Inventing and Market Timing

Summary

Greg Blonder, a professor in mechanical engineering, shares his passion for product design and innovation. With hundreds of patents and a focus on market timing, he reflects on both successes and failures in product development. Through examples like the eco-friendly CD case and a unique headset, he emphasizes the importance of timing and licensing for success. He also introduces a new desktop speaker concept, showcasing his ongoing commitment to invention. Blonder describes invention as a lifelong pursuit, driven by the desire to create products that resonate with people.

Takeaways

• 😀 Greg Blonder is a professor in the mechanical engineering department, specializing in product design and engineering.
• 😀 He constantly questions how things can be improved, from products to services, and evaluates the reasoning behind design choices.
• 😀 Despite numerous failures, Greg has over 100 patents and continues to innovate, always working on the next idea.
• 😀 Successful product development requires a strong foundation in both science and engineering, as well as an understanding of market timing.
• 😀 Greg emphasizes that perfect market timing is crucial for a product’s success, with examples from his own experiences.
• 😀 An example of a product that was too late to market: a cardboard CD case designed to replace the traditional plastic ones, which ultimately failed due to poor timing and the industry’s shift away from CDs.
• 😀 The success of the headset and speaker product was driven by perfect timing in the market, with the growing popularity of headphones and an effective marketing partnership.
• 😀 Greg's new product, a desktop speaker with innovative sound distribution, aims to fill a room with sound by using unique hollow elements, though its market timing is uncertain.
• 😀 Greg views invention as a lifelong passion or 'disease' with no cure, suggesting that true inventors will keep creating, regardless of challenges.
• 😀 Invention requires persistence and the ability to turn ideas into tangible products that others can share in.
• 😀 Even with setbacks and failures, Greg believes that the drive to invent is intrinsic, and inventors are motivated by a deep passion for creation.

Q & A

What drives Greg Blonder's constant pursuit of new ideas and inventions?

Greg Blonder's constant pursuit of new ideas and inventions is driven by his curiosity and desire to improve everything he encounters, from products to services to daily experiences. Despite experiencing failures, his passion for innovation remains unshaken, and he continues to work on new ideas, often leading to hundreds of patents.

What is Greg Blonder's approach to teaching product design and engineering?

Greg Blonder teaches product design and engineering with a dual focus on the scientific and engineering principles behind products, alongside market timing. He ensures his students have a strong foundation in both the technical aspects of product development and the importance of perfect timing for a product's market success.

What is the significance of market timing in product development according to Greg Blonder?

Market timing is crucial to the success of a product, as Greg Blonder explains. He has experienced both successes and failures in product development, with the key difference often being whether the product was introduced at the right time. A product that is too early or too late to the market is likely to fail.

What was the problem with Greg Blonder's cardboard CD case invention?

Greg Blonder's cardboard CD case was a great improvement over plastic cases, being eco-friendly and sturdy. However, it came too late to the market, as the record companies had already heavily invested in plastic molding and were preparing to phase out CDs entirely. As a result, the product failed to launch despite interest from the record industry.

How did Greg Blonder's headset and speaker product succeed?

The headset and speaker product was successful for two reasons: perfect market timing and effective marketing. The timing was right as the headset market was peaking, and the product's design allowed users to easily share music with others. Additionally, the product was licensed to a company with excellent marketing, ensuring it reached retailers and consumers, contributing to its success.

What is the innovative concept behind the desktop speaker Greg Blonder is working on?

Greg Blonder's desktop speaker aims to address the technical challenge of projecting sound from small speakers into a room. His design uses hollow elements that divide and spread the sound in multiple directions, allowing users to customize the arrangement of the speakers. This design promises to fill a room with sound more effectively than traditional desktop speakers.

What are the challenges involved in the desktop speaker invention?

The primary challenge in developing the desktop speaker is ensuring that sound from a small speaker can be projected effectively throughout a room. Greg Blonder's solution involves using hollow elements that divide the sound into multiple directions, but the success of this design will depend on how well it replicates a broad sound experience.

What does Greg Blonder mean when he says that invention is like a 'lifetime disease'?

When Greg Blonder says that invention is like a 'lifetime disease,' he is referring to the relentless drive to innovate that he feels. Even though there may be frustrations and failures, the urge to invent never goes away, and it becomes an intrinsic part of a person’s life and work.

Why does Greg Blonder believe that some of his products failed in the past?

Greg Blonder believes that some of his products failed because they were either too early or too late to the market. The timing of a product's introduction is critical, and even well-designed products can fail if they are not introduced at the right moment when there is consumer demand or readiness.

What role does marketing play in the success of Greg Blonder's inventions?

Marketing plays a significant role in the success of Greg Blonder's inventions. For example, his headset and speaker product succeeded not only because of its perfect timing but also due to being licensed to a marketing company with strong capabilities. The product’s success was driven by its widespread distribution and visibility through various retail channels and media exposure.