A Framework for Design Innovation: Present and Future Discussions

This article outlines some of the most interesting discussions about the links between design and innovation. The author proposes a framework to appropriately describe this connection now. This overview and proposal pushed an exploration toward imagining a new meaning for the enterprise of the 21st century, and an emerging role for the designer in relation to it. The reflections proposed are to be considered launching points for wider discussions, from the measurement of the value of design, to the description and prescription of the future roles for designers. The aim of the article is to develop a framework through which design innovation can be discussed and explored by respecting its multi-faceted nature.