You're leading an industrial design project. How can you engage non-design stakeholders effectively?

Well they are stakeholders for a reason, so they will by default, care deeply for the success of the project. Therefore, asking them about their ideal user-experience outcomes is a first and ideal low-hanging fruit for non-designers to really sink their teeth into. Many stakeholders coming to the table for ID expertise, of course have non-designer mindsets, but they do understand how they would like to experience product usage. Engage them at the beginning by asking end-user level questions that will help justify your design decisions --let them know that's what you are doing with them up front, because you value their opinions and you'll always have allies for industrial design because you are listening to them and not lecturing to them.

Learn to speak their language. Designers can talk to each other around a rough sketch, but I’ve learned reading loose sketches is also a skill. People outside the design department may not understand the gesture lines and misinterpret what you’re trying to get across. Take the extra time and effort to make sure the idea you’re trying to communicate visually comes across clearly. Engage with them on their areas of expertise. Does the design make it hard to manufacture or add assembly time? Are there other materials that you haven’t considered? Does it meet some obscure specification that you’re not aware of? Getting wider perspectives and addressing their issues makes for a better end product and ultimately a better designer.

Beyond building trust and personal connections it is important to emphasise the importance of synchronising the product design process to the product business targets and timeline. As designer i need to be flexible and able to provide quick feedback to any change in the business or timeline plans

All good design comes down to form and function, address and engage non-design stake holders as end users, find out what they “need” from the design. Most non design people, do have valuable input, typically they have first hand knowledge of luxury cars, or sports cars as end users and are eager to talk about what they like or dislike about the design. Those elements absolutely translate to the things I design. Avoid words like ‘problem’ or ‘obstacle’ instead use words like ‘challenges’ and ‘incoming solutions’ Non stake holders will walk away confidently, feeling part of the process, knowing the project is in good hands.

Often designers end up being the bridge between departments within a manufacturing setup. We are expected to have a steep learning curve when in comes to grasping process streams of multiple stakeholders. It is their primary responsibility to build consensus and do what is best for the end-user experience. All this while curating/implementing the insights from core functionaries within the scope of the project. The Industrial designer is often expected to: 1. Have foresight to predict the process journey of a physical object- from paper to market. 2. Accurate assessment of its limitations, even at the stage of ideation. 3. Manage expectations even at the risk of challenging established ideas, in making objects at scale.

Use straightforward language to explain design concepts and decisions. I've found that avoiding jargon and using analogies or visuals can make complex ideas more accessible, helping stakeholders feel more confident in contributing to the conversation.

No matter what phase of the design process you are in, Focus on communicating about what you have done so far to solve the relevant problems. Seek direct and affirmative feedback. Avoid talking about what you intend to do or are considering trying with design concepts that you have not created yet. This is too abstract and will only cause confusion. Share your progress and communicate verbally detailing why you designed something a certain way. In my experience I’ve seen some great design concepts eliminated solely for the designers inability to communicate what problems they solve. Often, a short video communicates better than images and text

Para resolver problemas de comunicação com stakeholders, os designers podem aplicar técnicas de UX como pesquisa e entrevistas para entender as necessidades e expectativas dos stakeholders, mapeamento de jornada para identificar pontos de dor, e workshops de co-criação para promover colaboração e engajamento. Além disso, a prototipagem e os testes com stakeholders garantem que as soluções atendam às suas expectativas, enquanto a comunicação transparente e contínua mantém todos alinhados. Definir claramente os papéis e responsabilidades também ajuda a evitar mal-entendidos. Essas estratégias criam um ambiente colaborativo e garantem que as necessidades dos stakeholders sejam atendidas de maneira eficaz.

Ter uma comunicação clara no nível em que cada profissional se encontra é uma maneira de tornar eficaz o processo e o entendimento de partes envolvidas, mas que cada envolvido também desenvolva e busque desenvolver sua comunicação para a necessidade em se encontra.

Create a story based on use cases that define the requirements for each design detail, feature, signature element. Getting stakeholders involved early - understanding design requirements and offering their opinions helps engagement and decision making throughout the project.

