Is a “Sustainable Industrial Designer” an Oxymoron?

Manuel Saez — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:42:49 -0400

Recently, I was invited to speak at a conference celebrating “Earth Day.” My presentation consisted of “Everyone Considered,” a talk concerning our design process, which considers everyone that comes into contact with a product throughout its life: from the assembly worker to the individual recycling the product. Many consider this design process to be environmentally friendly.

Can oil prices drive Innovation?

Mark Dziersk — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:04:59 -0400

Sorry all re the delay in activity, been away. Back to regular blogging directly. Here's a starter.

In a recent conversation with a close colleague, Craig Briggs, who is located in Asia, the idea of oil pricing driving innovation came up and sparked a vigorous debate.

Here are Craig's thoughts on the matter;

Design and Innovation: What's the Problem?

David-Henry Oliver — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:28:10 -0400

Innovation requires an environment that is open to new ideas. That's all well and good, but innovation is more than blue sky. In order to encourage new and novel solutions, you have to ask the right questions.

Many brainstorming sessions are centered around questions that boil down to “What should we do in response to our competitor’s product or service?” Now the reason you are having the meeting in the first place may be because your competitor has just taken a big chunk of your market share, so that seems like a legitimate question.

Are You a Consultant or a Vendor?

David-Henry Oliver — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:22:33 -0400

Put another way, do you give your clients what they ask for, or, do you offer your best judgment even when it’s not what they want to hear?

Now before you dismiss this as a question meant for someone else, let me say this: No number of design awards, glowing articles, or Fortune 100 clients grants you exemption from this question.

The stuff of innovation: The Carver

David-Henry Oliver — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:49:11 -0400

I have been wanting to post about The Carver for a while because it’s such a nice example of innovation. Too often there is a tendency to talk about innovation in terms of things that are a little different than the norm. The guys who developed the carver have merged concepts of motorcycle and automobile and solved some tricky engineering problems to make their creation real.

Yada, Yada, Let's Yada!

Stephen L Rose — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:16:58 -0500

Let’s Yada! (a division of WinPlus) is looking to make Bluetooth affordable and easy for everyone. I had a chance to try two of their new units and speak with their CEO Dan Sheehan.

Farewell to Polaroid instant film

Shawn Graham — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:56:21 -0500

Is the Opportunity Real?

Nick Rice — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:44:01 -0500

Design Brainstorming: Creativity as Killer App

Mark Dziersk — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:26:56 -0500

Excellence versus Perfection

Nick Rice — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:02:53 -0500