Endless Innovation

The Design Republic of China: What Happens When the New Export is an Aesthetic?

What will it take for the Western world to change its mind about what "Made in China" signifies? Unfortunately, for most people, those three words - "Made in China" - carry all kinds of unintended economic baggage: cheap, shoddily-made goods; the loss of tens of thousands U.S. jobs; inhuman factory conditions in urban sweatshops; and a giant export machine that is causing a massive trade deficit for the U.S. But what if "Made in China" was associated with design, creativity and innovation?

In its February 2011 issue, design-savvy Monocle magazine recently explored several of the key players who are reversing long-held notions of Chinese design and creativity. Japanese design powerhouse Muji, for example, recently went on a design shopping expedition in China, looking for everyday household items that could be adapted into the perfect "un-branded" commercial goods. By the end of the process, Muji had settled on 31 Chinese goods that could be part of a new range sold within Japan: "Making a virtue out of 'Made in China' was something new for Muji and its Japanese customers. It wasn't so easy at first, but the image of Chinese products being bad is changing..."

What's changing is that it's not just "Western" design firms who are hunting around the Chinese market, looking for opportunities and inspiration. For perhaps the first time in history, homegrown Chinese firms are looking to export their design aesthetic to other parts of Asia, Europe and even the U.S. For example, Jia Inc. is trying to convince the world that it needs objects designed in China. Already, reports Monocle, Jia home products have been scooped up by five-star hotels, top chefs (including Alain Ducasse!), world-class museums, and even Le Bon Marche department store in Paris.

Now, China is preparing to show itself off to the world with the first-ever Beijing Design Week, scheduled to kick off in the last week of September 2011:

"Beijing Design Week is an international design event aimed at implementing the concept of innovative country, promoting the creative industries’ development in Beijing and building Beijing into a capital of design through design. In order to make Beijing Design Week a comprehensive design week with the biggest international influence in China, the event will be held during the National Day Holidays every year since 2011. Being positioned as a core part of the capital culture, Beijing Design Week is becoming a tribute from China’s design and creative industries to the National Day. Beijing Design Week is composed of five components, namely summit forums, design exhibitions, guest city of honor, design tours and design awards. In the meantime, Beijing Design Week plans to join hands with an authoritative design education institution every year to jointly organize internationally forward-looking high-end academic events."

So what happens when a country's chief export is really an aesthetic? First of all, it's easy to see that protectionists in the U.S. will have a lot less to be worried about. (Who's afraid of Muji, after all?) One could argue that China's economic engine, based on manufacturing and exports, has already reached its peak. As China grapples with (gasp!) single-digit year-over-year economic growth rates and continuing U.S. pressure to change the current yuan-dollar FX dynamic, it's almost certain that China's leaders will look for new ideas about creativity and innovation to prime the economic pump.

In a Q&A sidebar attached to the Monocle article, in fact, Liu Guanzhong, a Chinese professor at Tsinghua University, notes that leaders within the Chinese government are already working on new educational reforms and a brand-new industrialization initiative that rewards design and innovation. Maybe 2011 is the year we keep our eyes out for new China design & innovation icons as they make their way to places like Dubai, London and New York.

[images via: Beijing Design Week]

Global African Design Thinking: Reflections on Black History Month

When people think of Black History Month in America, they tend to think of famous African-Americans who managed to make a mark for themselves in American society despite conditions of severe inequality and nearly unsurmountable obtacles. As we head into the second decade of the 21st century, I would argue that some of the African-Americans we'll be celebrating during Black History Month in coming years will be the artists and designers who are exporting their uniquely African design aesthetic to the "developed" world.

When people think of Design Thinking, probably the last place they turn to for examples is Sub-Saharan Africa -- which is why The Global Africa Project at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City is so important and timely. This curated museum exhibit provides a comprehensive survey of the significant impact of African craftsmen, artists and designers on world culture -- while also raising questions about how and why these contributions of Africans and African-Americans are now being integrated (co-opted?) into the marketing of "Western" consumer goods and the "Western" way-of-life.

