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Nottingham Spirk: Fascinating Facts About the Cleveland Disruptors

Members of the Greater Cleveland Partnership took a tour of Nottingham Spirk with Co-Founder and Co-CEO John Nottingham and uncovered 10 fascinating facts.

Study Finds pro2cool Reduces Adolescent Concussion Symptoms

A study led by Akron Children's hospital finds TecTraum's pro2cool hypothermic therapy device reduces symptom severity after concussion.

Ditto's Cutting-Edge Innovations Receive Industry Recognition

The Ditto Digital Pattern Projection System has been recognized for design excellence by IDEA 2023 and Fast Company's Innovation by Design Awards.

Innovation Remodeled: Why Digital And Product Now Go Hand-In-Hand

Manufacturers, seeking ways to drive profitability, are increasingly turning to digital capabilities and IoT for successful commercialization.

John Nottingham & John Spirk Inducted into the Dealmakers Hall of Fame

John Nottingham and John Spirk are among the group of inaugural inductees in the Cleveland Dealmakers Hall of Fame, honored for innovation leadership.

Little Tikes: Transforming a Business Through Product Innovation

The long collaborative partnership between Little Tikes and Nottingham Spirk resulted in hundreds of innovative children's products and remarkable growth.

Mission Possible: Game-Changing Invention in the Fashion World

WKYC filmed a Mission Possible segment at Nottingham Spirk Innovation Center, featuring Ditto, an innovation in digital paperless pattern projection.

Five Reasons to Innovate in an Uncertain Economy

Nottingham Spirk has identified five reasons why your company should innovate when the economy is uncertain or sluggish.

NS Retains Ohio IoT Talent to Grow Connected Capabilities

Nottingham Spirk has retained top Ohio IoT talent to grow its connected product development capabilities.

Ditto, Developed with NS, Debuts the "Future of Sewing" During NYFW

JOANN, SINGER, and Nottingham Spirk debut Ditto, the first disruptive sewing technology in 160 years, at New York's Fashion Week.

Katherine Hill Ritchie Featured in Middle Market Growth

Nottingham Spirk's Katherine Hill Ritchie discusses the importance of innovation in private equity, and how Nottingham Spirk works Family Offices.

TecTraum Announces Completion of Clinical Trial

TecTraum Inc., dedicated to providing the world’s first point-of-care treatment for concussions, announced the completion of the pro2cool®clinical trial.

Improving the Product Development Process

Vertical Innovation promotes a product development process that focuses on creating products that match the needs of the end-user.

Family Capital Features Nottingham Spirk

Katherine Hill Ritchie, strategic director at Nottingham Spirk Family Office respects private equity managers. She invests in their portfolio companies.

John Nottingham Featured on The Lay of the Land

John Nottingham talks about his thoughts on customer focused solutions and more on the latest episode of The Lay of The Land with Jeffrey Stern.

Katherine Hill Ritchie Featured in CFO Dive

Nottingham Spirk's Katherine Hill Ritchie discusses the considerations CFO's need to keep in mind when working with Family Offices.

How to Prepare for Medical Device Regulations

There is no doubt that navigating medical device regulations can be daunting. Luckily, Nottingham Spirk has a golden track record, and we are here to help.

How Product Packaging Solves Problems

Product packaging solves problems. Product packaging innovations take advantage of trends while complimenting the product and improving user experience.  

Amanda Beacher Featured in Clinical Trials Arena

Nottingham Spirk's Director of Insights Amanda Beacher was recently quoted by Clinical Trials Arena regarding the FDA's new guidance on patient advisors.

Katherine Hill Ritchie Judges 2022 Full Court Pitch Competition

Nottingham Spirk's Director of Strategic Development, Katherine Hill Ritchie, participated as a judge during the 2022 Full Court Pitch Competition.

Media Roundup: Medical Device Innovations

A roundup of the media coverage focused on Nottingham Spirk's success in medical device development.

Katherine Hill Ritchie Featured in Smart Business Dealmakers

Nottingham Spirk's Katherine Hill Ritchie discusses the importance of staying prepared for a transaction.

NS Client-Partner Sterifre Medical Granted EPA Registration

NS client-partner Sterifre Medical announces a milestone development in the fight against COVID-19 and other contagious pathogens in health care settings.

Nottingham Spirk: 2021 In Review

Recognitions, news, and new collaborations have filled our calendars, and we take this moment to reflect. Join us as we take a look at our Year In Review.

Hampton Bay Filter Fan Available In-Store

The Hampton Bay Air Filtering Ceiling Fan - a Nottingham Spirk and Home Depot product innovation - is now available in-store, exclusively at Home Depot.

