Boom’s new advisory position signals a push towards human-centered air travel
Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation. According to award-winning industrial designer and IDEO executive chair Tim Brown, “it draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.”
Brown, a widely respected thought leader in human-centered design, has made a career of designing for the customer. He champions the interdisciplinary nature of design and believes in the power of creativity to solve problems across sectors such as education, health, business, government, technology, and more. As a member of Boom’s Advisory Council, Brown now supports strategic decisions for the design of Overture, the world’s fastest and most passenger-centric airliner.
For Boom, the ability to solve problems through a holistic lens is key. Designing a supersonic airliner is inherently multidisciplinary, as structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, and systems are all coupled. Without considering the big picture, design decisions can often feel like tradeoffs.
By designing experiences and products with humans at the center, Brown and the IDEO team have revolutionized how companies across the globe approach and meet such challenges. The IDEO team explains:
“Thinking like a designer can transform the way organizations develop products, services, processes, and strategies…It allows people who aren’t trained as designers to use creative tools to address a vast range of challenges.”
With early design decisions capable of influencing the range, performance, sustainability, and even onboard experience of the aircraft at varying degrees, Brown’s perspective will prove invaluable in supporting creative problem solving.
“Overture is an opportunity to create a truly human-centered travel experience,” writes Brown. “Boom has an inspiring vision of global connectivity, and I am inspired by the company’s commitment to sustainable speed.”
Bringing his passion for people, creative leadership, and the strategic application of design across sectors, Brown will help Boom deliver a major step change in the flying experience for passengers and crews aboard Overture.