The exhibit includes some of the usual suspects -- like celebrated designer Stephen Burks -- who first burst into the mainstream with his vases for Missoni and has been featured in places like the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Likewise, there are contributions from the quilters of Gee's Bend (already featured at The Whitney) and Kehinde Wiley, perhaps best known for his Afro-centric Puma prints created for the 2010 South African World Cup.

The Global Africa Project also turns a spotlight on the likes of Goncalo Mabunde, creator of the symbolically-rich Hope Throne, who is challenging the way we think about how war-torn cultures recycle weapons and military hardware into items of beauty and elegance. It's the whole Swords Into Plowshares theme, with continent-wide implications.

With an eye toward technology and design, the exhibit also profiles Emeka Okafor and his brilliant Maker Faire Africa, which celebrates the ingenuity and innovation of Africans. Unlike their Western counterparts, African tech innovators in places like Kenya and Ghana start with a fundamental axiom: the scarcity of resources can be a source of liberation and freedom. Just think of William Kamkwamba ("The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind"), who's also featured in The Global Africa Project.

Finally, there are artists like Cuban-born Alexandre Arrechea, who is challenging our notions of urbanism and the path to sustainable development. His artistic work Elastic Metropolitan is, in itself, a wonderful example of how the shiny accomplishments that we associate with "development" (i.e. skyscrapers) are, in fact, also ways of limiting human expression.

That being said, The Global Africa Project exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City is a must-see for anyone looking for new insights into how the developmental trajectory of the African continent will impact Europe, the U.S. and the rest of the "developed" world.

[image: Global Africa Project exhibit via Pop Africana]

Where In the World Are They Teaching Design Thinking?

Over the past 12 months, the whole notion of "design thinking" has come into vogue. Not only are there entire books devoted to "design thinking" - like Tim Brown's Change By Design or Roger Martin's The Design of Business - there are also a proliferating number of educational institutions that are combining business thinking with design thinking to create next-generation "D-Schools". With that in mind, Tyler Brûlé's Monocle recently tracked down four of the leading establishments in the world that are spearheading the design thinking movement:

(1) Strelka Institute (Moscow) - The institute teaches a one-year master's course, designed by legendary architect Rem Koolhaas, that focuses on five core areas: preservation, energy, public space, design and urban thinking. Strelka itself is housed in the old "Red October" chocolate factory overlooking the Moscow River.

(2) Aalto-Tongji Design Factory (Shanghai) - This new design school, set up by Finland's Aalto University, partners Tongji University students in industrial design, engineering and urban planning graduate programs with Aalto design students in Finland to work on real-life design projects for Finnish companies.

(3) Stanford d.school (Palo Alto, California) - This is perhaps the world's most famous "design thinking" school, and has already been touted by none other than Steve Jobs of Apple

(4) Akiyama Mokko (Yokohama) - Part design school, part boot camp, and part trade schoool, Akiyama is rooted in Japan's centuries-old tradition of artisans passing on their knowledge and skills to youngsters who devote years to learning a craft.

What's interesting, of course, is that "design thinking" is no longer a purely Western concept - it's being embraced by emerging markets such as Russia and China as a tool of economic competitiveness. In fact, also within the current issue of Monocle is a wonderful piece on how Mikheil Saakashvili, President of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, is importing architectural talent from Milan as a way of changing the Tbilisi skyline and, in the process, laying the groundwork for updated Western conceptions of Georgia as an investment destination.

via: Monocle

Monocle: Top 20 to Watch for Global Innovation

In its June issue, Monocle surveys 20 to Watch: the most innovative brands and companies in the world that might just become "the Uniqlos and Hyatts of tomorrow." These are the companies with global ambitions and a keen understanding of what international consumers want and need: "From a Nigerian newspaper to a Swiss software firm, we shine the light on 20 companies whose great ideas and products are about to go global." Here's a list of the Top 10 of Monocle's 20 to Watch:

(1) Rapha - London-based maker of cycling wear (including a men's bespoke jacket for city riding)

(2) IndiGo - An Indian budget airline set to start flying out of Mumbai and Delhi to Singapore and Dubai

