Design methods
Project leaders:
Lisbeth Svengren-Holm and
Magnus Eneberg
Time period:
2007-2011
Email:
lisbeth.svengren@fek.su.se
magnus.eneberg@design.lth.se
Project descriptions:
DesignMethods.pdf,
INGO.pdf
The Design Methods project set out to look at how collaboration efforts between design consultancies and SME:s can increase the strategic growth of both parties.
Subproject: INGO – Innovation Capability and Growth (runs 08.03.01-12.03.31)
Project members: Lisbeth Svengren Holm (project manager), Magnus Eneberg (PhD Candidate)
Partners: LTH, SVID, Tillväxtgruppen Norra Västmanland, Transformator, Ergonomidesign, Zenith, Propeller, Cliff Design, NoPicnic, Myra Industriell Design, Hampf design, Umbilico Design, Lundberg Design, Strukturdesign, Beijer Electronics HMI products, Volaris, Makeni, Stockmos, Nybergs Deli, Panthera, Fagersta hygien,
plus contact is currently being established with more SMEs!
Project financing: PIEp, Vinnova - The Workplace as an Innovation System - the competent workplace
Contact: Magnus Eneberg (magnus.eneberg @ design.lth.se)
tel: 46 73 6223060
Why? The concept of design thinking has been raised as a creative approach to innovation and as an alternative way to solve problems. At the same time industrial design consultancies (IDCs) are broadening their offer to include design strategy services that are assumed to have a greater strategic impact on the business of the client companies then traditional product design services. According to several studies (SVID, 2004; 2008) SMEs have less experience of working with design and less understanding of how design could contribute to their business then larger companies. In the project the cooperation between SMEs and IDCs, working with strategic innovation projects, are studied. The project strives to improve how design knowledge and competencies are integrated into SMEs leading to growth of both IDCs and SMEs.
What? How can SMEs and IDCs cooperate to strengthen their strategic innovation capability and profitability with the help of creative methods used in the design process? How can industrial design consultants strengthen their ability to meet the needs of their client companies regarding skills in business development, strategy creation and innovation?
How? The project has a qualitative approach. Initially a survey of participating companies’ processes and skills will be carried out through interviews and observations. Two workshops have been organized with participating IDCs from Sweden, Finland and US. In collaboration with SVID and the so-called sommardesignkontoren (SDK) - summer design studios observations will be conducted during the briefing process and workshop. The workshop that will take place during summer 2010 will consist of both SMEs and designers working with conceptual innovation projects using design methods. Initially we will conduct interviews with both SMEs and designers about the expectations they have of the other party and the cooperation in the SDK that is to come. During the workshops and briefing process, we have the opportunity to observe how the cooperation is developing and relationships are built and hopefully trust is created. At the end, of the seven weeks that the SDK projects last, follow-up interviews will be conducted. In these interviews we will be able to ask questions concerning if/how the approach to design and designers have changed in the SMEs and what is the basis for change (if any). In addition, we have the opportunity to ask questions to both parties about problems in regard to the cooperation, and how they believe these problems could have been avoided.
(as shown in Project Portfolio Nov'09)16.01.2009. 00:01