Innovating for People Handbook of Human-Centered Design Methods

by LUMA Institute

Innovation is an economic imperative that calls for more people to be innovating, more often. This handbook equips people in various lines of work to become more innovative. It provides specific guidance for bringing new and lasting value into the world.

The key ingredient to successful innovation is the everyday practice of Human-Centered Design: the discipline of developing solutions in the service of people. Every story of a good innovation--whether it's a new product, a new service, a new business model or a new form of governance-- begins and ends with people. It starts with careful discernment of human needs, and concludes with solutions that meet or exceed personal expectations.

This handbook is your essential resource for innovation. It's a compact reference book describing thirty-six methods of Human-Centered Design, organized by way of three key design skills:

- Looking: Methods for observing human experience

- Understanding: Methods for analyzing challenges and opportunities

- Making: Methods for envisioning future possibilities

Each featured method includes a brief description; a pictorial example; a listing of benefits; a sampling of method combinations; and a quick guide with helpful hints for initial application. The full collection of methods is small enough to digest quickly, yet large enough to address myriad challenges. This book does not prescribe a formulaic innovation process. Rather, it introduces a versatile set of methods for practicing Human-Centered Design as a daily discipline in order to be more innovative and drive sustainable growth.

Learn more at: luma-institute.com

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Business, Professional Development, Buisness

86 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[iTZKooPA · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, don't you dare pay $40 for the print version. It's like one star at that price. Innovating for People is a great handbook. A refresher for those that have already learned its tenants, such as most modern MBA programs, or an introduction to those interested in an MBA or improving their business acumen in general.

[Udie Chima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of innovating techniques to engage a group of people around solving a common challenge. You don't need a design background to read this book or participate in the techniques. It spans everything from research methods, to brainstorming, to creating prototypes, and testing.

Highly recommend to anyone who is in the information economy.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally actually read through ALL of it on the train to Philly - had read parts of it previously. Very simple, practical tips distilled down to their essence for various human-centered design processes. Not per se new to people with qualitative methods training or who have done a number of design workshops, but the way it is broken down into actionable steps is very helpful. Getting ready to help Philly.com folks run a design workshop.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human-centered innovation to change the world

A simple human centered innovation playbook, yet very inspirational to learn to see collective creative processes as an essential act of progress and sustainable path to bring new and lasting value to the world

The disciplined practice of Human-Centered Design involves planning, and this book offers various methods for looking carefully, understanding deeply, and making resourcefully -play with that order ;)

[Huntley Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this — filled with great tips and tricks for all teams.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Info.
Concise.
$40? Nope.

[Manny Villa]

11506244

[M]

11506244

[Natasha]

MBA 699 ✔️

[NOLaBookish aka blue-collared mind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent handbook with well-design exercises organized clearly and usefully. The descriptions of activities help filter the ideas to meet your needs and there certainly are enough of them to help with development of any product, but also enough varied ideas to help with organizing people in a collaborative way for lots of reasons.
I was lucky enough to take this company's class in Pittsburgh and so received this when leaving, but since have used it for many meetings and even added another copy (ebook) so I can have it near always.
Big fan of the organization and the concept. Done better here than some others out there.
in other words, every organizer, trainer or designer should have a copy in hand .

[Sandra Edwards]

O