Navigating the Intersection: Boosting design thinking through diverse perspectives
Last November, Rebecca Charlton joined CreateFuture as a Strategy Consultant. A month later, Rebecca graduated with a masters in Multidisciplinary Innovation. In this blog post, Rebecca shares her three takeaways on how you can make the most of the expertise around you.
I consider myself fortunate to have completed my Masters recently and seamlessly transitioned into a dream role at CreateFuture. Working directly with clients and being surrounded by an exceptionally inspiring team has allowed me to build upon my knowledge and put it into practice.
With a background in trend research and having studied for a Masters in Multidisciplinary Innovation, I've been exposed to various ways of working within diverse teams and with clients from different disciplines. In this blog post, I'll share three key takeaways on how you can make the most of the expertise you have around you, and how it can enrich the process and practice of design thinking.
1 - Be Reflexive: Make Sense of the Situation
Reflecting on my multidisciplinary journey, I've learned the importance of being reflexive. Being reflexive is an iterative process, helping both you and your teams adapt and grow. We can do this, by continuously making sense of the situation, understanding and documenting capabilities, skills, personal drivers, and knowledge. It's about building an awareness of what has been learned, to ensure a smooth progression into the future.
2 - Allow Openness to Collaboration: Build a human-centered approach
Multidisciplinary collaboration inherently brings a human-centered approach to problem-solving. So far, in my brief time at CreateFuture, I’ve seen the drive for collaboration and clear communication take center stage, as we tackle the challenge together. By seamlessly integrating individuals with diverse skills, backgrounds, and perspectives, teams can develop solutions that are more attuned to the needs of end-users.
3 - Create Long-Term Impact: Embrace the power of co-creation
Finally, it's not just about solving today's problems. When you embrace co-creation, you're not just part of a team, you're part of a movement that thrives on adaptability, building resilience, and opportunity to generate greater, longer-lasting, human-centered, and sustainable outcomes.
In the words of thought leader and author, Frans Johansson
“the best chance to innovate lives at the intersection”
Embracing this approach to design thinking and multidisciplinary collaboration undoubtedly enriches my contributions to creating meaningful and sustainable solutions, which I’ll continue to iterate and apply throughout my journey at CreateFuture as a Strategy Consultant.
For those new to this approach, try to keep in mind that being reflexive, open to collaboration, fostering effective communication, and maintaining a human-centered focus are key elements to unlocking the full potential of multidisciplinary innovation.
Rebecca at her graduation proudly holding her Masters degree scroll.