This interview is for the sensible person who understands that life is short and so our energies have to be focused on projects that will work. It's a shame how a lot of people end up feeling content with failed projects as "good learning experiences" when the best option is to learn and succeed at the same time. In this goldmine of an interview, I talk with a prominent innovation and design consultant named Brett Newman... a man who has a lot to bring to the table. I believe the most essential part of his message is how his San Francisco based firm, Daylight Design, can consistently create commercially successful products using a special process called "design thinking". He shows that by closely adhering to this process, he's able to help companies initiate successful product launches, even before the products are conceived. To learn about this specialized approach for making any product a commercial success, be sure to check out the video below.

 
Whether you're an inventor, an author or a school curriculum planner, your continued success really relies on how well you adhere to the concept of design thinking. It's a way of being able to forecast what the weather of industry will be in the future so you can fit the climate with the right product. The more fine tuned your method of design thinking is, the more chance you have of success.

To understand how diverse the application of design thinking can be, it would be helpful to know that it even works with improving communities. In one municipal project, Daylight Design had a very central role in helping a city improve the "well-being factor" of its residents.

 
During the second part of the interview we switch gears to talk about a subject that I've always been intrigued with which is plastic manufacturing. Plastic products are a central part of our culture, but it's rare to meet someone who's actually designed one because of the lack of knowledge and resources. With the advent of new prototyping technology, plastic manufacturing is available to anyone with a dream.

 
Below you can see the team of Daylight Design discussing my newest hybrid product, a Pez candy dispenser / cigarette lighter. No, just kidding... They're really discussing the design details of the Logitech TV Cam, a project that helped them win a much coveted international award for sleek and innovative design.

Excerpt of interview on design thinking
Dan: Today we're talking with Brett Newman, cofounder of an innovation and design consultancy called Daylight Design based in San Francisco, California. His company is very keen on using a concept called "design thinking" which helps his clients understand the real market landscapes for their product launches, even before their products are designed. And I'm so happy to have him on the show with me right now. So without any further preamble, Brett, thanks so much for coming on with us today.

Brett: Thank you very much for having me on, it's a pleasure to be here.

Dan: So Brett, I guess you're kind of like a weatherman in the area of design using your system of design thinking. Can you give us a closer look as to what this actually is?

Brett: Sure, design thinking is simply a process of finding inspiration in users to do great design and a process of getting stuff out there so you can learn from users, learn from feedback, iterating so you end up with successful product.

Dan: I heard an amazing testimony about how you used design thinking with a product called The Zamzee. It's a toy-like activity meter that kids wear or put in their pockets to fight obesity. Studies have shown that when kids use it, the amount of exercise goes up 59% and statistically when kids keep their weight under control, their grades go up so this product has me really intrigued.