Inventionland

Last updated
Inventionland
Inventionland
Built2006
Location Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
IndustryDesign Facility, Tourist Attraction
Employees250
Address585 Alpha Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Inventionland is a Pittsburgh-based immersive work environment and idea incubator where creative projects are brought to life.

Contents

Inventionland was conceived by George Davison. Nathan Field served as the executive creative coach, and Joey Warren acted as senior concept designer. [1] According to George Davison, his intention in building Inventionland was to provide a creative work environment in which artists, graphic designers, industrial designers and others could design, develop and create prototypes. [2]

Conception and Themed Sets

Inventionland officially opened in 2006, having taken 18 months from design to construction. [3] The interior renovation took one year and cost $5 million. [4]

Within Inventionland's 61,000 square-foot design facility are 16 themed sets, named and designed to reflect the new-product invention activity within. Some of the sets include:

  1. Motor Speeday: industrial and automotive products [3]
  2. Discover Pirate Ship: toy department [5]
  3. Crafty Cottage: sewing [5]
  4. Animation Attic: [5]
  5. Creativity Cabin [5]
  6. Nursery Noook: Baby products [5]
  7. Pet Shack: Animal products [5]
  8. Inventalot Castle [3]
  9. Creation Cavern: hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking [3]
  10. Brainpower Ballpark: sports [3]
  11. Treehouse [5]
  12. Inventron 54 Robot: consumer electronics [3]
  13. Home Sweet Home: household products [6]
  14. Home Health Innovations
  15. Concept Kitchen (giant cupcake): kitchen [7]
  16. Animation Studio with one of the largest green screens in the tri-state area [7]

Inventionland also has three running waterfalls, lifelike trees and butterflies and grass-lined sidewalks. Its manufacturing capabilities include metalworking, woodworking, molding, laser cutting, prototyping, circuit board construction and more, which all take place in its production facility. [7]

Honors and awards

The January/February 2008 issue of I.D. Magazine recognized Inventionland as one of "40 Amazing-Looking Design Offices". [8] Inventionland was also featured in the 2008 Ripley's Believe It or Not Annual, "The Remarkable Revealed". [9]

In 2011, Inventionland was the recipient of a Creative Rooms in Business Award, [10] a regional Pittsburgh award given annually and sponsored by Pittsburgh Design, Art and Technology (DATA). In 2018, an article on Career Addict listed Inventionland as one of the top nine coolest offices in the world.

Inventionland TV Special

On December 24, 2011, the History Channel aired Inventionland, a reality television special shot on location at Inventionland and starring George Davison. [11] According to a company press release, Inventionland was produced for History by JWM Productions, [12] and Jonathan Wyche served as the producer. Patrice Shannon edited the show, and the online editor was Brian Newell. [13]

The Inventionland TV debut featured three inventors, Milton Branch, Curt Whiteside and Jason Ramsey, who each developed a prototype for a new consumer product. The one-hour reality show explored whether the inventors' product designs would function in a usable manner and/or be suitable for licensing and merchandising. In the show, George Davison and five of his employees tested various designs of each of the three inventions in a variety of settings, including a NASCAR auto shop. Five Inventionland designers and builders were featured in the show (Jason Rogge, Jarrod Campbell, Clay Carlino, Lucky Swartz, and Curtis Wierman).


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Computer-aided design</span> Constructing a product by means of computer

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve communications through documentation, and to create a database for manufacturing. Designs made through CAD software help protect products and inventions when used in patent applications. CAD output is often in the form of electronic files for print, machining, or other manufacturing operations. The terms computer-aided drafting (CAD) and computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) are also used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invention</span> Novel device, material or technical process

An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an idea is unique enough either as a stand-alone invention or as a significant improvement over the work of others, it can be patented. A patent, if granted, gives the inventor a proprietary interest in the patent over a specific period of time, which can be licensed for financial gain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Knoll</span> American computer graphics professional

John Knoll is an American visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer (CCO) at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). One of the original creators of Adobe Photoshop, he has also worked as visual effects supervisor on the Star Wars prequels and the 1997 special editions of the original trilogy. He also served as ILM's visual effects supervisor for Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First Contact, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Along with Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and Allen Hall, Knoll and the trio's work on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest earned them the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Product design as a verb is to create a new product to be sold by a business to its customers. A very broad coefficient and effective generation and development of ideas through a process that leads to new products. Thus, it is a major aspect of new product development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Baylis</span> English inventor (1937–2018)

Trevor Graham Baylis was an English inventor best known for the wind-up radio. The radio, instead of relying on batteries or external electrical source, is powered by the user winding a crank. This stores energy in a spring which then drives an electrical generator. Baylis invented it in response to the need to communicate information about AIDS to the "people of Africa". He ran a company in his name dedicated to helping inventors to develop and protect their ideas and to find a route to market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motion graphic design</span> Subset of graphic design

Motion graphic design, also known as motion design, is a subset of graphic design which combines design with animation and/or filmmaking, video production, and filmic techniques. Examples include kinetic typography and graphics used in film and television opening sequences, and station identification logos of some television channels.

American Inventor was a reality television series based on a competition to be named America's best inventor. It was conceived by Simon Cowell and the producers of American Idol, and premiered on ABC in March, 2006. It was organized as a competition between inventors nationally, resulting in one overall winner.

