Innovation Station Strengthens Global Network for Design Thinking
Innovation Station in Flemingsberg has recently become a proud member of the Global Design Thinking Alliance (GDTA), an association that promotes excellence in Design Thinking worldwide. Through this partnership, Innovation Station and Södertörn University not only aim to elevate their own competence and positioning but also to actively contribute to increased global dialogue and collaboration. Additionally, they wish to share their expertise and experience to support and promote urban development in Flemingsberg.
The global network Global Design Thinking Alliance was initiated at the School of Design Thinking, Hasso Plattner Institute at Potsdam University outside Berlin, and today the alliance consists of thirty members worldwide, including (London School of Economics, Politecnico di Milano, University of British Columbia), Cape. Johan Bornebusch, director of Innovation Station Flemingsberg, shares Södertörn University’s journey in Design Thinking and how it led to Innovation Station, the university’s innovation hub, meeting place, and co-working space, becoming part of the global network.
– Hasso Plattner is an institute that aims to drive Design Thinking from a professional, educational, and research perspective, and now the concept exists worldwide. Most are connected to academic institutions, but not all. Therefore, the network is broader than a traditional academic association, Johan explains.
What does GDTA mean for Södertörn University and Innovation Station?
– GDTA is a learning community. Those of us who believe in and are passionate about Design Thinking, regardless of discipline, need to exchange experiences with each other. At Södertörn University, there is a core of teachers and researchers who have been involved in Design Thinking for a long time, partly through previous collaborations with the Hasso Plattner Institute, partly at Openlab at KTH. Our membership now means that we have received a quality stamp in Design Thinking.
– With this quality stamp, we are creating a platform that clearly shows our close partners in southern Stockholm that there is a strong collective competence here that is involved in an international context. It’s something we haven’t been so good at communicating before, but now we are really aiming for it, Johan continues.
Design Thinking in an urban development project
Johan argues that his previous role as a senior coach at the Hasso Plattner Institute creates a personal connection to the new membership. Yet he sees Flemingsberg as an exciting place for GDTA.
– A big reason we became members is that GDTA perceived that we want to use Design Thinking to develop the local city of Flemingsberg in Huddinge. The development of Flemingsberg has progressed in a very positive direction, and Södertörn University is an important actor in that process. But the big journey to develop Flemingsberg into a vibrant city with one of Sweden’s largest campus areas has only just begun.
– Hopefully, in collaboration with Huddinge municipality, Fabege, Alfa Laval, Flemingsbergs Science, and other central actors, we can influence the urban development in Flemingsberg to become more agile and iterative. Now, GDTA gets an educational institution on the map that is actually working on a concrete urban development project, and according to their standards, it’s unique, Johan Bornebusch says.
What happens next?
Johan explains that GDTA offers a variety of events and meetings, including Global Design Thinking Week, the monthly event series “GDTA Spotlight,” and the annual Global Design Thinking Conference.
– In addition, our partners at Innovation Station have been offered to send challenges to two teams in Potsdam and two in Flemingsberg. This may involve questions about urban development in Flemingsberg as a student-driven city, where teams from different parts of the world will collaborate. Although this is not entirely clear yet, membership in the network enables this type of international collaboration projects, Johan concludes.
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*Design thinking is a dynamic and iterative process that teams use to solve complex problems and create innovative solutions. By following a non-linear methodology, design thinking focuses on understanding users’ needs and challenges, questioning assumptions, and exploring different perspectives on the problem.”
