New Product Development Workshop: Innovation, Product Development, and New Ventures

New products and services drive the creation of new businesses and market opportunities. Where would we be without YouTube, the iPhone, Facebook? These products and services didn't exist a few years ago - now they are creating new sources of revenue for both new and established firms. Central in fostering innovation through new idea creation is the intersection of industrial design and entrepreneurship. For Global Entrepreneurship Week we are running a session dedicated to helping participants understand the importance of design, process, and entrepreneurship. In the session, we will learn:

• Ideation techniques
• Design Thinking and Strategy
• Utilizing Global Resources
• The Latest in Prototyping Techniques

Moderator:

Prof. Tucker Marion,
School of Technological Entrepreneurship and College of Business

The session will be lead by Prof. Tucker Marion of the School of Technological Entrepreneurship and College of Business. Tucker's background and research lie in tying together innovation, product development processes, and entrepreneurship. He has 15 years of experience in firms both large and small, and has led the development effort of products ranging from vehicle electronics to consumer tool innovations.

Speakers in the session include James Read, Chair of the Industrial Design Department at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Scott Harmon from zCorp - a leader in rapid prototyping technology, and Tom Merle from Continuum, a world leading innovation and design firm headquartered right here in Boston. Their bios are below:

Speakers:

James Read
Industrial Design Department Chair, Massachusetts College of Art and Design

With over twenty-five years of design experience, James has been a practicing designer since 1984. His professional work ranges from architectural furnishings, juvenile products, and eyewear to sporting goods products. He previously was Principle of Read Design, a product design studio. He is a Professor of Design, and the Chair of the Industrial Design Department at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Scott Harmon
V.P. of Business Development, zCorp

Scott is responsible for expanding sales in current channels and finding new applications for Z Corporation products. Scott returned to Z Corporation in 2006 after a brief stint as a summer intern in 1998. He has held a variety of leadership positions in marketing and business development and most recently ran a $150MM division of Church & Dwight, a leading consumer goods company. Prior to receiving his M.B.A from Harvard Business School, he was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal company commander for the U.S. Army. Scott graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tom Merle
V.P. of Product Innovation, Continuum

Tom is responsible for leading product innovation at Continuum, one of the world’s leading design consultingfirms. He is committed to fostering the development of simple design solutions for complex technologies. Prior to Continuum, Tom lead efforts at Eastman Kodak on numerous product innovations. Tom holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.