologist Edgar Papke and I just dove deep into the intersection of innovation, design thinking and corporate culture, and published our analysis in a new book Innovation by Design. We found that one of the aspects of leveraging design thinking at scale is the idea of open spaces – physically and mentally. This includes […]
Read MoreThe Anatomy of a Great UX Design Leader
Fast Company recently asked me – What makes a great UX design leader? Here is my response – Seven key traits the best UX design leaders share. The job market for user experience designers is booming, and academic programs at companies like Google have sprung up to meet demand. Missing from most discussions about the […]
Read MoreHow to go from designer to chief design officer
As design school grads launch into their chosen professions, it’s a good time to remember that your career is the one design project that you control. And, like design, there is no single right answer, but there is an array of options. So the path you take is entirely up to you. Just consider the […]
Read MoreThe importance of playing for building a culture of innovation.
By Joan Vinyets Rejon. ‘We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing’. George Bernard Shaw Reflections on play and innovation In human evolution there are many manifestations about the importance of play, because it’s what enables the individual to discover new approaches to deal with the world. In […]
Read MoreHow to hire great design leaders
Let’s face it, every business must innovate for the future, and innovation requires creativity. Not just creativity, but appropriately focused and managed creativity. But this kind of creativity doesn’t just pop up on demand, and you can’t just click on it; it takes savvy Design, UX and Innovation leaders that know how to nurture and […]
Read MoreIn service design, it’s pilot or perish.
By Lavrans Lovlie. Why business cases cost organisations billions. Most organisations assure the viability of an initiative by building a business case that has to meet certain targets, such as return on investment (ROI), or an industry specific measure such as average revenue per user (ARPU). Ultimately, a business case is supposed to offer management […]
Read MoreBringing design thinking into your business.
By Jeanne Liedtka. Many of us who have studied (and lived in) organizations see design thinking as just another problem solving approach that can add value to any manager’s tool kit. It may sound mysterious and fuzzy, but it is not. Especially in times as ambiguous and hard to predict as those facing businesses today, […]
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