Product teams and founders are under pressure, stuck in incremental roadmaps and burning out on short‑term wins. Michelle Lee—Partner & Executive Managing Director of IDEO’s Play Lab—shows why play is the hidden driver of markets that reshape industries.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Break the trap of incremental roadmaps: discover how playful divergence helps teams and founders uncover bolder product bets instead of chasing competitors.
Spark breakthroughs your competitors miss: use playful tools like postcards from the future and sandboxing to unlock the next market‑shaping idea.
Measure what drives loyalty and growth: move past vanity metrics to attitudinal loyalty and “time well spent” so your product earns deep, lasting adoption.

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This is episode 43 of the Design of AI Podcast.

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Our next AI Product Strategy workshop is happening on October 30.

In this 3-hour online workshop you’ll leverage our framework for discovering and pressure-testing disruptive AI product ideas. Get more info at https://designof.ai/workshop

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This episode was hosted by:

Arpy Dragffy Guerrero ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adragffy/⁠

Brittany Hobbs ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyhobbs/⁠

This episode is brought to you by PH1 Research, a research & strategy consultancy specialized in mapping the future of your business & product. Get more info at ⁠PH1.ca⁠

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As a Partner and Executive Managing Director, Michelle leads IDEO's Play Lab, an interdisciplinary team of designers and researchers who build upon 30+ years of toy invention to bring engaging, interactive, and playful experiences to market. She believes that play is essential across all ages.

Immersed in a globally recognized human-centered design firm, the Play Lab leverages play as a mindset and approach that enables organizations to engage diverse stakeholders, imagine new possibilities, and spark action to transform behaviors, environments and systems. They've brought play to address diverse challenges from enhancing workplace culture to championing responsible digital design, inspiring underrepresented students to pursue careers in STEM, supporting organizations as they've adopted practices in line with a circular economy, and designing impactful products and services across industries, including education, consumer products, health, finance and workplace culture. Michelle regularly speaks and writes about her passion for play, including presentations at SXSW, The Delight Conference, The Culture Summit, Circularity 23, and educational institutions and organizations around the world, inviting audiences to reimagine the power of play in shaping meaningful futures.

Learn more about her work:

https://ideoplaylab.com

https://linkedin.com/in/michellesklee

43. Play Unlocks the Next Billion‑Dollar AI Market [Michelle Lee, IDEO]

Product Impact Podcast | Formerly Design of AI