DESIGN THINKER PODCAST
Welcome to The Design Thinker Podcast, where we explore the theory and practice of design thinking. Join co-hosts Dr Dani Chesson and Designer Peter Allan as they delve into the principles, strategies, and real-world application of design thinking. Each episode takes a deep dive into a topic within design thinking, discussing the foundational theory and bringing theory to life by showcasing the application of theory into practice to solve real-world challenges. 🔍 Theoretical Insights: Build your understanding of design thinking's theoretical underpinnings, exploring its origins, key principles, and evolution over time.🛠️ Practical Applications: Witness the theory in action as we share practical...
Ep#52: Performance Without the Buzzwords – Doing What Matters, Better.
We throw around words like productivity, engagement, and performance all the time. But do we actually know what they mean or how to create the conditions for them to thrive?
In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Craig Steel, Founder and Chief Executive of Vantaset. This conversation explores what real performance looks like in modern organizations and the shift that leaders need to make to achieve the results that matter.
In this episode, you will:
• Understand key factors that keep organizations stagnant
• Learn the difference between productivity and pe...
Ep#51: The Age of Experience - Rethinking How We Think
We live in a world that’s changing faster than the frameworks we've relied on can keep up with. So, is it time to rethink how we think? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by John Philpin to explore why the age of reason is over and why we need to embrace the age of experience.
In this episode, you will
Understand why rigid thinking is no match for today’s complexity and what we need instead.Learn how business models built on certainty are being outpaced by chang...Ep#50: Why You Get What You Celebrate - What Recording 50 Episodes Taught Us About Progress, Rituals, and Resilience
We did it—50 episodes! In this milestone episode, we pause to reflect on the journey, the lessons, and why celebration isn’t just a “nice-to-have”, it’s a necessary part of doing meaningful work. Whether you're leading a team, tackling tough challenges, or simply trying to keep momentum, this episode will change how you think about celebration.
Spoiler: It's not just about parties or cake (though we’re fans of both).
In this episode, we:
Learn why celebration builds resilience, reinforces purpose, and fuels forward momentumExplore how small moments of acknowled...Ep#49: Can You Use Design Thinking Without Buy-In?
What happens when you believe in design thinking but your organization doesn’t? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter, share ways you can start using design thinking in your work, even if no one else is on board yet.
In this episode, you will
Understand how one person can spark a movement Learn why you can be the lone Design Thinker at work Discover practical ways to introduce design thinking without asking for permissionEp#48: Why Playing It Safe Is the Real Risk - A Dark Optimist’s Call to Action
What if the only real safety lies in continuous change and standing still is the true danger?
In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Ralph H. Groce III, author of We Have Nothing to Lose: A Dark Optimist’s Call to Action. Drawing on personal stories, leadership insights, and a message forged in adversity, Ralph challenges us to stop waiting for things to "go back to normal" and instead start creating a path forward. In this episode, you will
• Understand why the world needs dark optimists now more than ever
• L...
Ep#47: The Productivity Crisis: What We’re Getting Wrong and How to Fix It
Productivity is a hot topic in news headlines, boardrooms, and everyday conversations. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter unpack the productivity crisis. In this episode, you will
• Understand why productivity isn't just an individual performance problem
• Learn the contributing factors that stall productivity
• Discover practical strategies for unlocking productivity
Ep#46: The Power of Dumb Thinking - The Dumbify Framework with David Carson
In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter delve into the concept of 'Dumbify' with guest David Carson. Discover how embracing 'dumb' ideas can lead to breakthrough innovations. Learn about David's journey building successful companies, and how a simple dinner conversation sparked the idea of 'Dumbify.' In this episode, you will:
• Understand the importance of spending more time with 'dumb' ideas
• Learn practical ways to integrate 'dumb' thinking into your problem-solving process
• Discover how challenging traditional methods can lead to unexpected success
David Carson is an entrepreneur and marketing innovat...
Ep#45: Where Human-Centered Design Meets Systems Thinking
The inspiration for this podcast came from a question posed by Ian Scott, a longtime listener and friend of the podcast. Ian asked, "What's your view on human-centered systems thinking?"
In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the intersection of human-centered design and systems thinking.
In this episode, you will
• Understand how these approaches work together to deliver better solutions.
