Strategic Value of Design for companies
Themes: Social Impact
A TRL is a measure to indicate the matureness of a developing technology. When an innovative idea is discovered it is often not directly suitable for application. Usually such novel idea is subjected to further experimentation, testing and prototyping before it can be implemented. The image below shows how to read TRL’s to categorise the innovative ideas.
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Summary of the project
The researcher works in the field of strategic design which is an emerging research field. Her aim is to apply design principles to the innovation strategy of companies to become more innovative. Using a people centred approach, creating visions and roadmaps and through monitoring these she looks at how a cultural change can be brought about within a company and how this change allows the company to innovate in a more meaningful and effective way. This approach is unique as this process is done with involvement of the company itself (employees and stakeholders) and does not necessarily involve the use of new technologies for innovation.
What's next?
The next step for the researcher is to start combining design principles with concepts from behavioural economics – such as nudging – to see how effective they are for accelerating change within a company. Another next step is focusing on whether an executive role for designers (i.e., as chief design officers) within companies can stimulate the desired cultural change.
Dr. Giulia Calabretta