An invention promotion firm or invention submission corporation provides services to inventors to help them in develop or market their inventions. These firms may offer to evaluate the patentability of inventions, file patent applications, build prototypes, license them to manufacturers, and otherwise market. They are distinguished from more conventional consulting firms and law firms offering the same or similar services in that they market their services primarily to amateur inventors through the mass media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shinji Aramaki</span> Japanese anime director

Shinji Aramaki is a Japanese anime director and mechanical designer from Fukuoka Prefecture. He graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School and Okayama University. He was a member of Artmic and is currently the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Sola Digital Arts. He is a leading figure in 3DCG animation in Japan.

Joy Mangano is an American inventor and entrepreneur known for inventions such as the self-wringing Miracle Mop. She was the president of Ingenious Designs, LLC, and appeared regularly on the U.S. television shopping channel HSN until her departure in late 2018. Mangano is the founder and CEO of Clean Boss, a company that develops and sells cleaning products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Keichline</span> American architect

Anna Wagner Keichline was an American architect, inventor, suffragist, and World War I Special Agent from Pennsylvania. She was the first woman to be registered as an architect in Pennsylvania and she was "one of the first women to actually practice architecture professionally". She was awarded seven patents, including one for a notched brick in 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Osterhout</span> American inventor

Ralph Osterhout is an American inventor, designer, entrepreneur, and CEO of Osterhout Design Group (ODG). During his career he has developed a range of products spanning toys, consumer electronics, dive equipment, furniture to devices for the Department of Defense. Osterhout is named as inventor on 260 patents and patent applications. Over the course of his career, Osterhout has developed over 2,000 different products and hundreds of separate product lines for companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500s, as well as the government.

Davison Design & Development, formerly Davison & Associates is a product development company. The company is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was founded in 1989 by George Davison.

<i>Wallace and Gromits World of Invention</i> British TV series or programme

Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention is a British science-themed miniseries, starring Peter Sallis, Ashley Jensen, Jem Stansfield, and John Sparkes, produced by Aardman Animations, which aired on BBC One during 2010, from 3 November to 8 December. The programme focuses on inventions based around various themes, and consists of live-action films interlaced with animated claymation segments hosted by characters Wallace and Gromit, featuring a side-plot connected to that episode's theme. While Sallis reprises his role as the voice of Wallace, live-action film segments were either narrated by Jensen or presented by Stansfield, with Sparkes providing the voice of Wallace and Gromit's unseen archivist Goronwy, a unique character for the programme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duquesne Club</span> Social club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Duquesne Club is a private social club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 1873.

Mary Douglas Drysdale is an American interior designer who established Drysdale Design Associates in 1980. She specializes in commercial and residential interior design and incorporates the work of contemporary artists into her designs. The company operates from Washington, D.C. Drysdale has designed projects both in the United States and overseas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Ackley</span> American video game designer

Jonathan Ackley is an American interactive theme park attraction and computer game designer, writer, and programmer. He is best known for being the Creative Director and Producer on Walt Disney World's Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and co-project leader, with Larry Ahern, for LucasArtsGamesThe Curse of Monkey Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">INPEX</span>

INPEX (Invention and New Product Exposition) is America's largest invention trade show, held since 1985 and organized by the invention promotion firm InventHelp. The annual show is held each June in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janne Kyttanen</span>

Janne Kyttanen is a Finnish conceptual artist, designer, entrepreneur and investor who is best known for his work in design for 3D printing. He was the founder of Freedom of Creation, a pioneering agency that specialised in design for 3D printing. In 2011 Freedom of Creation was acquired by 3D Systems, an American-based manufacturer of 3D printers. He held the position of Creative Director at 3D Systems for four years. His work been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries, including the Stedelijk Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and at Design Miami, the global forum for design. His work is represented by Gallery All. He also used to be a professional squash player, having played in two individual world championships and two team championships.

References

  1. ↑ nikki (2008-11-26). "Inventionland featured at Pittsburgh Innovates Awards". Davison. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  2. ↑ “Dave & Dave Explore Inventionland,” On Q, WQED-TV Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine July 17, 2007
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Donna Domin (October 7, 2007). "Workplace wonderment". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . Archived from the original on November 20, 2009.
  4. ↑ Emily Maltby (December 30, 2011). "Workplace Wonderland at Davison International Inc". Wall Street Journal .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Usher, Holly (October 10, 2007). "Inventionland allows employees to be kids again". The Advance Leader.
  6. ↑ Curry, Jennifer (March 4, 2007). "Forget cubicles or workstations--O'Hara office includes a pirate ship". Pittsburgh Business Times.
  7. 1 2 3 "Company Tour Locations". www.pghtech.org. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  8. ↑ http://digital.id-mag.com/idmagazine/id20080102/?pg=14 [ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Remarkable Revealed . Ripley Publishing; First edition. 2007. ISBN   978-1893951228.
  10. ↑ "CRIB Creative Rooms in Business Award". Archived from the original on 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  11. ↑ "'Inventionland', Its Reality TV" Archived January 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ JWM Productions web site
  13. ↑ Davison. ""Inventionland" Special Premieres on HISTORY®". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2022-12-28.

40°30′06″N79°52′14″W / 40.5017095°N 79.8705323°W / 40.5017095; -79.8705323

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.