Recharging

Design Log . Entry #7 . 31 July 2021

Welcome to Design Log Entry #7! I’ve come to realize that the design thinking process (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) is missing an important step: “step away from your work”.

Indeed, doing creative work requires a different kind of energy and endurance than business-as-usual, put-your-head-down and think-your-way-through-it kind of work.

Stepping away is a great way to recharge your creative batteries and to get the much-needed fresh-eyes perspectives and ah-ha moments you need to move your innovation work forward.

While it feels unproductive in our every-second-counts culture of business, stepping away from your design-thinking-style work is often the most productive thing you can do.

That’s what the end of July and early August is for me (and my family). This year, we set off on a much-needed road trip to the beach. So it’ll be a little quiet around here. Hopefully you can find a little time away from your work as well.