Miracle Brands Sense & Dispense Available In-Store

Sense & Dispense  - a Nottingham Spirk and Miracle Brands product innovation - is now available in-store at Lowes, or online at the Miracle Brands website.

Cleveland Magazine’s 30 Great Cleveland Inventions & Innovators

Since 1972, John Spirk's and John Nottingham's company has been the brain power behind many well known devices and innovations.

Step Away From Your Desk: Innovation Requires Focused Relaxation

Social media is full of posts extolling the virtues of constant work, but they’ve inspired me to think more about  the possible outcomes of #thegrind. 

Katherine Hill Ritchie Featured on NextWave Private Equity Podcast

Director of Strategic Development and Board Member Katherine Hill Ritchie talks about family offices and more on the NextWave Private Equity Podcast by EY.

John Nottingham Featured on Industrial Talk

Co-Founder John Nottingham talks about the our history, his thoughts on customer focused solutions, and more on Industrial Talk with Scott MacKenzie.

Plastic Waste: a Growing Challenge the Circular Economy Can Combat

An EU ban is a step toward a larger goal: a circular plastics economy. This is filled with opportunity, and some companies are already planning ahead.

TecTraum’s pro2cool Receives FDA Designation as Breakthrough Device

The FDA has designated TecTraum's pro2cool® - dedicated to providing the world’s first point-of-care treatment for concussions - as a Breakthrough Device.

TIKI® Brand Named as CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree FOR NS SUPPORTED PRODUCT

TIKI® Brand announced it has been named a CES® 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree for their BiteFighter™ String Lights with proven mosquito repellency.

Lindsey Tufts: Associate Spotlight

Lindsey Tufts is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art. Prior to joining NS, he worked at Dan T. Moore Co., where he “wore a lot of different hats.”

Diverse teams can bring balance to your natural assumptions

Humans are prone to biases. As our brains evolved, nature prized speed of information processing over accuracy. We are hardwired to jump to conclusions.

Media Roundup: EY-NS Innovation Hub

A roundup of the media coverage obtained from the launch of our new EY-NS Innovation Hub.

Bill Nottingham Featured on The Fifth Dimensional Leadership Podcast

Nottingham Spirk’s Bill Nottingham talks about the firm's history, his thoughts on leadership, and more on The Fifth Dimensional Leadership Podcast.

Katherine Hill Ritchie Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Board Member Katherine Hill Ritchie has received Sir Anthony Ritossa's Global Family Office Investment Summit Lifetime Achievement Award.

John McKenzie: Associate Spotlight

John is a graduate of Cleveland Institute of Art. Prior to NS, he worked at Lear Corporation and General Motors.

Bill Nottingham Featured in The Landscape by Crain's Cleveland

Nottingham Spirk's VP of Growth and Managing Partner Bill Nottingham is featured in The Landscape podcast by Crain's Cleveland.

Bill Nottingham Selected as a Judge for CES 2022

Nottingham Spirk Managing Partner and VP of Growth Bill Nottingham has been selected to join the panel of judges for CES 2022.

How a Startup Learned to Compete Directly With Mainstream Giants

Startup, Substack, created shockwaves in Hollywood as they acquired DC Comics star writer James Tynion IV, known for his work with Batman.

Katherine Hill Ritchie Featured in Business Insider

A new generation of wealthy families are competing with venture capital and private equity for direct deals — and they're hiring dealmaking talent to do it

Does brainstorming work? Only as part of a larger strategy.

“Brainstorming” is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied concepts in business. Does it work? It depends on what you mean by it.

Give It to Me Straight: Five Words That Are Overused in the Office

In a recent article, Inc. published the Top 31 Buzzwords That Employees Truly Hate. We wanted to take a deep dive into our five favorites. Let’s unpack. 

Katherine Hill Ritchie at Healthcare Impact Investing Summit

A 30 minute panel discussion moderated by Katherine Hill Ritchie and two sophisticated family offices executives.

Subtractive Thinking

“Subtraction is the act of getting to less, but it is not the same as doing less. In fact, getting to less often means doing, or at least thinking, more.”

Remote or In-Office: Does One Promote More Innovation Than the Other?

The New York Times asked if chance meetings at the office boost innovation? Even going as far to suggest that the office stifles innovation.

John Nottingham at Innovation Intersection

John Nottingham discusses the need for innovation at MidTown Cleveland, Inc. and Cleveland Health-Tech Corridor’s Innovation Intersection series.

Measure Your Innovation Capability

When it comes to awareness of innovation capabilities and gaps, you need hard numbers. Nottingham Spirk is a practitioner of the Innovation 360 InnoSurvey.

