Design thinking is an incredible mindset and tool kit whether you’re trying to solve world peace, save the planet, construct a curriculum or framework, create a product, service, or system, or build and iterate on something to solve a common everyday problem. I’d love to do a session with you to show you how it works if you’ve never used it before.
Yesterday it was a joy to start to introduce design thinking to a colleague of mine. Seeing his eyes light up and the wheels of his mind turn made me a little jealous of him. I remember that exact feeling of being overwhelmed by entering a whole new world when Bob Giampietro, my boss at the time at Toys R Us, got me hooked on IDEO’s then-nascent design thinking philosophy.
Since then, I’ve used IDEO’s work constantly in my product development and design work. No matter what the challenge is, no matter the industry, and no matter the form factor of the outcome, I’ve found design thinking works. It’s especially good for complex collaborative projects when so many other methods fall short.
If you’re interested in learning more, please drop me a note at christa.avampato@gmail.com. I’d love to help you solve problems and make the world a better place for all beings.
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
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