**1. Introduction**

Systematic innovation is crucial for increasing design effectiveness, enhancing competitive‐ ness and profitability. Enterprises need to invest in systematic innovation if they want to win or survive. Innovation can no longer be seen as the product of occasional inspira‐ tion. Innovation has to be learned and managed. Innovation has to be transformed into a capacity, not a gift.

Unexpected occurrences, inconsistencies, process requirements, changes in the market and industry, demographic change, changes in perception or new knowledge can give rise to innovation opportunities.

Systematic innovation can be understood as a concept that includes the inventive instruments necessary to invent the right things that need to be invented, and incorporate them into new products and processes. Design activity needs innovation with the right dose and in the nick of time.

The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), Brainstorming, Collateral Thinking, Mind Maps and other methodologies can stimulate individual and collective creativity.
