Co-Design Sessions at Revigrés

This article presents the findings and insights gleaned from Workshop 4.0, the culminating event in a series of co-design sessions held at Revigrés, a leading Portuguese manufacturer of ceramic tiles. Workshop 4.0 focused on refining prototypes and validating user needs and company objectives, serving as a pivotal moment in the organization's journey toward design-led innovation. Through a comprehensive program comprising 14 activities spanning over four hours, participants engaged in collaborative efforts to refine product concepts and gather feedback for iterative refinement. Key insights from Workshop 4.0 include the importance of strategic exper-imentation and validation in the design process, the facilitator's guiding role in aligning design efforts with strategic goals, and the significant inno-vation gains achieved by Revigrés through a focus on sustainability and design that addresses user needs. The workshop also facilitated the cultivation of a design culture within the organization, fostering cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing among employees from diverse departments and backgrounds. By embracing design thinking principles and practices, Revigrés gained concepts that can help position the company as a player in innovation within the ceramics industry. As an integral segment of ongoing doctoral research in collaboration with Revigrés, this experimental initiative aims to capitalize on the insights gained from Workshop 4.0 to institutionalize design thinking company-wide, driving continuous innovation and sustainable growth in the years to come. This article provides valuable insights for organizations seeking to harness the power of design-led innovation to address complex challenges and drive meaningful change in their industries.