Posted by: Bruce Nussbaum on November 04
The U.S. is in deeper trouble than I thought, if Warren Buffett is right. In proclaiming an "all-in wager on the economic future of the United States, Buffett just paid $44 billion for a 19th century technology platform, a railroad, that carries 20th century goods--coal, agriculture, imports from Asia, petroleum. This is a vision of an America mired in the past and in economic and political decline.
And Buffett just might be right. He has a great track record betting against innovation. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, is famous for investing in insurance companies and utilities, and avoiding high tech and innovative corporations. Its stock is up 84% over the past decade, while the S&P 500 is down by 18%.
I'm hoping that Buffett's vision of the future is wrong. I'm hoping that a US economy based on making, not consuming, green, not carbon-centric, based on digital not metal network platforms, will drive economic growth and prosperity. I'm betting on innovation.
The purchase of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad may have one benefit lost on Buffett. A 19th century network platform that is a railroad may have new life in an energy-conscious 21st century economy. Railroads, as we all know, are among the most energy-efficient modes of mass transportation for goods and people. Updating that platform, making it even faster and cheaper, could help propel the U.S. into a very different kind of future than the one envisioned by Buffett. That would be a future where railroads shipped exports of innovation new products and capital goods that reduced carbon energy.
Posted by: Bruce Nussbaum on October 29
IDEO's Tim Brown has a new book out--Change by Design--and Rotman School of Management' Roger Martin has a new book out--The Design of Business. On November 11, I will moderate a conversation with Tim and Roger, together with Will Setliff, VP, Strategy, Insights & Innovation, Target and it should be lots of fun. Come. As the global economy begins to grow again, everyone is trying to strategize the future. What's the New Normal? What are the new value propositions in the new world? What new social-media based business models are emerging? How do you innovate in this environment?
And, of course, what role will Design Thinking play in navigating this uncertainty, revealing cultural needs and iterating new options for products and services?
Here is the press release for the event. If you miss it, go to Parsons the next night, November 12, at six to see Roger Martin sign books and yak with me on stage about business, innovation, design and life.
Here's the release:
"You and your guests are invited to register for this next session in our ongoing Rotman School of Management Design Thinking Experts Speaker Series.
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Timing: 3:00 to 3:55 check in; 4:00 sharp to 6:00pm discussion; 6:00 to 7:00pm reception
Place: 30th Floor Auditorium, Thomson Reuters Building, 3 Times Square, New York
Topic: “Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage”
Expert Moderator: Bruce Nussbaum, Professor of Innovation and Design, Parsons New School of Design and Contributing Editor, BusinessWeek
Three Expert Panelists:
Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO; Author, “Change By Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation” (Harper Business, Sep. 09)
Roger Martin,Dean, Rotman School; Author. “The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage” (Harvard Business, Oct. 09)
Will Setliff, VP, Strategy, Insights & Innovation, Target
Their biographies are below.
Fees: per person (include “Change by Design”, “The Design of Business”, the discussion, cocktails):
US $300
US $225 for Rotman or UofToronto Alumni and “Rotman Magazine” Subscribers
US $150 for individuals who work for non-profits and governments
To Register:
If you have not already registered, please do so by noon on November 11. Register on-line here or visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca/events. Questions can be directed to events@rotman.utoronto.ca or call us at 416-946-7462.
If you are unable to attend but wish to purchase Tim and Roger’s new books they are available from leading book retailers.
We hope to see you on November 11th."
That's it for the PR release.
Posted by: Bruce Nussbaum on October 28
Fisker just got a big loan from Washington to buy an old GM plant to assemble plug-in hybrid cars. But who the heck is Fisker?
Then I remembered this piece on Fiskerin IN:Inside Innovation that I launched with Reena Jana, Matt Vella and Jessie Scanlon. It was reported and written by Matt, the brilliant auto maven.
Posted by: Bruce Nussbaum on October 28
Check out these people--their schools, degrees and employers. This is the heart of design these days.
Hey Venessa, you are doing an incredible job covering Design!
Posted by: Bruce Nussbaum on October 28
I'm going to be giving a keynote speech at the big Design Korea conference in early December on "Designomics." I hadn't heard the term before but I like it a lot, as it combines economics and design in one easy-on-the-ears word. It's very interesting that Korea is embracing it, since the country is pouring billions into design.
Check out this interview with Seoul's Chief Design Officer, Kyung-won Chung who talks about his "Designomics" strategy for the city and South Korea.
Does New York City have a Chief Design Officer? San Francisco? Chicago? LA? New Orleans? Toronto? New Delhi? Shanghai? Singapore? Paris? London? Berlin? Rome? Rio? Abu Dhabi? Tokyo? Beijing? Bangalore?
