Profile picture of Matt Odell

Matt Odell

CEO of MilUX

Matt is the founder of MilUX, a product design and delivery consultancy that works in the UK Defence Sector. He has over 25 years of experience in the sector, both as a serving officer and, latterly, as a consultant. He has worked on some of the defence’s most complex programmes – at times witnessing the pitfalls of traditional delivery methods. His experience spans the full product lifecycle, from conducting user research for early product design through to delivery. Matt still serves as an Army Reservist, where he finds any excuse he can to help improve systems of work and get involved in innovation efforts.

Matt will bring case studies from across the defence sector to illustrate how you can manage your upstream innovation and product design using Kanban. He’ll also share how MilUX integrates the Fit-For-Purpose and Jobs-To-Be-Done frameworks, as well as other user-centred design practices into their consulting services.

Taming the Chaos: Managing Discovery with Kanban

How Kanban brings clarity and flow to the messy front end of product design and innovation
1045-11.30 The Shirley Room (presentation)

Abstract

Have you ever noticed how most organisations treat innovation like a linear, planned, and predictable process? In defence, this mindset runs even deeper: projects commit before they truly understand the problem, locking teams into scope before purpose is clear.

In this session, we’ll explore how Kanban for design and innovation brings visibility and flow to the upstream, where ideas form, options evolve, and uncertainty lives. Drawing on real examples from MilUX’s work with UK defence teams, we’ll show how integrating Fit for Purpose, OKRs, and Jobs to Be Done helps teams:

  • Visualise and manage the flow of discovery work without forcing premature commitment
  • Frame problems through purpose and outcomes rather than requirements
  • Align innovation efforts with strategic intent while retaining creative flexibility
  • Create a connected system where discovery and delivery inform and accelerate each other

 

You’ll leave with practical techniques for managing discovery flow, and a challenge to rethink how your organisation defines progress when the work is still unknown.