ARTS HOLLAND MAGAZINE
one step ahead
Research and Innovation in Business and Art
One Step Ahead What research and innovation are to a leading international conglomerate like Philips is what the artistic playgrounds Mediamatic and Waag Society are for society and culture. Rooted in the do-it-yourself mentality of the 80s, they organize a gamut of experimental and innovative exhibitions, workshops, festivals and design labs. – Marina de Vries is an independent journalist in the area of visual art and architecture and writes for De Volkskrant newspaper and the Dutch Vogue, among other periodicals. She previously worked for the Virtual Museum Zuidas, which occupied itself with art and culture in a new residential and business district on the outskirts of Amsterdam. text
Eindhoven – the cradle of Philips, the electronics conglomerate – is the Light City of Holland. Each autumn, light artists transform this midsized provincial city into a fairytale during the Glow Light Festival. For the most recent festival Philips introduced one of its new smartphone apps, which enabled the public to participate in creating the light show for the Kalos Pavilion. Co-creation is one of the future trends Philips is tracking. The fact that the company – a leading global player in the fields of healthcare, lifestyle and lighting – tried out the app at a large public festival exemplifies the company’s approach. ‘Technology used to stand on its own,’ says Paul Gardien, head of Design Strategy & Design Innovation at Philips. ‘Nowadays we want to create value for people by taking their own input into account. We actively involve future users in the design process, in both online and real-life situations.’ p 37
Crossing Boundaries in R&D Research and innovation are the lifeblood of Philips’ business. Out of 120,000 employees, 16,000 are professional researchers and trend watchers. All sectors and business units have their own R&D department. In addition, there is Philips Group Innovation, which sketches and tests out possible future scenarios. ‘Engineers, scientists, marketing people, business people and designers work together in the research and design teams of PGI. This multidisciplinary approach is unique in the world of big business.’ One of the major successes of the past few decades owes its existence to this transdisciplinary teamwork, says Gardien. Prior to undergoing a medical exam or treatment, such as an MRI scan, hospital patients can use Philips Ambient Experience to create their own environment in colour, movement and sound. ‘Ambient Experience is more