NS and Club Car Tempo Walk Featured In Global Design News

Designers Nottingham Spirk and Ingersoll-Rand blend tradition and technology for a new handsfree, robotic golf caddie unit.

Listen, Work, Repeat

Long-term planning has never felt more like guesswork. But by changing the way we plan, we can adapt.

6 Habits of the Most Innovative People

Most people struggle to be innovative more than once, but following these 6 habits will lead to sustained inspiration.

Our New Reality is Augmented

As the lines blur between the physical & the digital, virtual reality and augmented reality can provide tools that will impact every industry.

The 'Special Ops' Approach: Tips for Creating Multidisciplinary Teams

Relationships, trust, and common purpose are the fundamental elements of business innovation. 

Medical Device Product Development: Don't Overlook Documentation

A Design History File is part of every medical device product development program at Nottingham Spirk, resulting in a smoother FDA approval process.

Embrace Culture to Overcome "Zoom Fatigue"

Maintaining culture when everyone is working remotely can be challenging. We asked prominent business leaders how they encourage connections.

Keeping Innovation Alive: The Road Ahead [Recap]

In our third roundtable webinar, NS asked business leaders compelling questions about what innovation will look like in the future.

Navigating Turbulence

Adopting a "growth mindset" in the innovation process allows for successes and failures, encouraging new ideas and risk taking as a path to growth.

NS Named to Fast Company's The 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators

Nottingham Spirk is honored to join notable companies named to Fast Company's second annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list.

Northeast Ohio playing sizable role in new disinfectant product

Crain's Cleveland Business first published this article about Northeast Ohio's significant role in getting the Sterifre AURA disinfectant system to market.

XR could be the future of socially distanced collaboration

Nottingham Spirk is always exploring new avenues for innovation, and XR and mixed-reality technologies offer intriguing possibilities for collaboration.

The Disruptive Power of Collaboration

In this article, Nottingham Spirk reveals how to look beyond established competitors to other industries for disruptive innovation opportunities.

Innovation in the New Normal Webinar Recap

In our second roundtable webinar, NS led a discussion on the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic & what innovation in the "new normal" looks like.

Keeping Innovation Alive: Webinar Recap

Nottingham Spirk is asking business leaders: how are you keeping initiatives alive in the face of a global pandemic and constantly shifting priorities?

NS Leverages Partnerships to Produce Face Shields for Hospitals

Nottingham Spirk leveraged partnerships with nearby universities & manufacturers to mass-produce face shields to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19.

What to Consider Beyond “How Long Should a Focus Group Last?”

How long should a focus group last? Insights strategist Josette Galiano elevates the inquiry and offers her expert perspective.

Security in Connected Products is Now Everyone's Concern

As the popularity of connected products increases, Nottingham Spirk urges stronger security measures and partnering with credible experts. Read on.

Five Myths About Transformative Innovation

Nottingham Spirk has identified 5 common myths about transformative innovation that prevent companies from moving innovation initiatives forward. Read on.

Thaw the ‘frozen middle’ of leadership for creativity to flow

To become more innovative, organizations need to encourage creative thinking and risk taking to thaw the "frozen middle" management.

Open Innovation requires a mindset shift

Open Innovation and crowd sourcing can result in innovative product development solutions, but it often requires a mindset shift in your organization.

The 95% Commercialization Solution

John Nottingham, Co-President, describes how our unique Vertical Innovation process has resulted in product commercialization more than 90% of the time.

Biomimicry: The Future of Innovation

The Greater Cleveland area has become a global leader in the practice of biomimicry. Read how Nottingham Spirk learns from nature to accelerate innovation.

John Nottingham at TEDxAsburyPark

Listen to John Nottingham's TEDxAsburyPark talk on "Getting to Wow" and learn more about Nottingham Spirk's track record of success.

Innovation is an "Infinite Game"

Smart companies understand that business competition is an "inifinite game" and the objective is to keep playing as long as possible.

Empower Teams with Purpose

To encourage creative, innovative thinking, we have learned to create small, multidisciplinary empowered teams for every project.

3 Key Takeaways from Front End of Innovation's Brightest Minds

Nottingham Spirk's business development team participated int he Front End of Innovation 2019, and returned with some key innovation takeaways.

Five scenarios suggesting you need a new category strategy

Nottingham Spirk's PathFinder white space analysis program can help companies identify a new category strategy for innovation and growth.

TEDxAsburyPark Preview with John Nottingham on “Getting to Wow”

Listen to John Nottingham’s interview on the podcast “Expert Open” with TEDx AsburyPark founder, Brian Smiga, in advance of his TEDxAsburyPark Talk.

