Innovation is deep thought, teamwork, and focused opportunity :: Kevin Bailey

What is Innovation?

Dive into the world of innovation with Kevin Bailey, a celebrated product designer and expert in hardware market launches. With over three decades of industry leadership, Kevin has empowered over 1,000 entrepreneurs and global firms to transform ideas into tangible, successful products. His approach? Fusing individual talents in a dynamic team to craft uniquely valuable products. Join us in this compelling discussion and share your views: Which is key to innovation success—deep thought, teamwork, or focused opportunity?

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A passionate product designer and business executive, Kevin Bailey helps guide CEO’s, start-ups, and established companies through the maze of product development to a successful, manufacturable physical product fast. After spending over 35 years in design, Kevin is an expert at assessing risk and opportunity when making the hundreds of decisions required to move a vision into a physical product the users will love. Since the late 1980’s Kevin has been on the ground floor of global hardware product innovation, cutting his teeth with Bell Research Lab before moving to Nortel Networks where he worked on the first smartphone development. After founding Design 1st in 1996, Kevin has emerged as one of the most experienced in Canada at stickhandling product development from concept to design, engineering, manufacturing, and go-to market strategies.

As CEO and President of Design 1st, clients and staff rely on Kevin’s strategic vision to guide funding, market entry and the full suite of development decisions. The company’s results with new product development speaks for itself. More than 1,000 entrepreneurs, start-ups, and global corporations such as Ericsson, Motorola, Acer, Stanley Tools, and Christie Digital have brought product ideas to life under Kevin’s guidance. Kevin is a Professional Engineer, Angel and VC Investor and one of Canada’s leading experts at bringing new hardware products to market.

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Episode Guide:

0:00 - Intro

0:54 - What is Innovation?

2:55 - The Role of Teams in Innovation

6:58 - Examples of Effective Team Models

11:24 - Balancing Competition and Collaboration

18:07 - Facilitating Innovation in Teams

26:09 - Distinction Between Useful Products and Business Viability

29:00 - Constraints and Innovation

32:28 - Advice for Innovators
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OUTLAST Consulting offers professional development and strategic advisory services in the areas of innovation and diversity management