Innovators - The Digital Innovation Podcast

  Jennifer Kaiser-Steiner - The Intersection of Digital Innovation and User Experience Jennifer Kaiser-SteinerHead of Learning & Exchange Center at UnternehmerTUMIn today’s fast-paced business landscape, the role of designers and innovation managers is crucial in driving successful digital innovation. As a strategic leader at UnternehmerTUM, Jennifer Kaiser-Steiner provides invaluable insights into how collaboration and a user-centered approach can spark creativity and foster sustainable solutions. By leveraging local ecosystems and engaging diverse stakeholders, organizations can adapt and thrive amidst shifting market demands. According to a 2021 McKinsey report, companies that prioritize collaboration see a 50% increase in innovation success rates. Jennifer's expertise not only highlights the importance of these strategies but also offers a roadmap for designers and innovation managers looking to excel in a competitive environment. Her experiences provide a unique perspective on the synergy between design, entrepreneurship, and innovation management, illustrating how these elements can coalesce to create impactful outcomes.Building a Thriving Ecosystem for Digital InnovationJennifer emphasizes the power of collaboration within local ecosystems, stating, "One of the reasons UnternehmerTUM is so successful is the strong collaboration with local players. Having top-tier universities and established corporations like BMW and SAP in Munich creates a vibrant ecosystem. This synergy not only provides access to talent and research but also fosters innovation. Designers and innovation managers should recognize the importance of building networks that include diverse stakeholders. Engaging local talent and resources is crucial for developing sustainable solutions and effectively addressing market needs." This perspective underscores the critical role that community and collaboration play in nurturing innovative ideas. Research from the European Startup Network indicates that regions with robust collaboration networks see a 30% increase in startup success rates, reinforcing the value of engaging local players.In discussing how to replicate success in other regions, Jennifer notes, "When we talk about replicating the success of UnternehmerTUM in other regions, the focus should be on existing strengths rather than starting from scratch. It’s about leveraging what is already there. For instance, if a location already has a strong university or a cluster of industries, those can be the foundation for a new startup factory. Innovation often thrives when we build on existing capabilities and foster collaboration among local entities. Designers should adopt this mindset, as it can lead to more efficient and impactful project outcomes." Her insights encourage designers to harness the unique assets of their locales, promoting an efficient approach to innovation that is rooted in the existing strengths of the community. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that 62% of successful startups attribute their success to leveraging local resources, supporting Jennifer’s assertion about the power of existing capabilities.Jennifer's emphasis on the importance of educational initiatives reflects her understanding of the skills needed for effective digital innovation. "Education is a key pillar for entrepreneurship. At UnternehmerTUM, we prioritize providing comprehensive educational programs that cover the entire entrepreneurial journey. Last year alone, we educated over 10,000 students in entrepreneurship. This demonstrates the necessity of equipping future innovators with the right skills and knowledge. Designers and innovation managers should emphasize learning opportunities and workshops, ensuring that their teams are skilled in both design and business fundamentals, fostering a more holistic approach to innovation." By prioritizing education, she underscores its role as a foundational element for cultivating a new generation of innovators who are equipped to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. A 2022 report from the World Economic Forum found that regions investing in entrepreneurship education experience a 40% higher rate of new business creation, highlighting the impact of educational initiatives. The Role of Education in Shaping User ExperienceAs Jennifer points out, the startup ecosystem is not without its challenges, particularly when it comes to funding. "One major challenge startups face in Germany is the lack of accessible private funding compared to the U.S. This gap in funding is often a barrier to innovation. For designers and innovation managers, this highlights the need to creatively seek alternative funding sources, such as crowdfunding or partnerships, and to advocate for policy changes that could improve access to capital. Understanding the financial landscape is critical for driving innovative projects forward, and being proactive in seeking diverse funding avenues can make a significant difference." Her acknowledgment of funding challenges highlights the importance of resourcefulness in navigating the entrepreneurial landscape. A 2023 PitchBook report shows that European startups received only 50% of the venture capital funding available to their U.S. counterparts, underscoring the need for innovative funding strategies.Jennifer also articulates the necessity of physical spaces for collaboration, stating, "Building a startup ecosystem requires not just great ideas but also the right infrastructure. In Munich, we have co-working spaces like Munich CoLab that facilitate collaboration between startups and corporates. This physical space is essential for nurturing innovation. Designers should consider how their workspaces