Involving stakeholders early and often leads to a successful design process. Bringing in stakeholders too late leads to frustration, doubt, conflict, resentment.

Integrar partes interessadas desde o início do projeto, utilizando metodologias ágeis como Scrum e Kanban, é crucial para identificar problemas precocemente, aumentar a motivação e garantir um sentimento de propriedade entre todos os envolvidos. Sessões de brainstorming e feedback contínuo são essenciais para fomentar a colaboração e a criatividade, enquanto ferramentas como a Matriz de Stakeholders e a Análise de Riscos ajudam a mapear influências e mitigar riscos.

Stakeholder sollten idealerweise von Anfang an Teil des Prozesses sein. Dabei müssen der Firmenkultur entsprechend die jeweiligen Stakeholder unterschiedlich tief in das jeweilige Projekt eingebunden werden. Key-Stakeholder als Teil des operativen Projektteams sorgt nicht nur für einen idealen Fluss des Fachwissen, sondern schafft auch eine gemeinsame Sichtweise auf die Aufgaben und Herausforderung und verkürzt somit Entscheidungswege. Gerade externe Designer profitieren von dieser engen Zusammenarbeit enorm und können ihre kreatives Potential gezielter einsetzen.

Engage stakeholders from the project's outset. Early involvement allows them to see the evolution of the design and feel more connected to the outcome, reducing resistance and fostering collaboration.

sitting at the table and collectively "vision casting" happens here daily. it's not "book smart"-- it's REAL world smart. have your non-creatives at the table and have them articulate their who, what, why's and from there, let the creatives construct the story/colors/visuals that collaborate. it's a no brainier. what wrecks the process is over thinking. when we allow it all to breath freely during onboarding, the results are exponential!

In der Entwicklung von Maschinendesigns liegt der Erfolgs-Schlüssel darin, das volle Potenzial innerhalb des Unternehmens zu nutzen. Entscheidend ist, das Wissen der Stakeholder, die relevante Informationen und besonderes Interesse am Projekt haben, gleich zu Beginn abzuholen. Unsere besondere Expertise, die uns weltweit auszeichnet, liegt darin, dieses Wissen in ein Design umzusetzen, das den Erfolg des Produkts sichert. Diese Kunst beherrschen wir – und genau das macht uns global zu führenden Maschinendesigner. #Maschinendesign #StakeholderManagement #Innovation

Demonstrate how the design will positively impact the organization. From my experience, sharing specific examples or case studies that highlight the benefits of good design can be a powerful way to gain support and alignment.

Cada desenvolvimento tem seu processo, cada processo vai depender de seu esforço e eficiência, ter um comportamento de melhoria continua em cada processo do desenvolvimento de projeto gera um impacto muito grande para todos, além de confiança no projeto.

Engaging stakeholders involves a quick education about the design process, the thinking, and involvement throughout the process. More importantly, ensure you listen and honor the stakeholder's input, whether verbally (if discounted) or in the design (if integrated). Above all, ensure stakeholders have a sense of ownership about the project and the design to ensure there are no "re-briefs" or unnecessary revisions.

Encourage a collaborative environment where all voices are heard. By facilitating open communication and mutual respect among team members, I've seen projects benefit from a diversity of ideas and solutions that might not have emerged otherwise.

Naturally taking advantage of the experience of other areas to simplify any required process is a tool that can determine the success of any design.

Creating a collaborative environment is key to engaging non-design stakeholders. Encourage open dialogue and foster an atmosphere where all ideas are welcomed and respected. Facilitate regular meetings where team members can share progress, discuss challenges, and brainstorm solutions together. By promoting teamwork, you ensure that stakeholders from different backgrounds work cohesively towards a common goal, leveraging their unique strengths and insights

Regularly reflect on the project's progress and be willing to adapt based on stakeholder feedback. My approach has always been to stay flexible and responsive, ensuring that the design remains relevant and effective throughout the project lifecycle.