Entrepreneurs, "good design" & true innovation

There is no one better than the master - Dieter Rams to explain "good design" and how it makes world changing companies, e.g. Oliveti, AG, Braun, etc., into international powerhouses. Design leads the way. 

Although his words cannot be challenged ( because his work literally created the ethos for these firms and whose impact continues to create value for these firms today ) however what can be understood is that consistent design, that is the key. The Rams aesthetic in it's marvelous distinction, never wavered from it's roots and in that a design language and ethos was born. It is however not the only voice and because of it's specificity it's vocabulary and visual accent lives on . This 3 minute video explains it all.

Misnomers - The "Science" of "Good" Design

It isn't too far to stretch to assume that "science" has an answer for everything - when of course we are talking about physical objects, warp drive, or the newest Porsche 4 track steering system. The big question facing new product development is "why you want it" and for that there is no answer.

The recent article in The Atlantic "The Science of Good Design" makes a very clear case why this is a fallacy and one which more of your colleagues believe than you think. Why? Because design required ego, a masters touch, and a definitive determination of what is valuable that cannot be defined by market research studies or focus groups. Why?

Consumers consume, masters create for consumers. This is the secret of amazing design, and yet the hardest factor for companies and corporations to embrace. Unless of course you are Ferrari or Alessi. Then again, they use focus groups every now and then as well.

mass customization = innovation and pure design

The Milan furniture fair is one of the largest worldwide design events spanning everything from office, home, lighting as well as new product development. The biggest names in design from every continent arrive and for 7 solid days it is the hub of innovation.

The largest firms are present with some quite intense "breakthroughs" of design and engineering thinking - the kinds of things you won't see in you home for 5 years - 3 to be agressive. Companies like Whirpool and Aston Martin for interiors but not even limited to that as they unveil their new Cygnet at the wallpaper event. Salone is not just for furniture or design it is where some of the next big products get launched for a truly international audience

But this is often regarded as the more artistic side. So what happens when the worlds of mass customization and art come together? Projects like SketchChair are born and as reported by Fast Company. Not only can this be considered "design" is a relative sense, but the fact that upon paying for your design it is flat shipped to you. CNC and laser cut this is just another example of how consumer art in the future may be delivered to clients. Nike and many other companies have experimented with this as micro customization for some time addiding even more to the visibility of their innovator status.

ROI and "good design"

A constant question asked both in the executive education work that we do, the client drawing table, board room and around the office is "what is good design" and what is "design innovation" - a quite loaded phrase these days.

The answer, is one most may not agree with as it is a question - "what are the criteria" and none better seem to review and understand this as the "Good Design Awards" started more than 50+ years go and which is now taking applications for the 2011 award.

What is important to note is that the jury is truly an international body composed of the 3 most basic areas: design, engineering and finance. Their criteria for review is nothing short of a mystery, by voting and peer review. Their numerical review is not published and the process is as comprehensive as it is complicated in the same way as a VC funding review. What IS important is to note that no one area takes precedent: design, engineering & manufacturing or finance & ROI nor is this limited to the scope of "is this beneficial" to the company that produced the work.

What IS important is the fact (which cannot be easily seen from the results of the award) is the creativity and value that the design brings above and beyond what exists in the market, e.g. the competition to the product that has been designed and released. THIS is the true value of design and potentially the underlying value of the award itself and should be noted as you look through the many categories of fine output.

Innovation never stops when you are MIT

In a recent article MIT has been credited with creating the 1st reusable and stable "living leaf" capable of full photosynthesis and able to generate power. www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-03/28/artificial-leaf

While this may seen an incredible feat of science the technology was readily available in the past. The process to commercialize it and more, make it stable for mass production is the center-point for the innovation cycle. In many ways, which is highly ignored, 1st to market, or 1st to science in the case of the credited inventor of the earliest working designs does NOT = the person or firm being given credit or even economic benefit for the success of the work/innovation/design.

Here MIT demonstrates that the process is the point and the innovation is the end result of the effort from discovery through to commercialization. Not to mention a sizable economic benefit from the entire process when handled correctly.

