Design Forums: The Key to Post-Pandemic Success
Transformational change
Human-centered
Innovation
Diversity of thought
These words are common in the business world. We have heard them many times and know they are the keys to unlocking the full potential of our business. The trick is figuring out HOW to implement these concepts in our organizations, especially now that so many are virtual.
I’ve spent many years on the client-side, in a large, matrixed organization. In my experience leading change can feel Sisyphean – it’s slow work, with a lot of undeveloped ideas, missing expertise, and lack of consensus. It requires you to have a clear understanding of your audience, the support of key teams, and a BIG creative idea around which to rally. Easy to say on paper, harder to accomplish in real life. I’ve witnessed the value of having external guidance to help facilitate the dialogue and process needed to foster innovative thinking. In fact, I was a prior client of Ignite 360 and had a chance to see our team in action, before I considered joining it myself.
We recognize that every organization is unique and that you can’t take a cookie-cutter approach to drive change or innovation. A template simply won’t work – but the Ignite 360 Design Forum framework will! I’ve seen the value it brings to teams and organizations. I’ve seen creative, cross-functional thinking in action. I’ve seen teams identify and understand the root problem they are trying to solve and create an entirely new solution (because simply trying to make the old solution better doesn’t solve the root problem). I’ve seen these same teams generate new ideas that are so big and so different that they end up rethinking their entire strategy (with better results). It’s the magic of creative thinking.
The last year has been an up-close and personal lesson on change and innovation (amongst other things). Businesses (and consumers) had to adapt to and reimagine their worlds. The new reality isn’t going away. If anything, we need to learn how to continue to push beyond what is comfortable and known. We need to integrate practices into our businesses to prioritize that kind of growth and change. Here’s where design forums come in.
How Ignite 360 Design Forums Will Work For You
Regardless of your history, the design forum framework we build meets you where you are today. It is truly a partnership
You tell us who is important to have at the table, and we figure out the engagement model.
You help us figure out the scope, and we design the process.
You identify the audience of interest, and we uncover the key insights.
Here’s how it works
Ignite 360 Design Forums are a three-phased approach to human-centered innovation that leverages the power of cross-functional client teams and the “spark” of direct consumer engagement. Result? A Big Idea around which everyone can rally.
Phase 1: Research to Understand
What:
Proprietary research (primary and secondary) to help you and your team feel grounded in the consumer and competitive landscape.
Why:
Remember how I said innovation is hard? Understanding your audience will give you clarity of thought. The human-centered research provides you with a real-world, unfiltered, understanding of your audience of interest. It identifies true opportunity space and creates an innovation framework for your team.
Phase 2: Workshop to Ideate
What:
Virtual or in-person workshop with a cross-functional team and a panel of external experts (consumers/stakeholders/partners) who, together, participate in a series of structured activities and group work that prompt the ideation of new business ideas/concepts. It’s fast-paced, hard work, but it also really fun! At times it feels so different from your everyday approach that it can be uncomfortable (in a good way!) But don’t worry we know how to help you get comfortable being uncomfortable! In my opinion, one of the most valuable components of the sessions is the ability to get real-time feedback from your target consumer, allowing for immediate refinement.
Why:
This is about expertise and diversity of thought. But it’s ALSO about influence. At the workshop you are getting expertise, diversity of thought and also getting key stakeholders invested in the outcome. This makes it easier to advance the ideas in your organization at the conclusion of the project.
Phase 3: Refine to Activate
What:
Vet ideas/concepts, formally through qualitative or quantitative research, with key audiences. Integrate input and create a story and plan for activation.
Why:
True transformational change requires inspiration and action. Stories deliver on both counts. To make sure you are positioned to drive true change and action in your organization we create a story to marry the key insights with the new concepts/ideas generated. Often our final deliverable includes an activation or implementation plan laying out the particulars needed to make the idea a reality: budget, staffing, capabilities, technology, etc.
The need to continue to drive growth and create products and experiences that exceed customer expectations is not going away.
We can help you build the momentum within your organization so change becomes a natural process (and the hurdles won’t hold you back).
I’d love to talk with you about how we can partner on your business goals. Email me at marie@ignite-360.com