Episode #11 with Special Guest, Dr. Dan Formosa
Watch the episode on YouTube here.
Summary:
Dr. Dan Formosa, a design and innovation consultant, discusses the relationship between design, behavior, and branding. He emphasizes the importance of understanding user interaction and usability in product design. Dan also highlights the significance of asking questions and the need for companies to stand for something in order to build a strong brand. He explores the impact of design on behavior in various contexts, such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Additionally, Dan discusses emerging trends in design and innovation, including the importance of considering gender differences in product design. He also touches on the addictive aspects of social media and the power dynamics involved in remote control design. In this conversation, Dr. Dan Formosa shares insights on the design process and the importance of prototyping and feedback. He discusses the hesitation that comes with putting ideas on paper and the benefits of working with foam and clay in the design process. He also emphasizes the use of blackboards for mind mapping and presenting projects. Dr. Formosa advises inventors to mock up physical prototypes early on and seek honest feedback from a diverse range of people. He cautions against falling in love with the first idea and encourages embracing discomfort for innovation.
Key Takeaways:
- Hesitation can arise when putting ideas on paper, leading to a reluctance to commit to a design.
- Working with foam and clay allows for more flexibility and organic shape creation in the design process.
- Using blackboards for mind mapping and presenting projects provides a dynamic and holistic view of the design process.
- Mocking up physical prototypes early on and seeking feedback from a diverse range of people is crucial for product development.
- Avoid falling in love with the first idea and be open to change and innovation.
- Embrace discomfort as it is often necessary for pushing boundaries and creating innovative solutions.
Learn about our guest, Dan Formosa:
Dan consults with companies and organizations worldwide on design and innovation. An early proponent of “design for all” (a.k.a. Inclusive Design), he also lectures internationally on research and the future of design. He established his company ThinkActHuman with the goal of design for a better world. Dan holds degrees in product design, ergonomics and biomechanics. In addition to ThinkActHuman he co-founded 4B Collective, focused on design and gender, and co-founded the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award (on behalf of Smart Design). He also received IxDA’s first annual Interaction Design Award, in the “Disruptive” category, for his work with Ford Motor Company. His work is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. He appears in a number of documentary films on design, including the award winning 2020 Life on Wheels.
In other work, he’s the host of the successful YouTube series Well Equipped, produced by Epicurious for Condé Nast, critiquing in a less-than-serious way the usability of various odd kitchen gadgets. He also co-authored and co-illustrated Baseball Field Guide, a bestselling book incorporating the best principles of information design to clearly explain the complex rules of Major League Baseball, now in its fourth edition.
Connect with Dan here:
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