A design attitude views each project as an opportunity for invention.

“A design attitude views each project as an opportunity for invention that includes a questioning of basic assumptions and a resolve to leave the world a better place than we found it.” – Boland & Collopy, Managing as Designing (2004)

Many people think that design is all about “making things pretty.” It’s this misconception that puts creatives first on the chopping block when budgets get tight. Unbeknownst to many, experienced designers are valuable problem solvers. Design is not just a veneer. Good design is how something works and how something helps—functional solutions that are a product of Design Thinking.

The first step in the Design Thinking process is identifying the problem to be solved. Discuss your business challenges with your designer and identify your core issues—but be careful of limiting constraints. It’s not necessary to define the problem and the vehicle for which the problem is solved. For example, don’t ask the designer to build you a bridge, instead ask them to help you find a way to cross the river. Allow your designer time to research, define, understand, and explore your problem. Freedom to “design think” allows creative solutions to emerge. In this process, your designer might consider 100 solutions to your problem. Not all of these will be viable solutions, but it allows hem to create the most appropriate solution for your specific challenge. Would you paint your living room without first taping the edges, removing the wall plates, moving the furniture, and carefully selecting a paint color? Dedicated prep-work produces a higher-quality product in the end.

Designers hold the key to new types of solutions that businesses need to stand out in the marketplace. Initiate an environment that fosters creative dialog then stand back while they create something great.