Human Centered Design. Something's in the water...
...and it tastes good! There's a lot of talk, interest and activity going on in the New Zealand market at the moment around human centered design (HCD). Has anyone else noticed that?
HCD or design thinking is not a new concept (though from my experience it's not widely adopted or understood in NZ) but the activity and interest in design thinking this New Year is at a level I haven't seen before.
Why is that?
Many NZ organisations (and parent companies) are either going through or gearing up for transformation and change. Their industries are shifting under their feet, whether it be their market place changing, their workforce being impacted, or customer expectations moving. There is a growing understanding that the same business practices and approach just won't 'cut-the-chops' anymore, and despite the rise of technology, the need for empathy and human connection has never been more important.
Who is focusing on this?
It's not just the large corporates! Some very large organisations are doing great work in the HCD space but it's worth noting that a lot of SME's are not resting on their laurels here. I've said this before, but I remain positive about NZ's productivity and future when I speak with many leaders in small to medium companies. They're engaging with their workforce, customers and broader stakeholders in new and innovative ways.
One company in the building and construction industry has really focused on developing a design thinking mindset. Not an industry that you'd naturally think would be a leader in this area. They have no time for jargon (you won't hear 'HCD' bandied about, and empathy is referred to as "walking a mile in others shoes") but they're doing a fantastic job in applying an HCD mindset throughout their company.
Are you missing out?
If you're unfamiliar with design thinking for problem solving, or exploring opportunities then, in short, "yes". You are missing out.
I am biased. I'm a big advocate for having a design thinking mindset, having seen the power and impact of this first hand. I would encourage anyone and any organisation to look into this further, if your needing to review your practices, customer and employee experience, products, markets.....the list goes on.
Where can I learn more?
There are a range of options available to you, depending on your timeline, urgency and budget, and whether the focus is at an enterprise, team or individual level:
- If you're starting out, there are numerous articles and videos on design thinking, as well as introductory courses on places like LinkedIn Learning, Lynda.com or IDEO.org.
- There is deeper reading material on this - with IDEO's 'The Field Guide to Human Centered Design' being at the top of the list.
- It's a good idea to contact organisations who are developing (or have already developed) a design thinking mindset to learn about their approach and journey. We're happy to give you a steer on who to contact...
- There are consultancies and design agencies who specialise in this field (here at Workplace Redesign, we have expertise in HCD with a particular focus on the employee and customer experience).
- You could go the 'full-hog' and immerse yourself in the learning experience through a provider such as IDEO. I took this approach myself and studied at Stanford University (the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford, known as the d.school) combined with other studies. I did this as it is a passion of mine, and an important element of my work both through Workplace Redesign and in my People roles.
Design thinking. Something's in the water at the moment. Hydrate yourself and find out why!
Bron Hall is the Principal Consultant for Workplace Redesign, employee & customer experience specialist, and passionate advocate for NZ Inc.
Workplace Redesign. Helping New Zealand's organisations succeed through progressive and innovative workforce and workplace practices.
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