Anijo Mathew

Where Must Design Go Next #13? A cup of cold water

In the last episode, we talked about OLPC — a beautifully engineered solution built without ever truly understanding the context for which it was intended. Today, I want to flip that story. This is about what happens when you do the work.

P&G and Gillette’s user-centered work on the shaving habits of Indian men led to the development of a revolutionary product, the Gillette Guard. Within three months of its release, the Guard became the best-selling razor in India. But the idea didn’t start in the US; it began with immersion in cities and villages in India, observing the behaviors of Indian men as they prepared to shave.

As companies integrate more AI solutions, building a layer of human connectivity will become even more important. Be the leader that insists going directly to the source to see the world from your users eyes!

You can read more about the Gillette Guard story in (one of my favorite management books)—Playing to Win by A.G.Lafley, the former Chairman and CEO of P&G, and Roger Martin, former Dean of Rotman Business School.
https://rogerlmartin.com/lets-read/playing-to-win

#designledinnovation #userresearch #indiainnovation #designdrivenleadership #innovation