Envisionary Solutions
Human-Elevated Solutions
Human-Elevated Solutions
Ideation. Future-Thinking. Disruption. Conscious Design Strategy.
Design 3.0 puts clients ahead-of-the-curve in their industry via healthy, purpose-led disruption, intervention, and iteration, and by utilising available tech/AI to enhance human agency (not replace it).
The 'Conscious Design Thinking 3.0' Process:
Sense (change Work)
Here we aim to build awareness and gain insight by seeing clearly before acting; zooming out and scanning to identify patterns, root problems, alternative directions, and future possibilities.
- Question conventions and conditioned ways of thinking
- Spot problems and 'blind spots' in outdated systems
- See what limits, distracts, misleads, or creates hidden motivations
- Explore future scenarios and potential patterns of change/needs
- Gain clarity on how you can innovate/think differently in your industry
Most solutions fail because they are built on misunderstood or shallow problems. Without sensing, we may; react instead of think, solve symptoms instead of root causes, or create 'quick fixes' (or the wrong solution) just to capture attention. These may lead to bigger challenges later, as well as negatively affect our human psychology. Learn More
Shape (Real Work)
Next we use our insight to shape intentional, purpose-led, human-elevating solutions and systems. Ideas and concepts are formed, tested, targeted, and implemented around a value-led goal - rather than just around a specific product/service - creating tangible, focused direction and impact.
- Generate and develop ideas into a focused vision to lead forward
- Define and target a clear purpose or right problem/s to solve
- Utilise conscious design thinking principles, design sprints, AI tools
- Ensure adaptable solution/s for human agency & individualised needs
- Launch or apply a final solution (that matches human value goal)
Most modern design focuses on attention, engagement, or profit, often at the cost of human wellbeing. Without shaping consciously, we may: create addictive or extractive fear-led systems, not define a clear target solution or address personal needs, or may contribute to the very problems we’re trying to solve as haven't focused on long-term human value. Learn More
Shift (Forward Work)
Finally, we iterate, synergise, and evolve. Shifting ensures solutions are kept 'alive', keeping pace with change and remaining effective (recognising that no solution is final - looping us back to 'sensing'). We may or may not also seek to scale to create bigger real-world impact, or to influence systems, behaviours, and environments.
- Gather feedback from analysing views and observing real impact
- Iterate, refine, and improve continuously, whilst aligning to vision
- Stay conscious to needs and effects of a fast-changing world
- Scale or adapt to new contexts, or integrate with other ideas/systems
Many solutions often drift rather than shift, because we may; not adapt ahead of time for when reality changes, expect the same/over-plan rather than run regular sprints, miss the opportunity to create real change, or assume asking people 'how they feel' should guide their direction when often led by instant gratification or societal conditioning. Learn More
Conscious Design Thinking Process:
Build awareness and gain insight by seeing clearly before acting; zooming out and scanning to identify patterns, root problems, alternative directions, and future possibilities.
- Question conventions and conditioned ways of thinking
- Spot problems and 'blind spots' in outdated systems
- See what limits, distracts, misleads, or creates hidden motivations
- Explore future scenarios and potential patterns of change/needs
- Gain clarity on how you can innovate/think differently in your industry
Why? Most solutions fail because they are built on misunderstood or shallow problems. Without sensing, we may; react instead of think, solve symptoms instead of root causes, or create 'quick fixes' (or the wrong solution) just to capture attention. These may lead to bigger challenges later, as well as negatively affect our human psychology. More
Sense (Change Work)
Shape (Real Work)
Use insight to shape intentional, purpose-led, human-elevating solutions and systems. Ideas and concepts are formed, tested, targeted, and implemented around a value-led goal - rather than just around a specific product/service - creating tangible, focused direction and impact.
