January 2007
'Inspired' Design Week Article
By the time you have finished reading Design Week the world will have changed. New ideas, people, places, and products will have arrived - while others will cease to exist. Don't panic. As the globe grows smaller, the opportunities for innovation grow bigger. And, as the symbiotic balance between man vs. nature continues to evolve, so too does the inspiration for innovative ideas and solutions that can readily equip us for the future. The individuals that conceive these innovations are a source of inspiration for me: while we work today, they are busy working on tomorrow. They are drawing inspiration from dilemmas and 'what ifs' and creating fruitful synergies between technology, design, and application. Take the Apple i-Pod, for example. There is nothing 'new' about its core offering. The human race has enjoyed music for thousands of years - it was one of our earliest innovations! Yet, amidst a climate of new technologies, mediums, and lifestyles, the i-Pod has revolutionised and reinvigorated the globe's passion for one of life's simplest pleasures. It has drawn inspiration from these factors and delivered a solution - one that informs, entertains, promotes individuality, and … inspires. Inspiration is a vital element of success, and without it, failure is easily accessible. To this end, elite athletes also inspire me, largely because they must rely on their own personal fortitude and confidence to achieve success. I have marvelled at how their intrinsic self-commitment and strength can combine to forge excellence - which in turn inspires others. The new Tennis Australia brandmark simultaneously harnesses the essence of this athletic inspiration and aims to inspire its audiences - players, the community, sponsors, and spectators.

Richard Henderson
CEO and Creative Director, R-Co Australia

 

Richard has given numerous speeches and presentations at events over the years.

 

Click here to see Richard's contribution to the Design Victoria website on 'Why Design?'

 

Click here to view his article from the 1 July 2009 edition of BRW.

 

On Thursday 25 June 2009, Richard Henderson gave the following presentation at the VECCI Sales & Marketing Conference. Please cllick here to view the presentation.

 

Click here to view his presentation from the 2008 State of Design - Design Capital night.

 

May 2008
I am interested in the relationship between the idea of an organisation (who it is and what it stands for), it's business strategy for a long term rewarding future and how it can sustain marketplace relevance through meaningful engagement with people.

The designer is equipped with intuition and an enquiring mind, which thrives on the challenge of problem solving. Bringing the solution to life in a way that communicates, differentiates, inspires and motivates within a business paradigm, requires a creative approach based upon a search for understanding.

This thoughtful endeavour establishes respect for imagination and enables hearts to be opened to new experiences and minds to shift towards new possibilities. When trust becomes the basis of the relationship between the designer and the client, ideas can be explored and the journey towards an enlightened solution is made easier. In this respectful and trusting environment the designer has the opportunity (and responsibility) to challenge existing perceptions and through the creative process explore new horizons of innovation.

R-Co has chosen to use a definitive creative methodology to assist our client to engage with their marketplaces and customers. We are interested in the dynamic between creativity and business. It is our focus.

At the heart of our work is the love of ideas, a commitment to authentic excellence in all aspects of our enterprise, a respect for everyone we work with, a philosophy that beauty is good for business and a belief that the quality of the future will be shaped by the investment that business and Government makes in innovation and sustainable designed outcomes.