In 2010, we created the LUMA System in response to an unmet need among organizations around the world to elevate design and innovation. Today, as the challenges we face grow more and more complex, it’s even more crucial that everyone has access to tools that can help them become better problem solvers. LUMA’s goal is to lower the barriers to entry for people to learn about the value of human-centered design so we can all make things better, together.

That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that we are openly sharing all 36 human-centered design methods in the LUMA System on luma-institute.com. As of today, you can find an overview of each method, the benefits it can yield, a quick guide for how to use it, and other helpful hints by visiting luma-institute.com/methods.

As I shared in another recent blog post about the origin of the LUMA System, I like to imagine a world in which hundreds of millions of people have mastered basic design skills so they can frame problems, deeply understand people and situations, collaborate better, generate unconventional ideas, test assumptions, and quickly iterate toward solutions. LUMA’s desire to democratize design and make our system available to anyone will help push us closer to this aspirational future state.

As LUMA marks this milestone, I thought it would be interesting to look at how our framework has been adopted over the past decade. I discovered that the value of the LUMA System can be measured in lots of ways: by its reception, adoption, and efficacy in real-world settings. As we make these methods free for everyone, I’d like to share a few stats showing the impact of the System:

Reception

  • We were honored in 2014 when Harvard Business Review featured the LUMA System and called it “A Taxonomy of Innovation.”
  • We are delighted that our handbook Innovating for People – which covers all 36 methods of the LUMA System – has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, based on 189 reviews. 
  • Our training programs and digital platform LUMA Workplace® are highly valued and have a rolling six-month average Net Promoter Score of 67. 

Adoption

  • The LUMA System has been used at over 3,000 organizations, including dozens of Fortune 500 companies. 
  • Launched in 2016, our digital platform LUMA Workplace® has been used by people in over 140 countries to apply the LUMA System to challenges in their communities and on their teams. The platform currently has more than 6,682 monthly active users, a number that has grown more than 60 percent year-over-year.  
  • Over 130,000 people have been introduced to the LUMA System through the book, Innovating For People, in-person and online workshops, and our digital platform, LUMA Workplace®.
  • We have certified over 200 instructors worldwide to teach the LUMA System.
  • Hundreds of K-12 and postsecondary teachers worldwide are using the LUMA System in their classrooms.

Efficacy

  • The taxonomy is very sound. Since our team completed its original research, we have uncovered dozens of new methods and each one fits precisely into our framework.
  • Most people don’t use all 36 methods on a regular basis. Instead, people discover their favorites. Some of the most popular methods – based on data from LUMA Workplace® – are Creative Matrix; Rose, Thorn, Bud; Stakeholder Mapping; Abstraction Laddering; Interviewing; Importance/Difficulty Matrix; and Statement Starters. 
  • Our clients and partners have shared hundreds of stories and testimonies about the power of the LUMA System and how it has transformed the way they collaborate, make decisions, and solve problems in their everyday work and life.

At LUMA, we are still working toward our goal of universal design literacy, but these statistics demonstrate that the LUMA System is helping people make things better. By openly sharing information about our methods online, we hope to equip more people to be confident and capable designers doing their best, most inspiring work.

Keep looking, understanding, and making! 

P.S. You can access premium content like videos, design recipes, and our interactive Session Planner tool on LUMA Workplace®. Learn more and start a free trial.