SAP

New Ventures and Technologies (NVT) is the organisation inside SAP which focuses on what lies ahead. NVT drives transformative innovation to future-proof SAP by developing unconventional solutions, inspiring prototypes, and new products. NVT brings together the competency from various disciplines such as design, technology, and business to innovate together with clients and partners. This interdisciplinary collaboration enables designers to tackle real-world problems and come up with creative solutions that have impact on global scale.

Interview with SAP

Red Dot: What does design mean to you?
SAP: Within the team, we share the view that design is key in translating technical innovation into approachable and delightful product experiences that improve people’s lives.

How would you define good communication design?
In our environment, it is primarily about communicating complex product values to a large audience. Good communication design in this context conveys the core message directly to the mind of the recipient and builds a visual and emotional bridge between the received message and a product or service experience.

What intention do you pursue with your award-winning work?
When SARS-CoV-2 hit the world, all of us needed to do everything in our power to prevent further spreading. In close collaboration with scientists and technology teams the UX design team shaped the transformation of the Corona-Warn-App from a pure contact tracing app to a fully functional pandemic app that helps users to protect themselves in their everyday life during the pandemic.

Was your award-winning work inspired by current social issues?
Obviously by the COVID-19 pandemic and the social issues that came along with it. Initially, the app focused primarily on quickly breaking chains of infection and saving people’s lives in a digital manner. During the constant change of the pandemic situation, the app was continuously developed, e.g., when vaccination became available to support the gradual return to normal life.

Please describe the concept of creativity against the background of your award-winning work.
The constant collaboration of experts from various disciplines, such as epidemiologists, legal experts and innovative technologists, has always been at the core of the creative process. Once the “problem area” was clear, the design team developed ideas on how to tackle the challenges. The effectiveness of early concept designs was constantly discussed and challenged from all disciplinary angles and finally validated. This very honest and direct collaboration ensured an extraordinary momentum in developing new ideas and delivering effective product design to a large and diverse audience.