The following is abridged from talks that Smart Design partner Tucker Fort gave at the Front-End Innovation conference and with the New York City chapter of the Service Design Network.

Since the pandemic, many organizations, especially established ones, have been hesitant to initiate and execute design and innovation programs. This reluctance seems to stem from uncertainty about outcomes, budget constraints, and a growing risk-averse culture exacerbated by recent economic downturns. It’s also because the length of time for what executives consider the “traditional design and innovation process” is increasingly viewed as too slow and expensive for realistic business budgets.

Drawing insights from our work with Fortune 500 companies and mid-sized brands alike, we’ve identified common scenarios that often hinder and slow down innovation. These challenges include lengthy onboarding timelines, multiple design and research loops, gathering cross functional input, and breaking through to commercialization. Keep reading for practical tips on how to overcome them and keep your creative momentum strong.

5 tips for accelerating innovation:

1) Prep for takeoff

You’ve identified a need for innovation within your organization, but there’s hesitance due to perceived risk and uncertainty.

Align on expectations: Clearly articulate the problem you’re trying to solve and the desired outcome. This will help focus efforts and guide decision-making throughout the process.

Assemble the right team for the job from the start: Identify individuals with diverse skill sets who can contribute to the project’s success. Ensure they have the time and resources to fully commit to the accelerated timeline.

2) Get the team up to speed

You know you need fresh perspectives, but you’re having trouble getting new members up to speed.

Crowdsource insights from what already exists: The internet holds a wealth of information from real people, whether it’s YouTube, Reddit, or online forums. You can also use GenAI as a research “buddy” to help you understand the lay of the land.

Get out of the office: Don’t wait for a formal research plan. Encourage team members to jump straight into engaging with the product or service, and talk to customers and subject matters early in the project to understand any limitations.

Use GenAI as a research buddy to accelerate onboarding.

3) Accelerate research

You want to be on-site and in user’s homes to get a deep understanding of your product context, but traveling sucks up too much time and budget.

Leverage mobile research platforms: Use mobile apps to conduct diary studies, allowing users to share their experiences and provide real-time feedback on early concepts, from the comfort of their own homes.

Incorporate early concept stimuli: Use simple concept visuals or descriptions during customer research to gauge initial reactions and identify potential areas for improvement before you even begin ideation.

4) Leverage in-person workshops

Your team is distributed and struggles to collaborate effectively. You need a way to bring everyone together for focused decision-making.

Meet in-person: Bring the cross-functional team together in-person to create faster and more well-rounded alignment and prioritization.

Use structured activities: Don’t rely on loose discussion when you need to converge and make decisions. Effective activities include: Use clearly articulated “how might we…” statements to ground the team in the opportunity, use physical prototypes to ideate more ideas, vote on concepts while you’re all still together, and align on next steps.

A well planned workshop can cover 2 weeks in a day.

5) Create powerful concepts

It’s hard to get buy-in on innovative ideas because it’s difficult to see how early product solutions fit into an existing brand, product portfolio, and sales channels.

Create compelling visuals: Emotion is what motivates both internal and external partners towards commercialization. Take the time to fully visualize ideas to sell their unique value prop, leverage and extend the brand, and stand out in the ideal retail channel.

Craft a narrative: Build a compelling story around each concept, outlining its benefits, potential impact, and fit with the overall strategy.

This streamlined approach demonstrates how organizations can compress their innovation timelines and significantly increase their chances of success without compromising quality. By being flexible in some areas (such as how you conduct research), but assertive in others (insisting on in-person workshops for efficiency and buy-in), you can break free from the constraints of long timelines and big budgets.

Reach out to Smart Design to learn how we can help accelerate your early innovation process

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Accelerating innovation in six weeks

5 tips for accelerating innovation:

1) Prep for takeoff

You’ve identified a need for innovation within your organization, but there’s hesitance due to perceived risk and uncertainty.

2) Get the team up to speed

You know you need fresh perspectives, but you’re having trouble getting new members up to speed.

Use GenAI as a research buddy to accelerate onboarding.

3) Accelerate research

You want to be on-site and in user’s homes to get a deep understanding of your product context, but traveling sucks up too much time and budget.

4) Leverage in-person workshops

Your team is distributed and struggles to collaborate effectively. You need a way to bring everyone together for focused decision-making.

A well planned workshop can cover 2 weeks in a day.

A well planned workshop can cover 2 weeks in a day.

5) Create powerful concepts

It’s hard to get buy-in on innovative ideas because it’s difficult to see how early product solutions fit into an existing brand, product portfolio, and sales channels.

Reach out to Smart Design to learn how we can help accelerate your early innovation process

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