In summary

  • The Make it. Break it. design sprint is a collaboration between Swinburne, Netwealth and MASS design studio

  • Over 30 students participated in a four-week online design sprint to develop an innovative tool for small businesses

  • Netwealth will now work with the winning teams of the sprint to make their design solution a reality by taking the solutions to market

The Make it. Break it. design sprint is a collaboration between Swinburne, Netwealth and MASS design studio. Part of a three-year partnership between the trio that looks to solve real-life business problems using design. 

For 2020, the sprint went virtual over four weeks. Fittingly, the goal for this year’s sprint was for teams to develop a tool that will help small Australian businesses innovate in challenging times. 

Over 30 students participated in the event, where they researched, ideated, prototyped and tested a concept in teams. 

Netwealth Joint Managing Director, Matt Heine, was impressed with the outcomes. “It was incredible to see what each team was able to develop in such a short space of time, and each of their ideas were extremely relevant for today’s challenges. 

Netwealth will now work with a couple of the teams to make their design solution a reality by taking the solution to market as part of their Innovation Toolkit

“Given the quality of the solutions it was really difficult to pick one idea we’d like to commit to, so difficult in fact that we’re now pleased to be working with two teams to turn their concept into reality.” 

“We’re excited to continue working with these students to provide them with real-life experience and produce a tool that can make a meaningful difference for people looking to enhance and evolve their business.” 

A podcast with leading changemakers 

The first winning team produced a podcast concept – The Designtful Podcast - about corporate design innovation and entrepreneurship from leaders in the design space. Listeners would be introduced to world-class thought leaders sharing insights into how they approach innovation, case studies of what has and hasn’t worked for them as well as a focus on the latest trends, and news. 

Swinburne student and coproducer, Cynthia Stan, says, “Each episode aims to give new and valuable insights through interviews with a variety of experienced professionals.” 

Created by the winning team of Swinburne students, the podcast provides a greater platform to discuss design innovation and fresh insights.

The surprising innovation of a sticky note 

A successful way to get businesses to act during this difficult time could be through a tiny nuance that adds a motivational touch—by attaching a sticky note. Seemingly simple, yet exceptionally effective. The second winning concept is a sticky note that prompt creativity and refection.  Each note has an inspiring message or provides a call to action, helping to motivate and inspire individuals in small business.  

“We created stick to it to help business owners empower themselves to innovate and to be proud of themselves,” says Felix Mcphie, Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) student and cocreator of stick to it.  

“This idea meant a lot to me because my team and I worked together effectively, and it allowed me to incorporate my passion for mental health awareness into a solution for others”. 

Swinburne continues to look for ways to engage students remotely, particularly in design, and Chair of Communication Design, Associate Professor Nicki Wragg, was excited by all the entrants and the winning results of 2020.  

“I am incredibly proud of the outcome of Make it. Break it—this year.  There were many more participants from a far broader range of disciplines within the university. From non-design students, it introduced them to working in interdisciplinary teams as well as familiarising them with a design way of working and design literacy”, says Professor Wragg. “The main important thing is that it is a terrific way for students from different disciplines to come together and collaborate.”  

“Once again, all the students have demonstrated all the key attributes we encourage in the design sprint process – agility, innovation, creativity, ability to pivot and adapt to current contexts and extenuating circumstances,” added Professor Wragg. “Make it. Break it. introduces Swinburne design students to a method of thinking testing and evaluating concepts and prototype systematically and efficiently without getting too far down the track and realising the concept is not working.” 

The goal for this year’s sprint was for teams to develop a tool that will help small Australian businesses innovate in challenging times.

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