Thoughts from Venture Design
As designer, we always talk about how to introduce design into companies without a sense of design and convince them the potential benefits. This is really a hard job back in my country as designers are basically more focused on techniques while have a limited methodology to help them redefine a company. What is more interesting is that most so-called design-led companies are founded by non-designers. This is practicable, because some products are so simple and people can design it with little help from professionals. I think lean startup gives a chance to let design increase its value because it offers designers the opportunity to get involved in business.
Business plan competition has been replaced by business model competition these years. Design thinking and the methodology of lean startup complements each other’s back. This is good news and I can’t wait to test it. But what worried me now is how to convert a traditional company into the “lean startup systems”, by sending people to the company? How to convince them the feasibility? How to get a smooth transformation with less benefits and energy lost? It’s quite easy to carry out in a small startup with several young people who are willing to innovate. But what about the ones already have stable revenue. Maybe I can figure it out later.
Another thing I want to talk about is how the idea of lean startup changed my mind of what is a good design. There is always a debate on this topic among designers. Some people think a good design is a design that can shock you at first glance while some other people think a good design is not a good design until it has a good response from market. I stand for the latter one for quite a long time and the idea of lean startup enhanced my understanding. A good design is easy to use and can be forget by users when using it. Lean startup offers the way to perfect design in the market aspect. As long as this aspect is done, a design is ready for the world and has a greater chance to be a good design.