Design research coaching

[2022 - ongoing]

I coach innovation and design teams (from one-person startups to global CPG companies) in design research to inform a consumer-centered product development journey and organizational culture. I believe that innovation can be a joyful, everyday practice. It doesn’t have to be top-down, outside-in, rarified, overly-technical, or a special treat if you’re good. For teams and organizations to grow a culture and practice of innovation, they need the right balance of both technical skills and lived experiences, rigor and play, and humility and ambition. Enter: design research (!!!) — the practice of learning from the everyday experiences and challenges of diverse individuals and communities to inspire the design of transformative products and experiences. If innovation is a party, then design research is the kitchen — a place people naturally gather to feel nourished, creative, connected, and inspired. I believe that grounding innovation in design research methods and culture enables teams to ask better questions, challenge deep preconceptions, and discover unmet needs and design opportunities often hidden in plain sight. I also think it will help teams better communicate, collaborate, and play together.