- Generate and develop ideas into a focused vision to lead forward
- Define and target a clear purpose or right problem/s to solve
- Utilise conscious design thinking principles, design sprints, AI tools
- Ensure adaptable solution/s for human agency & individualised needs
- Launch or apply a final solution (that matches human value goal)
Why? Most modern design focuses on attention, engagement, or profit, often at the cost of human wellbeing. Without shaping consciously, we may: create addictive or extractive fear-led systems, not define a clear target solution or address personal needs, or may contribute to the very problems we’re trying to solve as haven't focused on long-term human value. More
Shift (Forward Work)
Then iterate, synergise, and evolve. Shifting ensures solutions are kept 'alive', keeping pace with change and remaining effective (recognising that no solution is final - looping us back to 'sensing'). We may or may not also seek to scale to create bigger real-world impact.
- Gather feedback from analysing views and observing real impact
- Iterate, refine, and improve continuously, whilst aligning to vision
- Stay conscious to needs and effects of a fast-changing world
- Scale or adapt to new contexts, or integrate with other ideas/systems
Why? Many solutions often drift rather than shift, because we may; not adapt ahead of time for when reality changes, expect the same/over-plan rather than run regular sprints, miss the opportunity to create real change, or assume asking people 'how they feel' should guide their direction when often led by instant gratification or societal conditioning. More
Human-Elevating Projects:
Human-Centered Design
Human-Centered Design
User Experience. User Interface. System Flow. Brand Identity & Campaigns
Design 1.0 is about bringing the right people to the door – crafting brand identities, messaging, and campaigns that capture attention and communicate clearly with the right audience.
Design 2.0 keeps them there – improving user experiences, flows, systems, products, interfaces, and environments to reduce friction and create meaningful, intuitive interactions.
Human-Centered Design Services:
Creating human-centred spatial designs conductive to conscious living and healthy development that maximise usability, adaptability, efficiency, ergonomics, and future-proofed use – from compact living (apartments, campervans) to next-gen travel and work spaces (hiking/work pods)
Optimising movement and interaction within spaces and environments to reduce friction and improve flow – from petrol/EV ‘flow lanes’, to retail and recreational forecourt layouts, to service design communication across departments
Creating immersive, interactive environments that engage users through choice and participation – from real-world simulations like Cellar Door, to social games/escape rooms, to interactive installations that connect people and enhance moments, like Boarding Booths
Conceptualising products that enhance human experience and interaction – from wellbeing tools and smart AI-driven devices or apps, to user experienced-led travel products, to performance-based innovations that solve real human needs in intuitive ways
Developing creative campaigns that shift perception and connect with audiences, sparking emotion, relevance, and cultural impact – from community-led concepts like Lucky Café to rebranding projects like Shrugs
Crafting distinctive brand identities that resonate with target audiences – developing logos, names, and styles that consistently carry through the brands voice and values that make it instantly recognisable, memorable, and relatable
Designing user interfaces and touchpoints that make digital interactions and navigation simple, clear, and engaging – from app prototype layouts for clear navigation, to visual systems that enhance usability and clarity
Structuring and leading seamless omnichannel, end-to-end user journeys that improve how people interact and engage with products, services, environments etc. (via UX process of research, analysis, design, prototyping, testing)
Human-Centered Design Services:
Branding Identity & Naming
Crafting distinctive brand identities that resonate with target audiences – developing logos, names, and styles that consistently carry through the brands voice and values that make it instantly recognisable, memorable, and relatable
Branding Campaigns
Developing creative campaigns that shift perception and connect with audiences, sparking emotion, relevance, and cultural impact – from community-led concepts like Lucky Café to rebranding projects like Shrugs
Structuring and leading seamless omnichannel, end-to-end user journeys that improve how people interact and engage with products, services, environments etc. (via UX process of research, analysis, design, prototyping, testing)
Designing user interfaces and touchpoints that make digital interactions and navigation simple, clear, and engaging – from app prototype layouts for clear navigation, to visual systems that enhance usability and clarity
Creating human-centred spatial designs conductive to conscious living and healthy development that maximise usability, adaptability, efficiency, ergonomics, and future-proofed use – from compact living (apartments, campervans) to next-gen travel and work spaces (hiking/work pods)
Creating immersive, interactive environments that engage users through choice and participation – from real-world simulations like Cellar Door, to social games/escape rooms, to interactive installations that connect people and enhance moments, like Boarding Booths
Optimising movement and interaction within spaces and environments to reduce friction and improve flow – from petrol/EV ‘flow lanes’, to retail and recreational forecourt layouts, to service design communication across departments
Conceptualising products that enhance human experience and interaction – from wellbeing tools and smart AI-driven devices or apps, to user experienced-led travel products, to performance-based innovations that solve real human needs in intuitive ways
Human-Centered Design Projects:
SOLUTION AUDITING & COACHING
Solution Auditing & Coaching
Idea & Team Development
I run ‘solution audits’ to help you develop and evolve your own human-elevating ideas – whether for ‘living lab’ concepts or for your existing products/services. And through team coaching / design sprints, I can help build your internal design thinking capability – equipping you and your team with the tools and mindset to create forward-thinking solutions.
