This is what I’ve learned about design
Design’s super power is to imagine alternate futures and then make them real
That can be done by influencing at all levels using storytelling, prototypes and blueprinting.
Design thinking does involve thinking, but also a lot doing.
Spend as much time prototyping, sharing ideas and talking to (potential) customers as thinking. But don’t forget about the thinking.
Think laterally
Take inspiration from what worked for you in a totally different situation or circumstance.
Innovation starts with a really narrow customer problem.
Constraints encourage you to think deep.
Make time to observe your customers
It’s the best way to learn what you didn’t know… you didn’t know.
Squeeze the juice out of every interesting observation
Ask yourself: ‘So what does that mean for us/our product/our organisation?’
Good designers design. But great designers also understand the business.
Knowing what stage the business is in – growth, profitability etc - will 10x your influence.
Having fun doesn’t mean you’re not working hard
Great teams know when it’s time to play.