For true disruption, be “Gritty” in your approach

Here's what Philiadelphia Flyer's mascot Gritty can teach everyone about ideating and launching disruptive products. Learn more.

Don't stifle cognitive diversity in the workplace

Learn why it's so important to champion cognitive diversity in the workplace from the innovation experts at Nottingham Spirk.

PARTNER, INNOVATE, COMMERCIALIZE, DISRUPT: NS at CES 2019

Nottingham Spirk exhibited at CES for the first time in 2019, and we invited a few of our client-partners to show the world what we achieved together.

Innovation Due Diligence: Looking Ahead, Not in the Rearview Mirror

John Nottingham, Co-President at Nottingham Spirk, shares his thoughts on what companies must do to reach their innovation potential.

3 Tips for Perpetual Disruption and Increasing Innovation Success

Bill Nottingham shares his thoughts on how to achieve "perpetual disruption" by increasing creativity to innovate over and over again.

NS Biomedical Engineers: “It’s About Making People’s Lives Better”

This month we are featuring our Biomedical Engineering Team and their thoughts about Nottingham Spirk's approach to medical device design.

Seize the Moment Between Meetings, That's When Ideas Take Shape 

We like GM's policy of no looking at smartphones on the way to a meeting. We find ideas often take shape in the moments between meetings.

Technology Empowers Innovation

Nottingham Spirk was honored to be selected as a feature episode in a video series on innovative companies for Intel Corporation.

Take Risks & Rock! — What Innovators & Musicians Have in Common

At Nottingham Spirk we take a creative approach to business. And we can learn about innovation and collaboration from musicians.

A little empathy goes a long way–and trust goes even farther

At Nottingham Spirk we understand that innovation requires risk, so our workplace culture cultivates empathy and trust to encourage creativity.

The Business of Play: Bill Nottingham and Brent Bushnell

Brent Bushnell recently joined Bill Nottingham for a discussion about the "business of play" on the Innovation Navigation podcast.

Boundary Crossing with The Marvel Method

We find Vulture.com's profile of Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee and the so-called Marvel Method an intriguing glimpse into the process of innovation.

Musings: Where Do Ideas Come From? Part 3

Bill Rabbitt, Engineering Project Manager, answers the question, "Where do ideas come from?" This is the third in a series.

Nottingham Spirk Out and About

At NS we encourage our associates to engage in industry, academia and in our community to gain stimulation and inspiration. Here are some recent examples.

Get Out for a New Perspective

We have found that getting out of the office — for trade shows, conferences & other events — has been an important way to keep up with industry trends.

CES 2018: A Viewpoint from NS

We made our annual visit to CES 2018, the Consumer Electronics Show. Here's our view of emerging technologies and consumer gadgets.

Your Not-To-Do List: More phrases that stifle innovation

Nottingham Spirk weighs in on seemingly innocent phrases we hear from partner-clients that dismiss new ideas and stifle their ability to innovate.

Musings: Where Do Ideas Come From? Part 2

Vikki Nowak, Nottingham Spirk's VP of Strategy, answers the question, "Where do ideas come from?" This article is the second in a series

Lessons from Google's "Moonshot Factory"

We use the Atlantic's recent article on Google X's secretive "moonshot factory" as an opportunity to comment on radical creativity.

Biomimicry, the ancient, cutting-edge science

Ariana Rupp, our Biomimicry Fellow, brings a cutting-edge scientific and multi-department approach to product design at Nottingham Spirk.

Musings: Where Do Ideas Come From?

We recently asked Nottingham Spirk associates, "Where do ideas come from?" This is the first in a series of articles exploring that topic.

If I Knew Now What I'll Know Then: Data-First Innovation

Data-First Innovation challenges companies to define the richest and most valuable data they would like to collect, then begin ideating.

The Business of IoT: What's your hardware strategy?

With the rush to develop connected products, we suggest companies first focus on their hardware strategy by asking themselves important questions.

Close the Innovation Gap: Strategic Alignment vs. “random acts of innovation"

A recent report from PwC gave us a fresh perspective on our own experience with client partners and how they often struggle with innovation.

Disrupt Markets, Enhance Lives

This article, first published in i3 Magazine, explores how disruptive technology that changes everything enhances lives, giving us everything we love.

Let's Change the World

In this Smart Business article, learn about some innovation strategies that resulted in some of Nottingham Spirk's "world's first innovations."

Design is Collaborative & Relentless: A (360) Round Table Discussion

In this roundtable discussion, the Nottingham Spirk design team give insights into the collaborative process of designing new products.

SXSW: A “Mini-CES” in Austin

NS visited SXSW 2017 and sat in on a discussion about how policy and innovation must work together to protect people, but not stifle creativity.

