Designing cooking and bakeware innovations is nothing new for Inventionland’s team of Creationeers who work to serve creative ideas daily, seeing an idea through our 9-step process from concept to prototype, to real product in packaging.

Just last year, the Inventionland-designed Mega Bacon Pan made an appearance on QVC’s In the Kitchen with David. While it’s always exciting to see our products reach television sets of viewers everywhere, it’s even more gratifying when a product becomes a QVC best-seller!

That’s the same hope for the unique TriSagna Pan, set to appear during two popular segments on QVC today!

QVC’s Kitchen Unlimited with Carolyn

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  EST

QVC’s In the Kitchen with David

7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST

By designing a unique pan with three separate sections and individual lifting trays, Inventionland designers were able to create the unique TriSagna Pan to enable chefs of all skill levels to easily prepare and simultaneously bake three kinds of lasagna in a single pan. From meat to vegetarian, this pan encourages at-home chefs to get creative in the kitchen.

Tune in today to see the TriSagna Pan in action!

Copyright Inventionland, 2017

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Every day, our talented group of Creationeers is inspired and encouraged to dare to invent. Inventionland’s 61,000 square foot facility is not only filled with talented people, but also the amazing things each and every one of them make.

As any maker may attest to, there’s a sense of pride that comes out of creating something new. In a video as part of our Inside Inventionland web series, Creationeer Jon talked about his unique role in building many of the special projects that ultimately become part of our creative space.

Well, Jon was recently at it again with a newly completed project that really helps set the scene at Inventionland. Once he got word from founder and CEO Mr. George Davison, all Jon could say was, “ACTION!”

“Mr. Davison wanted a marquee above the entrance to the theater, so he asked me to come up with some ideas,” said Jon who brought the marquee sign project through the key stages of development.

Ideation Sketches

Sketching ideas is a helpful way to brainstorm. Getting your ideas to flow freely onto paper is a skill in itself, which Jon utilized to figure out the design and dimensions of the new marquee sign before moving forward.

Concept Model

“I know when [Mr. D] wants me to go further with one of his ideas, he wants me to make it into a concept model,” said Jon who mentioned that nothing beats a concept model when it comes to enabling others, and even yourself, to see exactly how a concept will or sometimes will not work.

“It was a challenge to figure out how to make this into a real sign,” said Jon. “It was way harder creating the sign than the concept model because cardboard (used in the concept model creation) is really easy to bend and put together. I just had to rethink how I was going to make this concept and use different materials that would work for a permanent fixture,” said Jon who feels that overcoming the challenges of a project can be frustrating, but fun!

Completed Project

“Once you get it figured out and get past all the stress, it’s super rewarding to see it done and Mr. D was very happy about it, so that’s the ultimate reward right there! That and the fact that it gets to be part of the set,” said Jon.

“That’s my favorite thing about this job. It’s awesome that I get to do stuff that becomes a permanent part of the Inventionland set. When they bring people in on the tours, all of those people get to see my work,” said Jon.

Did you enjoy this piece of “edutainment”? Go even further and schedule your group for an Inventionland tour today to see Jon’s new marquee sign and more!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

The post A Sneak Preview of a New Addition to the Inventionland Set appeared first on Inventionland.

A couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of their grand opening, The Container Store held an exclusive, invite-only preview party.

At The Container Store preview, the excitement was palpable and the products that we designed right here at Inventionland were on display. For example, the Gift Wrap Organizer and the Gift Bag Organizer were on display in Jokari packaging, while the Hanger Pockets were on store shelves under The Container Store’s own private-label packaging!

With all of this excitement swirling around our invention factory following the event, we had to check in with our team from the Red House to see what they had to say about seeing their hard work on store shelves!

“I would say it was a fairly overwhelming experience, because we were trying to look for our products, see competitive products to what we do and, at the same time, we were looking at The Container Store brand itself to get an understanding of the private-label world and its benefits and why The Container Store does it,” said Creationeer Tim.

“The time flew by while we were there. It didn’t seem like we had enough time to get through everything before we got kicked out,” he laughed.

Creationeer John joined in on the conversation by saying “Impulse, impulse, impulse!”

“Seeing the store layout kind of just gave us an idea of the different categories to keep our minds focused on. We spent a lot of time there at the end looking at the impulse gadgets near the checkout to understand how and why they made it there and how to get our products there in the future,” said Tim.

It’s not these Creationeers’ first time seeing their products and packaging on store shelves, but it’s always a gratifying experience.

“It’s numb, but it is gratifying to see our work on the store shelf, which is the whole point in what we do,” said Tim.

Switching gears from the creative/innovator experience to the consumer experience, the team agrees there’s a lot to love at this new store location. Tim and Creationeer Tess were both intrigued by the closet displays.