• Learn how to leverage these holistic approaches in your work
• Discover practical strategies for integrating these practices
Ep#44: Design Thinking in Action - The SWAT Approach to Business Transformation
When Fonterra - a dairy cooperative in Aotearoa New Zealand - faced a critical workforce shortage, the usual ways of working weren't going to deliver the outcomes they needed. Enter the SWAT approach to business transformation - a fit-for-purpose, multi-disciplinary way to tackle critical business challenges. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter welcome Suzie Lewisham - People and Culture Director for the COO division at Fonterra, for an inside look at their award-winning approach to transforming business at pace.
In this episode, you will
• Learn about the SWAT approach to transforming business at pace...
Ep#43: Collaboration Fatigue - How to Fix the Most Overrated Buzzword in Business
Has collaboration become a catch-all solution, losing the focus and impact it was meant to deliver?
In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter unpack why collaboration often feels more like a burden than a boost. They explore how overuse and misuse have turned it into an overrated buzzword and what teams can do to bring intention and effectiveness back to colloboration.
In this episode, you will
• Understand why collaboration fatigue is holding teams back.
• Learn how to identify when collaboration is necessary—and when it’s not.
• Discover actionable strategies to balance so...
Ep#42: The Manager's Guide to Coaching, Driving Performance One Conversation at a Time
In this episode of the Design Thinker Podcast, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Dr John Bennett, a leading scholar-practitioner, executive coach, and professor at the McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte. John, author of The Manager’s Guide to Coaching for Change, brings nearly three decades of experience in helping leaders transform their approach to team performance.
In this episode, you will
• Understand what coaching is and what it is not
• Learn about the skills managers need for coaching
• Discover the positive impact of a six-minute coaching conversation
John...
Ep#41: What Can Skydiving Teach Us About Leadership?
In this episode, Peter steps into the spotlight, recounting how his skydiving experiences shaped his perspective on courage, self-talk, goal-setting, and teamwork. As Peter Peter reflects on this skydiving journey, he draws parallels between skydiving and working in organizations.
In this episode, you will
• discover the power of visualization for driving outcomes
• understand the importance of finding your community
• learn how the ritual of regular debrief can drive productivity and performance
Ep#40: How Lessons from Design School Helped Me Drive Results in the Corporate World
In this episode, Dr. Dani shares her nontraditional career path from aspiring law student to graphic designer to leading corporate transformations. A two-time university dropout, Dani discovered design while on the path to law school, which led her to attend design school and hone her passion for designing solutions. She explains how the lessons from design school became the foundation for driving impactful results in the corporate world.
In this episode, you will
• discover how design principles can drive business outcomes
• learn how embracing constraints leads to better problem-solving
• understand why empathy and curiosity are key...
Ep#39: Power of the Pause: Why Taking a Break Matters
In a world that glorifies busyness, breaks are dismissed as unimportant and a barrier to productivity. However, this isn't actually the case. In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter discuss the often overlooked but essential practice of pausing. They explore the power of micro, mini, and mighty pauses and discuss how intentional breaks can increase productivity, creativity, and mental clarity.
In this episode, you will:
• learn about three types of pauses the micro, the mini, and the mighty
• understand how breaks can increase your brain's capacity to problem-solve
• discover practical ways to incorporate pauses in...
Ep#38: What to do about perfectionism
Do you struggle with perfectionism? Is it holding you back? In this episode, Dr. Dani Chesson and Designer Peter Allan explore how perfectionism hinders progress and keeps us trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and share tips on how to break free from the trap.
In this episode, you will
• understand the difference between helpful and harmful perfectionism
• learn practical techniques to move from overthinking to action
• discover how iteration and empathy can break the perfectionism cycle
Ep#37: Why your customer experience will fail if you ignore EX
We often focus on creating a seamless customer experience (CX), but what happens when we ignore employee experience (EX)? In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter dive into the often-overlooked connection between EX and CX, exploring why great customer experiences depend on happy, engaged employees.
In this episode, you will:
• understand the direct relationship between employee experience and customer satisfaction
• learn why neglecting EX leads to higher turnover, lower productivity, and poor CX outcomes
• discover practical ways to improve EX and elevate your overall business performance
Ep#36: What it Takes to Win in Customer Experience
Customer Experience (CX) is vital for businesses in the 21st century, but do we know what we mean when we say CX? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore CX.
