Designers aspire to be a part of their company's product innovation initiatives. They often claim rights to be involved and wait for an invitation to be handed to them. That time never comes due to business, product, or tech traditionally driving the initiatives. So don't wait.
In your company, the reality is:
There is no mandate or governance prohibiting innovation projects
There may be no designated or entitled innovation team
No one will give you authority, time, or resources
No title, level, experience, or expertise is required
To drive product innovation, be proactive and lead initiatives. Following these actions to innovate will advance ideas into reality.
Dedicate time
Set recurring calendar blocks to research and explore
Be a subject matter expert by enriching your knowledge from webinars, reports, competitive analysis, and speaking with users, industry leaders, and other subject matter experts
Capture, organize, and synthesize your ideas
Innovate on micro and macro levels
Enhance workflows and micro-interactions within the products you're working on
Enhance the company's business, design, and technology value propositions, growth, and competitive advantage
Formulate your foundational story
Stitch learnings into a story
Highlight user insights, market differentiation, strategy, and business data analytics with potential revenue growth
Showcase design concepts, prototype, and tech opportunities
Get stakeholders to champion idea
Include stakeholders in the process for deep connections and alignment
Ensure you have business, tech, and product stakeholders
Present story to relevant people and channels
Summary
An official pod will be assigned to execute the innovation once approved by executives
Be part of the pod or continue to consult the innovation to ensure proper execution
Proactivity and assertiveness will help you initiate the innovation
Passion, drive, and persistence will help you advance the product
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