We couldn’t contain our excitement, so we had to share it with you! We hope you enjoyed our behind-the-scenes look at The Container Store’s preview party!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

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When schools, educators and community groups travel through our creative space, they are not only surrounded by a unique environment filled with innovation, but also by a bit of nostalgia.

On site are two Mold-A-Rama machines, which haven’t been manufactured since the 1960s. So, every machine that you see, including the two in Inventionland, are about half a century old!

Two Creationeers at Inventionland, Michael “Spicy” and Gordon, took a trip back in time when they got the chance to work on the Mold-A-Rama machines to make them function properly.

“They used to have one at the Pittsburgh Zoo. You put a quarter in it and it gave you a dinosaur. That was whenever I was a little kid,” said Gordon, who mentioned that while he was witness to that innovation, there was lack of another.

“There was no air conditioning in cars at the time, so by the time you got [your mold] home, it was melted!” said Gordon.

Spicy recalled a similar time in his childhood.

“I actually remember these when I was a kid. The first one my parents got me was when we were at the zoo. [The mold] was in the shape of a gorilla,” said Spicy. “It really brings me back to my childhood.”

The Mold-A-Rama may have been a fun attraction at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium at the time, however it no longer exists in that location. Could this mean that Inventionland houses the only two Mold-A-Rama machines in the Pittsburgh region? Though we can’t be sure, just the thought of that sounds pretty cool to us!

“When the machines came in, it was exciting seeing something from my past, my childhood,” said Spicy. “And to see it in the shape of something we actually use here was really cool. I really enjoy that,” said Spicy, referencing the two different molds that can be created by the machines – Chipper Cloud and an Inventionland logo.

While Gordon and Spicy were excited about the Mold-A-Ramas that brought back some childhood memories, our founder and CEO Mr. George Davison was excited because the machines are a perfect example of the injection blow molding process.

“It’s great that our tours full of kids will see this process first hand!” said Mr. Davison.

So, what exactly is the process and how does it work?

“A liquid plastic is blown in by compressed air. There’s an actual coolant cycle inside the machine, which keeps the molds themselves very cold. So when the hot plastic goes in, the mold is cooled instantly as soon as the material hits the molds. When it’s done, you have a nice, solid product!” said Gordon who had torn open the machines in order to fix them, seeing their inner workings and components.

Spicy, who also helped to work on the machines’ coin exchange, reiterated Gordon’s thoughts, mentioning the chiller and heater reservoirs – one chills the mold while the other heats the fluid. “The technology in the machines has sort of been updated, but it’s still very old school and uses very industrial mechanisms,” said Spicy.

“It was fun to work on old nostalgic machines, but you have to be gentle because you know they’re old. There are very few replacement parts left. They’re old machines; what can you say?!” said Gordon who was excited to repair the machines and get his first mold.

“When I fixed the machines, put in a quarter to test it and got my first mold, I thought ‘Wow! Is that neat!?'”

If there’s anything we might possibly be able to liken an old Mold-A-Rama to, perhaps it’s a modern 3D printer? Except, in this case, it’s not only older, but clunkier, and can only create one molded design!

See the Mold-A-Rama in action, below!

Want to see the Mold-A-Rama for yourself? Schedule an Inventionland tour today!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

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Inside Inventionland has given us an all-access pass to the lives, both professionally and personally, of some of our Creationeers. In the latest installment, Creationeer Sarah gives us an exclusive look at a day in her shoes.

Creationeer Sarah works on designing products and says that she started at Inventionland as a MacGyver of sorts.

“I always like to learn new things and my hobbies really helped me to get a job here, so that was pretty great!” said Sarah.

MacGyver has a positive, can-do attitude and that’s what Sarah tries to mimic, day in and day out. With a positive outlook on life, Sarah considers herself an all-around happy person.

“Being grumpy is no way to live,” said Sarah.

Every day when she comes through the doors of Inventionland, Sarah puts her education and her raw talents to the test. Beyond her busy schedule and tenacity to succeed, Sarah somehow finds time to lend her expertise to a local brewery in her spare time.

So, what is Creationeer Sarah happy to brew up and what are the three words that she uses to describe Inventionland? All that and more is in the latest installment of Inside Inventionland. 

Craving even more Inside Inventionland? Catch all episodes by checking the Inventionland blog or subscribing to the YouTube channel today!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

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To many young visitors, Inventionland is a place of excitement and creativity. With tours of young school children and community groups visiting our unique 61,000 square foot invention factory each week, it’s not unusual for working Creationeers to hear the buzz of excited kids bustling about the creative space.

Around this time last month, however, Inventionland opened its doors to one very special, young visitor who saw Inventionland not only as an exciting and creative space, but a place of mystery, magic, wonder and hidden secrets!

