by Michael Walter
Idea Work is a podcast about building a career in innovation, design, and strategy. Hosted by Michael Walter, innovation lecturer, PhD researcher, and facilitator, it explores the skills, mindsets, and real-life stories behind innovation careers. Hear from designers, strategists, and change-makers as they navigate career paths and drive impact. Whether you're starting out or shifting into innovation, this podcast helps you discover what makes ideas work.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/6/2025
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December 7, 2025
<p><a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/michaeljosephwalter/p/episode-19-season-wrap-where-to-next?r=118glr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Check out the episode guide.</a></p><p>A season wrap with a simple plan to keep your design thinking practice moving. Pick a lane for a month, master two methods per phase, keep ethics in view, and remember the first pancake idea. </p><p><br></p><p>Listen on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3R7prbm1MHXpnlF6wOWjlo?si=8oNSGs-PR1OwrOP_TrxNuA">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design/id1825741356">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d46469d1-bf97-4198-ac30-d497016c7b1e/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design-mindsets-and-the-work-behind-new-ideas">Amazon Music</a> | <a href="https://castbox.fm/vh/6674239">Castbox</a> | <a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design-mindsets-and-the-703522">Goodpods</a> | <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-idea-work-the-podcast-abou-285119942/">iHeart</a> | <a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8ceaf510-3f55-013e-de68-0e32578cf4b7">Pocket Casts</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources Mentioned</strong></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://acumenacademy.org/course/design-kit-human-centered-design/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Acumen Academy - Human-Centred Design</a></p></li></ul><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.designkit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">IDEO Design Kit</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources/design-thinking-bootleg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">d.school Bootcamp Bootleg</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://assets.super.so/9bd43d2f-3d87-4399-bcf0-c72619825ed8/files/a8e97f99-0b36-4e2e-9dd7-3def0f66add8.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Universal Methods of Design (book)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.thisisservicedesigndoing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">This is Service Design Doing</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://academyxi.com/online-courses/?type=professional-certificate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Academy Xi — Service Design</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://telstrafoundation.com/our-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Telstra Foundation (Imaginarium programme, archived) </a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/design-factory-melbourne/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Design Factory Melbourne (Swinburne University)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.globaljams.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Global Service Jam</a> </p></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p><strong>0:02 – Introduction</strong></p><p>Welcome to Idea Work. I set up the season finale and who it’s for, then restate the core question behind the show.</p><p><strong>0:41 – Season wrap and where to from here</strong></p><p>Quick recap of the double diamond via our international-students case. I outline what to do next: choose a lane for a month and keep learning.</p><p><strong>2:29 – Build your toolkit and your people</strong></p><p>Get fluent with two methods per phase, then expand your toolbox. Find community, try short courses, and keep ethics front of mind when you start using interviews and research at work.</p><p><strong>5:18 – Making the show: learning in public</strong></p><p>What I learned making this podcast: done beats perfect, prep beats polish, and natural voice over heavy editing. A few honest production lessons and why “cringe” is proof of growth.</p><p><strong>10:56 – Wrap up and sign off</strong></p><p>Fail fast, maybe even fail first, and keep curiosity high as design and tech evolve together. Season 2 plans, an invite to subscribe and comment, plus a note about the closing song “Autumn.”Michael Walter is an educator, writer, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljosephwalter/">academic</a>, <a href="http://www.yellowarrow.com.au/">founder</a>, improviser, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0o7zhO1MhtJVn2B8F2a90G">musician</a>. He explores the intersections of creativity, technology, innovation, and social justice, always with a deep curiosity about how humans grow and connect.</p><p></p>
November 23, 2025
