Innovative Design Labs

Not all innovation needs steel, concrete, or walls. What do you think about this innovation? In the Netherlands (and across Europe), road authorities are testing “virtual fencing” concepts to reduce wildlife accidents — using light-based and sensor-triggered systems instead of physical barriers. The idea is simple: • Don’t trap animals • Don’t block migration paths • Guide behavior only when danger exists When a vehicle approaches, roadside systems activate light (and sometimes sound) cues that discourage deer and other wildlife from crossing at that moment, while still allowing free movement when roads are quiet. No permanent fences. No habitat fragmentation. No concrete scars across nature. Why this matters Traditional wildlife fencing works — but at a cost: • Broken ecosystems • Altered migration routes • Expensive infrastructure Virtual fencing flips the model: • Protection without confinement • Safety without separation • Infrastructure that responds, not dominates Is it literally “laser walls animals see as fences”... Not exactly. But the principle is real: Use perception, timing, and behavior — not brute force. This is what modern tech does best: ✔ Invisible when not needed ✔ Intelligent when it matters ✔ Respectful of nature by design When technology disappears into the background, coexistence becomes possible. #SmartInfrastructure via @codeintellectus #Sustainability #Mobility #WildlifeProtection #FutureOfCities #ClimateTech #DesignThinking #Innovation

A designer once told me, “This is amazing…but I already committed to a solution.” That’s when it clicked: Research doesn’t drive change. Alignment does. The best researchers I’ve worked with? They’re not just insightful. They’re influential. Here are 6 habits of researchers who consistently get buy-in and how to start using them today: 1. They never say “users were confused” They say: “This issue is costing us 12% of conversions.” ↳ Take one insight you’ve already shared and rewrite it using this format: Problem + Impact + Recommendation Then send it to one stakeholder as a Slack message, not a deck. 2. They don’t deliver research. They facilitate decisions They ask: “What’s the decision this team is stuck on right now?” ↳ Before every project kickoff, ask your PM: “What’s the riskiest assumption behind this decision?” Then shape your study around that. 3. They translate like hell Not “delight,” but “adoption.” Not “friction,” but “drop-off.” ↳ Pick 3 insights from your last study and rewrite them using business terms. Drop them into a meeting and watch who starts paying more attention. 4. They time it perfectly Not a 30-slide deck on a Friday. A one-sentence quote right before a roadmap review. ↳ Look ahead to next week’s big decision-making moment. Pick one insight and share it 24 hours before the meeting. Not during. Not after. 5. They repeat themselves intentionally They plant insights until someone else says it back to them. ↳ Pick one finding you want to stick. Mention it once in Slack, once in a retro, and once in a 1:1 this week. Different formats. Same message. Let it echo. 6. They stop trying to “educate stakeholders” They listen. They co-create. They shift the power dynamic. ↳ Instead of sending research after it’s done, invite a stakeholder to help design one question before it starts. You’ll double your buy-in before you even begin. You don’t need stakeholders to love research. You just need them to feel what it protects them from. If your insights are strong but your impact is quiet, making these into habits is your next step. Which of these habits are you building right now? Or what’s one you’d add to the list?

𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 - Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi Architecture has evolved locally over thousands of years. It is Influenced by lifestyles, innovation of material, social structures, cultural aspirations, and craftsmanship. Dwellings have never been just about utility to serve basic human needs, they have been forms of our inner expressions. What we take for granted today at home, a century ago, would have been unimaginable luxury. Beyond comfort, we can stream the best music, bring movie halls into our home theaters, and play any game on our Wii. Buildings nowadays are not built just for comfort. They offer a plethora of choices to express our identity. One of the less discussed influences on architecture is epidemics. My long term interest in architectural evolution has always come back to understanding the underlying influences Diseases like Cholera changed our homes to include better sanitation systems and sewer management. Poor sanitary conditions provide ample opportunity to contract disease. Tuberculosis drove modern architecture to bring light and air into the design. Architecture evolved to reduce diseases. Of course, we are unlikely to get tuberculosis in modern homes, but we are more likely to get cancer with materials like Aluminum and other carcinogenic materials that surround us today. Today, architectural innovators will need to find solutions to the most pressing issues of our time: environmental sustainability. In this spirit of innovation and sustainability, the architecture studio, Wallmakers has repurposed approximately 6,200 discarded toys to construct the walls of Toy Storey, a circular home in Kerala. The circular design of Toy Storey is a deliberate and strategic choice. Circular shapes distribute stress evenly, providing structural stability, and symbolize the cyclical nature of sustainability. The residence is conceived with the idea of a “house within a house” where neighbors and community members will always frequent the large living space, but the Japanese-style inspired shoji screens become translucent partitions providing light and visual connectivity for the private half. The colorful toys embedded in the, as the designers call it, “Toy Jaali Wall”, with the traditional Mangalore tiles create a mosaic-like effect, making it a work of art. This project challenges conventional notions and also reminds me of the enduring power of playfulness and creativity. We need more such spaces that celebrate ingenuity and determination. In the end, the choice is ours — cling to the norm, or dare to reimagine and choose the path less traveled. Video source: Blessedarch, YouTube #India #architecture #innovation #sustainability #kerala

