Innovation Unleashed: A Journey into the Unexpected

One of the great joys of my working life, has been meeting highly creative people who work in industry - not normally associated with artists! I hesitate in some ways to describe such people as artists because the accepted wisdom is that artists are thought of as more like hermits and these people are not that! Wikipedia describes the arts as “a wide range of human practices of creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation” and to my mind, what the most creative I’ve met are doing , developing products and services around ideas they have conceived, absolutely encapsulate creative expression, storytelling and cultural participation amongst so much more.

As mentioned previously, ill health forced me to ‘pull in to a siding’ in the middle of 2023 and in contemplating what I want to focus on in the next phase of my work life, I have been on a ?‘voyage of discovery’ to understand more deeply what truly motivates me and as a result, make sure I ?‘do more of that’ from now onwards…but more about that another time.

I’ve come to realise that you don’t always need to meet the inventor/creative to get a sense of their passion and intellect. No more than we can meet W.B. Yeats, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Shakespeare or any of the other world renowned artists, you can get the sense from their work.

In a world where conformity often reigns supreme, stumbling upon a beacon of creativity and innovation feels like discovering a hidden treasure. On Friday last, I embarked on a fairly spontaneous visit in the company of Peadar Casey to Willie Duggan Lighting in Kilkenny (www.willieduggan.com ) (it was Peadars recommendation to visit when I was in the area) ?, not anticipating the profound impact it would have on my spirit. Little did I know, I was about to embark on an exhilarating journey into the realms of visionary thinking and artistic expression!

As I stepped into the unassuming entrance, I was greeted not by the ordinary sight of rows of lighting products neatly arranged on shelves or dangling from display boards, but by an explosion of visually conveyed information which can only lead the consumer to a significantly greater understanding of light and most especially, how to light a space…from bedrooms, to kitchens, offices and so much more and all done in collaboration with suppliers of furniture (Finline Furniture) , paint (Colourtrend), stone (Leinster Stone), interior planting (Greenscene), architectural joinery (Philippe Hetier) , creators of stunning visual experiences (Algorithm), office interiors suppliers (Hunt Office Interiors), rugmakers (Ceodogan Rugmakers), sawmills (Inch Sawmills), class blowers (Jerpoint Glass) and vintage furniture suppliers (OCD Vintage) to ‘make it real’ as well as hugely sparking for the imagination.

What unfolded before my eyes was nothing short of extraordinary. Every corner of the ground floor retail space was curated to communicate in the most effective way, laid out in a way that transcended the mundane and embraced the boundless possibilities of the imagination. If the ground floor was inspiring, the first floor left me absolutely stunned!....and I don’t stun easily ??

On the first floor, it wasn't just the physical creativity that left me stunned; it was the underlying ethos of innovation (almost too weak a word) and visionary thinking that permeated every aspect of the venture. From the innovative meeting room and open office displays that seamlessly integrated technology and design to the mini-theatre with tiered seating and the podcast booth, the meeting booth and so much more that invited customers to become active participants in the narrative, every detail of what is clearly a creative space spoke volumes about the passionate dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

?

What struck me most was the palpable sense of purpose that infused the space—a sense that this was not just a retail store, but a platform for sparking inspiration and igniting the flames of creativity in all who crossed its threshold. It was a reminder that innovation knows no bounds and that even the most unlikely of places can become fertile ground for groundbreaking ideas to take root and flourish.

?

As I emerged from the retail space, my spirits so uplifted, buoyed by the sheer ingenuity and creativity that I had encountered within its walls. It was a timely reminder that in a world often dominated by routine and convention, it is the dreamers and visionaries who dare to defy the status quo that truly move us forward.

?

Innovation is not merely about creating something new; it is about daring to imagine a world that is better, brighter, and more beautiful than the one we currently inhabit. And today, in that unexpected retail space, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of creative thinking unleashed. Its not a castle, a museum or a university, but if creativity and visionary thinking inspire you, put it on your ‘must visit’ list!

#vision #art #creativity #innovation #invention #stunning