can promote collaboration and creativity. Creating environments where ideas can be easily shared and developed can significantly enhance the innovation process, making it more dynamic and responsive to change." This insight emphasizes the role of environment in fostering creativity, encouraging innovation managers to design spaces that facilitate collaboration and the free exchange of ideas. Forrester Research found that 68% of employees believe collaborative workspaces enhance their productivity, reinforcing Jennifer’s point about the importance of infrastructure in the innovation process.Moreover, Jennifer stresses the critical role of user experience: "User experience plays a pivotal role in the success of startups. In our pre-incubation programs, we emphasize the importance of including UX professionals in the founding teams. This user-centered approach ensures that products are not only innovative but also meet the needs of end-users. For designers, this underscores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration. Bringing together diverse skill sets can lead to more well-rounded solutions that resonate with users and effectively address their pain points." This focus on user-centered design reinforces the idea that successful innovation is inherently tied to understanding and addressing user needs. According to the Nielsen Norman Group, companies that prioritize user experience see a 30% increase in customer satisfaction and retention, highlighting the tangible benefits of this approach.The need for rapid prototyping is another key point Jennifer makes: "The ability to prototype quickly is crucial in the innovation process. By transforming abstract ideas into tangible prototypes, teams can gather feedback early on and make necessary adjustments. This accelerates the development cycle and enhances communication among team members. Designers should champion rapid prototyping methodologies, as these can significantly streamline the innovation process. Visualizing concepts early allows for clearer discussions and ensures that everyone is aligned on the project vision." This advocacy for rapid prototyping illustrates her practical approach to driving innovation and enhancing team collaboration. Forrester research indicates that teams using rapid prototyping methodologies can reduce product development time by up to 30%, showcasing the effectiveness of this strategy. Navigating Regulatory Landscapes and Future OpportunitiesIn addition to the challenges already discussed, Jennifer addresses the regulatory landscape, stating, "Regulatory challenges can stifle innovation. We often encounter bureaucratic hurdles that complicate the startup process in Germany. Initiatives like the proposed '28 regime' aim to simplify these challenges by allowing startups to operate more freely across European countries. Designers and innovation managers need to be aware of these regulatory landscapes and advocate for policies that promote a more conducive environment for innovation. Simplifying processes can unlock potential and encourage more entrepreneurial ventures." Her call for awareness and advocacy reflects a deep understanding of the regulatory barriers that can hinder innovation. The OECD’s 2022 report highlights that streamlined regulations can lead to a 15% increase in startup activity, underscoring the importance of navigating these challenges effectively.Moreover, Jennifer suggests that a proactive approach to regulatory engagement can foster a more innovative environment. Organizations that actively participate in discussions around policy changes are better positioned to influence outcomes that benefit the startup ecosystem. As startups become more intertwined with societal needs—especially in areas like sustainability and digital transformation—advocating for favorable policies is not just advantageous but necessary. According to a 2023 report by the European Commission, companies that engage with policymakers are 60% more likely to succeed in obtaining the support they need for innovative projects. This highlights the dual role of designers and innovation managers as not just creators but also advocates for the change they wish to see in their industries. ConclusionJennifer Kaiser-Steiner's insights illuminate the essential interplay between digital innovation, education, and user experience. Her emphasis on collaboration, leveraging local strengths, and advocating for a supportive regulatory environment provides a compelling framework for designers and innovation managers. By prioritizing education and embracing a user-centered approach, organizations can cultivate impactful solutions that resonate with users. As the landscape of digital innovation continues to evolve, Jennifer's perspectives serve as a guiding light for those seeking to drive sustainable success in this dynamic field. Her unique combination of strategic vision and practical experience offers valuable lessons for the next generation of innovators, empowering them to navigate the complexities of the digital era. Through her work, Jennifer not only contributes to the growth of UnternehmerTUM but also inspires a broader movement toward a more interconnected and innovative future.   Jennifer Kaiser-Steiner is the Head of the Learning & Exchange Center at UnternehmerTUM, where she leads innovative educational and strategic initiatives. With over two years of experience at UnternehmerTUM, including her role as Senior Expert for Strategic Projects, Jennifer specializes in fostering impactful learning environments. Her diverse background combines academic research, strategic project management, and educational leadership, contributing to a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to innovation and learning.

