Thanks for stepping into someone else’s shoes.  Empathy helps designers see and understand other people’s problems…just like scientist Julius Samann did when his milkman complained about an unpleasant reality of his job:  the smell of spoiled milk lingering in his truck.  Samann had been doing research on alpine tree aromas and began experimenting with ways to infuse paper with tree oil.  When he had the formula just right, he sent his tree-shaped inventions to local gas stations and the Little Tree air freshener took off.  Today, well over a billion Little Trees have been sold around the world!

Way to ask good questions!  Wondering how the power of play could help his son and other children, designer Jason Mayden left his dream job at Nike to start his own company, Superheroic.  The company designs sneakers (with soles inspired by a mountain goat’s hoof!) and other equipment to spark kids’ imaginations and support the way they move.  Mayden’s company embraces its mission of building stronger children by understanding that play helps children imagine who they want to be, push their limits, and grow.

Way to get creative!  Seeing the possibilities in things around you can lead you to unexpected places…which is how Play-Doh was invented.  Many years ago, a man named Noah McVicker developed a type of putty that people used to clean soot off of their wallpaper.  When people stopped using coal for heat, demand for the putty died down.  But Noah’s nephew, Joe, heard from his sister-in-law that the putty was great for classroom arts and crafts.  McVicker’s company changed the formula and started producing the putty in three bright colors.  Now, 63 years later, Play-Doh is known and loved by children around the globe.

That’s how to get the ball rolling!  To find out if an idea will work, you have to bring it into the world and try it out, like the Tokyo Olympic Committee did when they imagined making the 2020 Olympic medals entirely out of recycled metal.  To make this dream a reality—and collect the eight tons of precious metal needed—the Committee asked people across the country to donate old electronic devices.  It took two years and the support of countless citizens, but The Medal Project reached its goal.  In July, the Committee kicked off the one-year countdown to the start of the Games by revealing the design for the medals, which highlights themes of brilliance, hard work, friendship, and diversity.

Now you see…testing is the key to a good product and a happy user!  Products that don’t work like they’re supposed to can be frustrating and confusing, which is why companies like L.L.Bean put their goods to the test to find out how, when, and where they will break down.  See for yourself how the L.L.Bean lab technician flexes, pulls, stretches, and stresses products to make sure they deserve a spot in the company’s lineup.