The Changing Role of Design

Design has become an important strategic instrument in user-driven innovation policy. 

The Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy (MEE) has published a study of how the role of design is changing in Finland. The study was created by Provoke's strategics team during the second half of 2009.

The study can be downloaded from www.tem.fi:
http://www.tem.fi/?s=3372
Right side: TEMin tilaama selvitys; Muotoilun muuttunut rooli (helmikuu 2010)

(In Finnish).

Provoke Helsinki - new address

Provoke Helsinki is now located at Keilasatama 3 (map).

Contact information:
Tel. +358 (0)9 2510 7654
Address: Keilasatama 3, 02150 Espoo, Finland

Design Thinking helps when the economy poses new challenges

by Mikko Kämäräinen

Design Thinking is gaining more popularity among companies wanting to refocus their strategies around end-customers. Cutting costs is obvious - but to keep innovating cost-effectively at the same time is the key to turn the challenges into new opportunities. Understanding real user needs and being able to innovate end-customer value, then test it before going too far in development is crucial as companies face an economically demanding era.
Move On! magazine by Fintra featured a case story about Design Thinking in issue 04/2008. You can download the article (in Finnish).

More info: mikko.kamarainen@provoke.fi

Prototype early

by Pasi Mattila

Pasi Mattila talks about fuzzy frot end prototyping in Prosessori Magazine. (In Finnish)
Prorotyping early means you get to test your concepts before investing too much on development. This is the key to iterate ideas cost-effectively. Do not ask users what they want, but DO ask them what they think of your ideas.
A prototype is worth a thousand pictures. Being able to prototype early enables more iteration and more opportunities to create winning ideas.

LiveProto is a tool for creating working proof-of-concept prototypes before HW/SW design.

More info: pasi.mattila@provoke.fi