Development Services:
Solution audits and team coaching sessions are run on request, so get in touch to discuss.
'Living Lab' Solution Audits
Running ‘solution audits’ to help you to reimagine existing (or new) products, services, or ideas through a human-elevating lens – by identifying opportunities to shift from passive consumption toward more conscious, human-elevating outcomes (note: some case studies started out as living labs).
'Design Thinking' Coaching
Helping teams, founders, and individuals develop a Design 3.0 mindset – by sharpening creative and critical thinking, understanding design principles, and building a visionary, problem-solving toolkit needed to design and test their own human-centred solutions.
About Envisionary Solutions
Envisionary Solutions - A Unique Design Thinking Group
Envisionary Solutions is the unique forward-thinking innovation consultancy and design-thinking group of design futurist Richly Wills, who started Envisionary Solutions as Envisionary Design, a freelance service to those needing brand design and UX services.
It’s evolved since and now Envisionary Solutions focuses on its unique position as a design agency that helps clients forward-think and develop future-proofed solutions of tomorrow, today.
As a design-thinking group, Envisionary Solutions brings together a flexible, remote team of other adaptable design thinkers and designers to help clients with their needs.
With a fresh, forward-thinking approach to design this network of design thinkers come together to solve problems and develop both concepts and workable solutions for your projects requirements.
Clients come to us for all kinds of design-centered problems from visual communication branding needs, UX experience requirements, and more recently for the growing need of solving social and ethical impact challenges that take businesses or ideas forward towards what we call the ‘value-economy’ approach.
Most have heard about the ‘attention economy’ but that is old thinking as far as we are concerned. Of course a business wants attention, but the idea behind the ‘value-economy’ is to focus on ensuring we are building sustainable solutions that aren’t just what people want, but are what humanity need today and in the future.
We deliver this through design thinking and lean UX processes that aim to both solve wicked problems and create richer experiences.
I’ve also worked hard on developing Richly Wills, the educational side of Think Richly which helps people open up their creative problem-solving minds, and where we can develop design thinkers of tomorrow and develop adaptable, pragmatic, and innovative Changemakers who can challenge problems from a new direction and come up with original initiatives collaboratively.
Future-thinking may not seem to matter to local businesses at first but if you were to simply follow today’s trends you will soon get left behind as trends quickly change.
The rules have changed. Our world is fast-changing and we need to ensure that businesses can also adapt to such an environmental and behavioral shifts (to this design 3.0 thinking), otherwise local businesses and startups may not have business tomorrow.
If you only focus on experience but not on innovation then you might fall short in only seeing wants in feedback, and not in the intentional design needs that could be uncovered and help deliver better services of the future.
You may think it’s wise to funnel your budget into marketing and advertising, but when you apply (3.0) design thinking to problems and their brand values then you see just how much time, energy and resources can be saved and placed in more desired areas.
from games and apps to spaces innovation, using design intervention and thinking to come up with better future solutions.
