7 May 2004
The Innovation Lab: Eastman launches creative material resource for designers
Eastman Chemical Company has launched The Eastman Innovation Lab - a web site that sets out to inspire and support designers in their quest for innovation and product optimization. The new web site, www.eastmaninnovationlab.com, is the first step toward realizing Eastman’s vision of a creative resource to connect brand owners and designers with inspirational and innovative material solutions.
In making the announcement, Eastman's Director of Global Marketing Communications, Larry Snider said: “The Eastman Innovation Lab is intended to add customer value by developing new products and services, whilst improving existing products and opening new market categories.
“Its key objectives are to provide a vehicle for materials advancing design – and vice versa, as well as to reduce project duration, resulting in better and quicker decisions. It will provide a focal point for brand owners and designers to find for “real time” innovative materials solutions. In short, the Eastman Innovation Lab is all about doing things differently and better.
“The development of the innovation Lab is a credible response to the realization that we can create a win-win situation: designers can benefit from our materials knowledge – whilst we are learning to understand the value of design in product development.”
A unique resource
The web site was developed by Eastman in association with The Brewery, a UK based design agency launched in January 2004. The Brewery is an independent Creative Communications Partnership, which focuses on delivering business returns for its clients. It 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.
According to The Brewery’s Alan Lee Creative Director – Digital Media , who helped design the site, The Eastman Innovation Lab is a unique resource. 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 “seeds for new ideas”.
According to Gaylon White, Manager Design Industry Programs for Eastman, the Eastman Innovation Lab is the result of extensive interaction with designers in both the US and the UK: “When talking to designers we realised that we should not try to follow designers – but instead we should be heading for where design and materials are going to be in the future – with the intention of arriving there at the right time.
“The Eastman Innovation Lab is a first step and a work in progress. Through ongoing dialogue with designers, we can develop this into a valuable resource that they will use time and again.”
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.
Related images
The Innovation Lab
Eastman launches creative material resource for designers.
Editorial enquiries
Odette Heijnen
Eastman Chemical Company
Paulien Boumans
EMG