In our new episode, Felix Lee, the Co-founder & CEO of ADPList, provides valuable insights into the empowering impact of ADPList on the next generation of creative leaders. Felix shares his perspectives on the positive influence and significance of design in driving innovation, as well as effective strategies for communicating design concepts to business stakeholders. Founded in 2021, ADPList has rapidly emerged as a global platform for expert knowledge, boasting over 20,000 mentors from leading companies such as Netflix, Airbnb, and Google. Felix discusses how ADPList aims to democratize access to mentorship, facilitating over 100 million minutes of sessions in 140+ countries, covering topics ranging from product design to coding. Felix's creative vision is evident in ADPList's culture, product, and community. His leadership has earned global recognition, including spots on Forbes 30 under 30 Asia List and Tatler's Generation T Future Leader List in 2023. Additionally, ADPList secured $1.3 million in funding from Sequoia Capital India and Goodwater Capital in 2021. Throughout the episode, Felix provides insights into how ADPList is transforming the mentorship landscape and equipping aspiring designers with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in the industry. Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, Felix!

In EP75, we had the pleasure of speaking with James Martin, co-founder of BabyGiant Design Co. and the founder of Made By James, a brand-focused and design-led creative agency in the UK, also the author of the book "Made by James: The Honest Guide to Creativity and Logo Design" which was released this year. His clients include The Chainsmokers, Michael Ray, and Carter McLean, as well as brands like Bishop Slayer Oyster Stout and Plastic Freedom. James believes that there is no shortcut to creative freedom and a life of self-employment. Being good at what you do isn't enough. His words of wisdom? Work with a team first to gain experience, then go out on your own once you've mastered prospecting, pricing, and presenting. In this episode, James discusses how to systemize your creative design process and how designers can do so to scale their services and make them more efficient. We also talk about what makes a great logo and how effective brand designs can help brands advance. In this episode, we look at: The commercial significance of a new logo design. What is the most underrated aspect of a great brand and communication design? How do you develop your design's narrative and strategy? When it comes to new clients, how important is your "design style," or are you completely adaptable? What is the most difficult aspect of selling brand design? How do you explain the positive impact of a brand design project? And plenty more! Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, James!

Buckle up for a fresh episode of Designdrives.In EP71, as inspirational as it was, we had a great time hosting Teslim Alabi, who serves as a Product Design Lead at Netflix, the leading streaming entertainment service in the world with 200+ million paid memberships.During Teslim’s decorated career before Netflix, he worked at one of the “Big Five” in Silicon Valley, Microsoft for almost 5 years, and co-founded and led the design team for Project Moca a.k.a. Outlook Spaces.We talk about his life experiences, challenges that he faced and also the story behind starting the social enterprise called Leads By Design, to actualize the mission of inspiring people from underrepresented backgrounds and underserved communities.In 2017 Teslim co-founded Seattle-based watch company, James & Muriel and led end-to-end for both industrial and product design teams on some high-end timekeeping instrument projects.During the episode, we chat about how he used a “yes mindset” to gain opportunities and get ahead in his career and also how his background as a designer coming from Nigeria make an impact to make organizations more customer-centric.We also chat about designing at Netflix, what makes their design culture more special and share some thoughts and predictions on what lies ahead for designers working in the media and entertainment industry.In the episode, we jump into:The power of creative ignorance in innovation.What are the opportunities and challenges in the entertainment content space and where can designers have the biggest impact?New content models with growth in contexts of digital products and innovation?What are the key challenges for people to communicate the “value of design” with business stakeholders?Role of the designer working in the entertainment industry in the future.and many more!Thanks a lot for your time and your learning Teslim!

In this episode, we chat with Dogan Sekercioglu, who is a former Industrial Design Lead from IDEO and currently works on future robotic and medical designs at Intuitive in California. With Dogan we chat about the interplay between abstract and concrete and how it’s actually a superpower of the designer. Throughout the episode, he shares his learnings from projects where he had worked, which made a positive impact on the world. We also talk about his experiences working on sustainability design projects and how changing the question from solving to reducing can actually open up new opportunities for innovation that might be just an iteration but also a step forward because moving is better than not moving. In the episode, we jump into: The role of advanced design when it comes to designing complex systems. How can constraints and requirements and fighting them, and questioning them could lead to product innovation? What are the key challenges in designing in the medical space? Why is “creative” not a department but a culture? and many more! Thanks a lot for your time and for your learning Dogan!

In this episode, we learn from Hussain Almossawi on how advanced CGI is changing design forever, and blurs the digital and physical world.Hailing from Bahrain, 3D motion designer Hussain Almsosawi has since moved to Brooklyn, New York, and started his own studio – Mossawi Studios.Across his exciting career, which is equally striking as it is satisfying, Hussain has worked for huge brands, including Adidas Football, Adidas Basketball and EA. The strength of Hussain’s work lies in its confident simplicity, flourishing in intelligently reserved aesthetics and concept.Aside from some of these projects with the big brands in the industry, a massive part of his self-initiated projects has led him to gain a large following on social media, with followers captivated by his gratifying and eye-catching outcomes.In the episode, we jump into:What are common challenges in CGI projects?At what part of the process to bring in advanced visualization? (Early-phase vs final renderings)How will “designing in real-time rendering” change the design process?How will digital and physical be coming together in the world of design?What will the metaverse and "instant real-time visualization" mean for the future of design?and many more!Thanks a lot for your time and for your learning Hussain!