<p><a href="https://michaeljosephwalter.substack.com/publish/post/170595717?back=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fscheduled" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Check out the episode guide.</a></p><p>We’ve reached deliver in the double diamond. In this episode I share how to align with your client, build rough prototypes, test without leading, iterate with intent, and package the work with roadmaps and stakeholder maps.</p><p>Listen on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3R7prbm1MHXpnlF6wOWjlo?si=8oNSGs-PR1OwrOP_TrxNuA" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design/id1825741356" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d46469d1-bf97-4198-ac30-d497016c7b1e/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design-mindsets-and-the-work-behind-new-ideas" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Amazon Music</a> | <a href="https://castbox.fm/vh/6674239" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Castbox</a> | <a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design-mindsets-and-the-703522" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Goodpods</a> | <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-idea-work-the-podcast-abou-285119942/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">iHeart</a> | <a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8ceaf510-3f55-013e-de68-0e32578cf4b7" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Pocket Casts</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources Mentioned</strong></p><ul><li><strong></strong><a href="https://youtu.be/Ii1rcNJU0io" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>IDEO: Medtech prototyping</strong></a><strong></strong></li><li><a href="https://www.figma.com/"><strong>Figma</strong></a> (for clickable high‑fidelity mockups)</li><li><p><a href="https://www.nngroup.com/articles/wizard-of-oz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Wizard of Oz prototyping</strong></a> (what it is and when to use it)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.nngroup.com/articles/service-blueprints-definition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Service blueprints</strong> </a>(visualising frontstage and backstage)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.nngroup.com/articles/journey-mapping-101/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Journey maps</strong></a> (mapping experience across time)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.nngroup.com/articles/draw-wireframe-even-if-you-cant-draw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Wireframes</strong></a> (low‑fidelity UI sketches)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Eventbrite</strong></a> (quick demand testing for events)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.strategyzer.com/canvas/business-model-canvas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>Business Model Canvas</strong></a> (Strategyzer)</p></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p><strong>0:02 – Introduction</strong><br>Michael welcomes listeners to the Deliver phase, recapping the journey from problem discovery through to ideation.</p><p><strong>0:40 – Deliver phase overview and client check-in</strong><br>Select 2–3 promising ideas, share them with the client, gather feedback, and align on which concept to take forward based on time and budget.</p><p><strong>3:06 – Prototyping mindset: converge and keep it rough</strong><br>Move from broad options to a focused solution. Build low-fidelity prototypes that invite critique rather than praise, including simple wireframes or Wizard-of-Oz clickthroughs.</p><p><strong>5:20 – Prototyping across contexts</strong><br>Use service blueprints, role plays and storyboards for services; cardboard mock-ups for products (IDEO-style); and low-cost event tests such as a basic Eventbrite listing or a mock invitation.</p><p><strong>8:02 – Testing with people: show, don’t tell</strong><br>Put the prototype in users’ hands, ask them to think aloud, and avoid leading questions. Michael shares a failed video prototype and the lesson to make feedback targets and artefacts tangible.</p><p><strong>12:30 – Iterate and package</strong><br>Synthesise feedback (affinity map what you hear), prioritise changes, run 2–3 cycles, then assemble clear artefacts: summaries, visuals, walkthroughs and ready-to-use assets.</p><p><strong>13:38 – Implementation and handover</strong><br>Provide a practical roadmap (now/next/later), stakeholder and influence maps, suggested engagement tactics (e.g. student committee), and a business model canvas, plus notes on other ideas for future phases.</p><p><strong>15:13 – Design is a loop</strong><br>Delivery often starts the next round of discovery and learning. The process is non-linear, evolving with every project.</p><p><strong>16:22–16:34 – Wrap up and sign off</strong><br>Thanks to listeners and an invitation to subscribe and continue exploring design thinking in practice.</p><p><br></p><p>Michael Walter is an educator, writer, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljosephwalter/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">academic</a>, <a href="http://www.yellowarrow.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">founder</a>, improviser, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0o7zhO1MhtJVn2B8F2a90G" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">musician</a>. He explores the intersections of creativity, technology, innovation, and social justice, always with a deep curiosity about how humans grow and connect.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
November 9, 2025
