We are a global alliance of employee experience designers who believe in the power of a more equitable, agile, and empathetic workplace.

We have walked in your shoes – as HR professionals, as leaders, and as employees. Today, we apply design thinking as a method to explore solutions for complex workplace problems.

Why Design Thinking for Talent and HR?

Why not?

We are psyched about design thinking because it works. It is a method used by thousands of organizations since the 90s. It works especially when applied to an experience. And managing the employee experience is becoming as important as managing the customer experience.

Hi, my name is Nicole Dessain and I am the Founder and Chief Talent Experience Designer at talent.imperative inc.

Some of the amazing companies I have worked with over my 20-year career range from giants like Apple, BASF, Cisco, Comcast, Edelman, McDonald’s, Mercedes-Benz, UNIQLO, Walgreens, and Walmart to small but mighty organizations like Grubhub, Arity, IDEO, Change Healthcare, and the NBA’s Orlando Magic.

After I discovered design thinking a few years ago, I became a student of the method and got certified by IDEO U and LUMA Institute. I am a SESP Lecturer at Northwestern University’s Master’s in Learning and Organizational Change Program where we explore how design thinking might be applied to innovation in organizational effectiveness.

You can learn more about my point of view on design thinking at the intersection of strategy, innovation, culture, and talent through my publications and speaking engagements.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes which combines my passions for design thinking, exploring new cultures, and eating good food: “Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.” (Anthony Bourdain)

Let’s walk this path together. Oh, and stop by on LinkedIn and say hi.