Open innovation, crowd sourcing, democratised innovation, vernacular design and brand fanaticism are among a handful of new approaches to design and innovation that have generated discussion and media coverage in recent years.
In practice, these ideas are often inspiring propositions rather than providing pragmatic strategies. Open Design and Innovation develops the argument for a more nuanced acknowledgement and facilitation of 'non-professional' forms of creativity; drawing on lessons from commercial design practice; theoretical analysis and a wider understanding of innovation.
Specifically Leon Cruickshank examines innovation and design, the reality and myth of mass creativity and the future of the design profession, through a series of case studies of new approaches to open design practices. He draws on academic research, his own practical experience in delivering open design projects and first hand interviews with leaders in the fields.
Leon challenges the notion of the designer as 'fountain-head' of innovation and, equally, the idea of 'user creativity' as a replacement for traditional design and innovation. His book offers a critique of the hype surrounding some of the emerging phenomena and a framework to help understand the emerging relationship between citizens and designers.
It goes on to propose a roadmap for the development of the design profession, welcoming and facilitating new modes of design activity where designers facilitate creative collaborations.
Museums + Heritage Members can read the whole of Chapter one here.
This chapter introduces a new perspective on open design that places an emphasis not on technology but rather on the underlying human motivations that shape the way open design will develop in the coming years. It goes on to describe the five key open design themes.
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