<p><a href="https://michaeljosephwalter.substack.com/publish/post/170595258?back=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fscheduled" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Check out the episode guide.</a></p><p>In the develop phase of the double diamond, ideas finally take flight. This episode shares the simple conditions that unlock creativity, the 7 rules of brainstorming, and fast methods like brainwriting, Crazy Eights, Newsflash, and Lotus Blossom. We finish by shortlisting ideas using dot voting and the desirability–feasibility–viability lens so you know what to prototype next.</p><p><br /></p><p>Listen on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3R7prbm1MHXpnlF6wOWjlo?si=8oNSGs-PR1OwrOP_TrxNuA" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design/id1825741356" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a> | <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d46469d1-bf97-4198-ac30-d497016c7b1e/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design-mindsets-and-the-work-behind-new-ideas" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Amazon Music</a> | <a href="https://castbox.fm/vh/6674239" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Castbox</a> | <a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/idea-work-the-podcast-about-innovation-careers-design-mindsets-and-the-703522" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Goodpods</a> | <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-idea-work-the-podcast-abou-285119942/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">iHeart</a> | <a href="https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8ceaf510-3f55-013e-de68-0e32578cf4b7" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Pocket Casts</a></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Resources Mentioned</strong></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.designkit.org/methods/brainstorm-rules.html" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Design Kit — 7 rules for brainstorming</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.designkit.org/methods.html" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Design Kit – methods library</a> (filter by ideation)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://miro.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Miro</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.mural.co/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Mural</a></p></li></ul><p></p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p><strong>0:02 – Introduction</strong><br />Welcome back to Idea Work. Michael sets up today’s focus on the Develop phase and moving from a clear HMW question to creative solutions.</p><p><strong>0:41 – Enter the Develop phase</strong><br />Recaps the journey so far and positions ideation as the next step after defining a focused problem.</p><p><strong>1:00 – Pivoting the problem holder</strong><br />Explains why the HMW targets university staff marketing health services, not students, based on research insights.</p><p><strong>1:52 – Setting the scene for creativity</strong><br />Make ideas visible, avoid boardroom-style critique, and create psychological safety so everyone can contribute.</p><p><strong>4:14 – Seven rules of brainstorming</strong><br />Defer judgement, encourage wild ideas, build on others, stay on topic, one conversation at a time, be visual, and go for quantity.</p><p><strong>8:11 – Rapid ideation methods</strong><br />Brainwriting for volume, Newsflash for quick visuals, Crazy Eights to sketch variations, and Lotus Blossom to expand promising concepts.</p><p><strong>14:07 – Evaluate and select ideas</strong><br />Use dot voting to spot energy, then map options with desirability, feasibility, and viability to find strong candidates.</p><p><strong>16:22 – Example direction: social events</strong><br />A low-stakes on-campus events concept helps students meet clinic staff, build trust, and learn what services exist.</p><p><strong>17:47 – What’s next: Deliver and MVP</strong><br />Outline the next phase of testing, iterating, and shaping a minimum viable product to validate the chosen idea.</p><p><strong>18:27–18:39 – Wrap up and sign off</strong><br />Brief recap and invitation to continue into the Deliver phase.</p><p>Michael Walter is an educator, writer, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljosephwalter/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">academic</a>, <a href="http://www.yellowarrow.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">founder</a>, improviser, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0o7zhO1MhtJVn2B8F2a90G" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">musician</a>. He explores the intersections of creativity, technology, innovation, and social justice, always with a deep curiosity about how humans grow and connect.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
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Idea Work is a podcast about building a career in innovation, design, and strategy. Hosted by Michael Walter, innovation lecturer, PhD researcher, and facilitator, it explores the skills, mindsets, and real-life stories behind innovation careers.
Hear from designers, strategists, and change-makers as they navigate career paths and drive impact. Whether you're starting out or shifting into innovation, this podcast helps you discover what makes ideas work.
This podcast updates daily.
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