Design Thinking in Action: Stories from the Business Community
Perspectives > Blog Post

Design Thinking in Action: Stories from the Business Community

June 22, 2017

Abigail Kassa

We’ve scoured the internet and found some of the best resources to add to your design thinking toolkit - read on for ways to leverage human-forward thinking for innovation strategy.

Design Thinking in Action: Stories from the Business Community

Nowadays, it feels like you hear the phrase “design thinking” every time you turn around. But how many people really use it well? We were curious about how different companies interpret the term, and we thought you might be too. We’ve scoured the internet and found some of the best resources to add to your design thinking toolkit – read on for ways to leverage human-forward thinking for your brand’s everyday needs.

Stanford Design School – A Virtual Crash Course in Design Thinking

This compilation of beginners’ resources from Stanford’s Design School – one of the early adopters of design thinking – offers an online course in the foundations of the practice. With instructor-led workshops, handouts, and downloadable podcasts, this is a one-stop shop for those interested in harnessing design thinking for their brand in an interactive format.

Inkoniq – How Design Thinking Is Transforming the Lives of Millions

Not fully convinced of the practical applications of divergent thinking? This blog takes the reader through multiple real-world examples of how employing this way of thought can transform businesses and communities. Using this method can not only change your organization – sometimes, it can change the world.

TheNextWeb – How Design Thinking Will Fix Design Thinking

There are many misconceptions about design thinking. Some mistake it as a tool exclusively for designers, some question it’s integrative abilities, and still others don’t understand how to apply it to their niche business challenges. TheNextWeb has got your back, delving deep into the history and organizational structures that drive this unique way of thought.

TED Talks – The First Secret of Design Is Noticing

How can designers implement change in a habit-driven environment? In this TED Talk, Tony Fadell – designer of the first Apple IPod and the Nest thermostat – explores what it means to break from the norm, and how designers and non-designers alike can use design principles to problem solve both inside and outside of the workplace.

Harvard Business Review – The 4 Types of Innovation and the Problems They Solve

Oftentimes, non-linear thinking can be key to solving even the most complex problems. But how do you diversify problem-solving strategies? This HBR article digs into the matrix of open innovation – and outlines what your brand can do to remove roadblocks to an open, multi-disciplinary thought process.

We leverage design thinking for our innovation projects at Kelton, but we also use the technique for brand development. Instead of letting insights narrow our creative field of vision, we start with divergent thinking to explore a range of possibilities and then use the voice of the customer to refine our ideas and push them to the next level. It makes our branding process as inclusive and iterative as any innovation process.

If you want to check out some of the ways we’ve put design thinking to work, check out our case studies for Babbel, Society 6, Burger King and Visa.

Abigail Kassa

Marketing Associate

As a Marketing Associate at Kelton Global, Abigail assists in planning and executing Kelton’s marketing and social media strategy. She supports Kelton’s marketing efforts by contributing...

Up Next
Hi! We're glad you're here. Kelton Global is now part of Material,
and our site will be migrating to materialplus.io in the near future.
Visit our new website!