Four-year-old Harper is sweet, sassy and full of imagination and creativity. Harper loves to dress up in princess dresses and loves castles. Most of all, she loves Disney’s Maleficent. Harper fully believes she has magical powers – and we’re pretty sure she does, too – because she didn’t let cancer fade her tremendous spirit.

Coming to terms with the reality that their only child had Wilms’ Tumor was difficult for parents, Melanie and Steve of Pittsburgh, PA.

“I think from the moment the social worker at the hospital told me that Make-A-Wish® would get involved with us, that very eligibility changed my understanding of what we were going through. My first reaction was ‘Why us? That’s for other people.’ But, then I realized we are ‘other people’ now. It helped me work through my denial a little bit,” said Harper’s father, Steve.

It would be Make-A-Wish®  Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia volunteers that took Harper’s love for both castles and Maleficent to Inventionland, setting up a scavenger hunt that would ultimately lead Harper to uncover a secret Maleficent hid inside Inventalot Castle – that she will be headed to Disney World in October!

“Bippity, boppity, boo!” were the magic words said by an excited Harper as she waved her magic wand to open the hidden bookcase door to enter Inventionland, where she was led by Inventionland tour guide Tony and photographer Mike.

“We really appreciate Tony and Mike for taking time out of their work day,” said Harper’s mother Melanie. “Tony did a good job of reinforcing the fantasy of it all, that this was Maleficent’s doing and that he needed Harper’s help [to unveil the hidden secret],” said Melanie.

From the moment the bookcase door opened to finding the first clue on Pirate Ship Discovery, Harper was hooked to the storyline.

“She hasn’t really been in an immersive, themed environment like that before,” said Melanie, who noted she and her husband Steve were also impressed with the creative space. “I had no idea of what Inventionand was about. Seeing all those products [in CEO and founder George Davison’s office] was pretty overwhelming, but to know there was this whole, sort of secret, world behind the bookshelf was pretty fun.”

Melanie, an architect, went on to further note, “A lot of companies say they want creative space, but they don’t really know what creative space means. It’s hard to break out of the mold even if it’s a really nice cubicle farm, its still a cubicle farm. What’s interesting about Inventionland is [that Mr. Davison] really made a bold move to try it out. Some might be scared that people won’t be productive in an environment that contains ‘whimsy.’ There are people that actually work there and it’s kind of surreal to see that,” said Melanie.

From the looks of things, Harper and her family had a blast in our creative space. “I loved Inventionland!” said Harper.

“I think that it was an otherworldly experience. Harper has already asked ‘Can we go back there?’ It’s difficult to explain it’s not an amusement park, but a place that people work,” said Melanie. “The whole evening was just the perfect match for what her wish is and what her personality is. I couldn’t have imagined a better place for her wish reveal.”

With the wish reveal falling on the eve of Harper’s last chemotherapy treatment, her family found out weeks later that Harper is now in remission! Best wishes for a safe and happy trip to Disney World!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

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Just two weeks ago, a team of Inventionland Creationeers were hustling and bustling to prepare trade show assets, including a new backlit sign with interchangeable graphics, for our friends at Jokari/US, Inc. who had to be prepped and ready for the Total Home & Gift Market at the Dallas Market Center, held June 22^nd-28^th.

Within this tremendous market event – which showcased everything from housewares to textiles to serveware and more – was the Dallas Gourmet Market, where the backlit sign craftily put together by our skilled Creationeers shined brightly to lead market attendees towards the Jokari booth.  There, for the first time in the company’s 40-year history, they showcased and took orders for a new collection of gourmet consumables, personally authenticated by Paula Deen!

The sign was designed to hold graphics designed with both the Jokari and Paula Deen logos. And, as we saw in a previous blog, the sign itself was a product of a lot of teamwork, skill, various material and processes. From graphic design to woodworking to electronics, the sign moved through various shops and hands until completion.

So, for all of the effort to get the project done under a tight deadline, what did Jokari think of the sign?

“The sign worked out really well!” said Jokari CEO Don Saller, who said he was very appreciative of the Inventionland Creationeers’ hard work to prepare the sign, as well as products and packaging for the market.

Paula Deen’s presence at the Jokari booth may have had quite a bit to do with the large amount of foot traffic Jokari received during Friday at the market, but we’d like to think our creative backlit sign helped to lead the way!

Until another trade show, keep updated with the Inventionland blog and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see what’s happening around our invention factory!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

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The final school bell has rung for many and summer is in session.

With that being said, a lot of outdoor activities are on the horizon for kids and their families. From soccer or baseball games to a family camping trip, there will be lots of time spent in the great outdoors.

Given that it’s actually Great Outdoors Month, we found this to be the perfect bridge to tell you about our founder and CEO George Davison’s latest and greatest invention.

