What if one could ensure success by following four design principles?

Balancing creative ideas and thoughts with their practical implementation is key in a world that creates an LLM daily, where billions of social media messages are sent, everyone has an opinion about everything, and you are supposed to make the ‘right’ decisions…

Over the three decades of my career, I have served different organisations at different levels in various functions. I am grateful for every second, as this taught me to discern the four design principles of my thinking framework. Six Sigma brought me the elements we will cover in the next article. Design Thinking is the shoulder of the giants I stand on today. They are built on the foundation laid by Tim Brown's Design Thinking process, emphasising Desirability, Viability, and Feasibility.

Working at Argenta with Len Collier, we expanded this framework to include ESG because it fitted into the organisation's image and was —according to us— missing in the original approach we wanted to roll out over the following years.

Design principles are fundamental to a thinking framework, especially as a constant reference point.

What If We always focused on user-centricity?

Imagine a world where a deep understanding of user needs drives every innovation and R&D effort. User-centricity means prioritising the end-user experience from the start. By empathising with users and continuously gathering feedback, we can ensure our solutions address their pain points and enhance their lives. This focus leads to higher adoption rates, user satisfaction, and long-term success.

What If economic viability was non-negotiable?

Consider the impact of ensuring every idea is financially feasible and sustainable. Your idea can be user-centred like hell. You will not be happy if it will run you bankrupt within the next few months. Economic Viability balances costs with potential returns and secures the necessary resources for long-term success. By rigorously evaluating the financial aspects of our projects, we can avoid costly pitfalls and ensure our innovations have a robust business case. This approach attracts investors, secures funding, and guarantees that our efforts are sustainable and profitable.

What If technical feasibility was a core criterion?

Picture a scenario where every concept is vetted for technical feasibility before significant resources are committed. Ensuring our ideas are technically possible and scalable is crucial. We can proactively identify and address potential challenges by involving technical experts early. This foresight helps us avoid roadblocks, streamline development, and accelerate time to market. When technology runs to its limits, R&D starts looking for new possibilities, emphasising the interaction between these two bodies of knowledge, as already described in an earlier article.

What If responsibility guided every decision?

Imagine a world where every innovation is created with a sense of Responsibility towards society, ethics, and the environment. Embracing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles ensures that our work positively impacts the world. Argenta is a ‘green’ bank that embraces this principle in everything they do. That was why Len and I decided to add it to the Design Thinking framework to ensure ESG would not be forgotten when creating new services and products. Recent thinking evolved towards ‘responsible’ for several reasons. The overhyping of ESG is one of them.

Integrating ethical considerations, social impact, and environmental sustainability into our projects can build trust with stakeholders, enhance our brand reputation, and contribute to a better world. From a helicopter view, I thought ‘responsible’ better fit what it says on the tin.

What If we fully embrace these principles?

By fully embracing these principles, we can transform our approach to innovation and R&D. We can ensure our projects meet the highest standards of desirability, viability, feasibility, and responsibility, leading to meaningful and lasting success.

Are you ready to integrate these principles into your journey? Let’s explore the possibilities together and shape the future of innovation and R&D.