When your designing new people experiences & products, building advocacy starts way earlier than you think. That brilliant idea or initiative you’re trying to get off the ground? You can’t wait until the launch deck, the town hall, or the pilot. Because by then, often it’s too late. Advocacy doesn’t come from a polished pitch. It comes from early interventions and intentional invitations. One tool we’ve been using more often in our design-led change work is the Pre-Mortem Card (check it out below), a deceptively simple tool that really gets to rich insight & unexpected advocacy. So let me tell you a bit more about it and how we use it. Now whilst the title might sound a bit bleak and morbid, this exercise can be a lot of fun (I promise), and is all about flipping the script from “What would make this work?” to asking “What would make this fail?”. Still sounds pretty negative,? Maybe, but diving into this space early on invites people to critique the idea before they get defensive and protective over it. And, even more importantly, it makes people (the people who will use it, fund it and build it) feel seen, like their concerns, experience, and instincts matter. And this is where the advocacy part comes in. Because instead of just pitching, you’re co-creating. When people see their input on the design, even through a critical lens, they become invested in its success and progress. And you’ll find that they follow up and ask how things are going. And this cute little card can turn sceptics into supporters (and we all need a bit of that, right?) So here's how to get started with your PX Pre-mortem: Walk through it with a small, but intentionally invited, group of stakeholders or collaborators: 1️⃣ Start with clarity. Use the top row of the card to define: + Your Idea description + What success looks like + Your confidence level (get a sense check from the group) 2️⃣ Explore what could go wrong. Don’t stop at just “failure forecast.” Prompt reflection with: + What are we assuming that might not hold true? + What behaviours might work against this idea? + What’s missing in terms of skills, capacity or resources? 3️⃣ Assess the evidence. Ask: What would give us confidence to proceed? Where would we get that evidence from? 4️⃣ Surface what's strong. Look at: + What do we already have that supports this idea? + What practical next step could strengthen it further? 5️⃣ Document and discuss. Capture all the insights and use them to progress, park or pivot the idea with more clarity and more buy-in. 👀 Leading change? Designing something new? Try out the Pre-Mortem card with your team. Need a Miro template or something higher qual than this little pic? Let me know 😊 #PeopleExperience #DesignThinking #Framework __________ Hi 👋 I'm Alicia, co-founder of The Future Kind. We build innovation cultures and company operating systems that scale with you. Want to know more? Follow along or DM me, I love to hear form you. 💌

Zero-in on the future of takeout... Takeaway packaging—it's part of the daily rhythm for many of us. We grab coffee, order a quick lunch, or opt for delivery dinner after a busy day. But while it's convenient, the environmental impact is undeniable. Over 269,000 tons of waste from takeout containers and utensils end up in landfills, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions—it's clear we need to rethink takeout packaging, and businesses are starting to take notice. One of the main hurdles they face is finding packaging solutions that balances convenience with sustainability. Alternatives need to be practical, scalable, and truly eco-friendly. Compostable materials, like those made from bagasse, offer an option that biodegrades within a few months. However, the challenge lies in ensuring these materials are disposed of correctly. Without the right infrastructure, even compostable packaging can end up contributing to the same waste issues it's designed to prevent. That's why we need innovators and designers to push harder for sustainable solutions. A great example of forward-thinking design is PriestmanGoode's packaging solution. "Zero" reimagines takeaway containers with a circular design approach, prioritizing reusability, durability, and visual appeal. It's a bold step toward creating packaging that not only looks good but actually works in the long-term to reduce waste. Made from cocoa bioplastic and topped with lids crafted from Piñatex, these containers are built to last, and the materials are sourced from waste products like cocoa bean shells and pineapple leaves. Designed to enhance the dining experience, both visually and functionally, with a focus on sustainability from start to finish. But let's get real—scaling this solution is no small feat. While Zero's design is impressive, the real challenge is widespread adoption. Can production meet demand? Will restaurants and consumers embrace this shift? And more importantly, can it be made affordable for everyone? E-commerce could be the key to bridging this gap. As more of our lives shift online, platforms have the potential to introduce innovations like Zero to a much broader audience. This could be the key to turning niche products into the new norm. The demand for takeout isn't going away, and neither is the need for better packaging. The path forward is long, but with designs like Zero and the reach of e-commerce, we're getting closer to a future where convenience doesn't have to cost the Earth. Are digital platforms the key to scaling sustainable packaging solutions? 📷PriestmanGoode

