Recently, KDKA’s Kristine Sorensen got a sweet taste of our creative workspace, in preparation for next Thursday’s Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation “A Sweet Gesture” fundraising event.

Sorensen’s tour aired during the CBS affiliate’s newscast last week and featured several sweet details not only about Inventionland, but also how the Foundation co-chairs asked Mr. Davison to host the Valentine’s Day event.

He explains how event organizers made up a chocolate prototype to ask him to host the Willy Wonka-themed evening.

“How do you turn down a request like that?” Mr. Davison asks.

Walking Sorensen through Inventionland’s secret bookcase-entrance, which will lead party-goers to the charity event, Mr. Davison explains how Inventionland is a creative mind-set that is meant to inspire inventors.

“This is the creative space that we dream everything up in,” says Mr. Davison.

Sorensen was quick to notice that the fantasy-like environment was much more than just a Disney-esque theme park.

“There’s a surprise at every turn… they’re creating, problem-solving, inventing – and, it’s working, based on the array of products floating through the building that are samples of real success stories,” says Sorensen.

After Sorensen interviews Mr. Davison, she speaks with the “Sweet Gesture” co-chairs, Tori Yoos and Laura Mabon, who explain how they plan to utilize the magnificent facility.

“The entire night is full of many surprises…” says Yoos.  “Everything you can imagine will be here:  food, music, drinks… activities… a fun, fun night.”

All proceeds from “A Sweet Gesture” benefit Children’s Hospital’s Family Life Fund.

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Grab a half cup of flour, one cup of water, 2 eggs and lots of creativity!  This week’s all-new “Dare to Invent” episode hits the kitchen to whip up some exciting baking innovation.

Tonight’s webisode is the twelfth in our 13-episode series and features Christine Walker, inventor of the Brownie Bowl – a delicious dessert solution that enables bakers and chefs to create fill-able brownie, cookie, cake, and bread bowls.

Christine came up with her Brownie Bowl idea in high school, when she witnessed her boyfriend at the time sloppily soaking the cafeteria cookies in milk.

“I was horrified and thought, ‘I need to put a stop to this,’” Walker says about her boyfriend’s dessert habits. “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be better in the shape of a bowl?’  That would solve the mess, but still be delicious.”

Christine shared the idea with her mom, but it wasn’t until she moved to New York City to attend performing arts school that she decided to take action!

Around 2008, Christine, a self-proclaimed obsessive baker, had baked a batch of cookies for her personal trainer.  She told him about her “dunked cookie” idea, not realizing that he already had a connection that just might help her out.

“He said, ‘You have to pursue this!’ He had a friend, who had worked with Davison; [so], I was actually referred… and I took his advice,” said Christine.

With the help of the Creationeers at Davison, Walker’s solution for sloppy sweets is now being sold nationally and on QVC.com. Silicone Brownie Bowl Forms were created by Walker to turn already delectable treats into self-contained snack traps.

The bowls’ silicone design means the forms are able to cook at pretty much any temperature with any recipe, are dishwasher safe and can cook cakes, breads, brownies, muffins, and, of course, cookies evenly every time.

Join us tonight (on davison.com and youtube.com) to find out how Christine’s idea morphed from an answer to her ex-boyfriend’s sloppy snacking to a delightful QVC product and baking-blog darling.

Enjoy the photo gallery below from the Brownie Bowl episode!

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

The post “Dare to Invent” Pours Over the Creation of the Brownie Bowl appeared first on Davison.

Watch TEDTalks:  Smart people will distill their life’s work down to 20 minutes for you.

This is advice from David Eagleman, neuroscientist, New York Times bestselling author and, himself, a TED Fellow.  TEDTalks actually started back in 1984, just two years before George Davison started work on his toothbrush sanitizer that, ultimately, led him to found Davison Design.  [TEDTalks] brought together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design. They were started by Richard Saul Wurman, who, at the time, saw a convergence between the three fields.  Originally, the talks were heavy on technology and design, evidence of its Silicon Valley roots.  Today, the talks span the worlds of science, medicine, art, design, invention, transportation, music… the list goes on and on.

Recently, Adam Savage, of Mythbusters fame, gave a talk entitled, How Simple Ideas Lead to Scientific Discoveries, in which he discusses some of the most important scientific discoveries of all time and how they were arrived at through simple, creative methods that anyone could have followed.  Let’s start at the beginning or at least the beginning of simple solutions being posited as the most effective ones.  In [a] 14th century England town called Occam, lived a logician Franciscan friar named William, who has most commonly become associated with the law of parsimony.  He wrote the following:

     – Numquam ponenda est pluralitas sine necessitate [Plurality must never be posited without necessity]
     – Frustra fit per plura quod potest fieri per pauciora [It is futile to do with more things that which can be done with fewer]

What it boils down to is: other things being equal, a simpler explanation is better than a more complex one.  And, sometimes, that’s just what the problem calls for.  In Arvind Gupta’s TEDTalk, Turning Trash into Toys for Learning, which I recommend watching, he demonstrates how the problem of providing educational experiments for children in developing countries [could] be solved with trash and things found around the house:  rubber tubing, matchsticks, drinking straws, stick pins, bicycle tubes, even a pencil.  Simple items can be used to teach scientific principals, physics or mechanics.

TEDTalks continue to be a driving force for creative thinking in innumerable fields. Their over 1,000 videos have been translated to 86 languages, with another seven in [progress].  They can be viewed for free at any time throughout the world, on any number of mediums:  the TED website, YouTube, iPhone or iPad, or any Android/Google device.

