By now, you probably already know design is more than just aesthetics. Of course visuals are important, but the tools designers use to create meaningful products apply to experiences, services, and processes as well. IDEO's design thinking method illustrates how to apply these practices to any business problem, and it's become a major part of the business world. Design forward companies use creative thinking to improve all aspects of their business, both internally and externally.

2018 brought new evidence that design was key to market success and happy customers. Business schools now incorporate design thinking into their curricula, and last October McKinsey & Company released their comprehensive report on the business value of design, noting "The potential for design-driven growth is enormous in both product and service based sectors". But are businesses actually finding value from design?McKinsey's report brought something new to the table with their research showing design-forward companies are performing better financially by as much as two to one. This year, it's time to start incorporating these practices into your business. Good news, you can quickly adopt a few simple strategies to jump-start a design mentality and boost innovation in your company.