Meet the Knowledge Transfer Manager in the Design and Innovation Effectiveness Team

Her expertise and experience make her the perfect ally for anyone looking to take their innovative ideas from concept to reality. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business, Leanne has the skills and knowledge to help you accelerate your ambitions and achieve success. Keep reading to discover how Leanne’s unique talents can transform your vision into a tangible solution.

Why is Design key to an innovator’s journey?

Design is everywhere. It plays a crucial role in an innovator’s journey because it offers a structured approach to innovation that minimises uncertainty and risk.

By incorporating design thinking into the innovation process, innovators can engage with customers and users early on to learn, test, and refine concepts, leading to better ideas and more efficient decision-making.

Design should be considered at every stage of the innovation journey, from idea to delivery to end of life. By doing so, businesses can ensure that their products, services, and processes are not only visually appealing but also functional, usable, sustainable and relevant to the needs of their customers.

Design thinking can inspire innovation by allowing for changes of direction before they become too expensive. By creating a series of prototypes and engaging with customers throughout the design process, innovators can identify potential issues early on and make adjustments accordingly. This leads to more effective solutions that meet the needs of customers and drive business growth.

What does your role as a KTM in the Design Innovation Effectiveness team at Innovate UK KTN involve?

Great question! As a KTM (Knowledge Transfer Manager) in the Design Innovation Effectiveness team at Innovate UK KTN, my role involves connecting innovators from various sectors with the necessary design skills and connections to incorporate design more widely into their products, services, and processes.

At Innovate UK KTN, we understand the importance of design as a foundation for effective innovation, which provides value not only economically but also environmentally and socially. Through our wide range of initiatives, we aim to showcase the power of design as a catalyst for innovation throughout the entire innovation journey.

I work closely with innovators to identify opportunities for design-led innovation and help them to access the resources they need to make it happen. I also collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including designers, academics, and industry experts, to develop and deliver impactful programmes and events that promote the use of design in innovation.

What is your biggest priority at the moment and over the next year?

My current priority is to focus on growing the Design Innovation Network (DIN) and, more specifically, the DIN Platform. The platform is a community engagement tool designed to create a vibrant community of innovators who are passionate about design-led innovation and want to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise with others.

As part of my role, I work closely with Nicole Agba to develop and deliver impactful programmes and events that promote the use of design in innovation.

Looking ahead, my priority over the next year will be to continue to grow the Design Innovation Network and expand the reach of the DIN Platform. By doing so, we hope to provide even more support to innovators across the UK and beyond, helping them to unlock the power of design to drive innovation and growth.

If you are interested in learning more about the Design Innovation Network or the DIN Platform, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you and welcome you to our community of innovators.

Why is data visualisation so important in innovation?

Data visualisation is critical to innovation because it allows us to effectively communicate complex information in a way that is easily understandable and digestible to the target audience. As businesses rely on data to inform their decision-making processes, data visualisation helps to transform raw data into meaningful insights that can drive innovation.

At Innovate UK KTN, we recognise the importance of data visualisation in supporting innovation. Our Design team is dedicated to helping businesses use design to display information in the most appropriate, digestible, and understandable way possible. By using design to create engaging visualisations of data, we can help businesses to unlock the full potential of their data and make informed decisions that drive innovation and growth.

What do you love most about what you do?

This question is a no-brainer for me. What I love most about my work is the opportunity to meet and connect with incredible individuals who share my passion for incorporating good design into everything they do.

Working in this role allows me to engage with like-minded innovators from various sectors, exchange ideas and collaborate on projects that drive innovation and growth. It is incredibly rewarding to witness the impact of design-led innovation on businesses and communities across the UK, and I feel fortunate to be a part of this process.

If you have a question or want some advice we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us at design@iuk.ktn-uk.org.