Leadership By Design: Views from the Montgomery Summit

NS participated in the annual Montgomery Summit, and came away with some fresh insights about leadership for innovation and design.

Open Innovation: Insights Provide Roadmap from Ideation to Innovation

In this NS roundtable discussion, our in-house Insights Teams discusses how our Vertical Innovation process relies heavily on consumer insights.

New Year: Resolve to Innovate More in 2017

In the new year, companies can resolve to innovate, break old habits and be more productive. Here are our top suggestions to maximize innovation potential.

Connected Mobility: CES 2017 was filled with moving experiences

After attending CES 2017, our takeaway was the theme of "Connected Mobility" and the relationship between people and devices, and devices and other devices.

MIT Sloan: Working Together Management

Bill Nottingham attended an MIT Sloan workshop led by Senior Lecturer Douglas Ready, and picked up some new perspectives on assembling creative teams.

The Back End of Innovation is Critical

Trevor Jackson, our Manufacturing Program Director, finds opportunities for innovation during a product's commercialization and manufacturing process.

Microinteractions in Packaging Design: Detail-Oriented Design Pays Off

This informal roundtable discussion of packaging design innovation and trends revealed the importance of consumer “microinteractions.”

Disruptive Product & Business Innovation Go Hand in Hand

Learn how to overcome the obstacles in getting disruptive product innovation to market using business innovation.

From "it can't be done" to "best of show": SmartMouth package design

Nottingham Spirk developed a dual-chamber bottle for SmartMouth Mouthwash, resulting in the Bernard M. Seid Best of Show Award.

Cleveland a Top Center for Medical Innovation & Design

Cleveland, Ohio is emerging as a top center of medical innovation, and business experts are working to brand the region as “the Medical Capital.”

Innovation Perspectives: Designing for Seamless Care with Chronic Health Conditions

Rebecca Blice shares her thinking on the emerging promise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and next-generation patient care for chronic health conditions.

Top 5 Consumer Product Innovation Trends

Nottingham Spirk looks at some recent trends in consumer product innovation and development that are likely to remain important in the foreseeable future.

Disrupt yourself before someone else does

Chief Executive Magazine reached out to Nottingham Spirk and client-partner Matco Tools for input about how to 'disrupt yourself' for growth.

The Business of Play: Bill Nottingham and Brent Bushnell

Brent Bushnell recently joined Bill Nottingham for a discussion about the "business of play" on the Innovation Navigation podcast.

Troy-Bilt FLEX Wins Edison Awards Gold

The Troy-Bilt FLEX was a 2016 Edison Awards Gold winner. FLEX is the result of a business innovation partnership with MTD Products.

Virtual & Augmented Reality: The Real Potential through Soft Science

Virtual & Augmented Reality really is coming. At NS, we've found success by finding applications for the tech that will be meaningful to users.

For Product Disruption, Try Disciplined Style of Out-There Thinking

John Nottingham discusses Nottingham Spirk's product development strategies and innovations for disrupting the market with game-changers like SpinBrush.

SXSW Interactive: The Front End of Innovation

Nottingham Spirk visited SXSW Interactive in Austin, TX to find the front end of innovation that might debut at some future CES.

Innovation Insight: SmartMouth™ Mouthwash Delivery System

Innovative design is truly customer-centric, as explained in this article about the Nottingham Spirk developed SmartMouth packaging and delivery system.

Bloomberg Advantage: IoT Benefits Every Market

Nottingham Spirk senior designer Bill Nottingham talks patents, Internet of Things and "consumerizing" healthcare on Bloomberg Advantage.

Innovation Navigation: An Interview with John and Bill Nottingham

John and Bill Nottingham were guests on Innovation Navigation, a SiriusXM radio show from the Wharton School of Business. Here are some highlights.

What does customer service have to do with innovation? Everything.

We are business innovation evangelists, but balance is necessary. No organization should let the pursuit of new ideas blind it to customer service.

Creative Collisions: The spark of inspiration for Vertical Innovation

The spark of inspiration for Vertical Innovation™ can be what we call "creative collisions," because it hints at the messy nature of innovation.

Innovation is not a thing we do on Thursday

John and Bill Nottingham talk about business innovation ideas, creativity and inspiration at Cleveland's venerable City Club.

2016 CES Highlights & Trends: Displays Transformed

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, we were most impressed with the stunning advances in screen technology.

2016 Edison Awards: Three Client Collaborations Nominated

Three products designed by product & business innovation firm Nottingham Spirk are in the running for the 2016 Edison Awards, which recognizes innovation.

