Beginners Guide to Design Thinking

<p>Welcome to <em>A Beginner's Guide to Design Thinking</em>, the perfect podcast for curious souls eager to harness the power of design thinking to level up their business and personal life.<br><br></p><p>Join your hosts - Lucy Patterson and Tracy Sharp - two Northern lasses passionate about helping people like you disrupt the status quo. We’re here to boost your business performance while reigniting your zest for life. No "but we've always done it that way" excuses allowed!<br><br></p><p>We'll guide you through the process of figuring out what you want, experimenting with how to get it, and embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. You’ll learn how to apply those lessons, tweak your approach, and keep evolving - all while keeping it fun, and scientifically backed. It might get a little messy - but not crayon-on-your-sweater messy!<br><br></p><p>From our own experiences and expertise - failures included - we’ll make sure you never feel alone on this creative journey. <br><br>So let us hold your hand as you empower yourself with design thinking, getting closer to your goals without the frustration.<br><br></p><p>Once you’ve finished listening, we have two small requests:<br><br></p><ol><li>If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. (If not, shoot us an email and let us know how we can improve.)</li><li>Reach out! Send us an email or connect via LinkedIn to share what actions you’ve taken from any of our episodes. We <em>bloody love</em> action-takers! 🙂</li></ol>

A Beginner's Guide to Navigating The Pitfalls of Design Thinking

In this episode, Lucy and Tracy explore the principles of design thinking, focusing on the common pitfalls that individuals and teams encounter during the process. They emphasize the importance of understanding stakeholders, defining clear problem statements, and the iterative nature of design thinking. The conversation highlights the significance of reflection, data-driven decisions, and maintaining focus on the purpose while avoiding distractions. The hosts also discuss the balance between ...

11-19
33:07

A Beginner's Guide to Stakeholders, Co-Creation and 'The Messy Middle'

In this episode, Lucy and Tracy explore the complexities of design thinking, focusing on the importance of stakeholders, co-creation, and the challenges of people-pleasing. They discuss how to navigate diverse opinions, the value of empathy, and the iterative learning process involved in design thinking.The conversation highlights real-life applications, tools for decision-making, and the significance of self-respect and empowerment in the journey of personal and professional growth.*This epi...

11-05
34:23

A Beginner's Guide to Doing Things

Your hosts, Lucy and Tracy, kick off season 2 with an episode entitled 'A Beginner's Guide to Doing Things'.*This episode is kindly sponsored by Vaughan Broderick, co-author of The DUCTRI Playbook*In this episode, they challenge you - the listener - to take a fresh approach to growing your business and up-levelling your lives using the power of design thinking.They discuss the basics of adopting new habits, overcoming initial challenges, and how to stay consistent when starting something new....

10-08
21:46

Season 2 Trailer 2.0

Have you missed us?Who's ready to take action and solve problems with us?Send us a textSupport the showYou can support us in the following ways: Take a listen, leave a positive review, connect with us on LinkedIn, ask us questions.Season 1 - A full A - Z introduction of all things design thinking, plus a range of special guests.Season 2 - Engage with the opportunity to design think your way through your own project, whilst earning a qualification and CPD points at the same time. Lucy - https:...

08-26
03:08

Season 2 Trailer 1.0

Have you missed us?Who's feeling stuck and ready to do something about it?Send us a textSupport the showYou can support us in the following ways: Take a listen, leave a positive review, connect with us on LinkedIn, ask us questions.Season 1 - A full A - Z introduction of all things design thinking, plus a range of special guests.Season 2 - Engage with the opportunity to design think your way through your own project, whilst earning a qualification and CPD points at the same time. Lucy - https...

08-18
02:59

Z is for Zeitgeist

In this episodeSend us a textSupport the showYou can support us in the following ways: Take a listen, leave a positive review, connect with us on LinkedIn, ask us questions.Season 1 - A full A - Z introduction of all things design thinking, plus a range of special guests.Season 2 - Engage with the opportunity to design think your way through your own project, whilst earning a qualification and CPD points at the same time. Lucy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucypattersonflourish/ Tracy - https...

12-26
16:59

Y is for Your Business and Life

In this episode weSend us a textSupport the showYou can support us in the following ways: Take a listen, leave a positive review, connect with us on LinkedIn, ask us questions.Season 1 - A full A - Z introduction of all things design thinking, plus a range of special guests.Season 2 - Engage with the opportunity to design think your way through your own project, whilst earning a qualification and CPD points at the same time. Lucy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucypattersonflourish/ Tracy - ht...

12-12
21:49

X Marks the Spot

In this episode we discover whether 'X' really does mark the spot, as we explain more about the 'Define' stage of the design thinking process. Send us a textSupport the showYou can support us in the following ways: Take a listen, leave a positive review, connect with us on LinkedIn, ask us questions.Season 1 - A full A - Z introduction of all things design thinking, plus a range of special guests.Season 2 - Engage with the opportunity to design think your way through your own project, wh...

