Summary
Kevin will share the ambitions behind his first book, Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation (The MIT Press). The writing journey unpacked a series of unique multidisciplinary leaps across his lived personal and professional experience. For anyone curious about a wide range of things, Kevin offers a story of how he made his curiosities work for him and create value for others. Kevin will share visual anecdotes that illustrate how design changed his life, and how he observed design transforming organizations as well. Kevin's arguments crack through the glass ceiling of ambiguity that multidisciplinary teams may face when it comes to understanding design against newly emerging realities. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) serves as an important underpinning in Kevin's story as a Black man who's experienced exclusion. He'll introduce us to the leadership tact necessary to set a new tone to ensure our future design & innovation teams actually mirror the composition, needs and values that exist within an increasingly connected world.
Key Insights
-
•
Diversity and inclusion are critical in design processes as they influence who is represented in decision-making.
-
•
The recent global crises highlighted the importance of creativity and innovative problem-solving.
-
•
Personal narratives and lived experiences can profoundly shape professional insights and practices.
-
•
Servant leadership fosters a culture of trust and empowerment within teams, leading to better outcomes.
-
•
Organizations need to integrate diverse perspectives for effective innovation.
-
•
Design should not just be about aesthetics but also involve understanding market needs and societal contexts.
-
•
There is a need to balance risk and reward, especially in rapidly changing markets.
-
•
Fostering a culture that embraces failure as a learning tool can drive innovation forward.
-
•
Design processes benefit from a multidisciplinary approach that draws on various expertise and viewpoints.
-
•
Continuous learning and adaptation are essential for effective leadership in creative fields.
Notable Quotes
"Everything is the way it is by design."
"Design's positioning matters when it comes to problem-solving future challenges."
"We were wrestling with compounding pandemics, not just COVID."
"My personal narrative became a dominant frame for my perspectives."
"It's essential to appreciate the full category of trends, including social movements."
"Collaboration is the substance that informs future innovation."
"We must create space to problem-solve the implications of every design decision."
"For servant leadership, it's about empowering the people we serve, not just compliance."
"Diversity enriches creativity, which in turn enriches innovation."
"Speed can be an implied authority that hinders teamwork and creativity."
More Videos
"Research helps us learn quickly and makes everyone smarter."
Robin BeersResearch as a Catalyst for Organizational Transformation
March 12, 2021
"It's a privilege to have a seat at the table, but it's crucial to ensure that other voices are heard."
Dantley DavisLeadership & Diversity—A Fireside Chat with Dantley Davis
September 17, 2020
"You could quantify what did and didn't work; data humbles you, even when you think you're right."
Steve Sanderson Alissa Briggs Jeff Gothelf Bill ScottDiscussion
May 14, 2015
"The way you tell the story of your research is critical to gaining traction."
Megan Blocker Mujtaba Hameed Victor UdoewaPanel: Excellence in Impact
March 25, 2024
"Accessibility baked into design systems is important for convincing engineering teams."
Nathan Curtis Nalini P. Kotamraju Jack Moffett Dawn ResselDiscussion
June 9, 2016
"People in our industry often push for unrealistic goals under the guise of ambition."
Joshua GravesWe Need To Talk: Managing Ludicrous Requests at Work (Part 3 of 3)
May 12, 2025
"Identifying enablers of service design is crucial for its implementation and impact."
Andy Polaine Lavrans LøvlieWhat is the role of service design in product-led organizations?
December 3, 2024
"We want to empower teams to create simple, intuitive, and beautiful Atlassian experiences that customers love."
Charles Lee Jennie YipBuilding a New Home for the Atlassian Design System
October 22, 2020
"Ethical decisions will change over time; they're not static."
Matteo GrattonCan Data and Ethics Live Together?
October 1, 2021