MTD Named A 2015 Lowes Innovation Partner of the Year

Lowe's named MTD Products as a 2015 Innovation and Vendor Partner of the Year for the Troy-Bilt FLEX yard care system, developed with Nottingham Spirk.

Millennials Are Changing Corporate Structure — for the Better

This article describes how millennials in the workplace are changing corporate structure and management style.

A Mammoth Undertaking

Nottingham Spirk designed the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's logo, created in the early ‘70s with a calligraphy pen.

Designing a $93M Medical Technology: A Behind the Scenes Look

Nottingham Spirk and CardioInsight developed EC VUE Sensor Array vest, acquired by medical device company Medtronic earlier this year for over $100 million.

Smart Business: Innovation Factory

Business innovation needs to be constant and relentless, which is why Nottingham Spirk has created a complete innovation factory. Read more.

Biomimicry is "Natural" Innovation

Biomimicry isn’t itself a product but a process, drawing on natural organisms and processes in order to spark innovation. It’s an emerging field.

Freedom and Responsibility Culture

We addressed this troubling trend with a solution that matches our “freedom and responsibility” culture, by establishing a DPTO policy.

The Relentless Pursuit of Information and "Insights"

User Insights, the relentless pursuit of information, even when you think you have all the answers, guides everything we do.

Innovation and Education: We need more "STEAM"

Larry Quinlan, Deloitte’s CIO officer, argues in favor of “STEAM,” in which the A stands for the arts. “It’s not enough to be technologically brilliant,”

Troy-Bilt FLEX: Modular Outdoor Power Equipment

Troy-Bilt FLEX modular yard care system, a Lawn Mower, Snow Thrower, Leaf Blower and Power Washer are “attachments” that operate from the same Power Base.

CardioInsight Technologies Acquired to Advance Heart Mapping

The ECVue system is the first non-invasive mapping system to provide simultaneous, 3-D, multi-chamber mapping and localization of cardiac arrhythmia.

Learning To Innovate By "Making"

When individuals engage in hands-on activities and learn about tools and technology, they not only ‘know’ but can also ‘do.’

The "open office" trend is not a one-size-fits-all solution for innovation

Pixar’s success was very much on our minds when we established our Innovation Center in a grand former church in 2005.

Maintaining The Culture of Creativity

Nottingham Spirk’s Vertical Innovation process relies on a flat management structure and a team-based approach to projects.

Cub Cadet HAULER: Innovative Versatility

Sides up, the Cub Cadet HAULER can hold 10 cubic feet of soil, mulch, stones, etc., weighing up to 800 pounds. Sides down, the hauler becomes a flatbed

CWRU & Nottingham Spirk Partnership for Innovation

University Partnership For Innovation: We don’t want to just watch, we want to work with students and faculty to help them reach the marketplace more quickly.

Shattered Glass: The Value of a "Soft Launch"

Soft Launch: Glass’ failure doesn’t ultimately stem from people perceiving it as uncool; it’s that Glass isn’t perceived as all that useful.

Engineer Opportunities: Elsie's New Car

Four students upgraded a little girl’s beloved motorized mini-car. Flynn McPherson explains how the students were able to engineer opportunities.

2015 CES: Emerging Innovation

At the 2015 CES Show, we were impressed with showcases from universities like CWRU, with 9 student startups, along with other smaller companies

Hiring For Creativity

When hiring for creativity, we don’t spend a lot of time talking about the applicant’s resume. We’re more interested in what drives them.

Commentary - "Goodbye, TiVo?" via Verge.com

Commentary - "Goodbye, TiVo" Innovated at a pace unbefitting its role as a disruptor; it got weirdly complacent for company that was facing constant threat

HALO Bassinest: Innovative Solution for Co-Sleeping

The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is the only infant bassinet that moves to bring the baby closer to you.

Forbes Reinventing America: Invest In The Midwest

At the Forbes Reinventing America event John Nottingham spoke about partnerships to create disruptive innovations in healthcare.

Innovation Brewing in Cleveland

NBC News feature story on innovation brewing in Cleveland. John Nottingham & John Spirk discuss how the next 40 years are going to be unbelievable.

BioInnovation Partnership

Leaders of the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) and Nottingham Spirk announced a strategic bioinnovation partnership

Taming the Unruly Reciprocating Saw

Nottingham Spirk tames the unruly reciprocating saw - faster, oil impregnated double blades dramatically reduce kickback and create smooth entry cuts.

Vertical Innovation®

Vertical Innovation is the alignment of resources and culture - possible because we’ve brought all of this under one roof in our Innovation Center.

