#13 | Dan Grossmann | Driving innovation across industries

In episode 13, I talk with Dan Grossmann, Design Director at Smart Design in New York. Dan and I sat together at the recent IDC Conference in Chicago and chat about his learnings around why, how and what design drives forward. Dan shares from his experience and impressive body of work: before his role at Smart Design, he was Director of Industrial Design at Bark but also worked at Peloton, Martha Stewart Living, Prime Studios, 4sight Inc., Project H Design and many other places. His experiences ranging from various industries and perspectives: from startup to Consultancy to in-house experiences. One recent experience he shares is the design process of New York's iconic public trash bins - which were designed for both citizen and the people cleaning it. We dive into how to communicate the value of design to other stakeholders, when is the right time to make a move in your career as a creative, what designers can influence in today's world and even speak about how to prototype designs and work iteratively when designing for animals - specifically dogs. Further, we also learn why it's important to diversify your experience, collect mentors and the importance of learning from different work and project environments. On top of that Dan highlights while it’s not just important to try out different industries but also learn the whole process: from idea to prototype and even how the product is sold and communicated. In Dan experiences, designers can have a tremendous impact when being involved in product pitches and shaping the companies product portfolio - not just the execution of it.