Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,935 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,972 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,972 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,215 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,935 cutting edge ideas.

Exceeding Expectations

Damien Huang, SVP Design & Product Merchandising, Eddie Bauer
Courtney Scharf
January 12th, 2015
As the Senior VP of Design and Product Merchandising at Eddie Bauer, Damien Huang is tasked with the challenge of bridging new technology and design with a storied heritage brand. Understanding the importance and role of failure when it comes to innovation, he makes it a priority to create a work environment where experimentation is encouraged and valued.

3 Questions with Damien Huang:

1. How do you motivate your team to generate good ideas?

We hire people with that ability and allow them the freedom to pursue new ideas and concepts. Our most successful, and consistently innovative teams are constantly experimenting and trying new things. We are careful not to overuse the word ‘innovation’ too much: it is tied strongly to technology and gadgetry, and given the scope of our product line, we like to take an expansive view of how we can be innovative. We consider new aesthetics, brand expressions, and creative languages all part of an innovative culture.

3. What makes an innovative culture? How do you create a culture of innovation?

First and foremost, innovative teams cannot be penalized for failure. Taking risks and trying new ideas should be rewarded. An important part of that effort is giving teams the time and permission to experiment. Second, a company should be tactical in how it asks its teams to be innovative, and what it defines as innovative. Is it number of patents? Revenue? Or something less tangible? Third, pay attention to the structure of the organization and where you want/expect innovation to come from.

4. What’s an example of when you were most proud of your team?

The launch of First Ascent and Sportshop lines over the past 4 years have been instrumental in getting Eddie Bauer back on track. We’ve one 18 (and counting) gear of the year type awards in a variety of categories, more than any other outdoor brand in that timeframe. I look at that period of success as one of the proudest time periods for the team. We hope the trend continues.

5. Do you have any team rituals to help encourage innovation?

We look to our guides and the outdoors for inspiration. Innovation at its core is about breaking a compromise, whether it’s combining something as simple as ‘lightweight’ and ‘durable’, or rugged with flexible, etc. We like to look at what a user traditionally gives up in order to gain something else, then try to force that compromise to break.
References: linkedin, eddiebauer