Change Darer

Is design thinking a powerful mindset, or is it just becoming a corporate commodity?

At DTRS15 in Lisbon, we sat down with Sihem Jouini, Associate Professor of Innovation and Creativity at HEC Paris. Sihem breaks down the double-edged sword facing our field today: it is being applied everywhere from healthcare to education, but that widespread popularity risks making it banal.

Her ultimate takeaway? We need it now more than ever to face today’s grand challenges, because design thinking is what keeps humans deeply in the loop.

Last week, international Design Thinking Researchers wrapped up in Lisbon, questioning the assumptions shaping our field.
Do not miss the next interviews based on conversations with some pioneers we al have read!
Here’s a sense of the raw energy on the ground.

We’ve met Mathew Lubari at re:publica, where he showed us how to transform both waste and digital literacy.

Through his organization, CC4D, he teaches kids in Rhino Camp Uganda, and Yei, South Sudan, to repair broken appliances and turn unfixable scraps into new inventions.

It goes deeper than just hardware. By teaching these hands-on skills, he helps children navigate the complexities of our digital world with confidence. Watching him work in the maker space with the kids—including my own—was a masterclass in resilience and self-reliance.

This is the practical, grounded work that gives me real hope.
Check out the video below to meet him.