Never Be Bored on a Business Trip Again
Many people think of business travel as a chore. I see it as an opportunity. Not to generate new work, necessarily (though that’s nice, too), but to exercise my curiosity, think about problems in new ways, and get inspired.
Sometimes that inspiration hits as soon as I step off the plane, like it did when I first flew into Vancouver. Airports are welcome mats for the places we’re visiting, but all too often, they’re pretty unwelcoming. Not so at British Columbia’s hub, where on my walk to customs I was immersed in a wonderful and unexpected introduction to the sights and sounds of the Pacific Northwest. It made me wonder: How might we design the experience of arriving in a place in ways that acclimate and delight the road-weary? That applies to airports, but also to hotels, and even to new modes of travel like Airbnb.
On my first trip to India, I was struck by an unusual practice of the small convenience stores on every street: The shopkeepers never throw anything out. As you venture further into the store, you find layer upon layer of old advertising posters and products in vintage packaging. In the US, the old stock would signal a badly run business, but in Delhi it gave the stores an incredibly rich sense of history. I thought: Could Western retailers increase customer loyalty if they showcased their history in some way?
One final story. Early one morning in Beijing, I noticed a food vendor on the street. She had just finished making breakfast for some nearby construction workers and was stashing her cookware — including a large vat of piping-hot oil — on her moped. It was an elaborate and dangerous process that begged the question: how could better design improve conditions
for the working poor?
Such A-ha! moments are everywhere — even on a business trip — but you have to train your eye to look for them. So, wherever work takes you, make sure to get out of the hotel and watch everyday people living their everyday lives. Even if it’s just for an hour, I guarantee you’ll find more inspiration than you ever would inside a windowless conference room.
What everyday sights have inspired you on your travels?
Photo by Ali Guichard / IDEO
A seasoned storyteller, strategic planner and your creative partner in Brand & Communications
11 年I gonna try my very first Airbnb experience soon :) Looking forward to it. Sometimes a new business model is really inspired by the real need. How to link all the resources smartly and friendly for users is just not easy, treat the whole process as an art piece, and leave some imagination till you really "see" it ! That's why I feel I have to try the service and enjoy the experience. BTW, the communications tool is also cool from the platform. [Like]
Lead UX Designer | Creative Director
11 年A hiking trip through the Andes in Peru inspired me (and my future husband) to become debt free. We had the pleasure of walking for days among Peruvians, away from cars and modern life. We were able to share stories and compare our lives with theirs. Yes, they were envious of our American lives, especially the fact that we each had our own car. Our take-away from the trip was simple, the people we met didn't have many material things, but they had food, shelter, family, and health. And they were HAPPY! We instantly set out to simplify our lives and within 24 months of giving up every luxury (including cable and eating out), we wrote our last check to our mortgage holder and officially became free from debt. We incorporated some luxuries back into our lives, but still keep it simple and debt free. What a difference that trip made on our lives!
Product Design, Packaging Engineering & Innovation Workshops
11 年Great!! And why not staring when you step in the plane?? Flights are to me a bit of a ind laboratory :) cut comunications, and long hours for you and your running thoughts! Way in - think of what you need to solve, will be in your mind when you see that moped cook, note down everything, and in the way back some of your unsolved puzzles may get a solution linked to the new experiences :). Also linked to the IDEO creativity flight... Loved that one too!
Antipodean author in Japan | Mami Suzuki: Private Eye @penguinrandom, 2023 | repped by Priya Doraswamy @ Lotus Lane Literary, LLC.
11 年To be adventurous is a state of mind not all road weary business people may be in at the end of the day. That said, I think shedding the suit and diving into the nearest alley is the fastest way to stimulating a tired mind (and stomach) in Japan where I typically travel. Stake out a bench seat at a noodle joint, a piece of counter in a standing bar or lounge chair behind a large cafe window, watch and learn. There will be sights, sounds, smells and tastes no digital format can replicate. There is irony here, as this is exactly what I try to do at Seaweed Salad Days Japan blog! Happy travels.
System Integration Lead @ Meta | Sr. Staff Electrical Architect
11 年nice read