Increo shares innovation knowledge
Through Finansavisen Academy, Increo shares knowledge about design sprint and design thinking. The working methods promote innovation and save companies from unnecessary development costs.
Through a series of video lectures on Finansavisen's platforms, Increo will share knowledge and experiences to inspire leaders in Norwegian companies to work more innovatively and efficiently.
“It is very nice to have the opportunity to contribute our expertise in this way,” says Camilla Tveit, project manager at Increo.
Together with her colleagues Didrich Westgård and Gaute Bjerke-Busch, she is on camera.
“Design sprint and design thinking are part of our working method, and we have a lot of valuable experience to share,” she says.
Video lectures on Finansavisen.no
Advantages of design sprint
Process manager at Increo, Gaute Bjerke-Busch, considered one of Norway's foremost experts on design sprint, has no doubts about the usefulness of such a working method.
“The essence of design sprint is that you can save both time and large sums by compressing the development process. Instead of a lengthy process, you get customer ideas tested and validated solutions in just one week.
“We often see that innovation stops because you are unable to move on from the idea phase. Design sprint provides a structured method to take a concept from idea to prototype in a very short time,” he says.
What is design sprint?
Design sprint is a structured, user-driven method for solving problems and developing new products and services. The method was developed by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, who worked at Google Ventures, and has since been adopted by a number of companies around the world.
The process consists of an intensive week in which a multidisciplinary team gathers to define a challenge, come up with solution proposals, create a prototype and test it on real users. The result is a high-quality prototype that can be evaluated and further developed based on customer feedback.
“Very often we see companies spend a lot of time and resources developing products based on assumptions, without really knowing if their customers want them. Design sprint allows you to uncover it in a very short time,” Bjerke-Busch says.
In addition to the time savings, the Increo team also highlights the cost-effectiveness.
“Conducting a design sprint costs much less than the traditional, lengthy product development process. At the same time, you get to test the product on real customers and thus avoid major misinvestments, explains project manager Tveit.
Design thinking as a philosophy
Increo uses several working methods that complement each other. Design sprint comes directly from design thinking. The difference is that design sprint is a defined process, while design thinking is an open framework, a philosophy more than a method that sets the framework for user- and human-centered development. Within this framework, there are hundreds of exercises and workshops, including design sprints.
“Instead of starting with a technology or a system, you start with the human being and try to understand what they really need,” says Didrich Westgård.
This approach differs from the traditional, product-oriented way of thinking about innovation, where one often starts with one's own assumptions about what the customer wants.
“We want to inspire leaders and decision-makers to work in a more user-driven and efficient way. Design thinking and design sprint can be the key for many companies to innovate faster and more cost-effectively.
Short video lectures
The series consists of video lectures freely available to all, where Increo goes through various topics such as the framework for the design sprint, how to get started, principles of organization and tips for getting the most value out of the process.
“We have made sure that the videos are short, concise and easy to follow,” says Tveit.
The target audience is the managers and directors of the companies.
Innovation must come from above, from management. It's a very important message for us. All too often, we see innovation pushing forward from below but being cut by management because it doesn't mesh with schedules, budgets or strategies.
“If anyone wants to know more about our working methodology, or what we offer in design and technology services, just get in touch,” says Tveit.
Prøv en 4-dagers design sprint med Increo!
Ønsker du å sprinte sammen med erfarne veivisere?
Med Design Sprint har vi igjen og igjen skapt enestående resultater og akselerert vekst for noen av landets mest spennende bedrifter. Nå kan du teste metoden på en trygg og effektiv måte med Increo som fasilitator.
Les mer: Increos Design Sprint — fra idé til prototype på fire dager
