31 Mar 2004
www.EastmanInnovationLab.com: by designers for designers
Eastman Chemical Company has announced the launch of The Eastman Innovation Lab, a website made by designers for the Design community. The research and development of the site was carried out by The Brewery – an independent Creative Communications Partnership based in London.
By launching the Eastman Innovation Lab, the Company is seeking to inspire and support designers in their quest for innovation and product optimization. Behind the scenes, a group of designers at The Brewery has been actively gathering input from the design community.
The Brewery (www.thebrewery-london.com) is an independent Creative Communications Partnership in London. The partnership works with clients to create and manage powerful, channel-neutral, business-relevant creative concepts, which engage with customers in today’s complex and challenging business environment.
Launched in January 2004, by Chairman and Managing Partner, Paul Stead, CEO Julian Ingram, Mark Shickle, Peter Phillips and Marian Kelly, The Brewery is a partnership offering 150 partner-years of blue-chip brand experience. Its creative focus is design and innovation.
According to Alan Lee Creative Director – Digital Media and Paul Robinson Senior Designer – Digital Media of The Brewery the Eastman Innovation Lab is a unique resource: “When we talked to product designers, we realized that there is no plastics website specifically for the design community. There are a number of materials websites, but they do not necessarily appeal to product designers, who want a more visual and inspirational approach”.
“Designers are keen to talk to one another and look for references – so we feel that this website has the makings to become a focal point for the design community. To this end we are using the designer’s language and most of all we are focusing on images, textures and impressions. All in all, the site looks very unlike a typical plastics manufacturer’s website – and it is very different from Eastman’s own website. The emphasis is on design aspects, not technical jargon. So the look and feel of the site was created with designers and brand managers firmly in mind with a key focus on high quality visuals to provide “a seed for new ideas”..
“Our initial objective is to provide information, share innovative solutions, and best practice examples. But in the longer term, the Eastman Innovation Lab will become the first port of call for designers and product managers alike seeking inspiration and next generation thinking – a community-based project where product designers can go – frequently – to be inspired.”
The Eastman Innovation Lab website is highly visual with material attributes described in simple, non-technical language. The website features relevant applications with network links for additional information. And it can be navigated easily.
Reader enquiries
Eastman Chemical Company
Fascinatio Boulevard 602-614
2909 VA Capelle a/d IJssel
Netherlands
Notes for editors
About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE: EMN) manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is the world’s largest producer of PET polymers for packaging; and is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers. Eastman is leveraging its heritage of innovation and strength in polyester, acetyl and organic chemistry technologies to drive growth and meet increasing demand in four select markets: building and construction, packaging, healthcare, and electronics. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is a FORTUNE 500 company with 2004 sales of $6.6 billion and approximately 12,000 employees.
For more information about Eastman and its products, visit www.eastman.com.
Editorial enquiries
Odette Heijnen
Eastman Chemical Company
Nancy van Heesewijk
EMG