DESIGN THINKER PODCAST

What is Design Thinking? In this back-to-basics episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter define Design Thinking. 

In this episode, you will 
• learn about how Design Thinking is defined 
• understand why Design Thinking is important 
• hear examples of how Design Thinking can help 

Do you struggle with accepting failure as an opportunity for growth? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Life and Business Coach Chris Taylor, author of the book Avoiding Propeller Blades. 

In this episode, you will
• learn the power of accepting failure as an inevitability when trying something new
• hear stories about how quickly recovering from failure led to personal and professional growth
• understand the importance of reframing failure for success

About Our Guest
Chris Taylor is a Life and Business Coach who works with leaders to overcome barriers holding them back. Raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, a Geordie. On leaving school, he put his tail on the donkey of engineering and obtained two engineering degrees in chemical and environmental engineering. He worked as an engineer and manager for international consulting firms in the UK before immigrating to New Zealand in 2003. His move to New Zealand was accompanied by a career change from engineering to coaching. In 2024, Chris published his first book, Avoiding Propeller Blades. 

To learn more about Chris and get your copy of his book visit: https://avoidingpropellerblades.com/

How do you know the best way to get others to resonate with the story you want to tell? In the final episode of our series on storytelling, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the three modes of storytelling; oral, visual, and written. 

In this episode, you will 
• learn about the three modes of storytelling 
• understand how to select the right mode for the right audience 
• hear examples of how to tailor your story for the audience

Storytelling is everywhere. It shapes the culture of our families, social groups, and organizations. In part two of our series on storytelling, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore how stories can motivate action in organizations. 

In this episode, you will 
• hear about how the stories we share shape culture 
• understand how stories inspire action 
• learn about different storytelling frameworks 

Ever wonder how the stories you tell yourself might be holding you back? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore how the stories we tell ourselves might be holding us back from designing solutions. 

In this episode, you will 
• hear examples of the stories we repeat to ourselves that keep us stuck
• understand how to identify the stories that are no longer serving you 
• learn how to reframe the stories we tell ourselves so they help you move forward 

The third of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the desirability lens. 

In this episode, you will be able to 

• understand what desirability means and why it is important 
• learn the techniques Design Thinkers use to identify desirability 
• hear real-world examples of how to put desirability into practice 

So, let's dive in to explore how the desirability lens helps to create solutions that people will actually buy. 

The second of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the viability lens. 

In this episode, you will be able to 

• understand the key questions to consider when assessing a solution for viability 
• learn how the viability lens contributes to better solutions 
• hear real-world examples of applying the viability lens 

So, let's dive in to explore how to apply the viability lens to create better solutions. 

The first of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the feasibility lens. Join Dr Dani and Designer Peter as they take an in-depth look at feasibility. 

In this episode, you will be able to 
• learn about the five components of feasibility 
• understand how ignoring feasibility can lead to impractical solutions 
• hear real-world examples of the feasibility lens in action 

From theory to practice, let's dive into how to bring bold ideas into existence through the feasibility lens. 

Empathetic Exploration, are you using this capability to deliver what customers really want? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter take a deep dive into understanding the specific way that design thinkers use empathy. 

In this episode, you will be able to 

• learn about the research that informs how design thinkers use empathy
• understand the importance of Empathetic Exploration when developing solutions
• know how to apply Empathetic Exploration in your work 
• hear real-world examples of Empathetic Exploration in action 

From improving patient care in hospitals to organizing your kitchen, Empathetic Exploration has practical and impactful implications for solving problems. Tune-in to discover how Empathetic Exploration can be a game-changer for you. 

Ever wondered how AI will transform human-centered design? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore this question, raising their own concerns and curiosities about how AI will change the landscape for human-centered design.  

Key questions explored in this episode 

• could AI create solutions that serve them and not us?
• will AI make us dumber not smarter?
• would AI free us up to do more meaningful work?

Beyond just the technical implications of AI, this discussion explores the need to rethink our practices, question our biases, and how AI and human creativity can work hand in hand.