Today, Tom has a discussion with Rie Nøorgaard. Growing up in Denmark, Rie found design integrated into her life. After completing a design degree at the Danish School of Media and Journalism, she spent a decade as a Creative Director for several agencies. Three years ago, she joined San Francisco-based SYPartners, a consulting firm that behaves like a design firm. Clients of SYPartners include AT&T, eBay, Facebook, IBM, Google, and non-profits such as PBS and Planned Parenthood. What led her to SYPartners was her passion for design as an active service — from designing more inclusive organizations to reimagining how an ordinary product could become extraordinary for its users.

 

This episode, Tom talks to Rie about design thinking and her new podcast, Designing for Humanity. They discuss a typical day at work with SYPartners, the kinds of transformations she is helping the organizations she works with to achieve, all about the complexity of transformation, what “design being an active service” means, where and how design could be incorporated into schools, and her recommendations for further learning on the topic.

 

Key Takeaways:

[:18] About today’s episode with Rie Nøorgaard.

[1:20] Tom welcomes Rie to the podcast.

[1:33] The origin story of Rie’s interest in design.

[2:38] Rie’s experience at the Danish School of Media and Journalism.

[3:17] About Rie’s role at SYPartners.

[4:13] Is it more of a structured process or a set of tools that SYPartners brings into every engagement with each client or partner?

[5:45] What SYPartners’ tools look like in terms of structuring a conversation or designing an experience.

[6:37] What it’s like to work at SYPartners; a typical day for Rie at work.

[9:39] Does SYPartners have a number of clients and partners at one time?

[10:17] The kinds of organizations that Rie works for and the kinds of transformations she’s helping them to achieve.

[13:02] Rie explains the complexity of transformation.

[14:54] Are design and design thinking becoming more important?

[17:13] Rie’s thoughts on how and where design could be incorporated into schools (particularly secondary schools.)

[20:58] What does “design being an active service” mean to Rie?

[22:37] The purpose and goal of Rie’s Designing for Humanity podcast.

[25:56] Online resources Rie recommends for learning more about design and design thinking.

[27:26] Where to learn more about Rie and SYPartners online.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Danish School of Media and Journalism

SYPartners

Designing for Humanity Podcast

Stanford D.School

IDEO U

Hello Design Thinking by IDEO U

“Designing for Humanity: Do we need a new design frame?” by Rie Nøorgaard

 

Want More Episode on Design?

Check Out: “What’s Up With All the Design-Focused Schools?” and “Design Thinking and Its Impact on Education Innovation”.

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