Human-Centered Innovation with Liz Chen

Becoming a catalyst for change, Innovate Carolina’s Design Thinking Lead helps create a new resource and guide for innovation.

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February 15, 2024
By Jessica Fowler
Photography by Brock Pierce

In a world where change is constant and innovation is imperative, “The Experimentation Field Book” provides helpful guidance to anyone designing their own experiments. Authored by a team of esteemed experts including Innovate Carolina’s own Elizabeth Chen, Ph.D., this book goes beyond the traditional boundaries of experimentation.

Departing from the conventional notion of experiments confined to laboratories, the book shows how experimentation permeates every facet of our lives, from daily routines to organizational strategies. It champions experimentation as essential to innovation, demystifying its process and highlighting its pivotal role in driving progress.

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“I am excited to work on this project because I want to teach this early experimentation process to graduate students, but couldn’t find anything comprehensive or user-friendly already in existence. We interviewed managers who were part of a variety of innovation projects to develop our 5-step process. I’m hopeful that more people will be able to teach themselves this rigorous and repeatable process and have fun while they’re doing it, too.”
Liz Chen, Design Thinking Lead with Innovate Carolina and Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

Drawing upon principles of design thinking, agile methodologies and lean startup practices, “The Experimentation Field Book” uses various disciplines, catering to students, entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals alike. Through interactive exercises and customizable templates, it helps readers to translate ideas into actionable experiments, fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability.

More than just a guidebook, “The Experimentation Field Book” is a catalyst for change. It not only inspires creative confidence, but also instills the practical skills and mindset essential for addressing the challenges of today and shaping the opportunities of tomorrow.

New Book: The Experimentation Field Book Outlines Steps for Conducting Experiments in the Real World