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DESIGN THINKER PODCAST
Welcome to The Design Thinker Podcast, where we explore the theory and practice of design thinking. Join co-hosts Dr Dani Chesson and Designer Peter Allan as they delve into the principles, strategies, and real-world application of design thinking.
Each episode takes a deep dive into a topic within design thinking, discussing the foundational theory and bringing theory to life by showcasing the application of theory into practice to solve real-world challenges.
🔍 Theoretical Insights: Build your understanding of design thinking's theoretical underpinnings, exploring its origins, key principles, and evolution over time.
🛠️ Practical Applications: Witness the theory in action as we share practical examples and case studies that demonstrate the impact of design thinking on real-world problems.
🎙️ Industry Expertise: Engage with thought leaders, industry experts, and practitioners who share their experiences, insights, and innovative applications of design thinking.
Whether you're a seasoned designer, a business professional, or simply curious about design thinking, The Design Thinker Podcast is your passport to exploring the theory and practice of design thinking.
Episodes
48 episodes
Ep#48: Why Playing It Safe Is the Real Risk - A Dark Optimist’s Call to Action
What if the only real safety lies in continuous change and standing still is the true danger?In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Ralph H. Groce III, author of We Have Nothing to Lose: A Dark Optimist’s Call to ...
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1:01:09
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Ep#47: The Productivity Crisis: What We’re Getting Wrong and How to Fix It
Productivity is a hot topic in news headlines, boardrooms, and everyday conversations. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter unpack the productivity crisis. In this episode, you will• Understand why productivity isn't just an indiv...
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Episode 47
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53:01
Ep#46: The Power of Dumb Thinking - The Dumbify Framework with David Carson
In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter delve into the concept of 'Dumbify' with guest David Carson. Discover how embracing 'dumb' ideas can lead to breakthrough innovations. Learn about David's journey building successful companies, and ho...
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Episode 46
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1:13:04
Ep#45: Where Human-Centered Design Meets Systems Thinking
The inspiration for this podcast came from a question posed by Ian Scott, a longtime listener and friend of the podcast. Ian asked, "What's your view on human-centered systems thinking?" In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter e...
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Episode 45
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1:07:01
Ep#44: Design Thinking in Action - The SWAT Approach to Business Transformation
When Fonterra - a dairy cooperative in Aotearoa New Zealand - faced a critical workforce shortage, the usual ways of working weren't going to deliver the outcomes they needed. Enter the SWAT approach to business transformation - a fit-for-purpo...
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Episode 44
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1:05:47
Ep#43: Collaboration Fatigue - How to Fix the Most Overrated Buzzword in Business
Has collaboration become a catch-all solution, losing the focus and impact it was meant to deliver?In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter unpack why collaboration often feels more like a burden than a boost. They explore how overus...
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Episode 43
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59:50
Ep#42: The Manager's Guide to Coaching, Driving Performance One Conversation at a Time
In this episode of the Design Thinker Podcast, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Dr John Bennett, a leading scholar-practitioner, executive coach, and professor at the McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte. John, auth...
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Episode 42
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55:58
Ep#41: What Can Skydiving Teach Us About Leadership?
In this episode, Peter steps into the spotlight, recounting how his skydiving experiences shaped his perspective on courage, self-talk, goal-setting, and teamwork. As Peter Peter reflects on this skydiving journey, he draws parallels between sk...
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Episode 41
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56:52
Ep#40: How Lessons from Design School Helped Me Drive Results in the Corporate World
In this episode, Dr. Dani shares her nontraditional career path from aspiring law student to graphic designer to leading corporate transformations. A two-time university dropout, Dani discovered design while on the path to law school, which led...
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Episode 40
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55:51
Ep#39: Power of the Pause: Why Taking a Break Matters
In a world that glorifies busyness, breaks are dismissed as unimportant and a barrier to productivity. However, this isn't actually the case. In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter discuss the often overlooked but essential practice of pa...
