The First Design Thinker: Mr. Brunel

Travelling to visit a client this morning I stopped five minutes to contemplate Paddington Station, one of many Brunel’s achievements. I had the same feeling described by Tim Brown in his book “Change by Design — How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation”. He grew up and bicycled alongside the Great Western Railway. It is a “must read” for all of us and Tim considers Isambard Brunel as one of the earliest design thinkers.

Although he was engineer’s engineer, Brunel was not solely interested in the technology behind his creations…He even imagined an integrated system that would allow the traveller to board a train at London’s Paddington Station and disembark from a steamship in New York. In every one of his project, Brunel displayed a remarkable talent for balancing technical, commercial and human considerations.

Standing in the majestic Paddington Station, it’s easy to see Isambard Brunel’s design thinking at work. Brunel was not just an engineer; he was a visionary who wove together technology, aesthetics, and user experience. He imagined a world where transportation was seamless, where a traveller could step onto a train in London and find themselves on a steamship to New York. His designs, like the Great Western Railway, are a testament to his ability to blend form and function, ensuring that every journey was not just efficient but also enjoyable. Brunel’s foresight in creating integrated systems and beautiful structures continues to inspire those of us striving to balance the technical, commercial, and human aspects of innovation today.

Isambard Brunel’s legacy as a design thinker offers valuable lessons for modern creators. His projects, like the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Great Western Railway, remind us that true innovation requires a balance of technology, aesthetics, and user experience. As we move forward, embracing Brunel’s approach to design thinking can help us build solutions that are not only functional but also inspirational.

Thank you, Mr. Brunel! I will apply design thinking to my client when I get there. My stop is Bristol for while. But I will reach New York.

Check out our tribute to another design thinking legend: Sir Isaac Newton and Digital Transformation