It happens here: Consumer-centric Innovation in Charlotte and beyond

I just spent the weekend visiting family in Chicago, reminiscing over my time in graduate school at the Institute of Design.  This past May, the school was integral in putting on an Innovation Summit, bringing together innovation celebrities and city business leaders, including BusinessWeek‘s innovation guru, Bruce Nussbaum, Steelcase Chairman Robert Pew, and Exelon CEO, John Rowe.

I can’t wait for the day Charlotte hosts a conference like this.  Design thinking in business is just starting to seep its way into the city’s fabric, especially with programs like the Innovation Institute at the McColl Center and (hopefully in the) the newly forming Creative Industries task force at the ASC.

Unfortunately, I didn’t attend the Innovation Summit in person, but here’s a great place to catch all of the video.  If you’ve got a half-hour to be inspired, be sure to watch Doblin‘s Larry Keeley; his classes at the Institute of Design were challenging and thought-provoking, and I am always re-energized by his presentations.