In this episode, you will
• understand what CX is and what it is not
• learn why CX is a vital aspect of business success
• discover how to design and operationalize a winning CX
Ep#35: The Anatomy of an Experience
Experience — a term that's become ubiquitous in business, but do we really know what we mean when we say Customer Experience, Employee Experience, Patient Experience, and the like? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the anatomy of an experience.
In this episode, you will:
• learn what is meant by experience
• understand the macro and micro-moments that shape an experience
• discover practice insights on designing an experience
Ep# 34: Emotions: What are they good for anyway?
Emotions are central to the human experience, influencing every aspect of our personal, professional, and social lives. They are complex and multifaceted, shaping how we perceive and interact with the world. Research suggests that up to 95% of our decisions are driven by emotions, underscoring their powerful impact on our choices.
In this episode, you will:
• understand the definition of emotions
• discover the role of emotions in designing solutions
• learn about frameworks and tools to explore and navigate emotions
Ep#33: Are You Ready for the BANI World?
Have you heard of BANI? Are you ready for it? The term VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) was coined in the 1980s to describe the context of the world. Four decades later, is this term still relevant? The term BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) was coined in 2020 to describe the current environment. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore BANI.
In this episode, you will
• learn about the concept of BANI
• understand the relevance of Design Thinker capabilities in a BANI world
• get practical tips on applying Design Thinker capabilities
Ep#32: Informed Consent: The Ethical Backbone of Design Research
What are the ethical obligations of design research? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the importance of informed consent when doing design research. From historical examples like the Tukaseegee experiments to contemporary design research, this episode explains why it is important for participants to fully understand their involvement in any research activity.
In this episode, you will
• understand the ethical obligations when carrying out design research
• learn the "how-tos" of informed consent, including the key topics that need to be covered
• hear real-life examples of how to customize the informed consent process so...
Ep#31: Reducing the Risk of Innovation with Discovery
What is discovery work? How does it help reduce risk and deliver better outcomes? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter dive into the "how-to" of discovery work to explain what it is, why it is important, and tips on how to get started.
In this episode, you will
• discover the importance of discovery work
• learn how to get started with discovery
• hear stories of how discovery work has influenced the outcome of projects
Ep#30: A Human Centered View of Privacy Law
How might we use privacy law to build trust with customers? Often regulations are viewed as an obligation, something organizations need to comply with to stay out of legal trouble. However, what if regulations can be more than that? What if regulations can provide us a way to build trust and create better experiences for customers? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Rali Andreeva, a thought leader who helps organizations demystify privacy to improve customer experience.
In this episode, you will
• understand the intent of privacy law
• discover how...
Ep#29: Design Thinking is Dead...Or Is It?
Over the past several years, the relevance of design thinking has come under scrutiny. Is it a fad that has run its course? Is design thinking still useful? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter dive into these questions.
In this episode, you will
• explore how design thinking has evolved over the years
• learn about what is working and what is not
• discover what needs to happen next
Ep#28: Navigating Organizational Tensions with Design Thinker Capabilities
Organizational tensions are inevitable and become increasingly complex as organizations scale. In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter discuss the three most common organizational tensions and strategies for navigating them.
In this episode, you will
• discover the three most common organizational tensions that keep teams stuck
• learn how to leverage Design Thinker Capabilities to navigate organizational tensions
• understand the benefits and pitfalls of tensions
EP#27: Context: The meaning at the center of everything
Context plays a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the world. From everyday conversations to pondering the meaning of life, context is at the center of meaning-making. An action that might seem irrational can be perfectly reasonable when you understand the context. What does context mean for Design Thinkers? Why is it important to the practice of Design Thinking? Join Dr Dani and Designer Pete as they explore the meaning of context for design work.
In this episode, you will
• learn how to define context
• know the importance of context in solving problems
• understand...
EP#26: The Past, Present, and Future of Design Thinking
Design Thinking, where did it come from? How is it being used today? What will its purpose be in the future? Join Dr Dani and Designer Peter as they delve into the history of Design Thinking and explore its prospects.
In this episode, you will
• Learn about the roots of Design Thinking
• Hear stories of how Design Thinking is being applied today
• Understand the future potential of Design Thinking
EP#25: Design Thinking: What is it? How can it help?
What is Design Thinking? In this back-to-basics episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter define Design Thinking.
In this episode, you will
• learn about how Design Thinking is defined
• understand why Design Thinking is important
• hear examples of how Design Thinking can help
Ep#24: Accepting the Inescapable Reality of Failure with Podcast Guest Chris Taylor
Do you struggle with accepting failure as an opportunity for growth? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Life and Business Coach Chris Taylor, author of the book Avoiding Propeller Blades.
