Innovation is about looking forward, says Anica Landreneau of HOK. Predicting environmental and infrastructural demands can help companies develop green solutions that will be relevant and impactful well into the future.
Articles
“The Martian” May Not Be Fiction After All
Many of the technologies in the book “The Martian” by Andy Weir seem highly advanced and futuristic. But Steve Gaddis of NASA says they aren’t as far-fetched as they seem, and a few of the technologies presented in the book are being developed by NASA scientists right now.
Innovative Solutions Come from Different Perspectives
Creative and design-driven input is only a portion of innovation. According to Cary Strickland of RTI International, hearing from manufacturers is equally important when determining feasibility of a product or gaining practical knowledge essential to a holistic solution.
Getting Out of a Comfort Zone is a Challenge in Innovation
Paige Mullis, director of concept development at Glen Raven, says solely focusing on areas of strength can weaken innovation. Glen Raven avoids falling into this trap by continually searching for new inspiration in technology and trends in the marketplace.
Innovation is a Balance
Design can be painful. Dror Benshetrit of Studio Dror believes there’s an inherent tension between doubt and security that is constantly at work during any innovative or creative process.
Virtual Reality is More Accessible Than Ever
Though it seems like a far-off technology, virtual reality is ready to be utilized today. It’s cheap, tangible and highly available, says Taron Lizagub of Knoxlabs, Inc.
Invisibility is the Next Frontier in User Convenience
The most popular applications and companies offer the most convenience to users, says Derek Fridland of HUGE, Inc. Trends are moving towards a more embedded form of expediency, providing consumers with goods and services before they even ask through the use of data.
Solving Design Challenges with the Ultimate Innovator – Nature
Anica Landreneau of HOK points to nature as the best example of innovation. With thousands of years of research and development, it’s an expert in optimizing design by making more out of less.
Streamlined Industry Leaves Room for Innovation
NASA was once the only manufacturer of rockets, but today they share their best practices, offer grants and incentivize industry to think about space applications. According to Steve Gaddis of NASA, this allows the government agency to focus more on developing innovative processes and researching deep space exploration, and less on handling logistics and travel to space stations.
Innovation Teams Need Representatives from Different Areas of Expertise
The success of innovation teams rests in their ability to look at problems from different vantage points, says Cary Strickland of RTI International.