🎄 Day 14 of the #AdventOfOR 2025! The single biggest mistake in optimization projects? Engaging stakeholders once. Most teams nail the "Early" part (kickoff, problem framing, initial requirements). But then they disappear into complex code. Weeks later, they return with the perfect solution... but trust has eroded. Engagement isn't a single event. It's a continuous cadence: Early AND Often. Why is this continuous interaction essential? 🤝 Maintains trust: Consistent updates prevent the project from becoming a black box. 🎯 Ensures relevance: Requirements shift; regular check-ins keep your model aligned with business reality (just like we got new requirements on Day 12!). 🪡 Drives adoption: Stakeholders own the solution when they help build it. The secret to making it work is lowering the cost of understanding the model's progress. But you don't need to do heavy presentations; do easy, frequent demos with tools that help: 🔹 GAMS MIRO for interactive apps stakeholders can explore 🔹 Streamlit or Taipy for quick Python dashboards 🔹 Nextmv for comparing runs and sharing scenarios When showing progress becomes easy, you'll do it more often. When you do it more often, trust compounds. 🫵 Your turn: What's the single biggest piece of friction that currently stops you from sharing model progress (work-in-progress, not final results) with your stakeholders more often? (e.g., "It takes too long to clean the output," "We lack visualization tools," "I only share final numbers.")

Turning apple waste into furniture? Material innovation is being redefined with a groundbreaking vegan-certified leather alternative crafted from upcycled agricultural waste. This innovative material offers a premium, bio-based option that seamlessly blends environmental responsibility with practical versatility. Manufactured on wide rolls, it provides a luxurious, durable alternative to traditional leather while addressing the urgent need for eco-friendly solutions. By utilising by-products of agricultural processes, this innovation exemplifies how waste can become a cornerstone for transformative design, challenging industry norms and fostering a more circular economy. Recently, this material has been introduced in the furniture sector, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness in reducing carbon footprints. For example, when used in furniture, it achieves significant reductions in carbon emissions compared to traditional materials. This measurable impact highlights the potential of sustainable materials to advance both environmental and business objectives. Key Features of Bio-Based Materials →Transformative Origins: Converts agricultural by-products into high-quality materials. →Cross-Industry Applications: Ideal for furniture, fashion, and automotive sectors. →Design Customisation: Supports diverse finishes and textures, meeting unique design needs. →Supply Chain Transparency: Offers full traceability, ensuring ethical production and enhancing storytelling. Business Impact and ROI →Sustainability Leadership: Collaborating with material innovators demonstrates a commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. →Cost Optimisation: By utilising waste-based inputs, businesses can reduce dependence on costly, resource-intensive materials. →Market Differentiation: Offering products made with innovative materials positions companies as leaders in sustainability, appealing to a conscientious consumer base. →Carbon Reduction: Bio-based materials deliver tangible emissions savings, supporting corporate decarbonisation objectives. This innovation exemplifies how rethinking waste can drive sustainability and profitability, empowering businesses to lead in the era of bio-based innovation. Link for more info: https://lnkd.in/dmtMrnP3 #sustainability #esg #biomaterials #decarbonisation #wasteupcycling #innovation #bioeconomy #climateaction #circularity #greendesign

