The Process of Innovation
The most groundbreaking companies recognize design as a powerful engine for breakthrough thinking. Yet, the role design plays throughout the entire innovation process—and its influence on instilling a forward-thinking mindset across an organization—is not always fully understood.
At Carelli Design, we view design as a catalyst for innovation and the glue that binds together science, research, marketing, engineering, and development into a unified, purpose-driven process.
Our innovation methodology is grounded in multi-disciplinary collaboration. Research and marketing teams assess a concept’s desirability and market fit, engineers evaluate feasibility, and business strategists examine alignment with brand objectives—both current and aspirational. Designers, of course, integrate all these dimensions, bringing coherence, clarity, and creative vision.
Envisioning Strategic and Creative Futures
Our process begins with insights derived from socio-cultural research, alongside technology and industry trend analyses. These inputs define the strategic framework for what we call “future imagineering”—a process that enables us to explore bold, imaginative directions for products, services, and customer experiences.
Increasingly, clients engage Carelli Design not only for physical product concepts but also for service innovations and marketing ecosystems—many of which are rooted in digital and web-based platforms.
Once research sets the stage, we move into a creative exploration phase, where all ideas are possible. We conduct dynamic workshops, bringing together visionary thinkers, subject matter experts, and creatives from diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds. This rich blend of perspectives fuels powerful ideation.
Ideas are then filtered and evaluated based on strategic and practical criteria developed with the client. Concepts must not only meet human needs—both present and anticipated—but also align with brand strategy and be grounded in technical feasibility. For us, innovation isn't just about envisioning the future—it's about realizing it. This is where many design firms fall short. We carry our ideas all the way to execution.
From Concept to Implementation
Once directions are selected, we move into the implementation phase—the “making it happen” stage. Ideas are translated into working prototypes, video scenarios, or interactive storyboards that bring the vision to life and demonstrate how it will function in the real world. This ensures that abstract ideas become tangible, communicable, and actionable.
Bridging the Comprehension Gap
A critical component of “making the future happen” is communication—especially for companies rooted in advanced technology. Innovation and communication must go hand in hand. A persistent challenge is the comprehension gap between those who understand emerging technologies early (designers and engineers) and the public, who must be able to relate to and accept them.
This disconnect between internal vision and societal readiness is a common barrier for technology companies. At Carelli Design, our robust communication strategies—through visual scenarios, immersive storytelling, and prototyping—help bridge this inevitable gap, making complex innovation accessible and compelling.
Designing for People, Not Just Products
At the heart of our process is the user. From the beginning, we focus on total user experience, considering interaction, emotional resonance, and context of use—not merely functionality. This people-centered approach ensures that our solutions are not only innovative but socially, anthropologically, and personally relevant.
Innovation begins with imagination—but it becomes meaningful when it meets real human needs.
The Process of Innovation
The Process of Innovation
Our Objective
Our Approach
Strategic Design Process
Multi-Disciplinary Teams
Global Research
Ergonomics
Design Research
Strategic Solutions
Strategic Solutions
Product Design
Interaction Design
Communication
Engineering
Model & Prototyping
Manufacturing
3D CAD Modeling
