During management consulting’s heyday, productivity was going to lead us to salvation. In 2020, innovation is the church and design thinking is our savior. But who is design thinking really saving?
Design thinking rose to prominence in tandem with the tech industry. It is now such a big business for consulting agencies and universities that challenges to its methods are rare. Instead of engaging with criticism, design thinking’s proponents simply re-explain what design thinking is supposed to do, with little regard for what it actually does. It is time for candid reflection on how design thinking developed into an inflexible…
When the #metoo movement gained steam, nearly every one of my female friends had an experience to share. I was able to relate even though I didn’t have my own #metoo story. After twelve years in the fashion industry, I suffered emotional abuse from toxic female bosses. Lots of them.
My first job in New York was at Bergdorf Goodman, where I was an assistant to a legendary stylist and personal shopper. Let’s call her “Judith.” Judith had a sharp rolodex and an even sharper tongue. Well into her 70s at the time, she kept New York’s uber-wealthy looking their…
Design innovation is a burgeoning field. Employers and universities are allocating extensive resources towards design innovation. A quick Google search of design innovation jobs turns up hundreds of results in industries including technology, retail, and finance. University degrees, especially at the postgraduate level, are also popping up at a rapid clip.
Design innovation applies design thinking systems to innovation. Design thinking includes five general steps: empathize, ideate, define, prototype and test. It applies design methods to systems outside of conventional design practice, essentially using design as a solution focused frame to explore any problem. …
Maggie McGrath
I design and study the design process. PhD at Oxford Internet Institute. Founder of @AI_Yesterday.
