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
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Diversity and inclusion are critical in design processes as they influence who is represented in decision-making.
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The recent global crises highlighted the importance of creativity and innovative problem-solving.
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Personal narratives and lived experiences can profoundly shape professional insights and practices.
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Servant leadership fosters a culture of trust and empowerment within teams, leading to better outcomes.
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Organizations need to integrate diverse perspectives for effective innovation.
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Design should not just be about aesthetics but also involve understanding market needs and societal contexts.
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There is a need to balance risk and reward, especially in rapidly changing markets.
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Fostering a culture that embraces failure as a learning tool can drive innovation forward.
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Design processes benefit from a multidisciplinary approach that draws on various expertise and viewpoints.
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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."
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