Abstract
This paper provides a case-study whereby a UK University has been working in close partnership with Parker Hannifin Corporation, a Fortune 500 US manufacturing company, to develop new innovation practices. It discusses how Industrial Design has been introduced as an in-house function to one of the company’s divisional headquarters, in Gateshead, UK, through a collaborative research partnership over three years. Case material from four projects is presented, which illustrates a progressive, negotiated adoption by the company of the capabilities of Industrial Design as an essential component of a Customer-Centric Innovation approach. It has involved developing the organisation’s own confidence about the value and fit of Industrial Design through a series of projects and regular reflection on what is working well, not-so-well and what is raising concerns. The approach described provides an alternative to attempting to develop and implement a pre-formulated ‘grand-plan’ for Design.
Keywords: customer-centric innovation; industrial design; large organisations; design-led innovation; manufacturing
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - 3 Jul 2016 |
Event | ADMC16 - 20th Academic Design Management Conference - Boston, USA Duration: 3 Jul 2016 → … http://www.dmi.org/?ADMC2016Overview |
Conference
Conference | ADMC16 - 20th Academic Design Management Conference |
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Period | 3/07/16 → … |
Internet address |
Keywords
- customer-centric innovation
- industrial design
- large organisations
- design-led innovation
- manufacturing