Creating a Culture of Innovation

The development of a new product "innovation" is on the beginning for firms who are interested in continual sales and market interaction. Customers are constantly switching to competitors due to the seemingly effortless ability to change their minds and at the click of a button go to a new experience. Marketers and CEO's alike understand the switching costs are no longer costs, they are switching thoughts - infinitesimally small costs.

An interesting place to start digging into this is with an article by the Gallup Group on Creating a Culture of Innovation. While basic, it is an excellent primer on how to begin the journey.

Normal photos become 3D products instantly.

With the consistent evolution of new technologies and the ubiquitous handheld platforms researchers are putting into the hands of ordinary people applications capable of "instant" design. The new Microsoft Research Labs 3D iPhone scanner literally allows for on the fly stitching and rendering of complex objects. The whole technology can be seen here.....

What this means for clients and end consumers is the ability to snap photos, scan, render, send and then manipulate physical objects for the comparison and possible re-engineering into other products. Add the capability of Rapid Prototyping and new products (skins specifically) happen immediately. Companies now have to contend with anyone taking a photo of a competitors tea cup, send it to a Indonesian designer, re-interpret the design, have it produced in China and out to market in 30 days. And there is no slow down in sight

"Innovation" is not just for R&D labs

Innovation is a completely loaded word these days, and more, undecipherable from the original definitions created by Joseph Alois Schumpeter in early 1900's. Oddly these definitions are the exact ones that firms are forgetting when discussing how they can further develop their organizations "innovation" competency as well as new product development pipeline.
In an effort to bring this more to the public eye, The Cooper Hewitt Design Museum has once again began to round out their design triennial by detailing products and firms who are not only redeploying existing aesthetic models but utilizing modern day engineering and production capabilities to further create value for the firms that they sell into thus creating new value chain possibilities and therefore creating innovations. An example of this is the Mango Wood Radio  which at first glance might not impress. However, the reach of the product, price-point, aesthetic and over all strategy that the client had to create the product is the exact example of how breakthroughs happen and similarly how iGNITIATE can do the same for your firm.

Exploring Consumer Perceptions Of Product Innovativeness

 

Understanding how ratings systems and how they impact the data and perceptions of performance is they key to new product launches. Exploring Consumer Perceptions Of Product Innovativeness details a rating system to defines product innovativeness (PI) serving as a benchmark in order to assess other perspectives on product innovativeness, especially from the consumer angle. When it comes to details, empirical evidence is always an excellent way to NPD efficacy.

Integrate design in the product development process for increased ROI in company performance.

 

How does design impact a product’s ROI? More than you think. Via 2 different Dutch manufacturing industries – home furniture and precision instruments empirical evidence shows selected firms increasing ROI directly – an emerging trend in precision industries. These findings in an excellent article to purchase show that industrial design had a direct and positive effect on company performance, especially with new innovations for industries concluding that “industrial design” itself can be taken to a managerial level to include design strategy which is the basis for increased ROI on a firms full level of market performance and investability.

Innovation Speed: It’s got to happen fast.

 

For a comprehensive review on the research and literature surrounding innovation speed,  Innovation Speed: A Conceptual Model of Context, Antecedents, and Outcomes details a comprehensive guide to increasing the speed of innovation (a positive impact on performance/ROI) and ways to have it effected organizational structures assuring a quantifiably impression the overall success for a product and development of new firms.

Design Hacking – Making it happen for your products

 

Design hacking is increasingly becoming an important part of the industry but what does it mean? Referencing anything from DIY design projects, to parasite products, to upcycling, etc, this movement is equal parts about sustainability and resourceful creativity as it is subversive. Design Hacking – Making it happen for your products details how hacking labs around the world (and London’s slow uptake on it) is the greater implication for firms NPD efforts and how to turn it into ROI for your firm.

Design as Art by Italian Master Bruno Munari

 

Bruno Munari’s iconic 1971 book, Poynor goes details Maestro Munari’s career. From his departure from fine art to design, to his playful self deprecating approach to design, Munari was an eccentric character with a subversive way of thinking which would be inspiring to the contemporary designer and firms wishing to embrace the ROI that only a maestro can create. A collection of essays, Design as Art is a must read.