I work at a computer manufacturer in Brazil, which has been an IDEO client. I'd like to know how can I bring Design Thinking into my organization? How can I make my peers understand it and work as design thinkers (untill your book isn't out)?

Thanks, Paolo

I've witnessed this paradigm shift in the business world where design is now an integral component of business decision-making. Academia, however, has been slow to react. As of now, there are only a handful of programs that offer degrees in the related genre. Do you anticipate more US Universities restructuring their business school programs to include design thinking degrees? If so, what is IDEO doing to assist?

I work in a software development group within a global professional services firm. Our customers are generally internal. Is the role and focus of design, creativity and innovation different in my world? Thanks.

Is design the new customer service? How do you get CEOs to understand the strategic value of well designed products and services?

How do you see IDEO and green design helping the economy in the recession?

Follow-up: What industries do you see as most receptive to seeing design as a way to help their companies survive and retool.

These days, more and more people appear to be clued in to what innovation and design thinking can bring to their businesses. Based on your experience, how have you seen company mindsets shift, particularly in recent months given the recession?

Design of "systems" is often the problem, not design of "products" (i.e. why design a better, more efficient toilet when we need to do away with water-centric sanitation systems). Have you considered a systems approach to design?

With the half-life of business models decreasing how do organizations develop an R&D capability for new business models.

Tim, there's a lot of talk about the need to rebuild America's infrastructure - its high on President elect Obama's agenda. How can design, or design thinking, help build an infrastructure that is future oriented, evolves with use, is adaptable, flexible, secure and rebuilds America's competitive advantage?

Tim, how would contrast the methodologies of Design Thinking vs. the methodologies that a firm such as Innosight employs when looking at the challenge of igniting new growth within an organization ?

When you take a step back, look around... smell.. feel... see... touch... nature and everything else that's around and between... then come back to reality: the current world and it's never-ending economic, social, ecologic, religious and blablabla problems that everyone is facing these days.. What does it all make YOU feel like doing? how does it affect your design thinking?

How will you and your clients apply your design-thinking philosophy to address social issues like the alarming high school dropout rate in America (over 50% in a dozen most populated cities)? How can we inspire young people with the 21st Century skills so inherent in IDEO's process and so needed in today's workforce?

With the end of the British empire in 1997, and now what looks like the end of the US economic empire, how do you see your Design Thinking strategy taking root in the next economic growth engine of China?

Steve
South Korea

If you had to design a memetic concept that captures and exercises all the best dimensions of the United States how would you start? What might it look like as a logo?

Thanks for all the great questions! Tim's coming in to see us this morning (Tuesday 16 December) so I've made the difficult choice of just five questions to put to him. So please don't submit any more... but do check back here soon for the link to the interview. Thanks again, Helen

For companies seeking to hire "design thinkers," what characteristics do you recommend hiring staff look for? How can companies better cultivate their design-thinking cultures?

Molly
Houston