Successful Partnerships Get Innovations to Market

To position a brand as innovative, we’re always thinking ahead in order to get innovations to market

Nottingham Spirk Spring 2014 Newsletter

The quarterly innovation insights & analysis newsletter from Nottingham Spirk - spring 2014

Relentless Innovation in 2014: Commentary

We believe that innovation must be simultaneously continuous and disruptive if a company wants to consistently grow,and we call this relentless innovation.

Empowering Innovators Intel Film Series

A film series called Empowering Innovators to explore the ways in which Intel technology plays a vital role in creative, cultural, and physical endeavors

Engineering Program Director: Nick

As Engineering Program Director, I am a Mechanical Engineer, providing traditional engineering support on small programs to very large ones.

Zurn Aquasense : Sometimes The Best Technology Is Hidden

Elevating brands above the competition through the vertical innovation process of research and delivery.

John Spirk: We Have to See the Invisible and do the Impossible

John Spirk took the stage at the Reinventing America Summit, Forbes' inaugural event designed to bring together leaders of the next industrial revolution

The Invention Machine

The Invention Machine, as referred to by Dan Alexander in Forbes, was originally fired up by Nottingham and Spirk in a garage in 1972 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Design Team Project Manager: Carolyn

Being a Design Team Project Manager allows Carolyn to step in and out of may different creative roles in the process of Vertical Innovation.

Create a Culture of Innovation

Nottingham & Spirk provide practical advice on how companies can foster a culture of innovation that engages employees and delivers compelling results.

A New Years Greeting from Nottingham Spirk

As we approach the New Year we are thankful for the many stakeholders who have made this a successful year for Nottingham Spirk

Creating Ways To Make An Impact: 70-20-10 Rule

Get more detail on how your business can follow the 70-20-10 rule.

Keep Big Ideas From Eating Your Core Business

John and Bill Nottingham of Nottingham Spirk discuss what companies need to do to create the next big ideas in this Tech Talk Podcast.

DualSaw recognized on Uncrate.com

The DualSaw Reciprocating Saw is an example of a successful product collaboration between Infusion Brands and Nottingham Spirk.

Spur Innovation, Go All In

Investors.com, powered by Investor's Business Daily, includes R&D innovation quotes from John Nottingham, co-president of Nottingham Spirk.

Rug Doctor® Launches Portable Spot Cleaner

Nottingham Spirk partnered with Rug Doctor to create an innovative portable spot cleaner with differentiated features and a ready-to-use design.

Key to Success: Innovation

Investing in innovation was key to success in order to keep their manufacturing operating at capacity.

25 Most Innovative: Urgent Rx

Urgent Rx is known for their fast-acting, over-the-counter, single-use, powder packs that treat common ailments such as headaches, allergies, and more.

Sustainable Living Trends: LED Light Bulbs

The shift of switching from traditional incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs (light-emitting diode) tends to be an expensive sustainable trend to the average consumer.

Nottingham Spirk: The Church of the Game Changer

Read why Steve Minter refers to Nottingham Spirk as "The Church of the Game Changer" in Industry Week.

Exploradio Visits Nottingham Spirk

Jeff St. Clair visits the Nottingham Spirk Innovation Center in the renovated Church of Christian Science as part of his on-going series Exploradio

RainX Perfect Dose Car Wash Now Available

Nottingham Spirk and ITW Global Brands collaborated and developed a 3-in-1 Perfect Dose Car Wash to clean, rinse, and wax your car with less mess and waste

NorTech Innovation Award: Nottingham Spirk/CardioInsight

The NorTech Innovation Awards recognizes companies in Northeast Ohio for their advanced innovations producing world-class technology.

Innovation Insights Winter 2013

The quarterly Innovation Insights & analysis newsletter from Nottingham Spirk - winter 2013.

Easing the Water Burden

Much of the world still struggles with basic survival. PackH20 aims to ease the water burden with a better way to transport and store safe drinking water.

Innovation and Risk

Boeing’s troubles with the new 787 Dreamliner provide a reminder of innovation and risk being intertwined.

In Innovation, Less is More

Narrow down teams to those who own the project - less is more when it comes to innovation in a team setting.

Lockitron - featured in Time Magazine

Nottingham Spirk's Lockitron digital deadbolt solution simplifies your life by letting you leave your keys behind.

Ninja Innovation by Gary Shapiro features Nottingham Spirk

Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro released his new book Ninja Innovation: The Ten Killer Strategies of the World’s Most Successful Businesses, this year at the 2013 Inter

NY Times Interview Uncovers Barriers to Innovation

Ideating, creating, and implementing are three critical factors that go into a successful innovation. However, there are plenty of moments that might slow down or hinder the innovation process.

PackH2O Receives Popular Science Award

A water backpack, designed in collaboration with Greif, Inc., has been honored with a 2012 Best of What’s New Award from Popular Science magazine.