🌿 Learning to Design More Sustainably: Insights from an Eco-Product Expert In the rapidly evolving fashion industry, sustainability is moving from a niche concern to a core component of product design. As an eco-product expert, my mission is to guide and inspire brands towards more environmentally friendly practices, beginning right at the design stage. This commitment to sustainability is crucial because every decision in product design reverberates through the entire lifecycle of an item. 👖 Consider the anatomy of a simple garment, such as a pair of jeans. An attached image vividly breaks down the numerous components involved: from threads, buttons, and rivets to denim, labels, and dyes. Each component is an opportunity for sustainable innovation. 🔩 Take, for instance, the button. Traditionally, jean buttons are a challenge for recycling due to their permanent attachment. By redesigning the button as a screw-on, we not only facilitate easy removal at the end of the garment's life, enhancing recyclability, but also allow the button to be reused on another item, thereby extending its lifecycle and reducing waste. 🌱 Moving to the fabric itself, denim is typically cotton-based, which is water and chemical-intensive. An alternative like hemp can drastically reduce the environmental footprint as it requires significantly less water and fewer chemicals. Incorporating such materials into designs is not just about substituting one for another; it’s about rethinking the system to prioritise ecological balance. ♻️ Consider also the leather-like labels often found on jeans. These are usually made from plastics and are purely decorative. Eliminating these and opting for water-based ink prints directly on the fabric can significantly reduce plastic use and the overall environmental impact. Similarly, shifting from conventional dyes to environmentally kinder options can mitigate pollution and enhance the sustainability of the production process. 🌍 As designers and product specialists, we have the power and responsibility to lead the charge in sustainable design. By analysing and rethinking each component of a product from an eco-design perspective, we can make profound contributions to sustainability. This approach not only helps in reducing the environmental impact but also aligns with the growing consumer demand for responsible and ethical products. 💡 By supporting innovation and challenging traditional manufacturing processes, we can transform how products are designed, produced, and perceived. As an eco-product expert, I am committed to helping brands navigate this transition, ensuring that sustainable practices are at the focus of product design and development. 🤝 Together, let's design a more sustainable future. For more insights and guidance on integrating sustainable practices into your products, feel free to reach out. #sustainablefashion  #ecodesign

What if we could design a future where waste doesn’t exist? 🌍 Let me tell you a story. Every year, 2.2 billion tons of waste are dumped globally. That’s like filling 800,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools with trash. And it’s only getting worse. With population growth, urbanization, and rising incomes, waste could double in the next 15–20 years. At the same time, raw material prices have skyrocketed by 150% since 2000. This isn’t just an environmental issue it’s an economic and social one. The way we produce, consume, and dispose of things is simply unsustainable. But what if there was a better way? Enter the circular economy. Instead of the “take-make-waste” model, we design products and systems that keep materials in use, regenerate natural systems, and create value without depleting resources. Here’s how we can start moving toward it: 🔹 Design for recovery: Products need to be made from materials that can be easily recovered, reused, and remanufactured. Think modular designs that allow components to be upgraded or replaced like Apple’s refurbished devices, which are repaired, upgraded, and resold with a warranty. 🔹 Rethink ownership: What if we leased products instead of buying them? Car-sharing services and carpet-tile leasing are already showing how this can work. It’s about accessing the service a product provides, not owning the product itself. 🔹 Invest in smarter recycling: Technologies like infrared lasers are already being used to sort plastics by type, creating pure resin streams that can be reprocessed into new materials. This is the kind of innovation we need to scale. 🔹 Restore, don’t deplete: We need to rebuild soil fertility, restore ecosystems, and create a restorative economy. This isn’t just about sustainability—it’s about leaving the planet better than we found it. 🔹 Price in the true cost: Right now, the environmental and social costs of production like pollution and resource depletion aren’t reflected in prices. If they were, consumers and businesses could make better, more informed choices. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has a fantastic resource called Towards a Circular Economy that dives deeper into this. It’s a 20-page read, but it’s worth every minute if you’re serious about understanding the business case for this transition. How can my company design products with end-of-life in mind? How can we use recycled materials in our supply chain? #CircularEconomy #Sustainability

In 2012 I sat through an amazing talk on 3d printing human organs at the Fab 8 conference which we hosted in New Zealand. More than a decade later and scientists are 3D-printing conductive circuits inside living organisms. Biology is becoming a design medium. This is not a metaphor, but an engineering discipline with reusable components, version control, and design-build-test-learn loops. Researchers are already using AI to write genetic code. They’re designing drug molecules, proteins, and genetic circuits before building them in a lab. Wearable systems can now monitor patient vital signs and predict deterioration up to 17 hours in advance. MIT has turned cement into an energy storage medium. These are not just weak signals of possible futures. They're in clinical trials, field tests, and early production. This is what the next wave of hard problems looks like. Not digital, but biological, material, and physical. The domains that resisted the first wave of digital transformation (think health, food systems, built environments) are now seeing a different kind of change. One that requires design approaches that stretch what it means to design and be a designer. The design methods we've developed over the past 30 years were built for a world where you design something, hand it over, and it does what it was made to do (hopefully!) These systems are different. They adapt and respond to different conditions. They possess something closer to behaviour than function. We are seeing evolving methodologies for designing with living systems and emerging ethical frameworks. There are also designers who are pioneering new spaces for design as a discipline to expand into. But these new arenas also require different skills, perspectives and knowledge systems than those traditional designers would recognise. What do you think? Does it feel too distant as a future for design, or do you find it exciting that design continues to evolve as a discipline? #Biodesign #DesignLeadership #FutureOfDesign