Matt Daniels: dot Com - Latest Comments in Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Re: Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Cmc — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:16:03 -0000

I for one think it is bullshit. I think it's a bunch of hot air. Marketing material used as a means of selling design services.

Re: Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Logo Designer — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 04:51:15 -0000

Great discussion Matt, I really like your contribution.

Re: Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Matt — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:35:13 -0000

@Phillip: You're completely right. IDEO branded design thinking, to the extent that they pass it off as their own. This, in itself, is impressive. Though designers may have used it before, I think that IDEO is the first agency to sell it to corporations as a consulting package.

I agree that this is the future of innovation--but not because it is associated with design. Rapid-prototyping is borrowed from engineering, though it does seem to mirror the design process well, making the term "design thinking" easy for corporate executives to digest.

I'm also beginning to develop a different idea of design that actually runs counter to "distinguishing oneself." The superb designs that we see from Amazon, Craigslist, and Zappos have little to do with aesthetics and touchpoints, and more to do with UX. I'm beginning to think that even a homogenized design can overcome its ugly precense in the marketplace.

Re: Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Phillip Maddox — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:11:34 -0000

Great article, but I disagree that IDEO "created" Design Thinking. IDEO BRANDED Design Thinking. This is a concept that Designers have understood and practiced for decades. Meanwhile, walking amongst the suits muttering to themselves, because they were (are) continuously held down by lame homogenized decisions that were forced upon them as "just designers".

This is the new age of innovation. Businesses are able to prototype and launch products & initiatives faster than ever thanks to our good friend technology, so it's only natural that design and ideas become the big winner.

Design has always been about distinguishing oneself from others. Creating a look, feeling, or idea around your brand is paramount to succeed. Otherwise you are competing strictly based on price and perceived quality.

Those things are certainly important, but consumers need a reason to remember / love your company or product. They are not loyal at the onset.

I hope this trend picks up even more and finds it's way into smaller markets.

Re: Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Matt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:54:51 -0000

@Clive: Can't agree more, but then again, every firm claims that they invented some type of framework/idea/notion. But could you clarify what you mean by design thinking is better than IDEO? Is not design thinking = IDEO?

@Paula: I'm familiar with the Rotman program in Toronto--widely considered one of the strongest "academic" design thinking programs.

But I'm curious why you think that this is a stronger publication than the book I mentioned from Tim Brown. Is Roger considered the leading thinker? Do his ideas differ?

Re: Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Clive Grinyer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:34:47 -0000

Yes IDEO are mastubatory but they did not "invent" Design Thinking. They are just doing what they did with Innovation - write a book of their own projects and claim the territory - as if they invented Brainstorming, for goodness sake. So a triumph of PR. Design Thinking is better than IDEO and truly transferable to any act of product or service, commercial or punblis sector, if only for the reason that everything is designed, just not conciously or well.

Re: Is Design Thinking bullshit?

Rotkapchen — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:22:46 -0000

Matt: Great insights, particularly considering your 'early' career. A lot of clues in your ability to 'see' this clearly to be found in your education path (love that you shared those details).

Actually, the 'best' upcoming book on Design Thinking is Roger Martin's http://twurl.nl/zq43ge, due out in November "The Design of Business..." http://press.harvardbusines...

My 'alternate' Wikipedia entry may be of interest http://twurl.nl/lvlrry

Find other Design Thinkers on our LinkedIn group http://twurl.nl/y5px4o