In other product categories, moving a detail a tenth of an inch may not impact on how well the product functions. In golf clubs, that modification can add 1000rpms of ball spin or 5 to 10 yards of distance.

Read more, here: How a Golf Club is Made

Thanks to Will Nickley, instructor at Ohio State and all around amazing person, for inviting me to his studio class to give an industrial design sketching demo. Showcasing how to move from thumbnail, to initial rendering, to finished presentation rendering hopefully exemplified a typical process for conceptualization in a professional setting. Special thanks to the student that let me borrow her stylus as the battery in mine decided to die, right before the demo!

The Q-Collar is the world’s first technology to use the body’s natural physiology to protect against mild traumatic brain injury caused by concussive events. A revolutionary approach to protecting the brain, the Q-Collar addresses the problem from the inside out by mimicking the natural defense used by woodpeckers. The Q-Collar applies slight pressure on the neck which mildly increases blood volume in the brain to create a cushion that reduces movement of the brain inside the skull.

The IDEA Awards evaluate product designs based on criteria including the challenge faced, uniqueness, user experience, benefit to the client, and benefit to society. “IDSA IDEA 2017 winners demonstrate how designers are able to capture what’s invisible to others and inspire beauty through the smallest of details within the simplest of artifacts,” said IDEA 2017 Jury Chair Owen Foster, IDSA. “Winners go beyond the tangible that we are so accustomed to seeing—to cultivate amazing, holistic ecosystems.”

Foster led more than two dozen, global design experts in judging 20 categories covering products, brands, experiences, strategies and more. Onsite jurying was held in May at the newly-renamed Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, MI. Proving design truly is a universal language, IDEA attracted hundreds of entries from 54 countries on six continents. Innovations abound in the latest winners submitted by design firms, corporations, universities and more. The competition drew entries from Australia to Austria, Belarus to Brazil, Chile to China and from countries including Croatia, Estonia, India, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Vatican City State.

Initial and on-going research has shown a significant reduction in changes to the brain caused by concussive impacts. Priority Designs was proud to aid in the development of the Q-Collar and is honored to be recognized by IDSA. The Q-Collar is a revolutionary product and a breakthrough for athletics, military, and industry, aimed to bring safety and peace of mind to people around the world.

Click here to learn more about the Q-Collar and Priority Designs.

Is This the Future of Golf?

“THE MOST INNOVATIVE GOLF COMPANY YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF.”

In one of the “Un-Conference” sessions, Microsoft’s Surya Vanka expressed the need for “hybrid” talent : individuals that can bridge the language between design experience and technical execution.

Lunar’s John Edson and Mark Dziersk promoted the power of influence, and the trust in intuition over spreadsheet data when generating market-leading products.

Finally, Pensa’s Marco Perry and Mark Prommel showed us the way to develop products with an open approach, providing the community with more information rather than being secretive, as a new way to achieve success in the context of modern communication.

Chicago pizza, a boat tour, and Priority Designs winning the derby car competition (again!) capped off a great trip.  Looking forward to Austin.

Thanks to the Red Dot Design Awards for selecting the Mogo M1 Mouth Guard. See the case study here.

Thanks to the IDSA for choosing the Weldon Scenestar as an 2012 IDEA finalist.

UCID 12 Critique – Part 2

Continuing from my first entry about the UCID ‘12 show, the second over-arching theme taken from the students work is:

The Young Entrepreneurs

During my final quarter before graduation, I focused heavily on my thesis as a gateway into an Industrial Design profession.  I was far removed from how the business world works, how products really make it to market, and the pathway to commercialization.

On Tuesday, it was inspiring to see the energy of young entrepreneurial spirits overtake the discussion of Industrial Design skills.  We weren’t talking about perspective drawing or 3D modeling, we were talking about starting viable businesses.

Of the projects presented, more than half (of Tuesday’s presentations) were entrepreneurial in nature.  These students are anxious to forge ahead on their own, establishing high-quality products through sound problem solving and a deep passion for their product’s market.  On more than one occasion, the critique turned into a mini consulting atmosphere as judges suggested to the students a pathway to commercialization: “Do you know how to protect your ideas?” “Have you shopped this around yet?” “Are you thinking about doing a Kickstarter?”

The accessibility to investors for launching a product by yourself is now attainable through the advent of Kickstarter.  One student even put on their graphic panel: “Kickstarter coming soon”.

One realistic challenge for this graduating class, despite their skill, is still a slow job market.  Perhaps an entrepreneurial spirit is the natural result of not having access to as many job opportunities as other generations. But, why wait for a job offer when you can create your own?  The goal is seemingly no longer to “work for the big brands”, but instead, “to compete with the big brands.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column]