Nym is an upcoming digital platform that builds on a decade of research into the role of storytelling in new product development (NPD). Evolving from a card-based tool, Nym enables design teams to strategically apply narrative thinking during the early stages of product innovation. Designed for both industry and education, it offers structured prompts and frameworks to support ideation, communication, and concept development. Nym empowers users to harness storytelling as a creative and strategic asset, helping them generate more meaningful, user-centred solutions. Currently in development, it aims to become an essential tool for designers navigating complex innovation processes.

An Online Peer Assessment Tool for Embedding Authentic Feedback Literacy contributes to a volume on formative assessment and feedback in post-digital learning environments. We present a structured approach to online peer assessment tailored to the distinct challenges of creative disciplines, where subjectivity often complicates evaluation. By embedding authentic disciplinary experiences, our method supports the development of meaningful feedback literacy. It promotes student engagement, reflection, and agency, encouraging learners to take greater ownership of their educational journey while navigating the complexities of critique and assessment within creative fields.

This paper presents a research-backed video feedback model designed specifically for product design education, where traditional feedback methods often fall short. Grounded in a robust framework of Realism, Cognitive and Affective Challenge, Evaluative Judgment, and Enacting Feedback, the approach is translated into practical, high-impact features: empathetic, discursive language; clear alignment with assessment criteria; direct visual references to student work; and actionable next steps. Successfully delivered to final-year product design students, the exercise was met with strong engagement and positive feedback. Backed by both quantitative and qualitative data, this model offers a compelling, scalable solution for delivering authentic, meaningful feedback in creative disciplines.

This paper explores the evolving intersection of design and storytelling, proposing a shift in focus toward understanding how storytelling approaches influence outcomes in design pitches. Drawing on a literature review, four key impacts - ‘Delivering Understanding’, ‘Demonstrating Value’, ‘Stimulating Critique’, and ‘Encouraging Holistic Thinking’ - guided semi-structured interviews with professionals from Unilever and Accenture. Insights from over fifty design pitches were thematically analyzed, revealing strong links between these impacts and specific storytelling strategies, including ‘Acknowledging Cultural Perspectives’, ‘Embracing Diversity’, ‘Detailing Concept Development’, and using ‘Imagery and Analogy’. Findings are synthesized in a practical framework: Design Pitch Storytelling: The Impact-Approach Framework.