UTS Young Food Innovators – Design Led Innovation

Summary

​UTS Design Innovation Research Centre (UTS:DI) to deliver a capability development program delivered through a combination of self-development, intensive workshops and live projects applying design.

UTS:DI will develop the Young Food Innovators' capability by:

• Providing them with a workbook on Design Led Innovation (DLI) at the start of their placement in host companies, giving them an introduction to DLI
• Designing and delivering a customised three-day intensive workshop 5 to 6 weeks after providing the start of their placement, to explore opportunities within the host company where DLI can help uncover new value
• Providing a half-day support session with each Young Food Innovator, within their host company, to follow-up on the project initiated during the workshop and discuss the project with their executive sponsor
• Providing one day a week phone / email support and mentoring on projects with regards to how to apply DLI in the host company
• Facilitating a one-day intensive workshop to debrief on the projects carried out in the host companies, and reflect on the experience using DLI.

The outcomes of the program for the Young Food Innovators will be a practical understanding of DLI, having been applied to a real world project at a company level. It is anticipated this project will lead to a direct return in new products, services or market access for the host company.

The impact of this program can only be measured by looking at the full two-year period of the Young Food Innovators' placement, hence continued contact and research being planned in that timeframe. Given this program is a pilot, it might reveal further needs for DLI  interventions – helping uncover new value and/or increasing the connectivity between RDCs through the companies involved in the Young Food Innovator project.