Detailed here are some examples of how different client groups have worked with C4D and used the expertise we have to develop and embed design-led innovation within their organisation:

—Corporate: Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble have run both group student research projects and individual research projects with C4D to facilitate the development of ideas for product development using consumer insight and rapid product modeling techniques. The group project involved consumer insight panels at two P&G centres, Newcastle and Brussels and was sponsored by P&G’s innovation development department in the U.S. The project enabled P&G to rapidly develop a wide variety of product ideas closely based on consumer insight that were used to inform their management’s high-level product planning sessions.

—SME: SPARC Network

The SPARC Network is a network of high growth SMEs based around the Milton Keynes area linked to the Milton Keynes Innovation Hub. The SMEs are working with C4D, using design-led innovation tools developed through our research programmes, to develop their innovation capability in order to facilitate sustainable business growth. These tools help the businesses to understand their capability and capacity to innovate and then, critically, develop a route map that enables them to formalise a structured innovation strategy.

—Public Sector: The Design Council

C4D have run workshop trials of experimental innovation tools to promote and facilitate design thinking in public sector leadership with the Design Council. The development trials were undertaken with various government departments, including HM Treasury. The workshop enabled public sector senior management to identify innovation opportunities and development programmes that will help embed design thinking into senior management practice. The innovation tools were developed in collaboration with the Praxis Centre in Cranfield’s School of Management enabling cross-university collaboration of multi-disciplinary departments to develop highly innovative commercial products.