recently told a friend that I was writing a piece about designing personal brands. “Sounds pretty gimmicky to me,” he replied. My friend’s response is not unusual; personal branding is…
Role of Conferences in Open Innovation
The process of innovation can be insular. Teams of talented people heads down on improving their vertical and their business. As you become overwhelmed by the constraints of your market…
The Creative Conflict: Our relationship with creativity and how to handle it
Our relationship status with creativity is complicated. To the outsider, we appear to be in a strong, loving relationship. Creativity was identified as the single most important leadership trait for…
The Impact of Clarity – Interview with Lee Steffen
This post originally appeared on DesignThinkers, an annual conference hosted by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers. Lee Steffen will be speaking at DesignThinkers 2016 where he will be talking about The…
Raden: A Case For Better Travel
orget dead devices, excess baggage charges, and lost belongings, Raden is the new, efficient, and fashionable way to travel. Their slogan rings true: Raden’s smart luggage is the case for…
Designers in the Hands of a Passionate Leader
ee Fain, a senior design strategist at Idea Couture, shares his insights into the world of design management in the most recent issue of Design Management Review. In a piece…
Justina Blakeney: The New Bohemian
How do you integrate your love for plants and nature with your passion for design and textiles? I use both plants and textiles very liberally in my design work. They…
Designing Products for the Most Important Decision Makers: Women
t’s becoming a well-known fact: women are the world’s most powerful consumers, controlling 85% of all purchases. Not only do they buy for themselves, but also for their children, parents,…
Tackling the Crisis of Political Faith with Citizen-Centered Design
Despite today’s age of connectivity, participatory digital communities, and online knowledge sharing, political dialogue and engagement remain bleak. As populations of individuals witness the introduction of radical anti-terrorism bills, the…
Criticus Among Us
Having been witness to, and part of, the evolution of the pharmaceutical industry over the past three decades, my foremost thought is of our remarkable contribution to public health. This…
Workday Infinite: Talking to Ash Thorp, Director and Designer
Designer, creative director, illustrator, filmmaker: Ash Thorp is a storytelling polymath. In addition to contributing to Hollywood’s most ambitious sci-fi films in recent years, he’s also known for his “year…
Brands to Watch: Easing Grocery, Bike-Buying, and More
This story has been told by technologists, engineers, and inventors alike: At the beginning of every significant technological era, comparatively, life with new technology will be simpler and easier because…
Mistaking Process For Purpose and Tinkering for Thinking Pt. 1
Process and method are both necessary aids and major obstacles to innovation. Process is clearly necessary for organizing thought and action, planning rigorous research, and aligning groups of people towards…
The Designer’s Playground
How will additive manufacturing impact freeform design? “The marble not yet carved can hold the form of every thought the greatest artist has.”—Michelangelo When speaking of production at scale, Michelangelo was wrong. Not every thought or idea can be realized.…