How Industrial Design supports a Customer-Centric Innovation approach in a Technology-Centric business environment

Matthew Lievesley, David Oleary, Ian Hewitt, Callum Whitehead, Neil McPherson, Craig Annal

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

63 Downloads (Pure)

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 languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jul 2016
EventADMC16 - 20th Academic Design Management Conference - Boston, USA
Duration: 3 Jul 2016 → …
http://www.dmi.org/?ADMC2016Overview

Conference

ConferenceADMC16 - 20th Academic Design Management Conference
Period3/07/16 → …
Internet address

Keywords

  • customer-centric innovation
  • industrial design
  • large organisations
  • design-led innovation
  • manufacturing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'How Industrial Design supports a Customer-Centric Innovation approach in a Technology-Centric business environment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this