Design and Creativity for Developing Digital Maturity Skills

The emerging technologies of our century - such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, IoT, Virtual Reality, etc.. - are transforming the industrial economy requiring companies to start a process of digitalisation and transformation toward Digital Maturity. One of the main obstacles to digital development initiatives is the company cultural level and the identification of adequate digital talent with the right skills to manage digital innovations. Design and Engineering education has a key role in the development of such skills. They urgently need to co-evolve with the human, technological, and cultural evolution of the digital era we are facing. The paper aims to present the theoretical DC4DM model that integrates the skills identified as in line with Digitally Mature companies' needs and, therefore, relevant for training cross-functional teams of future digital talents. Indeed, an important part of innovation success is the individual and team's creative abilities when designing for digital innovations. New teaching methods and practices should be developed in design and engineering education considering the evolving and emerging needs of students and industry, addressing the development of the new set of skills and training future "digital wise" professional that can drive the Digital Maturity.