Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life)

Kevin Bethune, “Design Is [Dreaming]: Curiosity and Innovation,” speech to Google Design, October 19, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN_f1E8FFBw.

If you happen to be in a start-up or part of an enterprise’s innovation group charged with building a new business offering from the ground up (i.e., vertical growth, or building something from nothing), then reimagining design can give you a leg up on getting started if you commit to setting a multidisciplinary tone from day one. Founders with a n

Within Nike Global Footwear, there was a special area sealed off from general employees called the Nike Innovation Kitchen. You needed a special badge to get in, and I was eventually given one to engage in my stretch projects. The Nike Innovation Kitchen team innovated on product and material advances ahead of the needs of the core business. The co

At the time, I was told, “You’d better make a smart decision because it’s hard to go back and change course.”

I do believe the future will have a place for hybridity and singular experts, but the organizational construct needs to nurture breadth and depth across the board.

Ultimately, you just can’t promote more of the same or more of what you’ve found comfortable in the past. You have to lead with courage when it comes to transformation. Courage begets trust, and trust begets followership for your vision. Lead with courage. Lead in service to your team.

Based on your vision and the complex problems that arise in front of you, sometimes you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and show how to do things before you pass the baton and expect others to do it. These moments are especially valuable; leadership can’t be all talk.

Design transformation takes leadership. We can’t expect our people to snap into a new paradigm overnight, especially against a vision they may not understand. We need to educate and bring people along. But what type of leader are you? Your behaviors as a leader will accelerate or slow down progress.

Ultimately, we need to treat this as a critical transformation, usually addressing the following systematic elements: people, processes, and tools.