In this episode, we had the pleasure to chat with Samuel Northway, Head of Product Design at Mason.In the past, he worked as VP of Brand Product Design at Goldman Sachs, worked as a lead designer on Deloitte and as Design Director at AT&T, among many other experiences.We talk about his mindset and motivation for working in the creative industry during the episode. And uncover many insights on approaching innovation projects or innovation in general without getting burned out and creating shared ownership, which is critical for innovation to move forward.We also talk about how he has grown in design maturity at Goldman Sachs and his learnings as a designer and leader. And what opportunities designers have when changing industries, and how to overcome the fear of leaving your company.Further, we also explore the intersection of physical and digital design and how new business models actually bring both aspects closer together.In the episode, we jump into:How to empower and manage design teams?What are the advantages and disadvantages of designers switching between industries?What impact can designers create in the future?What are the key challenges for designers to communicate the “value of design” to business stakeholders?and many more!Thanks a lot for your time and for your learning Samuel!

In this episode, we had the pleasure to chat with Scott Robinson, Founder and CEO of FreshForm. A customer and UX agency based in San Diego.When it comes to design, Scott Robinson thinks Frank Lloyd Wright said it best: “Form follows function—that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.” Robinson takes that advice to heart, leveraging human-centred design principles to grow and differentiate brands in today's ever-changing digital landscape, including Acura, Honda, Ballast Point, Facebook, Intel, ExxonMobil, Qualcomm and the University of San Diego. Robinson has been in the field of design and marketing for nearly 20 years and at the helm of FreshForm since 2001 and remains intensely passionate about the intersection of marketing, design, technology, innovation and consumer behaviour in the digital age.We've got a chat about how human-centred design is changing as humans evolve but also the environment of humans becomes increasingly technological.We also dive into the difference and intersection of CX design and EX design, further Scott does play a key role in the context of design capital 2024, which will be a collaboration between San Diego and Tijuana in Mexico, in the episode we learn about what makes the region special and uniqueIn the episode, we jump into:Designing for humans and technology in harmony.Why Co-Creation is critical for innovations to survive?Why great CX Design requires great EX (Employee Experience) Design?How technology is becoming an extension of the human body, and how to design for it?The mission and journey behind the Design Capital 2024 (San Diego and Tijuana)and many more!Thanks a lot for your time and for your learning Scott!

Circular design: the next step of design thinking?Circular design, by bringing the subject of resources to the forefront, also creates an opportunity to integrate increasingly more important strategic dimensions in an ever-changing world.Shifting to a circular mindset when it comes to design can prove to be delicate.Thrilled to launch our EP66 which is all about circular design thinking.In this episode, we had the pleasure to chat with Karel J. Golta, Founder and CEO of INDEED Innovation, about circular design, strategic innovation, and speculative design.His team had the chance to bring a strong perspective of circular design into recent projects and he shares the learnings on scaling from user-centric design to circular design.Where not just incorporate more data and more stakeholders into the project but also approach your design with a new mindset.Further, we also discussed the overlap between speculative design and circular design.We also talk about AI and how the tools and the processes actually going to change and influence the future job of the designer.In the episode, we jump into:How to design for circularity?The role of ESGs for designers.User-centred design vs circular design.Why sustainability requires system thinking?Creating frameworks for circularity.Importance of Co-Creation on designing a circular product.Why designers should be more focused on the circular design?Thanks a lot for your time and for your learning Karel!

What if it were possible to design and build a mobile product all on your phone — and what if it were a better way of working?As designers, we are used to designing on our computer - which is often not the end-device of interaction. There are easy ways to transfer the content to phones but with our new guestDan LaCivitawe discuss a bold new idea:What if you could design directly on your phone and it would be even better then designing on a different device?Are a keyboard, mouse, and desktop the best tools for creating mobile products… or have they become barriers?That question started the journey of what came to bePlaywhich Dan founded together with colleagues.Play is the first native iOS design tool built for creating mobile products.What does it mean for the future of design?Design, iterate, and collaborate directly from your phone, experiencing your design as you create it while taking full advantage of native iOS features to bring your product to life.We are thrilled to launch our EP65 with Dan LaCivita, Co-Founder of Play.In the episode, we chat about the role of mobile interactions for innovation.Also why innovation often starts by saying "NO" when it comes to product requirements. The approach of focus actually opens up the field for innovation.We also dig into cross-device interaction and his experience leading a major design agency in New York called Firstborn, which got later acquired where you can learn about how to run a large design business and grow it even further.Thanks a lot for your time and for your learnings Dan!