Gimme Your Best Question!
A few days ago, I shared how one re-framed question unlocked a breakthrough solution for a pediatric hospital project, and opened up a contest for you to share YOUR transformational questions. I've been thinking about…
Category: Ideation
The Simple, Superpower Habit for Productivity and Creativity
If you have watched Kung Fu Panda, do you remember the scene where Master Shifu is meditate? Or trying to, and his ear keeps twitching from some imperceptible disturbance he can sense some distance away?…
Why I Wrote Design the Future: The First of the Books I’ve Had to Write
In 2017, I noticed something troubling. Innovation leaders at some large global organisations were selling 'design thinking-led' services to other companies. They ran workshops. Facilitated sessions. Bagged long-term projects. And charged good money. But when…
My Meal-Time Theory: Can Airline Dining Schedules Fight Jet Lag?
Random thought (or question) on easing travel fatigue and jet lag: For long, transmeridian flights, what if airlines timed their in-flight meals to match the destination city’s time zone? By serving lunch, snacks, or dinner…
Should Innovators or Designers expect or hope Users to provide Solution Ideas?
Here’s a nice post by Nikki Anderson for anyone who’s debated whether innovators and designers should ask users for innovative solutions to their challenges, or if crafting the solution is solely the innovator or designer’s…
The Simple but Brilliantly Designed Bisleri 5L bottle
In our everyday products, there don’t seem to be too many that actually catch your eye for being beautifully and thoughtfully designed. I can hardly think of any. While I am not a fan of…
Same Same but Different
A few years ago, I was advising a consumer tech company, and two of a bunch of things I was working on, was conceptualizing the search function and recommendation engine for the tech team to…
Inclusive Solutions
In continuation of yesterday’s post (link here), which was about why involving users on either extreme of the bell curve (as opposed to innovating for the bulk majority) facilitates in creation of a more innovative…
New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol’s goals – Sensible?
Here's something I had posted on LinkedIn about 3 weeks ago, following new Starbucks CEO Brian Noccol's first earnings call and some major decisions taken. On the call, Niccol's said one of the goals for…
Fundamental Hurdles to Innovation and Improvements
Transforming good product idea or even logical process ideas into actionable strategy can feel like climbing a mountain for corporate teams — exciting yet daunting. What I find fascinating is that despite clear processes and…
Brave Product Designs
Present day products, be it cars, or consumer products; they have become extremely safe and similar-looking. Like the past, one can only hope the future too has some brave designs in store. Clip: Tom Fisk
On Framing Problems
As the late American inventor and engineer, Charles Kettering very wisely said, "A problem well-stated is half-solved." The need is to re-frame every problem into a challenge. To get better ideas, to be able to…
Product Design should factor Human Forgetfulness
Product design should factor for human forgetfulness where possible. This is a picture of the detergent tray from a leading brand, top-loading washing machine. The hole in the tray is where detergent, mixed with water,…
Product Design Inputs for a Standing Desk
Invisible Bed has been an interesting product company. As a recent owner of a wall mounted sit/ stand desk, I recently shared some product design inputs with the CEO. They were well received. The Product:…