Velebit Mirić
Episode · #225
MISLIŠTE Velebit Mirić
Guest Velebit MirićHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026
Velebit Mirić
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Velebit Mirić sees Design Thinking not as a mere process, but as a business philosophy that brings a crucial, often overlooked element back into the corporate world: empathy. In an environment increasingly driven by binary decisions and numbers, Mirić argues that true innovation stems from understanding human emotions and experiences. As the founder of Innovatio Consilium, he helps companies bridge the gap between their ideas and their customers, guiding them through a co-creative process that rapidly moves concepts from initial thought to user-tested prototypes. His work reveals how embracing a human-centered approach can redefine what's possible, transforming abstract ideas into tangible, market-ready solutions.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Velebit Mirić defines Design Thinking as a "business philosophy" encompassing a "large toolkit," rather than just a methodology. Just as a master craftsman needs both excellent tools and the skill to know *when* and *how* to use them, the true power of Design Thinking lies in the expertise to apply its methods effectively, not just in possessing them.
02
In a business world that often operates "very binarily," focused on numbers over human sentiment, Design Thinking's crucial role is to "bring empathy back into business." Modern economies are driven by experiences and emotions, making a deep understanding of the user's perspective the real engine of value.
03
When bringing clients and their customers together in a workshop, Mirić's first step is to "bring them down to the level of children," encouraging them to draw and build prototypes from paper. Stripping away corporate pride and allowing playful interaction is when people become most empathetic, fostering genuine co-creation.
04
Mirić illustrates empathy by imagining walking through a hospital ward: "You might look at a person, but rarely will you feel what's truly happening to them." However, if he were to write each person's story above their head, "you'd cry at least ten times," highlighting that true understanding moves beyond observation to deep emotional connection.
05
Design Thinking's roots trace back to Herbert Simon, a Nobel laureate in economics who was originally an architect, and later to IDEO, which popularized the methodology and designed the first computer mouse. The most impactful approaches often emerge from cross-disciplinary insights and are proven through tangible, market-defining innovations.
06
Innovatio Consilium's core work involves "creating a bridge between them [clients] and their clients, or in realizing an idea they've often had in a drawer for years." His service accelerates the journey from concept to reality by directly involving future users in the development process, ensuring ideas meet real-world needs.
07
Mirić's workshops compress the entire innovation process into "four to five days in total," taking an idea from re-creation to prototype development and testing with future users. This intense, short-duration co-creation model allows for rapid validation and iteration, minimizing the risk of building unwanted solutions.
08
The reason Design Thinking is sometimes perceived as "empty talk" in public is the absence of "large guilds and associations of consultants" that would establish quality standards. Without recognized benchmarks, the market struggles to distinguish effective application from superficial imitation, diluting the overall perception of the approach.