Strategic Design is a participatory, emergent process, rooted in user research, in which a multi-disciplinary team blends creative and critical thinking techniques to co-create, test and implement innovative responses to wicked challenges and opportunities. (Working def.)
In my strategic design practice, I apply processes and tools derived from more traditional design fields (such as graphic or industrial design) to co-create strategies and tactics with values-based organizations that result in innovative solutions to complex problems. This work encompasses many other activities, as reflected here >>>>.
I’ve revised and refined my own process over the years to one that is relatively simple – and powerful. This current version was co-developed with my partners at the Sauder Studio, Moura Quayle and Ronald Kellett – though we each apply it in different ways. Notice that each stage centres around the process of reflection. Constantly checking in to see if you’re still addressing the right question and on the right track is key to success.
ASK is the most important stage – and the one people tend to skip most frequently. Here, participants in the process come together to define their problem or the question they need to answer: ”How might we ….?” It’s critical to invest time in this stage, for if you ask the wrong question, you will generate the wrong answer. This stage also includes research, to gather important (and often buried) information about users and the situation – and identify existing strengths and resources. What’s already working well?
TRY is a time of ideation, sorting, refining, and prototyping. Based on what’s discovered during the ASK phase, process participants generate and test ideas that might address the problem. Rapid prototyping is critical here – finding simple and cheap ways to try out an idea. Sketches, story-boards, concept maps, mock-ups, scenarios, walk-throughs and wire-frames are all good at this time. Test – revise – test – revise. Trying out ideas early and often in the process has proven to save a great deal of money and pain down the road.
DO is the stage most projects skip to. It’s human nature to want to fix things right away. So we tend to define an obvious pain point quickly and leap to an obvious (often band-aid) solution even faster. It’s okay to continue the iterative practice of testing and refining here, through pilots or small-scale implementations of a idea that has legs.
Of course, this is a simplified version of strategic design. Please get in touch to find out more.
