#design parameters

Design Leadership Lessons

As I embark upon my final couple of weeks as a Design Leadership course student at Georgetown University, it is not missed that I will forever be, both, a design leader and student of the design leadership field. The learning in this course has broadened how I view leadership, specifically through the lens of design. Design solutions show up in any human-centered problem solution you're trying to create and how we, as design leaders, create a lasting impact that extends beyond the immediate need of product/program users.

A few aspects that I know will stay at top of mind will be getting to know who is impacted by the wicked design problems we face daily, the tools available for creating the desired solution and what parameters are in play that we must consider that we can leverage or alleviate to get to our solutions. There are so many different kinds of parameters that should be considered and understanding the parameters that influence what design tools I need will help with quickly designing potential solutions that truly fulfill the needs of those we design for.

I have also learned that I have strengths that I can tap into to create optimal solutions and building a team with varied strengths will create an opportunity for more complete solutions that consider varied perspectives. I currently utilize design thinking as a way to move from the broadest solution considerations to narrowing down the scope of the solution so that it is feasible to design and implement.

The tools acquired in my course build upon the learning from all of my master program courses. I'm so grateful to be in a course with other design leaders who lend perspective from their own strengths and creative identities.

The second aspect of this course that sticks out to me is the importance of design parameters.

Firstly, I think the parameters are an essential piece in narrowing the project into a manageable and realistic goal.

Secondly, it has proven so important to seek out experts and voices in many fields surrounding the project to gain realistic goalposts of these parameters. For example, when working on designing a product to be sold in another country, there may be cultural parameters around significance of colors used, slang terms, or other details that could be very easy to overlook.

One thing that sticks out to me at the end of this semester is the importance of listening to those working in the space you're striving to influence.

Visual Diary 13: Amazing Solutions - Tab Buddies

Another TikTok find for me was this small business that creates adaptive soda can openers. These simple tabs help folks with disabilities - or just long nails - open their drinks.

I especially appreciate how the tools are cute, fun, and can simply look like a keychain instead of a big, bulky medical device. This can give the user dignity when using the adaptive device and help remove stigma from using helpful tools.

When devices like these are made available and even fun, it can make live easier for everyone, not just those who were initially in mind as the target audience.

Eco-Friendly Clothing Brands:

When it comes to companies placing a stake in the ground regarding things like standards of practice that contribute to their brand's moral, ethical, or societal standard, those stakes are the beliefs that companies stand on and become just as important to their market segment as they found their company.

A great example of an industry or company standing firmly on their belief that drives their vision/mission/purpose is eco-friendly clothing brands. Eco-friendly brands promote sustainability practices that will appeal to consumers to are environmentally by using sustainably sourced materials, using methods of production that minimize the company's global carbon footprint, and being conscious of its impact on the planet and by extension, its customer's impact on the planet by use of its products.

One example of a clothing company's environmental stake in the ground is TENTREE, which uses sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and Tencel. TENTREE's focus on climate impact and sustainability is the hallmark of its company's mission. TENTREE states on its website:

"For every item purchased we plant trees, in an effort to regenerate ecosystems, capture carbon, and provide planting jobs in communities around the world. All our products are created with an Earth-First approach, meaning they’re made in fair, safe working conditions, and constructed using only sustainably sourced and recycled materials."

(https://www.tentree.com/pages/about)

Visual Diary 12 - Responsibility Practitioners; Edison Motors

When thinking about responsible design leaders, I immediately thought of the owner of Edison Motors. I discovered this leader through TikTok. He saw a need for a more eco-friendly transportation option in the Canadian logging industry, and instead of waiting for the options to appear, he engineered the product himself.

What I appreciate about his approach is that he has a very extensive, realistic, and holistic view of the logging industry, and is interested in creating the best product that actually meets the needs of the industry.

Visual Diary 11 - Problematic Stake in the Ground; Cybertruck

Tesla's Cybertruck is in a bit of a pickle. Theoretically, envisioned to be a fully electric, powerful, and modern vehicle, it's having trouble meeting even the basic vehicle requirements.

Visual Diary 11 - Problematic Stake in the Ground: La Sombrita bus shelter shade

The scope of the problem in this case is that LA is facing extreme heat in climate change and most bus stops do not provide adequate shade. The local government is inundated with bureaucracy and red tape and is unable to move forward with a meaningful solution. As a stop-gap pilot program, they rolled out La Sombrita.