Innovation through design-thinking workshops

The following article describes our methodology and the use of the double-diamond model in this process to enable a better understanding of customer needs and the development of innovative solutions to address these issues. We also discuss the benefits of low-fidelity prototyping to visualise the ideas and gather feedback early in the development process.

We have used this approach in various client workshops and describe below our experience of running an innovation workshop for a leading manufacturer of energy systems.

A proven model for innovation processes

The double diamond model was developed in 2005 by the Design Council, a UK-based organisation that promotes the value of design in innovation, education and business. By analysing different methodologies and workflows, they identified common patterns of how successful projects move from exploring the problem area to delivering solutions. This led to the creation of the double diamond as a visual representation of these processes.

The Double Diamond helps to organise the innovation process into two key phases: Problem identification and solution finding. Both phases are in turn divided into two steps, giving the process a clear structure. The aim is to fully understand the problem space before turning to the development of solutions in order to prevent solutions being created for poorly defined problems.

1. Discover - exploring the problem space

In the first step, discovery, we encourage the participants to take a close look at the existing challenges in their operational business. Together, we gather information about current processes and the needs of the relevant stakeholders and users. The focus here is on taking into account and understanding the perspectives of end users and internal stakeholders in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the current situation.

We use techniques such as expert interviews, desk research and data analyses to gain a deep understanding of the current challenges. The aim is to gather as much information and perspectives as possible in order to create a broad basis for the next steps.

2. Define - sharpening the focus

In the second step, defining, we bundle the collected knowledge and formulate clear problems. The aim here is to precisely define the central challenge and summarise the collected information. This phase is crucial in order to focus on the relevant problem areas and ensure that we concentrate on the aspects that have the greatest influence on future developments.

By prioritising the inputs and working out the most important findings, we can identify clear areas for action, which we address specifically in the following phase.

3. Develop - creating ideas and designing solutions

IIn the third step, development, the participants are allowed to get creative.Here we motivate them to develop as many different ideas as possible to solve the previously defined challenges.We use brainstorming techniques and creativity methods such as 6-3-5 to generate innovative approaches and solutions.

The diversity of perspectives within the team is particularly valuable, leading to a variety of possible solutions.These are discussed together, developed further and checked for feasibility. We place a strong focus on the end user's perspective to ensure that the solutions are not only innovative, but also practical and realisable.

4. Deliver - prototypes and tests

Finally, we initiate the implementation phase. Here, the workshop participants select the best ideas and realise them themselves in low-fidelity prototypes. These prototypes, which are made from simple materials such as paper and cardboard, give participants and managers the opportunity to quickly visualise and test the ideas.

Creating prototypes and mock-ups enables feedback to be gathered at an early stage and solutions to be further refined. By building and testing the prototypes, participants gain valuable insights into the practicability of their ideas and can make any necessary adjustments directly.

Strengthening innovation through collaboration

The innovation workshops offer enriching and exciting experiences for the participants. The structured approach of the Double Diamond model enables us to systematically tackle complex challenges and develop innovative solutions.

Particularly noteworthy is the collaboration within the participants, which is strengthened by the design thinking process.

The team members can exchange ideas intensively, develop a shared view of a problem and sharpen their understanding of innovation processes.This not only promotes creative exchange, but also strengthens cohesion within the team, especially at management level.

The next step after the workshop is to further refine the prototypes created, model them in CAD if necessary and additively manufacture them. In addition, the IMT creates a detailed report that records all the key findings, design prototypes and next steps. This includes a summary of the concepts developed, feedback from the participants and a proposal on how the ideas can be integrated into the company's product development pipeline.

Our experience shows that the design thinking process and close collaboration between participants are the key to developing innovative and realisable solutions. The success of the innovation workshop shows that structured creativity and user-centred approaches are crucial for efficient innovation promotion. Our clients are highly motivated after the workshop, keep the momentum going and ensure that the concepts are developed further.

The workshops usually take place at a picturesque location in the Swiss Alps or at our clients' premises and are designed to last 2-3 days. IMT ensures structured yet flexible planning and adapts the agenda to the client's specific needs, with the aim of maximising the benefits of collaboration and creative exploration.

Based on our experience, we recommend future clients to establish a culture of creative thinking before or very early in the product development phase in order to recognise opportunities and overcome design constraints.

Are you ready to unleash the creative potential of your team and foster innovation in your next project?

Contact us today and discover how our customised innovation workshops can transform your ideas into actionable solutions.

Example redesign of the IMT Analytics CalBench

One of our outstanding applications of design thinking is the redesign of the IMT Analytics CalBench, a calibration bench for gas flow meters. Working closely with users and stakeholders, we redesigned the product to improve its functionality, ergonomics and efficiency. The iterative prototyping process allowed us to quickly test concepts and ensure that the final design met the practical needs of technicians and engineers. You can find more information about this project here.