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How is design being taught in UK schools? Are we nurturing an innovative and tech-savvy new generation of designers, or falling behind…? From EBacc to edtech, Ezri Carlebach tries to keep track of the latest trends in teaching creative subjects and creativity in general.

Remember that bit of business psychology called The Halo Effect? Recruiter Madelaine Cooper isn’t talking about divine apparitions, but the fact that if an organisation appears to be attractive from the outside it can predispose candidates to overlook any negatives. If it was true it would be easy to get brilliant people to work for you.

Design thinking is being touted as a link between the traditional world of work and modern creative practice, driver of growth in cities around the world. Ezri Carlebach finds out more and chats to Adrian Fey from the Creative World Forum 2017 in up-coming city Aarhus, Denmark.

How can we encourage creative thinking when arts and culture are systematically being removed from the education system? Recruiter and business adviser, Madelaine Cooper, discusses the importance of adding disciplines that promote creativity to the school curriculum to ensure that future leaders will be able to think independently.

Design has its own particular culture, just as business does. And so do ‘sub-cultures’ like 1970s punk rock. This might sound like the start of a corny joke, but what would happen if a punk rock band, an anthropologist and a couple of MBAs walked into a bar? And how does it help organisations to solve problems? Ezri Carlebach sets off to find the punch line.

How can businesses understand their consumers and design for their needs in the digital age? In this Short Read, qualitative researcher Adelaide Vinay argues that design research must go beyond ‘what people say they want’ – revealing instead ‘what they really want’.

Does curiosity kill the cat, as the saying goes – or can it re-energise it? Research expert Els Dragt thinks it’s the latter. Read her take on the value of observing, listening and asking questions so you can get to know your customers, plus tips on how to do these well.

A good leader must understand people, whether they are work colleagues, customers or other stakeholders. Design thinking makes use of tools borrowed from anthropology that can shed light on how different individuals and cultures behave, making it easier to collaborate and meet their needs. Ezri Carlebach explains.

This year’s London Marathon is on Sunday 23rd April 2017. Jo Maude, our producer and gym/sport fan, talks about some of the innovative new kit that makes running and keeping fit a joy. Learn about recycled trainers, cool clothing, smartwatches and more sports gear innovations.

“There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes”. Fear of failure inhibits change, yet understanding what produces it can lead to innovation. We look at the work of creators such as Buckminster Fuller, and how they experienced fear and uncertainty, but persist to innovate.

Steph Cutler founded her inclusion consultancy, Making Lemonade after experiencing unexpected sight loss. She participated in our last Bootcamp to further her work with clients in facilitating courageous and wide reaching outcomes. Here she shares how inclusive approaches often lead to innovative solutions.

Richard Beaumont is the Head of Digital Design at Direct Line Group. He participated at the last Facilitation course and with this blog, explains the reasons why he decided to join the course. He reflects on what he learned on the course and how he can share this within its team.