In this episode, you will
• learn the power of accepting failure as an inevitability when trying something new
• hear stories about how quickly recovering from failure led to personal and professional growth
• understand the importance of reframing failure for success
About Our Guest
Chris Taylor is a Life and Business Coach who works with leaders to overcom...
EP#23: Oral, Visual, Written, Does How You Tell a Story Matter?
How do you know the best way to get others to resonate with the story you want to tell? In the final episode of our series on storytelling, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore the three modes of storytelling; oral, visual, and written.
In this episode, you will
• learn about the three modes of storytelling
• understand how to select the right mode for the right audience
• hear examples of how to tailor your story for the audience
Ep#22: The Tale of Grandma Sue and Other Stories We Share with Each Other
Storytelling is everywhere. It shapes the culture of our families, social groups, and organizations. In part two of our series on storytelling, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore how stories can motivate action in organizations.
In this episode, you will
• hear about how the stories we share shape culture
• understand how stories inspire action
• learn about different storytelling frameworks
Ep#21: Shhh, Gertrude I'm Speaking - Reframing the Stories We Tell Oursevles
Ever wonder how the stories you tell yourself might be holding you back? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore how the stories we tell ourselves might be holding us back from designing solutions.
In this episode, you will
• hear examples of the stories we repeat to ourselves that keep us stuck
• understand how to identify the stories that are no longer serving you
• learn how to reframe the stories we tell ourselves so they help you move forward
Ep#20: The Desirability Lens - Will anyone actually buy it?
The third of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the desirability lens.
In this episode, you will be able to
So, let's dive in to explore how the desirability lens helps to create solutions that people will actually buy.
Ep#19: The Viability Lens - Is it more than just cabbage soup?
The second of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the viability lens.
In this episode, you will be able to
So, let's dive in to explore how to apply the viability lens to create better solutions.
Ep#18: The Feasibility Lens: Is it something we can conceivably do?
The first of a three-part series on the three lenses of design thinking, this episode explores the feasibility lens. Join Dr Dani and Designer Peter as they take an in-depth look at feasibility.
In this episode, you will be able to
• learn about the five components of feasibility
• understand how ignoring feasibility can lead to impractical solutions
• hear real-world examples of the feasibility lens in action
From theory to practice, let's dive into how to bring bold ideas into existence through the feasibility lens.
Ep#17: Empathetic Exploration: A game-changer for creating what people really want
Empathetic Exploration, are you using this capability to deliver what customers really want? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter take a deep dive into understanding the specific way that design thinkers use empathy.
In this episode, you will be able to
From improving patient care in hospitals to organizing your kitchen, Empathetic Exploration has practical and impactful implications for...
Ep#16: How will AI transform human-centered design?
Ever wondered how AI will transform human-centered design? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter explore this question, raising their own concerns and curiosities about how AI will change the landscape for human-centered design.
Key questions explored in this episode
Beyond just the technical implications of AI, this discussion explores the need to rethink our practices, question our biases, and how AI and human creativity can work ha...
Ep#15: Why do organizations fail to scale design thinking?
Discover the reasons behind organizations' struggles to scale design thinking in this episode of the Design Thinker Podcast. Join Dr Dani and Dsigner Peter as they explore both research findings and their own experiences in the field, providing valuable insights on how organizations can avoid common challenges and successfully scale design thinking.
Ep#14: Perspectives of Design with Podcast Guest Jason Osburn
In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter chat with Strategy & Experience Designer, Jason Osburn. Learn how a love of comedy and fear of public speaking lead to a career in design.
About Our Guest
Jason Osburn is a human-centered designer with over 20 years of experience whose passion sits at the intersection of design, storytelling, technology, and entrepreneurship. He has a proven track record of elevating ideas and architecting experiences that create connections, inspires action, and deliver value. Throughout his career, he has designed and delivered innovative, award-winning experiences for startups to Fortune 100 companies...
Ep#13: Situation Optimizing, Seeing Beyond the Rose-Colored Glasses
Optimism is essential to problem-solving, but it's not just about seeing the good, we have to understand the constraints. In this episode, Dr. Dani and Designer Peter take a deep dive into Situation Optimizing to explore what it is and why it is important, and how it shows up in problem-solving.