What Is Design Thinking 3.0, 2.0, 1.0?
You may be wondering what Design Thinking 3.0. 2.0 and 1.0 mean, and why Envisionary Solutions focuses on all?!
When we talk about Design 3.0, Design 2.0 and Design 1.0 we are really talking about the evolved process of ‘design thinking’ over time, from when design was simply about aesthetics and visual communication, to how our thinking evolved to see design as a central part of creating a better experience, and to how our design thinking is evolving further to recognize and innovate the ‘wicked problems’ humanity needs to (sustainably) solve today onwards.
Design thinking is defined as a human-centered approach to challenging a problem from a new direction beyond current constraints, into a solution that is viable, desirable, and feasible.
It brings about an iterative process that aims to find the right problem to solve through first considering a wide range of potential solutions, and by emphasizing with both the surrounding conditions and human needs of today, as well as the future challenges that might develop.
Whilst Envisionary Solutions covers all 3 evolutionary states of design, we are particularly focused on Design 3.0 and refer to design thinking in that context.
Take the bike for an example. It’s not about making a bike prettier or well-branded (that is Design 1.0), or even a more comfortable experience to ride or rent via an app (that’s Design 2.0), but thinking about how bikes could be redesigned to tackle social problems, such as making people use bikes locked away in garages by fixing the problems that keep them in garages, like making tires easier to fix, bikes foldable to carry on transport, or developing a community spirit to ride bikes again (Design 3.0).
All three elements are important towards a well-designed and curated design solution, but often companies only focus on 1.0 and 2.0, when design is more like a triangle that should encompass the more forward-thinking element of Design 3.0 too.
In the example above, Design 3.0 is concepting new possibilities and solving problems first in order to reframe what bikes could be for people, and developing a toolkit for users that make it easy to navigate problems should they arrive.
This then leads through to 2.0 (creating a better user experience) and 1.0 (UI and branding aesthetic visual communication), as it all comes together using user-centered design and design thinking processes.
How Envisionary Solutions Helps You Make A Difference AND Make Money
Of course, every business needs to operate to make money but this certainly doesn’t mean you forego thinking about your customers needs to make a quick buck.
It actually means the opposite today – you deliver what your customers need and create value through the experience and service you offer them.
There’s a worry amongst businesses that becoming so focused on human needs over profits and adopting this more ‘altruistic’ circular economy approach to business will see their profits decrease, but studies have shown that the opposite is true.
Your business ends up making more money because of the time and energy saved on wasteful marketing practices (before knowing what’s needed), plus less material cost and waste is created by thinking about problems and solutions more carefully and sustainably.
What Type Of Businesses & Industries Do We Work With?
Envisionary Solutions has helped a variety of different business needs from startups, SME’s, non-profits and individual projects, through Design 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 services.
We work with all industry types looking to take their business towards the needs of their consumers both today and tomorrow, but we understand that certain industries are more standard and traditional than others, and therefore they may require more incremental (rather than radical change) at first.
We have a lot of experience as dedicated design thinkers who can scope out the problems and the forward-thinking solutions that can help your local business or startup not only deliver better products / services / brand and experiences to your clients or customers, but help you think about the ahead-of-the-curve potential of your business in terms of forward-thinking solutions that will help you stand out from your competition for delivering better value (not just experience).
For non-profits looking to develop social innovation impact then we also have can also help.
How Much Does A Service / Package Cost?
This is the ‘how long is a piece of string’ question.
Each project and clients needs vary in so many factors from timeframe, depth, and cross-platform solutions.
Often our prospective clients know they want to develop a better experience for their product or service, or want a certain design package, but have little idea in the best approach for their needs or how all the elements fit together, which is why we also help with sprint facilitation to help them target and define the right focus and touchpoints for their project.
We encourage you to either email or call us with your requirements and we can help find the best route forward for your goals.
We are only a small in-house team, but we are a growing network of remote design thinkers, so we can find the right expert to fit the design thinking requirements for your project.