Ask Like a Designer Archives

011 // Protect Your Solutions with Transformation Stories: Part 2 — Telling Well

by Dawan Stanford | May 20, 2022 | Ask Like a Designer

A transformation story is what every new product, service, or system we create needs to escape from the status quo’s gravity and give it a shot at finding a stable orbit. The struggle to tell stories is part of the sensemaking dance that produces our innovations and...

010 // Protect Your Solutions with Transformation Stories: Part 1 — Crafting Well

by Dawan Stanford | Feb 12, 2022 | Ask Like a Designer

Every new product, service, or system we create and offer needs a transformation story. The story fuels our creation’s escape from the status quo’s gravity and gives it a shot at finding a stable orbit. The struggle to tell stories is part of the sensemaking dance...

009 // The 30-Minute Solution Matrix: How to Think and Solve Under Pressure

by Dawan Stanford | Sep 30, 2021 | Ask Like a Designer

How do you think and solve like a designer when it’s an emergency or a crisis and fast design is your only option? What do you do when you need a solution now and inaction is more dangerous than flawed action? One way to focus and move quickly is to find a quiet...

008 // Three Little Words for Better (Business) Relationships

by Dawan Stanford | Jun 30, 2021 | Ask Like a Designer

Love isn’t one of the words. Let’s get that out of the way. Love happens, but none of the words are love. Our relationships’ strength isn’t determined by how much we love or like, but by the quality of our listening. Think about three people who make you feel great...

007 // The Innovation Saboteur’s Handbook

by Dawan Stanford | Jun 1, 2021 | Ask Like a Designer

You’re a nice person. You mean well most of the time, but you’re only human. You have urges, impulses, and needs. Not all of them are pretty, but that’s natural. When we’re trying to create something new, we all get a little twitchy, right? A little voice starts...

006 // Designing Facilitation: Create events, workshops and meetings that solve problems, save money, and protect your reputation

by Dawan Stanford | Mar 25, 2021 | Ask Like a Designer

You’re creating and leading a call, meeting, workshop, convening, conference or other event. As the facilitator, your job is the purposeful orchestration of human interaction. Voluntold or otherwise, you’re responsible for making the event worth the cost of all the...