--- title: The Business Case for Design Thinking description: Design thinking is often known as a way to generate creativity and inspire innovation. But this approach also delivers significant financial results. image: https://blog.experiencepoint.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20Stock%20Images/AdobeStock_229509095.png --- Primary Menu *The Business Case for Design Thinking* December 6, 2018 | Design Thinking [by ExperiencePoint POSTED ON December 6, 2018](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/author/experiencepoint) [mailto:?body=https://blog.experiencepoint.com/the-business-case-for-design-thinking](mailto:?body=https://blog.experiencepoint.com/the-business-case-for-design-thinking) **Study shows design thinking projects deliver 300% ROI** Design thinking is often touted as a great way to generate creativity and inspire innovation. But did you know this approach has been proven to deliver significant financial results? In February 2018, Forrester and IBM released a study on the economic impact of using design thinking on projects, and the results were not surprising to design thinkers and businesses who have incorporated it as a strategy across their organizations. The study of 64 companies using design thinking in their organizations, uncovered huge time and cost savings, an increase in portfolio profitability, and unmistakable ROI. It also validated that design thinking helps teams streamline their project delivery process and reduce the risk of failure. In many cases, interviewees reported that the time spent interfacing with clients during the design process significantly accelerated product delivery, increased rates of adoption, and reduced time wasted building features that no-one wanted. ## **Design Thinking by The Numbers** The report shared several groundbreaking metrics that should inform any company’s decision to consider design thinking as a strategy and competitive advantage: - Organizations using design thinking slashed the time required for initial design and alignment by [75 percent](https://www.ibm.com/design/thinking/static/media/Enterprise-Design-Thinking-Report.8ab1e9e1.pdf), which delivered cost savings of up to $872,000 on major projects. - The ability to achieve [faster time-to-market](https://www.ibm.com/design/thinking/static/media/Enterprise-Design-Thinking-Report.8ab1e9e1.pdf) increased profits by roughly $182K per minor project and $1.1M for major projects. - By gathering user feedback, project teams delivered better designs, which reduced development and testing time by [one-third](https://www.ibm.com/design/thinking/static/media/Enterprise-Design-Thinking-Report.8ab1e9e1.pdf). The report authors estimate that this translates to an average of $223K saved per minor project and $1.1M per major project. - Fully [50 percent](https://www.ibm.com/design/thinking/static/media/Enterprise-Design-Thinking-Report.8ab1e9e1.pdf) of respondents eliminated redundant processes, and 47 percent eliminated unnecessary features and products as a result of using design thinking. - Interviewees also reported having happier, [more engaged](https://www.ibm.com/design/thinking/static/media/Enterprise-Design-Thinking-Report.8ab1e9e1.pdf), and more empowered workers. As one interviewee quoted in the report said: “Design thinking pays for itself before you’ve even started cutting code.” The data illustrates that design thinking isn’t a fad or a feel-good exercise that is only appealing for creative types. Rather, it’s a bold and disruptive strategy to help leaders and organizations solve complex business problems, become customer-centric, drive innovation enterprise-wide, manage change and transform the way people think and work.   *Learn how to enable* [innovation skill-building at scale](https://i.experiencepoint.com/free-download-get-unstuck-ebook?_ga=2.223901467.1091200595.1540235728-223947154.1472650318)* or download our free ebook Kickstart Innovation: A Guide for Organizations.* [![Learn how to enable innovation skill-building at scale with ExperiencePoint's free eBook](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/hubfs/Blog-CTA-ebook-KickStartInnovation_footer-1.png?t=1543499975483)](https://i.experiencepoint.com/free-download-get-unstuck-ebook?_ga=2.223901467.1091200595.1540235728-223947154.1472650318) #### Trending This Week [1 — ExperiencePoint Why IT Leaders Need a Different Playbook for AI Adoption](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/why-it-leaders-need-a-different-playbook-for-ai-adoption) [2 — ExperiencePoint KickstartChange™ in Practice: Building Change Capability Faster](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/kickstartchange-in-practice-joanna-kirke) [3 — ExperiencePoint 5 Ways Leaders Can Drive Better ROI from AI Adoption](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/5-ways-leaders-can-drive-better-roi-from-ai-adoption) ## Popular Posts ## [Design Thinking How Netflix Used Design Thinking to Reinvent Itself, Over and Over](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/how-netflix-uses-design-thinking) ## [Design Thinking 5 Icebreakers to Ignite Your Design Thinking Session](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/5-icebreakers-for-design-thinking) ## [Innovation KFC’s Menu Innovations](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/design-thinking-kfc-innovation) ## [Design Thinking Design Thinking in Action: Building a Low-Cost Incubator](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/2010/02/16/design-thinking-in-action-embrace-global/) ## [Change Management Why Your AI Adoption Strategy Is Failing](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/why-your-ai-adoption-strategy-is-failing) ## [Design Thinking 8 Stats That Prove Design Thinking Pays Off](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/8-stats-that-prove-design-thinking-pays-off) ## [Change New year, New Me: The Science Behind New Year's Resolutions](https://blog.experiencepoint.com/2022-new-year-new-me-why-new-years-resolutions-fail) ## [AI skills Stop Rolling Out AI. 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