Invention Machinery
Welcome to the Innovator’s Guild
In my career as an innovation mentor, I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best and brightest innovators in many industries. From stents to space shuttles to tablets to bourbon, I’ve seen how great inventors think, the problem-solving processes they apply, and most importantly, the questions they ask which lead to game-changing ideas and ultimately, winning products. It’s been a journey that has taken me around the globe numerous times, introduced me to top product designers at some of the world’s most recognized brands, and has given me a perspective on innovation that few get a chance to see.
At one point during this journey, I worked in a firm with a group of incredible innovation mentors, each from a different part of the world. We would share stories and best practices from our experiences in the field, usually as a separate gathering at the firm’s annual meeting. Our gathering became something of a (poorly-kept) secret-society within the firm which we dubbed, “The Innovator’s Guild”. In many ways, it employed many of the constructs and positive goals of a medieval craft guild. Learning took place across the age and experience spectrum — a new member to the guild would bring in perspectives not seen by long-term practitioners. Projects were discussed and reviewed, not simply for the quality of the work, but for the love of the craft. There were many spirited debates on improvement and innovation (some fueled on occasion by innovative spirits).
The guild meetings were energizing, eye-opening, and sometimes led to insights and inspirations being taken back out into the field, and changing the world. Which brings me to the focus of this publication.
“The Innovator’s Guild” will cover and discuss a wide range of relevant topics on methods, practices and current events in innovation. We’ll talk about familiar and new innovation methods and their adoption by industry in the 21st century (including new reads on axiomatic design, TRIZ and crowd-sourcing). We’ll also talk about innovation challenges facing industries such as the impact of the coronavirus on supply-chain innovation. We’ll also, unapologetically, indulge in some fun.
It’s a conversation I hope you’ll want to participate in, whether you’re an innovation practitioner, a business leader, or someone interested in applying innovation methods to improve the value you create and deliver everyday, no matter what your industry or technical field.
So, welcome to the Guild! I’m grateful for your participation.
