Tell one, tell all… today marks the start of something very new and very exciting here at Davison!  Tonight, we begin our Dare to Invent webisode series!!

The innovative, new 12 episode series will showcase Davison clients and their inventions… from product inception to licensing and beyond!

The very first Dare to Invent episode features Colorado inventor, Joy, and her Party on the Go!  Mr. Davison and several other members of our creative team are also featured in the interactive video clip, which tells the story of how the Party on the Go came to be.

According to Mr. Davison, the first episode is especially moving, because it allows viewers to watch Joy, a hopeful inventor, recognize her dream.

“Everyone got to see the end of the dream, the fulfillment of the dream – receiving her first big check,” said Mr. Davison.

The episode is live right now and you can tune in to watch on YouTube or through a link on Davison.com!

After the Dare to Invent series debut, a new episode is to be released every other week!

For a behind-the-scenes sneak peak, we’ve showcased some photos from the video shoot; but, be sure to tune in to watch the entire Dare to Invent episode now!

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

While technology and popular media may have us believing that Apple’s iPhone is an invention we simply can’t live without, experts say there are much more elementary items that may be far more influential.  Those items include elastic bands, bubble wrap and, oh, yes… the paper clip.

In fact, scientists have said that it’s the items that cost mere pennies that we would be lost without.  They may not be as celebrated as the latest SmartPhone, PC tablet or other fancy gadgets, but have you ever used your iPhone to keep your desk clean?! 

According to Hi-Cone Director Ton Hoppenbrouwers, it’s the simple little inventions that are the “hidden heroes.”

“Whether the products hang our clothes, make tea or hold a six-pack, they are indispensable to consumers… They are design classics, which do their job brilliantly,” said Hoppenbrouwers.

By the way, Hi-Cone is the maker of those plastic ring carriers that ever-so-faithfully hold together your six-packs of beer and soda!

Also according to Hoppenbrouwers, like the evolution of the cell phone, these seemingly elementary inventions do evolve to meet society’s changing needs.

“Yes, they evolve to meet changing needs, but they do not change dramatically,” said Hoppenbrouwers.

Think tea bag and K-cup, pencil and mechanical pencil…  and for the day, appreciate the simple things around you, like your light bulbs, pencils and bubble wrap.  But, please, don’t try to play Words With Friends with your paper clips!  

Read more about the simple things we just couldn’t live without here!

“America’s Largest Invention Factory” is making international headlines again!  This time, the host of a popular German television show, “Galileo,” toured Inventionland to see the “world’s most creative workspace” for himself! 

The host’s tour appeared as a segment called “Bildgeschichte Inventionland” on the German TV show and on their website!

 So, what did “Bildgeschichte Inventionland” (or “Picture Story Inventionland”) have to say about Inventionland?  We’ve copied the show information below for you to enjoy:

“Ein Büro, in dem Angestellte auf einem Piratenschiff arbeiten? Oder mitten während der Arbeitszeit mit einer gigantischen Carrerabahn spielen? Unglaublich, aber tägliche Realität…”

What does it all mean?!    Well, thanks to Google Translate, we now know!

“An office in which employees are working on a pirate ship?  Or play during the middle of working with a giant slot car track? Unbelievable, but a daily reality…”

Well, that may not be exactly how we would have said it, but we think they get the gist of our creative workplace!

We’re working on getting a copy of the video with at least some subtitles and you can also visit “Galileo” online to find out a little more about the show; but, we’ll warn you, the Inventionland video there only loads for German users!

Nonetheless, we’ve got the German version of the show below, so you can get a look at Inventionland from an international point of view!  Enjoy!

To say we had a “rockin eve” after we received this next message would be MAJOR understatement! After a certain, very famous entertainment icon got a glimpse of the History Channel’s “Inventionland” reality TV special, which we are proud to say we had a hand in helping with, he had some very encouraging words!

We were so excited with his response that we couldn’t help but share the news! See his original email below!

—— Forwarded Message
From: Stanley
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:03
To: ‘GMD’, ‘Jay’
Cc: “Michael
Subject: FW: “INVENTIONLAND”

George:

Dick Clark’s response is not only gratifying but a professional ‘thumbs up.’

Love ya.

Stan

—–Original Message—–
From: Kari
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 2:18 PM
To: Stanley
Subject: “INVENTIONLAND”

Thanks for sending along the copy of “Inventionland,” Stan.

I found it fun to watch and most interesting and, undoubtedly, will be a
successful History channel venture.

Much luck to you … I appreciate your sending it.

Sincerely,
Dick [Clark]

____________

It’s an honor to receive such praise from such an accomplished icon! We would love to see more messages like this in our inbox!

Recently, The Washington Post named Pittsburgh on their “In” list, pushing previous “In” city, Portland, Oregon to the “Out” list.  Following the announcement, several online articles and blogs helped tell the world just what was so “IN” and exciting about the Steel City.

The article “Pittsburgh, PA.:  Entertainment Capital of the World?” gives an awesome glimpse at what makes Pittsburgh so special, even citing something we’re all very, very close to!

Calling the entertainment industry “Pittsburgh’s new steel,” the article references the filming of Batman’s “The Dark Knight” and Tom Cruise’s “One Shot.”  Moving on to TV, the article gives a special shout out to the recent History Channel “Inventionland” reality TV show special.

“And Pittsburgh is even a force on the reality front… the History Channel just aired a pilot of Inventionland, a show based on George Davison’s Willy-Wonka-esque inventor’s shop here,” the article said.

Click here to read the entire article and find out why next year’s article may be “Hollywood, out – Pittsburgh, IN!”

In response to Inventionland’s recent feature in the Wall Street Journal, the “Ridiculously Efficent” blog called Inventionland, “the epitome of a creative office!”

The “Ridiculously Efficient” article goes on to compliment the very nature of how business is done around Inventionland.

“With its high-volume output and whimsical atmosphere, Davison['s] Inventionland has clearly found an ideal (and profitable) blend of work and play,” the article said.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates on Davison and Inventionland in the news!