What?

Design Innovation:

Design innovation only occurs by understanding and anticipating the needs of your users and creating successful products or services that fulfil their desires. This in turn creates competitive advantage for your organisation.

Design Thinking:

We're not trying to create jargon, though for the moment, design thinking best describes a specific approach to innovation. It is an approach largely ignored by business professionals, educators, and even many designers. It isn't the exclusive realm of designers but a necessary skill that anyone can and should learn to achieve successful innovation.

Design Practice:

Though anyone can and should engage in design thinking, there will be a time when you engage in design practice. Typically design practice begins when it is time to make ideas tangible. This could be a concept drawing, or a rough prototype of an idea. You may want an expert on sustainability to consult how the materials, processing and useful life of your product or service will do the least harm to the environment.

why?

Why is design important? Our research shows Irish companies that value design innovate more often. Not only that, but Irish companies that value design innovate more successfully. And those companies that integrate design more strategically within their organisations experience greater demand for their goods and services.

what?

What is design innovation? Many people are describing the same thing by different names and we want to create a common language around design innovation, thinking and practice.

how?

This isn’t rocket science but it is the next ‘big thing’. Understanding your users provides context for your innovation efforts and leads to greater success in the marketplace. Our practical programmes can help make you more competitive.

who?

We are here to help. There is also a broader network of support for you and your organisation. And if you’re still not convinced of design’s impact on innovation, see how other individuals, organisations and countries are competing through design.