Designing What Matters ― Applied Design Thinking for Innovation and Impact

Designing What Matters significantly expands upon current design knowledge, focussing on the application of design thinking to large scaled complex systems, at the leading edge of cross sector and public value innovation.

Designing What Matters is an overview of the ThinkPlace design methodology which has evolved through both theory and practice since ThinkPlace began in 2005. While the subject matter is specific to the design industry, the language and concepts are applicable and accessible to a broader audience. The content of the book responds to the following questions: What makes your approach to design intellectually rigorous? What do you mean when you say you "co-create value"? And more broadly, who relates to this value? Who can stake a claim to it? How is it that design thinking can maintain a powerful balance between reflecting the very fabric of people’s lives and yet still challenge their assumptions?

The methodology lives by its application. We encourage experiential learning, embracing failure as a way forward. The way we see it, fearing failure stifles creativity. Innovation and failure interact with each other in productive ways. Therefore, do not think of this book as a guaranteed path to success. Think of it as a companion to failing early and often, growing the reader’s capacity as a designer.

John Body is the Founding Partner of ThinkPlace, a strategic design consultancy with international leadership applying design thinking and innovation to the areas that matter most: social cohesion, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

John continues to pioneer and grow this field, at first leading the application of design in the Australian taxation system from 2000 to 2004. Today ThinkPlace applies design and innovation to projects as diverse as healthcare in Ghana, regulation in Australia, financial inclusion in Kenya, transport in Singapore, renewable energy in Australia, homelessness in New Zealand, Indigenous conditions in the US and revenue collection in New Zealand. ThinkPlace works on challenges that matter to the whole community, economy and environment.

John is driven to create public value and to design deeply human-centred experiences. John has particular expertise in working with complex systems. He brings very diverse groups together to co-design approaches to intractable challenges. John is an in-demand high level facilitator, having worked with boards and senior executive forums across many public, private and NGO organisations in several countries. John has particular expertise in applying design thinking to policy development, strategy development, measurement, compliance, regulatory systems and managing risk.

Since starting ThinkPlace in 2005, ThinkPlace has grown to a team approaching 100 people across 7 locations and 4 countries running several hundred projects each year.

Dr Nina Terrey is Partner and Global Practice Lead of ThinkPlace. Nina is a leading innovation co-design expert and practitioner. Her work focuses on how to solve public problems by taking a co-design approach and empowering people to co-create better solutions.

Nina consults and advises governments and other organisations on design and innovation combining research and co-design methods to solve complex issues. Nina has over 20 years working across complex systems such as regulation, national security, health, immigration, manufacturing, human services, energy, taxation, and transport. Nina’s experience extends across multiple markets - Australia, New Zealand and Asia which means Nina brings a global appreciation to challenges and practical solutions.

Nina is an Associate Professor of Institute of Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra. Nina brings a combination of strong academic and practitioner perspective to design thinking and governance studies. Nina frequently speaks about the value of design thinking, public policy and implementation design to leaders, and designers around the world.

Nina teaches programs in design thinking and co-design at the University of Canberra at the undergraduate and post graduate level. Nina runs programs with the Australian and New Zealand School of Government which targets public managers in teaching them new methods on governance and public management, particularly co-design and design thinking.

Nina is published in a number of books and journals in co-design and design thinking in public sector contexts. Nina is considered a global thought leader in applying design thinking in large and complex systems in order to purse the common good. Nina’s PhD "Managing by Design" is considered one of the most in-depth case studies in the world on applying design in a public sector organisation.