11-28
19:36

W is for Workshops

In this episode, we uncover a few of the reasons why workshops can be innovation and creative goldmines when you're looking to solve a problem, make a decision, or whenever you have a challenge ahead of yourself or your team.We look at how design thinking workshops are actually more likely to produce iterational innovation, than the transformational innovation that we hear about in the media, before explaining the need for good preparations, the limitations of workshops, and how to get the bu...

11-14
19:11

V is for Visualisation

In this episode we're joined by Lara Doherty, Founder of The Motivation Clinic, and Author of The Mighty Book of Motivation.Adept at using the power of visualisation, with a particular interest in the power of vision boards to fuel your achievements and help you reach your goals, Lara explains how she now pays this power forward to others.Visualisation techniques have been used by sports coaches to improve the performance of sports stars very successfully for decades, yet visualisation s...

10-31
35:11

U is for Usability

In this episode we welcome the inimitible Christine Hemphill from Open Inclusion.With a background in design, Christine now specialises in inclusive product design, with a particular interest in age and disability.From retail to banking, healthcare to transport, Christine's knowledge, understanding and desire to disrupt the product design sector for the greater good is admirable.We're all 'users' of products, but due to her dislike of the transactional nature of this word, she makes sure that...

10-16
44:02

T is for Tracy

In this episode we dive deeper into the psyche of co-host Tracy Sharp.To get us started, Lucy makes Tracy share her career profile with us, as if she'd written it for a dating app...then we get serious!From the highlights of working on the 'Foodi' for SharkNinja whilst out in China, to the burn out that followed; Tracy provides honest and open insight into her life as a female in a male dominated environment.Listener questions provide further insight into Tracy's confidence and resilience lev...

10-02
37:07

S is for Storytelling

In this episode we discuss the impact of story-telling; more importantly the impact of good story-telling.As a design engineer, Tracy shares a story of a hotel stay that didn't live up to expectations, and how story-telling could have helped the hotel to better improve her experience.Lucy sings the tune to a 1980's Milky Way tv advert that shows how story-telling links to nostalgia, marketing, and sales. (It also proves that Lucy shouldn't give up her day job!) From character...

09-18
20:07

R is for Reflect

In this episode we discuss how to use the power of reflection in order to boost your mindset and discover the benefits that taking time to reflect can have on your business and life.Tracy shares the reflection questions she claims stopped her from quitting during the early days of running her own business, and Lucy shares how she uses reflection methods to maintain communication and momentum within her growing business team. We chat through the Baader Meinhoff Effect and Imposter Syndrom...

09-04
25:08

Q is for Questions

In this episode we look at the potential of questions within the innovation and design thinking process.We uncover some of the cross-overs between design thinking and lean manufacturing, and share the Japanese origins of a very simple, yet effective exercise, '5 Whys'.Plus, of course, because we're all about actionable insight, we provide you with some real life examples that enable you get to the crux of various problems by putting this exercise to good use.Send us a textSupport the showYou ...

08-21
12:39

P is for Prototyping

In this episode we touch on one of Tracy's favourite stages in the design thinking process; prototyping.Having spent years working as a Design Director for a major household brand, what Tracy doesn't know about prototyping is probably not worth knowing.Join us as we share some of her production design insight, and then learn how to apply the same/similar insights to service based business' - and your life.We discuss the need to 'prototype like you want it to fail' and to look at 3 prototyping...

08-07
38:38

O is for Observe

In this episode we cover one of the main stages in the design thinking process: observe. Sure, we all observe ourselves and others on a daily basis, but when you need to observe with purpose; to be aware of your surroundings, to better understand the impact of your product, or to solve problems and makes decisions within your business, how good are you at observing then?It can actually be one of the hardest stages in the design thinking process to get right and do well.It's time to leave...

07-25
35:02

M is for Michael Lewrick

In this episode we chat with Michael Lewrick, PhD, MBA.Michael has worked intensively these past few years to establish himself as a Thought Leader and world-renowned specialist in the field of Design Thinking. A best-selling author and award-winning entrepreneur, his ideas, books and innovation company - Lewrick & Company - help people around the world to better lead innovation and business growth during this current period of rapid change.If you're a regular listener to our podcast...

06-27
30:33

L is for Lucy Patterson

In this episode we find out more about the journey that lead one of the co-hosts, Lucy Patterson, to a career in design thinking.From the influence of her Grandparents on her mindset, to a successful management career that left her feeling stifled, to setting up Flourish Unlimited. Onto a sink or swim conversation that saw her embark on a life and business changing trip just before the pandemic hit.Among other things, Lucy shares her favourite design thinking tools, her belief in the pow...

06-13
30:19

K is for Key Steps

In this episode we explain a bit more about the key steps of the design thinking process; exploring the 'double diamond' concept, which is currently celebrating its 20th year of use. So join us as we diverge to converge; applying the double diamond to life design and coaching; considering ways you can apply it to your life and business for simple, yet immediate and iterative impact.Continue to listen as we introduce the notion of business ecosystems; discussing how service based bu...

05-30
31:43

Recommend Channels