Maybe you’ll find inspiration for a simple idea that can change the world.

– Lucky
[Sources: BoingBoing, Wikipedia, Stanford, University of California.]

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Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” revealed his top picks for Best New Pet Products for 2011 on Good Morning America. He showed two new pet toys, one of which was the Hydro Bone set that we created for Hugs Pet Products! (the Hydro Bone appears near the end of the 4-minute video).

“I love this… we take these home and freeze these toys,” said Dr. Becker, as he squeezed the water out of the Hydro Ball. “Dogs love it; it quenches their thirst.” Also shown were the Hydro Bone and the new Hydro Disc.

This is the second major accolade for the Hydro Bone, which also won a 2010 Editors’ Choice Award as one of the best new dog products chosen by editors of Dog Fancy, “the world’s most widely read dog magazine.” Each product earned the editors’ seal of approval “by offering innovative solutions to everyday problems or giving new life to an old idea.”

Check out the video of the GMA segment (the Hydro Bone appears at the end). You can also view an awesome video of the product on Dr. Foster’s website below.

Congratulations to all who worked on these awesome products!

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“The things that make America great are the things we invent. The strength of this nation was formed by idea people and inventors who had the freedom to dream big and create new things.” So begins the new video, “Davison, Making Ideas,” which captures the timeless power of inventing and shows how that spirit is championed by the Davison Inventing Method. We are posting this video as a tribute and an inspiration to idea people everywhere.

“I believe we must believe in a better future, and you start that off by fueling the human spirit,” said George Davison, founder and CEO. “We have spent many years climbing the ladder in this business, and I’m very proud of our team putting together such an inspirational message in this new video. It pays respect to some of our greatest mentors of the past, and transitions us to believe in ourselves and a better future. It’s wonderful when you create something to inspire others. Great work team.”

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We are happy to announce the premier of “How’s That Invented!” In these video blog posts, Davison designers show and explain how many of our products were invented – from concept to finished product on the store shelf. In this first installment, viewers will see how the popular BikeBoard came to life using our unique 9-step process, as well as how some hurdles were overcome along the way so the product could “carve” out a path to success.

So take a few minutes and enjoy the show!

We hope you enjoyed this installment of ‘How’s that Invented.’ We have recently re-evaluated this web series and decided to make it bigger and better! Please check back soon for our new series. Use the form on the right to sign up and get our blog posts via email. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed and updated information will be automatically downloaded to your computer.

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After five years of work, her dream had become a reality and success had come to her family, which had been struggling through some hard times and stressing about how they were going to finance a move to another town.

“It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so excited and thrilled that it made it somewhere,” Sharon told the team that developed her product. “And it couldn’t have happened without you guys; I’m so grateful.”

Inventor’s Story:
Sharon came up with her idea because she wanted a comfortable, convenient shelter for her pets to use on camping trips or at home. One day in Walmart, she noticed a small demonstration tent and thought that a real tent about that size would be perfect. She found Davison, a new product development firm that provides services to inventors, corporations and entrepreneurs. She submitted her idea online and the team went to work.

The finished product, which was licensed by Hugs Pet Products, features a water-resistant tent with vented roof, raised bed and mesh cot designed to keep dogs and cats cool and dry, even on the hottest or wettest of days. The portable, sturdy and easy to clean unit also offers a convenient alternative to traditional dog houses.

Sharon was not only thrilled with the finished product and royalty check, but by the royal treatment she and her son, Anthony, received at Davison. They toured Inventionland, “the world’s most creative workspace,” and met with Mr. Davison, who she described as “fun, amazing and down-to-earth.” They also got to meet members of the design and licensing team, as well as her new products director, who encouraged Sharon as she struggled to keep her project going throughout financial difficulties.

“I love the whole team,” Sharon said. “They went above and beyond the call of duty – they put their whole heart and effort into my project.”

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

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“I just couldn’t believe it!” said our client, inventor of the Meatball Baker. She has great hopes and is receiving a royalty payment on each unit sold!

“It’s great when one of our client’s products gets in with a company like QVC,” said George Davison, CEO. “They have a tremendous marketing tool in their demonstration, which shows the product’s true functionality – cooking some of America’s favorite foods in a healthy way. I thought QVC did a great job and I couldn’t be happier for our client, Jean.”

Due to its initial success, the top-ranked home shopping network in the nation, which broadcasts via cable and satellite TV 24 hours a day to 90 million homes, will feature the Meatball Baker again in an upcoming broadcast. So, check back later for that date and for more exciting news.

In the meantime, View QVC’s on air presentation of this fantastic new bakeware invention!

Inventor’s Story:
We developed the new product for our client, Jean, a busy homemaker. She came up with her idea after getting discouraged whenever she cooked meatballs. They always got flat and cooked unevenly in the frying pan or oven and would sit in their own grease – unhealthy as well as unappetizing.

“I just didn’t like the way mine turned out,” Jean said. “I love to cook, although I’m not that good; but I love to try new things.”

One day, she came up with a solution that would solve both problems. She found Davison and submitted her idea, and the design team went to work. The final product has a unique, rounded rack system that holds and preserves the shape of meatballs and other foods, enabling them to cook evenly while keeping them completely out of the grease.

The product was licensed by a company specializing in extraordinary products for the home. Jean visited Davison while on vacation in 2007 to meet with those working on her project.

“It’s been great – you guys are very knowledgeable,” she said of her experience with Davison. “I was new to all this and I learned a lot.”

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

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