How can you build a design-driven organization in a highly regulated industry?

1 Understand the regulations

The first step to building a design-driven organization in a highly regulated industry is to understand the regulations that apply to your domain and how they affect your design process and outcomes. Regulations are not necessarily obstacles or enemies of design, but rather frameworks and guidelines that ensure quality, safety, and fairness for your users and society. By learning the rules and the reasons behind them, you can identify the opportunities and the boundaries for your design solutions, and avoid costly or harmful mistakes.

2 Involve the regulators

The second step to building a design-driven organization in a highly regulated industry is to involve the regulators in your design process and communicate with them effectively. Regulators are not only enforcers or inspectors, but also stakeholders and experts who can provide valuable insights and feedback on your design proposals and prototypes. By engaging them early and often, you can build trust and rapport, align your goals and expectations, and co-create solutions that meet the regulatory requirements and the user needs.

3 Empower the designers

The third step to building a design-driven organization in a highly regulated industry is to empower the designers in your team and across your organization. Designers are not only makers or implementers, but also strategists and innovators who can bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to your business challenges and opportunities. By giving them autonomy and support, you can unleash their potential and creativity, and enable them to experiment and iterate with confidence and agility.

4 Educate the organization

The fourth step to building a design-driven organization in a highly regulated industry is to educate the rest of your organization about the value and benefits of design. Design is not only a function or a department, but also a culture and a mindset that can permeate and transform your entire organization. By sharing your design stories and successes, you can inspire and influence your colleagues and leaders, and foster a common vision and language for design.

5 Collaborate with the ecosystem

The fifth step to building a design-driven organization in a highly regulated industry is to collaborate with the ecosystem of partners and stakeholders that surround your organization. Design is not only an internal or isolated activity, but also an external and interconnected one that can leverage and generate synergies with other actors and resources in your industry and beyond. By partnering with other organizations, such as customers, suppliers, competitors, or academia, you can exchange knowledge and best practices, co-create value, and drive positive change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?