Using Design Thinking in Innovation and How to Apply it to Your Career

Craig Damlo

2015 PNW AIAA Technical Symposium - Northwest Aerospace at the Forefront of Innovation

Agenda:๏Design Thinking Overview๏Aerospace Applications๏Career Applications

Traditional Innovation Process

Strategy Brainstorming Development Define Evaluation

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Traditional Innovation Process

68%

“People who design products are experts cursed

by their knowledge, and they can’t imagine what it’s like to be as ignorant as the rest of us.

Chip HeathMade to Stick

Design Thinking Process

Design Thinking Process

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Design Thinking Process

16% 16%

The Edges - Proof

Empathize

✤Observe✤Engage✤Immerse

Define

✤Review✤Focus✤Understand

Ideate

✤Brainstorming✤Flare✤Variety

Prototype

✤Try✤Explore✤Solve

Test

✤Refine✤Learn✤Sample

Does it work?Low-Birth-Weight Infant Mortality

Embrace

✤Create a cheaper and easier-to-maintain incubator for clinics in Nepal

✤Visit to Nepal found that incubators won’t work; homes don’t have electricity and are long distances to hospital

✤How might we create a baby-warming device that helps parents in remote villages give their dying infants a chance to survive

Design Thinking in AerospaceHow Can it be Applied?

What’s Missing?

Strategy Brainstorming Development Define Evaluation

Test

✤Mockups✤Full size✤Sample

Prototype

✤CAD✤Physical

Ideate

✤Sketch✤Brainstorm

Define

✤RFI?✤RFQ?✤SCD?✤Standards?✤Regulations?

Empathize - Who & How

✤Builders✤Operators✤Passengers

Why It’s Important

20152010 20202005 2025

Roll OutFirstFlight

Named 787 First

Delivery-9 FirstFlight

-9 FirstDelivery

-10 FirstDelivery

Current Backlog

Public Acknowledgementof iPhone

Roll Out

Launch

3G Launch

4 Launch

5 Launch

5C Launch

6 Launch iMplant

Design Thinking in Your CareerReally just career advice

Design Thinking

•How do people view you?•How do you see yourself happy?

Design Thinking

•What is the job you want?

•What can you do to get there?•What training can you take?

Design Thinking

Design Thinking

•Write a job description and search for it online

•Try other jobs:•Volunteer for projects•Look for internal transfers

Design Thinking

Recognize and use the cultural language of your company.

Always carry a notebook.Always take notes.

Have fun!

32%

3%

23%

42%

Personal Work Commuting Sleep

Learn methodologies over procedures.

Ask stupid questions.

Find a mentor.

Hack your HR policies.

Key Takeaways

•Empathy is key•Design for the edges•Don’t just meet requirements•Solve problems & provide solutions•Try, try, and try again•Learn from your failures

Thank you.Any questions?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdamlo