Summary
Science orgs typically lack designers and for good reason; there is no product. The focus is on data. The currency is discovery. Why spend money on a designer when we need to buy a new microscope? So how do we create a better experience through design for science? In this talk, Mark will outline his approach to operationalizing design in science orgs, first in CERN and now at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.
Key Insights
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Design is often undervalued in scientific organizations where success is quantitative and research-focused.
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The Higgs boson announcement exemplifies the intersection of design and science, generating massive public interest despite initial design shortcomings.
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Science organizations operate without a profit motive; their success hinges on effective research dissemination.
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Empowering non-designers within an organization to be recognized as designers can scale design efforts significantly.
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Fostering a culture of debate and scrutiny is integral to scientific discovery and can lead to better design outcomes.
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Implementing marginal gains philosophy can lead to incremental improvements across complex systems.
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Communicating the value of design repeatedly is essential for shifting organizational perspectives.
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Collaboration across diverse teams promotes a holistic approach to problem-solving in design operations.
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Addressing pain points for non-designers can enhance engagement and productivity in scientific environments.
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Adapting design methodologies to fit the unique cultural contexts of scientific organizations is crucial for success.
Notable Quotes
"I work in a really different context to a tech company."
"The science is the thing."
"Success is actually in delivering great science."
"Anything that gets in the way of that science is perceived as a threat."
"If you look at it in a different way, all of a sudden our design team became about 500 people."
"The aggregation of marginal gains can lead to significant improvements."
"All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability and pliability."
"We spent a lot of time figuring out where the pain is."
"My job is to communicate this stuff until I'm blue in the face."
"How do we need to think differently about design ops?"
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