(3) Adaptive Eyewear - UK-based maker of adjustable eyeglasses for emerging markets in Africa

(4) Alrov Hotels - Israel's first-ever global luxury service brand, with hotels in Jerusalem, London and Amsterdam

(5) NEXT - A Nigerian-based newspaper that has ambitions to become Africa's first continental newspaper (kinda like a USA Today that Bono would read while shuttling across Africa)

(6) Vinicola Miolo - Brazilian winemaker

(7) Scotiabank - Canada's third-largest bank, expanding rapidly into the Caribbean and South America

(8) Volley Internationals - Australian sports shoes

(9) Bourbon Coffee - Rwandan coffeemaker

(10) Procedural - Zurich-based maker of 3D software packages for architects

While Monocle typically takes a Euro- and Nippon-centric view of the world, it's a bit surprising that only two U.S. companies - Wing Zone (ranked #11; chicken wings) and Fee Brothers (ranked #16; fruity mixes and cordial syrups for high-end mixologists) - managed to crack the Top 20.

[Image: Rapha of London via Monocle]

The Economist: Women-Friendly Innovation in Emerging Markets

In an article about women-friendly innovation in emerging markets, The Economist unpacks the concept of "wominnovation" by examining how societies can harness the power of innovation to empower women and promote greater gender equality. A new study by the International Centre for Research on Women recently examined eight inventions that have helped women dramatically -- including mobile phones, micro-credit and motorized scooters. As The Economist points out, these "wominnovations" are comprised of three main elements: 

(1) A favorable context, including political, economic and social conditions that make the time right for its adoption, and an innovation system that excels at finding and testing good ideas and quickly scaling them up;

(2) An inherent value proposition that compels women to embrace the innovation;

(3) The inclusion of women in the design process, to ensure that the innovation meets the design and technical requirements of women.

What's interesting is that some of the "wominnovations" covered in the report were explicitly designed for women, while others were designed for both men and women. The motorized scooter, for example, has disproportionately benefited women: "The scooters, over 60% of which in India are now bought by women, have provided a fairly safe and reliable way for women to travel to more distant places for education and work, greatly increasing their opportunities and productivity."

More than at any time in history, innovation provides an opportunity to improve the lives of women in new ways. The Economist singles out a few ideas that are taking root in developing markets -- like foot-pedaled water pumps, the “micro-franchising” of heating and lighting in rural areas not served by the electric grid and the “crowdsourcing” of work to local communities. Each of these new innovations has the potential to liberate many more poor women in the coming years.

[image: Family Outing by Judepics on Flickr]

Innovation at the Bottom of the Pyramid

The traditional view of global innovation is that innovation from developed markets eventually "trickles down" to emerging markets in the form of lower-end, less-sophisticated products at lower price points. Think OLPC. Yet, in countries like India, it's increasingly the case that innovation actually "trickles up" to more developed nations when products are completely re-engineered and re-thought practically from scratch. The Wall Street Journal has a fascinating front-page article on how Indian innovation is upending our traditional notions of how innovation works. Whether it's the Tato Nano for $2200 or the Godrej Little Cool Refrigerator for $70 (pictured above), multinational corporations are taking a closer look at what they can learn from Indian engineering know-how and innovation.

 GE Chairman Jeffrey Immelt refers to it as "reverse innovation" -- the tendency now for innovation to migrate from emerging markets to developed markets:

"Such innovations represent a fundamental shift in the global order of innovation. Until recently, the West served rich consumers and then let its products and technology filter down to poorer countries. Now, wth the developed world mired in a slump and the developing world still growing quickly, companies are focusing on how to innovate, and profit, by going straight to the bottom rung of the economic ladder. They are taking advantage of cheap R&D and low-cost manufacturing to innovate for a market that's grown large enough and sophisticated enough to make it worthwhile."

What's surprising about the Wall Street Journal article is that it never once mentions C.K. Prahalad's excellent book on emerging market innovation: The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid. Prahalad, of course, is among the leading experts in the world on how Indian companies in sectors ranging from health care to hospitality are at the forefront of global innovation.

