What Makes an Innovator?
Read on to discover what I learned about innovation, and the broad application of this term.
What do you think of when you contemplate the word "innovation"? Before this course, mostly engineering-related topics came to my mind. In my classes we are continuously encouraged to ideate innovative solutions to issues in the medical field. Upon taking this class, I have discovered just how broad the term innovation is, and how many fields it can be applied to for problem-solving purposes.
For my interview with an innovator, I was interested in getting two perspectives: one from someone who fit my idea of an innovator before enrolling in Sticky Innovation, and one from someone who fits my new idea of an innovator since beginning this course. My new idea of an innovator can be applied to my younger sister, Audrey Eary. Although she is not interested in fields like engineering or medicine - the fields I had previously originally associated with innovation (ignorantly) - she continues to innovate in many aspects of her life. In grade school, Audrey initiated the first mascot for her school and obtained a mascot uniform to wear to pep rallies and events. In high school, she continues to innovate, recently starting her own club with over seventy members. This club, "Saints in Media," relates to many passions of Audrey's, notably her interest in broadcasting and sharing news and information via media. With this club, Audrey has started video broadcasting of information and managed the members of the club to ensure the school body receives up-to-date information each week via video segments. Audrey has even recently been able to talk on a local news station about one of her stories. When asked what her definition of innovation is, Audrey shared, "To me, innovation means finding new and better ways to do things." This is seen through her innovative form of school announcements, and her application of a new school mascot to booster school spirit. Audrey also shared that a potential issue with innovation includes "putting time, money, and thought into something new that doesn't get used or work as intended." This emphasizes the courageous nature needed to be a true innovator, willing to take risks and be bold. As Audrey has demonstrated to me, being an innovator can occur in any field, it just requires determination, courage, and an idea.
For my interview with an innovator, I was interested in getting two perspectives: one from someone who fit my idea of an innovator before enrolling in Sticky Innovation, and one from someone who fits my new idea of an innovator since beginning this course. My new idea of an innovator can be applied to my younger sister, Audrey Eary. Although she is not interested in fields like engineering or medicine - the fields I had previously originally associated with innovation (ignorantly) - she continues to innovate in many aspects of her life. In grade school, Audrey initiated the first mascot for her school and obtained a mascot uniform to wear to pep rallies and events. In high school, she continues to innovate, recently starting her own club with over seventy members. This club, "Saints in Media," relates to many passions of Audrey's, notably her interest in broadcasting and sharing news and information via media. With this club, Audrey has started video broadcasting of information and managed the members of the club to ensure the school body receives up-to-date information each week via video segments. Audrey has even recently been able to talk on a local news station about one of her stories. When asked what her definition of innovation is, Audrey shared, "To me, innovation means finding new and better ways to do things." This is seen through her innovative form of school announcements, and her application of a new school mascot to booster school spirit. Audrey also shared that a potential issue with innovation includes "putting time, money, and thought into something new that doesn't get used or work as intended." This emphasizes the courageous nature needed to be a true innovator, willing to take risks and be bold. As Audrey has demonstrated to me, being an innovator can occur in any field, it just requires determination, courage, and an idea.
Figure 3: Kristen Lehan (image provided from LinkedIn)
The second individual I interviewed was Kristen Lehan (pictured above), a fellow Biomedical Engineer who fits more of my previous idea of innovation. With work experience at Ethicon Endosurgery, designing and manufacturing tools for the operating room, there is no doubt Kristen is an innovator. When asked her definition of innovation, Kristen shared, "To me, innovation is using creativity to find new, unique solutions to everyday problems. In my professional field, innovation means developing technology to improve and enhance patients' lives." I found it interesting that Audrey and Kristen's definitions of innovation were so similar, but this proves just how broad the term innovation is, and how broad its application can be. Kristen included that "innovation requires a balance between both creative and logical thinking. Ingenuity is the result of being able to break a problem down and think through issues rationally, while still allowing room for originality." She continues that a potential problem with innovation occurs "when 'crazy' ideas are not thoroughly explored before implementing. I think innovative solutions are inherently good, but perhaps require more legwork to prove their feasibility and efficacy." This is a good thing to consider when developing innovative solutions, like how in our Sticky Innovation class we are encouraged to consider unintended consequences of our innovative designs.
Through these interviews I learned how important innovation is in any field, and the great use of innovation in the problem-solving process. This connects to the Field-Guide to Human Centered Design, which utilizes various techniques to ensure useful, innovative solutions designed specifically to be impactful to the user and/or community involved. Another field that is interesting to think about with innovation is art, specifically arts-based research. We had the pleasure to hear from Dr. Kristopher Holland about his experience with arts-based research. This discussion farther inspired me to contemplate just how many ways innovation can be applied to solving problems and sparking ingenuity in all fields; Dr. Holland shared how scientific research has its own place in research, but arts-based research is just as important and can supplement to increase findings. After learning so much about innovation, I am thrilled to collaborate with team members from other disciplines to complete the final project for Sticky Innovation.
Through these interviews I learned how important innovation is in any field, and the great use of innovation in the problem-solving process. This connects to the Field-Guide to Human Centered Design, which utilizes various techniques to ensure useful, innovative solutions designed specifically to be impactful to the user and/or community involved. Another field that is interesting to think about with innovation is art, specifically arts-based research. We had the pleasure to hear from Dr. Kristopher Holland about his experience with arts-based research. This discussion farther inspired me to contemplate just how many ways innovation can be applied to solving problems and sparking ingenuity in all fields; Dr. Holland shared how scientific research has its own place in research, but arts-based research is just as important and can supplement to increase findings. After learning so much about innovation, I am thrilled to collaborate with team members from other disciplines to complete the final project for Sticky Innovation.