Identity shapes design of products and services so why ignore it when we are designing for humans lives? Who we are, who we think we are, or who we see ourselves to be all shapes how we act. Our identity is among the most powerful forces that influence our behaviour. Research on change has shown …
Designing for humans means recognizing our distinctions and commonalities at the same time. Human-centred design suggests that we design for individuals’ needs and wants. As the theory goes, once we empathize with our intended users by doing some background research or even involving them in the creation of the ‘thing’ we are designing for, we …
Energy powers innovation, creativity, motivation, and the will to make change happen if we design for it. Change requires power. Power comes from energy. Without the energy to power change we will go nowhere. Yet, much of what we design in our innovation plans lack a power plant to fuel change. This power plant involves …
Our environment shapes our individual and collective behaviour so designing how it functions matters a lot. Behavioural science has a fascination with who human beings are. Our environment is what surrounds us, yet there is relatively little comparative attention to the specific role that our environment plays in shaping our behaviour. If we are to …
Only by understanding our past can we properly design for a future that’s different from it. When we think about the past there’s a tendency toward thinking about things that are often unpleasant, even old-fashioned. Future-thinking is exciting, filled with possibility, and is characterized more by optimism, technology, and ‘shiny things’ at its most cartoonish. …
Our designs put too much focus on our intentions and desires and to the neglect our realities and tendencies. Design is a positive field of practice. At it’s core, design is about making things and transforming our futures. Designers tend to be optimistic and energetic individuals, which is what allows them to inspire new thinking …
