Business thinking in the knowledge economy | guardian.co.uk

This interview is an extremely quick read,  but I think Dan Pink does an excellent job at concisely describing the role of design-based thinking in business, and the importance of empathy in the business world.

As educators we sometimes lose site of the fact that our students will be leaving the world of education even as we stay behind.  They will face the 21st Century armed with the skills that we help them develop.

In this interview, Dan Pink outlines only one of his right-brain aptitudes from A Whole New Mind, design, but he expertly connects it to modern business needs and to empathy.  From that thought process, we can start to see that all of the aptitudes are important, and that one aptitude truly leads to another.

As Dan Pink states, outstanding design requires empathy in order to understand what the consumer wants.  “Design without empathy is mediocre design.”

Take a few minutes to read through the interview.  It inspired me and strengthened my resolve to infuse more design-based thinking into the classroom.  I hope it does the same for you.

Business thinking in the knowledge economy | Service design | guardian.co.uk.

Tags: A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink, Design, Empathy