Empathy is considered to be at the bedrock of good design. But what if how we’re thinking about empathy is wrong? Empathy is certainly having its moment. Anywhere you look for writing on design and innovation and you’ll likely find a big role for empathy. Designers are encouraged to empathize with their potential customers and […]
The Canadian province of Alberta has a reputation for fostering innovation. From strategic foresight to systemic design this reputation is well-earned. Alberta is a province in Western Canada known internationally for its expansive landscape of prairie and mountains, oil industry, and prehistoric riches. Its weather can be extreme — from large temperature swings (including the
Alberta’s Innovation Advantage Read More »
Circular thinking — from economics to design – is reshaping our world. By changing our thinking we change our relationship with consumption. Circular thinking is a way of approaching problems of design and consumption that view what we create, use, and dispose of in ways that are harmonious with nature, not against it. A growing
Design Thinking for the Planet Read More »
Of the many ways to reach people, email still works. Sometimes innovation is best doing new things with old tools. This is not your typical post. Today I’m launching the Censemaking Newsletter. Every two-three weeks I’ll send some of the best on trends, tools, techniques, research and case studies on innovation with the goal of
Innovation to Your Inbox Read More »
Innovation requires the right organizing, not just skill and vision. This article explores what that means in practice.
An Organizing Framework for Innovation Read More »
A recent article titled ‘The Right Way to Lead Design Thinking’ gets a lot of things wrong not because of what it says, but because of the way it says it. If we are to see better outcomes from what we create we need to begin with talking about design and design thinking differently. I
Leadership & Design Thinking: Missed Opportunities Read More »
Design thinking has brought the language of design into popular discourse across different fields, but it’s failings threaten to undermine the benefits it brings if they aren’t addressed. In this third post in a series, we look at how Design (and Design Thinking) can elevate themselves above their failings and match the hype with real
Elevating Design and Design Thinking Read More »
Design thinking is in its ‘bullshit’ phase, a time characterized by wild hype, popularity and little evidence of what it does, how it does it, or whether it can possibly deliver what it promises on a consistent basis. If design thinking is to be more than a fad it needs to get serious about answering
Beyond Bullshit for Design Thinking Read More »
Design thinking continues to gain popularity as a means for creative problem-solving and innovation across business and social sectors. Time to take stock and consider what ‘design thinking’ is and whether it’s a real solution option for addressing complex problems, over-hyped BS, or both. Design thinking has pushed its way from the outside to the
Design thinking is BS (and other harsh truths) Read More »
Social and emotional baggage is what we bring with us and, like the real thing, it’s all in what we pack, how we pack it and how aware we are of what we’re packing it for. And like the real thing, individuals and organizations can’t go on much of a journey without carrying some of
What’s in your baggage? Read More »
