Design thinking makes businesses more competitive; it is as simple as that. Companies that use design effectively grow more rapidly, they have a higher success rate when innovating and their consumers are willing to pay a premium for their well-designed products and services.
Our expectations of our public services continue to exceed their ability to satisfy our desires. This is not because they are failing but because our aspirations are increasing. Throwing money at the problem is not the solution. Design thinking better aligns the user with the service and closes that gap. The result is happier people and better policy outcomes.
How often have you struggled to open a jar? How much harder is that for someone with arthritis? By designing products and services that are inclusive we allow everyone to participate equally in society and by doing so, open up our businesses to a much wider market.
Why do we still make things that need to be thrown away? Designing products and services so that they minimise impact on the environment not only makes you feel good, it can help Irish companies gain competitive advantage by creating things that use less energy and materials. This doesn’t just reduce costs, it also builds customer loyalty.