George Davison’s Inventing Curriculum Now Offered at Suffolk University

Dr. Sushil Bhatia, Executive in Residence at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School, has recently decided to incorporate George Davison’s “Idea Teacher” curriculum into three different courses being offered in Spring of this year. The courses are Chemistry New Product Development, Writing Business Plans and Global Innovation and Virtual Teams.

Dr. Bhatia has shown an interest in taking products from idea to invention; in 2006, he founded the annual Competition for Innovative Ideas, which gives Suffolk students and alumni a pathway to opportunity, offering $100,000 in grants and professional services. There are also awards under the Competition for Innovative Ideas that are open to the public, such as the Bottom of the Pyramid Award. The competition’s motto is “Your ideas can change your life.” The relationship between Dr. Bhatia and Mr. Davison has developed over the past few years, with Mr. Davison assisting in judging the Product Innovation Competition. Mr. Davison has also joined the Sawyer Business School’s I2E (Idea to Execution) board. Dr. Bhatia is the president and CEO of JMD Manufacturing, a company that manufactures and distributes marking and coding equipment worldwide. The relationship between Dr. Bhatia and Mr. Davison is not difficult to understand, taking into account that Bhatia has co-developed or invented multiple products, including unique convention/seminar name badges, laser and copier labels, binding systems and electro-sensitive paper.  He has also established a manufacturing plant in India and created a distribution network for a Fortune 200 company operating in India, China and Hong Kong.

The inclusion of Davison’s “Idea Teacher” curriculum is in keeping with Dr. Bhatia’s interest in cultivating ideas and innovation. The Idea Teacher curriculum will take students through Mr. Davison’s 9-step inventing method. The process is intended to show the students in the three classes how to go from idea to execution. Dr. Bhatia informed Mr. Davison in an e-mail that, if the Idea Teacher curriculum goes well, he will include it in more classes; he also stated that as he gets feedback and responses, he will be in touch with Mr. Davison to let him know. Mr. Davison has agreed to provide information as needed for Dr. Bhatia to impart the ideas to his students.

The Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University is internationally accredited in business and accounting by the Association to Advance the Collegiate Schools of Business International, a distinction which is shared with less than 10% of the world’s business schools. The Sawyer Business School has the goal of imparting a solid education in the fundamentals to its students, while developing leadership skills and fostering an understanding of organizational dynamics and building relationships. The curriculum embraces evolving business practices, and the faculty and students of Suffolk originate from all over the world, bringing unique outlooks and experiences into the classroom to bring the concept of the global economy to life.

If the inclusion of the Idea Teacher curriculum into Dr. Bhatia’s classes is successful, in a few years of expansion Suffolk University may become known as a school where students can actually take a class in inventing.

Inventionland in the Media

Inventionland, America’s largest invention factory at over 61,000 square feet has attracted attention from a variety of sources. The facility houses 16 unique themed sets where Davison “creationeers” work to develop new products, packaging, and marketing strategies. Featuring a pirate ship, a race track, and a giant robot head among other creative settings, Inventionland is George Davison’s response to the challenge of keeping his new product development staff inspired and motivated.

One result of the unconventional office design is that Inventionland has been featured on multiple media outlets. In 2008, approximately two years after the factory opened, Inventionland was featured in the 2008 Ripley’s Believe it or Not annual publication, “The Remarkable Revealed.” The book called Inventionland a “Tree-mendous Office,” referring to the tree house office space used by Davison’s founder and CEO, George Davison. A representative from Ripley’s said about Inventionland, "Honestly, I felt a little like Alice shortly after she fell down the rabbit hole. I was positively blown away." The book is available through stores and online.

Mr. Davison and Inventionland were also featured in Entrepreneur online magazine in 2008. The article, titled “Creative Genius,” likens Inventionland to a “real amusement park,” and profiles the facility and its creator, calling the facility a “creative wonderland” and lauding Mr. Davison for building the unconventional space to “get his employees out of their cubicles and into a place that inspires creativity.”

Another popular publication to recognize Inventionland is The Wall Street Journal. The famous magazine named Inventionland as Workplace of the Week at the end of December 2011. The write-up called the creative location a “Workplace Wonderland,” and described the way in which different locations were intended to foster various types of ideas. The article also featured pictures of the spaces, including the pirate ship Discovery, complete with creationeers hard at work on deck.

PayScale, a career and salary search service, featured Inventionland in an article about non-monetary perks. According to the article’s author, non-monetary perks such as Inventionland’s creative and playful environment, “do far more than just help retain workers. They also promote productivity and engagement, foster workplace alignment, and help work teams bond.”

These are just a few of the mentions that Inventionland has received in the media; the Davison invention workplace has been featured internationally, as curiosity about the facility’s unique features and atmosphere increases. Groups wishing to visit Inventionland can request a one-hour tour via the Inventionland website: www.inventionland.com. Inventionland offers free tours to schools and similar community-based organizations, but companies and corporations can visit as well.

The 2012 Davison-Developed Fall Pugz Line Hits Stores!

Showcased at the front of aisles at two local Petco stores in Pittsburgh are Davison-developed dog products.  The aisles contain dog leashes, beds, coats, leg warmers, harnesses and boots.  In front of the aisles feature Pugz’s signature faux suede and fleece combination.  The visual appeal of these endcaps is sure to capture the attention of Petco customers shopping anywhere near the dog designs.

An ecstatic CEO George Davison made an appearance at the store to check out the products on the shelves. He calls the Petco Pugz endcaps a defining moment in company history and compares the excitement of seeing all of these Pugz products in one space to the excitement of “stepping to the plate and hitting a grand slam.” 

“When you allow yourself to dream, you are opening yourself up for a lot of pain if stuff doesn’t work out, which I’m used to. Because of the continual effort at absorbing risks and overcoming challenges this is what can happen if you believe. If you don’t believe and have enough character, the dreams aren’t possible,” says Davison.

Pugz boots keep small dogs’ little paws from freezing in cold weather.  These boots will keep the dog’s paws warm so that they can walk and play outside even on the coldest days.  The boots are made with faux leather and faux wool which will also keep paws dry. 

Pugz has leg warmers to go along with the boots that help to keep a dog’s legs warm.  To finish off the outdoor apparel, dog-owners can also purchase a Pugz Harness, which according to Davison, is a better solution to the collar.  The harness reduces stress and strain when dogs tend to pull during walks. 

The Fall Pugz collection also features the Box Bed, which allows a pet to snuggle into comfortable luxury.  The bed has a sturdy, cushioned base and the sides create a comfortable atmosphere for your pet to snuggle up, get comfortable and relax.  For mobility, the bed is lightweight and can be machine washed. 

Davison attributes the success of Pugz and other Davison products to the Davison methodology, which George Davison has been constructing and shaping for over 20 years.

“We have to have really good soils to grow our seeds,” says Davison.  “This is the combination of Inventionland and our methodology to have not only one, but all of those hit the shelf.”

The 2012 Fall Pugz line is now available in Petco and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

The typical project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.