You might want to take a seat before reading this and you’ll find out why shortly.

George Davison has more than 25 years under his belt in the inventing industry and over this time, he’s honed in on his skills of identifying problems and creating viable solutions.

So, back when he was the coach of his kids’ soccer teams, he began to realize a common problem. With the benches straight across, it could be difficult to get all the players to rally around without distraction. This became a frustrating problem because he was unable to get his players in a half circle to rally and encourage them.

Being the great inventor that he is, he channeled his creative and innovative spirit and came up with the Curved Bench, which has been licensed to Creative Outdoor Distributors. Last month, his invention hit the market for sale on Amazon.com and Overstock.com.

These two popular ecommerce sites aren’t the only place that the world’s first curved, fold-up bench can call home. In fact, his invention can be found right in our very own invention factory!

The Curved Bench can now be found under Davy’s Treehouse, near Creation Cavern – an appropriate setting for the bench and, of course, a campfire.

Now, George Davison can rally our Creationeers just like he did when he was a coach!

So, in honor of Great Outdoors Month, we hope you enjoyed our campfire story of another George Davison invention, the Curved Bench!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

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You’ve seen him on Inside Inventionland. His designs are a little bit Rusty. He was once mistaken for Thor. If you haven’t guessed yet, we’re talking about Inventionland Senior Design Manager, Clay!

This innovative Creationeer is putting his expertise, personality and creativity to good use in the name of the Science Channel’s MythBusters!

“[The Science Channel is] making a show about trying to be the host of a [new MythBusters] show, so it’s very meta. It’s like a million of other reality shows out there, none of which I’m familiar with as I don’t watch reality shows – (except for MythBusters and I was always a fan of Dirty Jobs.) I never had any interest in contest shows, like Survivor and stuff,” said Clay. “Nonetheless, I’ve applied to be on one of them… But, it’s the opportunity to try to become a MythBuster!”

As Clay mentioned, the Discovery-owned Science Channel is in the midst of casting for a reality competition series, Search for the Next MythBusters. This new show follows the MythBusters series finale that aired early last March.

For 14 seasons, viewers were given the chance to watch as Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman put science to use in order to test various myths and rumors.

Science Channel executives said that the new reality series is geared toward an “all-new generation of myth-busing science superstars with mind-blowing build skills and nerves of steel.”

We don’t want to sound too biased, but that sounds like they’re talking about Clay!

The network is currently looking for 15 participants who will solve challenges on the show. Viewers were invited to submit videos that showcased their potential and according to the executives, ideal candidates are, “people who have building skills and are naturally inquisitive…People who don’t mind getting embarrassed a little bit, who ask lots of questions and have the skills and knowledge to put those to the test.”

Clay is inquisitive, energetic and is ready to be embarrassed in the name of science, so with that being said, Clay sent in a video and is now part of the audition process.

It didn’t take long for Clay to receive word that he moved on to stage two of the review process!

“Now, I imagine at any point from now until they have their people, I will hopefully get another email saying they’d like to have me on their show,” said Clay, who remains hopeful about his chances, though he knows that he’s up against some worthy competition.

“So far, the people who have seen [my video] seem to really like it, which is nice. I’ve got a lot of painfully honest and extremely talented friends who would say if they thought it sucked. They compared my video to other audition videos on YouTube and they feel like mine is at least one of the most entertaining,” said Clay. “I went into this first imaging that I’m the person who has to watch video after video… I would think watching these one after another would get old quickly, so I tried to make mine punchy. Every few seconds there’s a little something to (hopefully) keep your attention – For the most part, I think I managed to pull that off with things happening, cuts between clips and me doing embarrassing things.”

Clay was lucky enough to receive a lot of help from his wife, Monica, in creating his audition video. The pair pulled off this feat at our very own invention factory in just one weekend!

According to Clay, in order to achieve one shot in particular, Monica had to hold a phone and tripod to shoot the video, all the while squatting on the floor, bracing the end of a ping pong shooter on the tip of her toes!

Talk about multitasking!

 “I built a ping pong ball shooter out of a portable shop vac! With that, we had also built an elaborate makeshift tripod out of PVC I got out of the rack in the Wood Shop, which was taped together,” said Clay. “… I owe Monica so much! She has been tremendously so supportive and helpful. I can’t say enough how indebted I am to her on many, many levels; this is just one example.”

Clay’s certainly offered a lot of education and entertainment here at Inventionland and we can only hope he’ll get the chance to do the same on the Science Channel’s Search for the Next MythBusters!

The new series is set to begin taping next month and Clay can expect to find out the status of his audition within the next few weeks!

So please, join us in wishing our crazy Creationeer Clay good luck as he looks to take his product testing to the next level with the Science Channel!

Copyright Inventionland, 2016

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