Tallinn Business Incubator and Estonian Academy of Arts invite you to an inspiring session with international designer Charles Johnson, who has worked with brands like Puma, Adidas, and Crocs.
In this session, we will explore the intersection of high-level design leadership and the practical mechanics of scaling impactful ideas. Drawing from Charles’s journey as a global design leader – including his tenure as the Global Director of Innovation at Puma Headquarters – he will share case studies that illustrate how to navigate complex creative landscapes.
We will delve into what it truly means to be a “good” designer by examining David Epstein’s principle of Range, emphasizing how breadth of experience and analogical thinking often outperform narrow specialization in solving modern problems.
Moving from personal craft to systemic growth, the presentation will provide a framework for scaling ideas through innovation stress-testing, a rigorous process designed to separate fleeting trends from commercially viable concepts. This phase is anchored in rigorous and meaningful definition as well as Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why,” ensuring that every venture is built on a foundation of purpose. Finally, we will address the “human” side of innovation: the essential communication skills and stakeholder management strategies required to shepherd a vision through the inevitable friction of the scaling journey.
Charles Johnson is curently Assistant Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center and Principal at Driven By Charles LLC.
For four decades, Charles has shaped the product visions and strategies of world-leading brands including Adidas and Puma. Originally trained as an Industrial Designer, his career evolved from specialized footwear design to executive-level leadership across sports, fashion, and connected products.
Today, Charles bridges the gap between high-level consulting and academia. As Assistant Professor of Leadership and Innovation at the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center, he teaches students how to scale innovations from inception to mass market while navigating the complex “adverse interests” of organizational functions and stakeholders. As a consulting practice Driven By Charles he helps startups ground their vision in product and brand strategy. Charles is driven by a humanistic approach to design, specializing in experiences that bridge the digital and physical worlds and that promote health and world balance.
The event takes place at Estonian Academy of Arts and is FREE, but registration is requiered.
The event is in English.
EST:
Tallinna Ettevõtlusinkubaator ja Eesti Kunstiakadeemia kutsuvad sind inspireerivale kohtumisele rahvusvahelise disaineri Charles Johnsoniga, kes on töötanud selliste maailmabrändidega nagu Puma, Adidas ja Crocs.
Kuidas sünnivad ideed, mis jõuavad massidesse? Mis eristab head disainerit suurepärasest ning kuidas kasvatada loomingulist ideed tugevaks ja jätkusuutlikuks tooteks või brändiks?
Sellel kohtumisel jagab Charles Johnson oma kogemusi globaalse disainiliidrina, tuues näiteid oma tööst Puma innovatsiooni globaalse direktorina ning koostööst maailma juhtivate brändidega. Räägime disainijuhtimisest, innovatsiooni skaleerimisest ja sellest, kuidas toime tulla keerukates loomingulistes keskkondades.
Arutelu keskmes on ka küsimus, mida tähendab tänapäeval olla “hea” disainer. Tuginedes David Epsteini raamatu Range ideedele, räägib Charles, miks laiapõhjaline kogemus, uudishimu ja erinevate valdkondade ühendamine võivad olla suuremaks tugevuseks kui kitsas spetsialiseerumine.
Lisaks vaatame, kuidas eristada mööduvaid trende päriselt elujõulistest ideedest ning miks on oluline alustada tugevast eesmärgist ja selgest “miksist”, nagu õpetab Start with Why. Juttu tuleb ka innovatsiooni inimlikust poolest – suhtlemisest, koostööst ja sidusrühmade kaasamisest, mis aitavad ideedel päriselt ellu jõuda.
Täna tegutseb Charles Johnson Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center professorina ning juhib oma konsultatsiooniettevõtet Driven By Charles LLC. Rohkem kui 40 aasta jooksul on ta aidanud kujundada maailma juhtivate spordi- ja moebrändide tootevisioone ning strateegiaid, ühendades disaini, tehnoloogia ja inimkeskse mõtlemise.
Tule kuulama ja kaasa mõtlema, kuidas sünnivad ideed, mis muudavad tooteid, brände ja kogemusi.