以下是关于Kevin Bethune做客Design Better播客的总结，重点讨论了他的新书《非线性》，以及在创新中多学科思考的重要性：
这一期播客邀请了Kevin Bethune，一位背景独特的专业设计师，他的职业生涯横跨核工程、耐克公司的设计以及创业。他在节目中讨论了他的新书《非线性：以好奇心和信念驾驭设计》。谈话的核心围绕着拥抱模糊性、促进多学科合作，以及将非线性思维应用于设计流程以实现真正的创新。
Bethune解释说，《非线性》并不是他之前著作的续集，而是他对设计在多学科机遇中的作用这一观点的延续。它属于麻省理工学院出版社的“简洁”系列丛书，旨在突出设计思维超越僵化框架的细微之处。
讨论强调了Bethune多元化的职业生涯是如何塑造他的观点的。他独特的经历迫使他在不同学科之间架起桥梁，有时甚至会带来意想不到的结果。他认为，在当今复杂的世界中，多学科融合现在是必不可少的，而不是一种例外。
对话探讨了设计师和开发者等角色的融合，这是由生成式人工智能工具驱动的。Bethune强调，数字连接已经缩小了世界，需要创造性的问题解决和批判性思维来理解大量信息。他警告说，如果生成式人工智能的速度没有与强大的人性因素以及对不同观点的关注相结合，可能会加剧现有问题。他强调需要超越表面数据，并理解设计中特定社群的细微差别。
他用Envoy的例子来说明这一点，Envoy是一家由Labna Ahmad领导的生物科技企业。Ahmad是一位科学家，后来成为首席执行官，她将设计作为将其知识产权推向市场的关键要素。他们的合作关系包括将产品人性化，以满足不同利益相关者的需求，并通过广泛的倾听活动来挑战假设。这种持续的合作关系证明了长期多学科问题解决的价值。
Bethune解释说，书名“非线性”是为了抵制那些经常扼杀创造力的公式化的创新方法。他认为，设计不仅仅是一套步骤，它还包括驾驭模糊性，并根据现有信息做出明智的决定。他强调了实验和通过原型设计进行学习的重要性，而不是仅仅为了追求任何解决方案。
Bethune强调，创新需要一种更直观、探索性的方法，这与阿基米德发现排水量等历史例子相呼应。这个过程包括“意义构建”，打开光圈以获取反映利益相关者及其所处世界背景的各种成分。他提倡让团队沉浸在各种信息中，甚至超出最初的简报范围，以促进联系和创造力的火花。
他讨论了多样性作为创新催化剂的重要性。通过重视团队成员的完整人性并欣赏他们的生活经验，组织可以挖掘丰富的知识和观点。能够反映世界多样性的团队，能够更好地理解细微之处，避免意想不到的后果，并满足不同群体的特定需求。
针对“天才设计”（即由单一有远见的人来主导设计）的观点，Bethune承认其潜力，但认为它往往无法解决复杂的问题。他建议采取一种平衡的方法，将不同的观点纳入其中，并认识到大多数挑战都需要协作以及对世界的更广泛理解。
Here's a summary of the Design Better podcast episode featuring Kevin Bethune, focusing on his new book "Nonlinear" and the importance of multidisciplinary thinking in innovation:
The episode features Kevin Bethune, a design professional with a unique background spanning nuclear engineering, design at Nike, and entrepreneurship, to discuss his new book, "Nonlinear: Navigating Design with Curiosity and Conviction." The conversation centers on embracing ambiguity, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and applying nonlinear thinking to design processes to achieve genuine innovation.
Bethune explains that "Nonlinear" isn't a sequel to his previous book, but a continuation of his ideas on the role of design in multidisciplinary opportunities. It falls within the MIT Press's "Simplicity" series and aims to highlight the nuances of design thinking beyond rigid frameworks.
The discussion highlights how Bethune's diverse career has shaped his perspective. His unique experiences forced him to bridge gaps between disciplines, sometimes leading to unexpected outcomes. He argues that multidisciplinary convergence is now essential, not an exception, in today's complex world.
The conversation explores the convergence of roles like designer and developer, driven by generative AI tools. Bethune emphasizes that digital connectivity has shrunk the world, requiring creative problem-solving and critical thinking to make sense of vast amounts of information. He warns that the speed of generative AI could exacerbate existing problems if not coupled with a strong human element and attention to diverse perspectives. He stresses the need to look beyond surface level data and understand the nuances of specific communities in the designs that are being produced.
He illustrates this with the example of Envoy, a biotech venture led by Labna Ahmad. Ahmad, a scientist who became a CEO, embraced design as a crucial element in bringing her intellectual property to market. Their collaborative relationship involved humanizing the product for various stakeholders and challenging assumptions through extensive listening tours. This ongoing partnership demonstrates the value of long-term multidisciplinary problem-solving.
Bethune explains that the book's title, "Nonlinear," pushes back against formulaic approaches to innovation that often stifle creativity. He argues that design is more than just a set of steps; it involves navigating ambiguity and making informed decisions based on available information. He emphasizes the importance of experimentation and learning through prototyping, rather than simply aiming for any solution.
Bethune emphasizes that a more intuitive, exploratory approach is necessary for innovation, echoing historical examples like Archimedes' discovery of water displacement. This process involves "sense-making," opening up the aperture to diverse ingredients that reflect the context of stakeholders and the world they inhabit. He advocates for immersing teams in a diversity of information, even beyond the initial brief, to foster connections and sparks of creativity.
He discusses the importance of diversity as a catalyst for innovation. By valuing the full humanity of team members and appreciating their lived experiences, organizations can tap into a wealth of knowledge and perspectives. Teams that mirror the diversity of the world are better equipped to understand nuances, avoid unintended consequences, and address the specific needs of different groups.
In response to the idea of "genius design" (where a single visionary dictates the design), Bethune acknowledges its potential but argues that it often falls short in addressing complex problems. He suggests a balanced approach that incorporates diverse perspectives and recognizes that most challenges require collaboration and a broader understanding of the world.