Nickname: Tick

Review: This programme has been active for 10 years in Helsinki. The latest plan is to bring the disciplines under the same roof by joining the universities. http://project.hkkk.fi/idbm/

Date reviewed: Mar 13, 2007 10:34 AM

Nickname: Ed

Review: This article is wonderful. People need to hear more of this. Another good school for mixing innovation with the real world is Arizona State University. http://innovationspace.asu.edu/

Date reviewed: Nov 1, 2006 3:25 PM

Nickname: Spinnakerguy

Review: Bravo to IIT for combining Design and MBA programs as a way of sparking innovation. Now if only we can enlist the other key disciplines in driving innovation. Creating "ghettos" of innovation in the organization is a solution that creates additional problems. We need to focus the ENTIRE organization by teaching the thinking skills and people skills for innovation into marketing, engineering, organizational design, finance, logistics, etc. Design thinking is only one process to make that happen. What others can you add to your education and organization?

Date reviewed: Oct 4, 2006 5:02 PM

Nickname: mb79

Review: It is all common sense stuff; it isn't rocket science. So why has it taken this long for the big companies to figure this out? Every semester I guest lecture at the U of Minn. in a senior level design engineering class. It is enjoyable to tell students the differences between design, engineering and marketing. In basic terms, engineers are good at answering the question: "How do I make it?" Designers are very good at answering the question: "What do I make?". However, the marketing person has been expected to answer that question. However, marketing has little or no training nor are they risk takers for the most part. So IIT's combination of business and design makes sense. My only concern is that design becomes an instrument for following trend styles rather than a catalyst for real change and innovating, which assumes business risk.

Date reviewed: Oct 3, 2006 7:27 PM

Nickname: Av

Review: I think Whitney is leading a new revolution and I just wanted to add that Rotman School of Management is actively incorporating business design and integrative thinking into its curriculum and has a great vision to go beyond the conventional MBA realm.

Date reviewed: Jun 14, 2006 3:22 PM

Nickname: Innov8r

Review: There is absolutely no doubt that innovation is the key to unlocking top line growth, preventing the "innovator's dilemma," opening up new markets through product customization (glocalization), and delighting the consumer. KB, I think that business schools in the future, will attempt to emulate IIT-Institute of Design's curriculum, but this transformation will take several years, and B-schools will be spreading themselves too thin by hiring the right kinds of faculty and offering more classes. In the foreseeable future, I think that MBA/Design degrees will be extremely valued in the corporate world.

Date reviewed: Jun 14, 2006 11:54 AM

Nickname: KB

Review: All one needs to do these days to see the business value of design is look at companies such as Target, Starbucks, Nike, and Apple. The most successful companies are using design as their strategic tool. What Whitney is doing at the Institute of Design will no doubt be a model that B schools begin to follow. For now, The Institute of Design, IIT seems to be leading the way, turning out true product, brand, and consumer experience innovators. Nice article.

Date reviewed: Jun 12, 2006 1:37 AM

Nickname: Sheep In Wolf

Review: Thank you, BusinessWeek, for understanding as well as recognizing that the future of successful business lies in the true integration of intelligent design (both in its process as well its product stage) and innovative business ( both in its process as well product stage).

Date reviewed: Jun 10, 2006 7:02 AM