Where Does Innovation Come From?

During my walk yesterday afternoon, I stopped by the Toner Center (on the campus of SMUMN) and was surprised to discover in the SMU gallery (right outside of Toner Lounge where we gathered for the summits), an exhibit about the Innovations of Brother Finbar.

Not only are some of the actual innovations on display, but there are descriptions of how each innovation began. Seeing this exhibit reminded me once again that innovation often stems from or out of a particular experience of life.

In the case of some of the innovations on display, the innovation began from a pain point or something someone was trying to do in a certain way but was not able to.  Other times, the starting point was an instinct or an idea. Sometimes the innovation was something wholly new; other times, it was a change made to something already in existence.

What surprised me, though, as I went through the exhibit was the connection I noticed between innovation and daily life. The innovations were practical.  Rather than creations that sit on a shelf for people to admire (which also have their place), these were innovations that allowed people to interact with the world around them in new ways.

What a wonderful thing: to influence & impact how people interact with the world around them.

When you see some of the things that Brother Finbar created you will see that in what he created, he has influenced how people interact with the world.  

By influencing their interaction, he has influenced their experience.  

I would encourage you take the time before August 19 to explore the gallery of innovations at SMUMN.  Go by yourself, go with your team, go with your department, but go...and, as the poster in the gallery says, “Discover the Innovations Around You".

Click here to see some of Bro. Finbar's work