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Episode 39
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1:00:29
Ep#38: What to do about perfectionism
Do you struggle with perfectionism? Is it holding you back? In this episode, Dr. Dani Chesson and Designer Peter Allan explore how perfectionism hinders progress and keeps us trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and share tips on how to break free ...
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47:09
Ep#37: Why your customer experience will fail if you ignore EX
We often focus on creating a seamless customer experience (CX), but what happens when we ignore employee experience (EX)? In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter dive into the often-overlooked connection between EX and CX, exploring why gr...
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Episode 37
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52:23
Ep#36: What it Takes to Win in Customer Experience
Customer Experience (CX) is vital for businesses in the 21st century, but do we know what we mean when we say CX? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore CX. In this episode, you will • understand what CX is an...
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Episode 36
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59:35
Ep#35: The Anatomy of an Experience
Experience — a term that's become ubiquitous in business, but do we really know what we mean when we say Customer Experience, Employee Experience, Patient Experience, and the like? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the anatomy...
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Episode 35
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50:47
Ep# 34: Emotions: What are they good for anyway?
Emotions are central to the human experience, influencing every aspect of our personal, professional, and social lives. They are complex and multifaceted, shaping how we perceive and interact with the world. Research suggests that up to 95% of ...
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Episode 34
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35:56
Ep#33: Are You Ready for the BANI World?
Have you heard of BANI? Are you ready for it? The term VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) was coined in the 1980s to describe the context of the world. Four decades later, is this term still relevant? The term BANI (Brittle, ...
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Episode 33
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1:01:35
Ep#32: Informed Consent: The Ethical Backbone of Design Research
What are the ethical obligations of design research? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the importance of informed consent when doing design research. From historical examples like the Tukaseegee experiments to contemporary des...
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Episode 32
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51:11
Ep#31: Reducing the Risk of Innovation with Discovery
What is discovery work? How does it help reduce risk and deliver better outcomes? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter dive into the "how-to" of discovery work to explain what it is, why it is important, and tips on how to get started.&n...
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Episode 31
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45:16
Ep#30: A Human Centered View of Privacy Law
How might we use privacy law to build trust with customers? Often regulations are viewed as an obligation, something organizations need to comply with to stay out of legal trouble. However, what if regulations can be more than that? What if reg...
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Episode 30
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40:14
Ep#29: Design Thinking is Dead...Or Is It?
Over the past several years, the relevance of design thinking has come under scrutiny. Is it a fad that has run its course? Is design thinking still useful? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter dive into these questions.In this ep...
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Episode 29
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38:27
Ep#28: Navigating Organizational Tensions with Design Thinker Capabilities
Organizational tensions are inevitable and become increasingly complex as organizations scale. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter discuss the three most common organizational tensions and strategies for navigating them. In...
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Episode 28
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1:02:01
EP#27: Context: The meaning at the center of everything
Context plays a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the world. From everyday conversations to pondering the meaning of life, context is at the center of meaning-making. An action that might seem irrational can be perfectly reasonable w...
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Episode 27
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43:51
EP#26: The Past, Present, and Future of Design Thinking
Design Thinking, where did it come from? How is it being used today? What will its purpose be in the future? Join Dr Dani and Designer Peter as they delve into the history of Design Thinking and explore its prospects. In this episo...
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Episode 26
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54:29
EP#25: Design Thinking: What is it? How can it help?
What is Design Thinking? In this back-to-basics episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter define Design Thinking. In this episode, you will • learn about how Design Thinking is defined • understand why Design Thinking i...
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Episode 25
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35:59
Ep#24: Accepting the Inescapable Reality of Failure with Podcast Guest Chris Taylor
Do you struggle with accepting failure as an opportunity for growth? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Life and Business Coach Chris Taylor, author of the book Avoiding Propeller Blades. In this episode, yo...
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Episode 24
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1:05:53