Business Hall of Fame Inductions

The Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame recognizes John Nottingham and John Spirk’s innovative work over the last 40 years.

CEA Industry Forum Feature

Bill Nottingham spoke at the annual CEA Industry Forum took place on October 2012 where he spoke about the NS vertical integration platform

Innovation Leadership Keynote Address

The third annual NineSigma Open Innovation Leadership Summit took place October 1-3 2012 in Philadelphia.

Warp Speed Innovation Insights Fall 2012

After four decades and hundreds of innovation programs, we've learned there are 5 critical requirements necessary for rapid innovation.

Medical Device Partner Featured

Nottingham Spirk medical device partner CardioInsight was featured on August 19, 2012 in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

5 Keys to Warp Speed Innovation

We helped CardioInsight take a breakthrough new medical device from technology to clinical trials in just 4 months.

Behind the Scenes at Nottingham Spirk: Bringing Concepts to Life

As anyone who has ever innovated knows, identifying a great concept is only half the battle. Testing and refinement are vital for bringing that concept to life and transforming it into a viable produ

Nottingham Spirk Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation

In August 1972, two award-winning graduates from the Cleveland Institute of Art decided to pool their talents and prize money and open a new design firm.

Innovation Awards for Scotts Snap System

The spreader system was applauded for bearing standout graphics, encompassing colors, brand identity and clear communication of product intent.

ViewRay MRI System Gets FDA Approval

Drawing on our experience with medical systems development, we worked closely with ViewRay to enhance the patient and technician's use experience, from what the patient sees and feels, to the function

Sales Growth Driven by Innovation

Scotts credits their new Snap fertilizer system – developed by Nottingham Spirk – with helping to drive a 14% increase in consumer spreader purchases plus higher than anticipated fertilizer purchases.

Walk of Fame Plaque Design

Nottingham Spirk worked with the Rock Hall to create the ‘bronze-record’ plaque design and production of the first round of ‘records.’

Revolutionary Lawn Spreader

One of our business inventions is now available at national retail stores. The Scotts Snap™ System is a combination self-sealing cartridge and revolutionary spreader.

Bill Nottingham Carries on Inventive Spirit at Nottingham Spirk

Bill Nottingham, 33, is a project manager for the firm's Innovation Center. He spoke with Cleveland Plain Dealer PDQ's Michael Heaton.

Cleveland Arts Prize

The oldest award of its kind in the United States, the Arts Prize is a testament to the standard of excellence and quality of artists in Northeast Ohio. This video celebrates the work of John Nottingh

CamelBak Performance Bottle Makes It to Primetime

In NBC's TV hit series, Parks & Recreation, Rob Lowe is featured using one of Nottingham Spirks' very own inventions, the CamelBak Performance™ Bottle.

Toothbrushes in Need!

We had discovered a way to make the benefits of mechanized brushing dental care accessible to the masses in the U.S. with the SpinBrush, the electric toothbrush. It would be fitting if we could take

Lawn Care Innovation With Scotts

Scotts Miracle-Gro sums up what a desirable innovation is: “When we make something easier and less time-consuming, we think we have a good innovation.”

Open Innovation Partner

Creating the world’s smallest aerosol would take time and resources away from other important initiatives for Unilever. Nottingham Spirk was hired and within a year, the world’s smallest aerosol was c

Made In America

There's been a lot of discussion recently about a resurgence in US manufacturing. Terms like "onshoring" and "insourcing" have been introduced to describe the return of domestic manufacturing from of

Medical Device Innovations in Cleveland

Nottingham Spirk has increased their medical device portfolio by 40%, with clients such as CardioInsight, a biomedical start-up developing a vest with sensing technology to assess heart health and the

Open Innovation Summit

At the recent Open Innovation Summit in Washington DC, featured speaker, John Nottingham shared best approaches for how companies can dramatically increase their competitive advantage with breakthroug

NineSigma and Nottingham Spirk Partner

NineSigma and Nottingham Spirk are partnering to provide an end-to-end solution to allow companies to take a product from idea to marketplace in 12–18 months.

Freon Free Cooler Saves Energy

After a client complained that sales of their regional juice products were lagging because of poor placement in the back coolers of retail stores, Nottingham-Spirk set about creating a new way to disp

If Sustainability is the New Religion, Maybe it Belongs in Church

Saving a beautiful old church and rehabbing it as a den of creativity, Nottingham and Spirk catalyzed community revitalization in a Cleveland neighborhood.

Ideas Made Here

John Nottingham and his partner, John Spirk, run Nottingham-Spirk, the most successful industrial-design firm you’ve probably never heard of.