[image: The ChotuKool Refrigerator via The Wall Street Journal]

JetBlue founder David Neeleman to launch Brazilian start-up airline

The founder of JetBlue, David Neeleman, recently announced plans to launch a new Brazilian airline. As the New York Times points out, Neeleman has a Brazilian passport and speaks fluent Portuguese, so the move is more logical than it might sound. Plus, the Brazilian economy is one of the world's great emerging markets, so it's easy to see that the creation of millions of middle-class Brazilians will lead to surging demand for a cool, hip Brazilian JetBlue.

[image: David Neeleman in Sao Paulo]

Iron-Fisted Innovation

At the airport this holiday season, I did a double-take when I saw the covers of TIME  and The Economist juxtaposed together at newspaper kiosks. Russia and China, it appears, will be spearheading change and innovation throughout the world in 2008. That can either be an exhilarating thought - or a downright disturbing thought - depending on your perspective. Two battered and rusting hulks of Communism have picked themselves off the mat and transformed themselves into the darlings of global investors as well as the engines of worldwide economic growth - but at what cost?

Given that TIME magazine named Vladimir Putin its Person of the Year for 2007, it was interesting to catch chess champion Garry Kasparov's op-ed response in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend. (As you may know, Kasparov has been running a spirited campaign against Putin & his "vertical of power" as the leader of The Other Russia pro-democracy coalition within Russia.) Kasparov, obviously, is alarmed that "the TIME article will be trumpeted by Kremlin propaganda as an endorsement of Mr. Putin's policies" and as yet another sign of the West's "moral weakness" in the face of a grave threat to democracy and human rights. To punch up his point, Kasparov points out that TIME magazine's Man of the Year in 1938 was none other than Adolf Hitler...

[images: TIME and The Economist]

Giving Thanks Through Kiva

Several weeks ago, I posted about Kiva - a revolutionary new finance site that enables citizens from all over the world to make micro-loans to entrepreneurs in emerging markets. My first experience of lending money to a pomegranate farmer in Azerbaijan was so successful that I've decided to make another micro-loan through Kiva - this time to a sportswear retailer who sells his products in an open-air market in Tajikistan. Gafurjon Salimov of Khujand, Tajikistan has been in business for 7 years and needs $850 to build a roof for his stall in the market so that he can hang his goods in rainy and snowy weather. With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us here in the U.S., what better way of giving thanks than to make a loan for a worthwhile cause via Kiva?

[image: Selling sportswear in Tajikistan]

Innovation is the Color of Pomegranates

The combination of two major trends -- the rising popularity of "social lending" Websites such as Prosper.com and the increasing attention given to micro-loans for emerging markets after Muhammad Yunus snagged the Nobel in 2006 -- inevitably led to an explosion of popular interest in sites such as Kiva.org. The site is a nonprofit, peer-to-peer lending Website that enables everyday citizens to help fund new small business initiatives from all over the world in small chunks of $25 or $50 at a time. Kiva aggregates these "micro-loans" into one bigger loan amount that is then distributed via PayPal to an authorized lending organization that has an on-the-ground presence in the home country. It's not charity so much as it is a merging of the traditional venture capital and philanthropic models. Oh- and did I mention that Kiva has been cited by former President Clinton in his new book Giving and has even been featured on the Oprah Winfrey show?

With that in mind, I explored the lending opportunities on the Kiva site over the weekend. Since I have a particular interest in the former Soviet republics, I searched through the listings for possible businesses to fund in that region of the world. As an initial step, I decided to lend $50 to Kamal Movludov, a 22-year-old pomegranate farmer in Azerbaijan. According to his profile on the Kiva site, Kamal plans to expand his pomegranate business to include potatoes and onions and is looking for a total of $1,200 in financing. He has already raised $450 of the total from other Kiva lenders (including myself), and still needs another $750.

ASIDE: The title of this blog post is a perhaps obscure reference to one of the greatest Soviet films of all time -- The Color of Pomegranates, by legendary filmmaker Sergei Paradjanov.

[image: Pomegranate farmer Kamal Movludov]