This site is part of the Informa Connect Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Strategy & Innovation
search
Advertising

Innovation Interview: Q&A with Ron Voigt, X-Rite Pantone

Posted by on 02 May 2017
Share this article
FEI 2017 presenter Ron Voigt, President of X-Rite Pantone, will
be examining how getting specific with your vision early in the innovation
process helps you better achieve buy-in and expedited time to market, as well
as generate more overall interest and enthusiasm, in his session 'The Counterintuitive
Magic of Specificity.'
But before he takes the stage in May, we wanted to hear a
little more about Ron and why specificity and innovation are so important to
him.
You could talk about anything at FEI. Why is specificity
such a big deal?

Ron Voigt: We, as humans, are born to articulate our
thoughts and ideas. Giving shape to the vague, providing details of a story:
these are all very uniquely human traits that can aid the workflow process
considerably, but often can be overlooked or omitted.
Why is Specificity important to Innovation?

RV: Specificity is the key to overcoming so many of the
obstacles that crop up in the middle of the workflow process that can really
stall innovative work. When you specify, you are swapping the opaque
back-and-forth for a clear, transparent path towards your vision.
What's the most exciting thing your team has done lately
along the lines of innovation?

RV: The most exciting recent innovation for the team is the
creation of the TAC' (Total Appearance Capture) ecosystem. With TAC,
customers can take real materials and migrate them to the digital world. This
means measuring and modeling the appearance characteristics of a physical
material to enable unmatched realism and efficiency in virtual design. It's a
true breakthrough, and I am excited and impressed by their hard work.
If you had one wish for the
Innovation community, what would you wish for?

RV: That they would have equal and unfettered access to
tools that allow them to simultaneously unleash their creativity while
understanding exactly what they can expect to achieve when they create an
actual product.
Have you ever invented anything?

RV: During my days as an automotive engineer, I was proud to
receive a patent (US5195601 and EP0512591) for an electronically controlled
four-wheel steering system. This was an exciting time in my career and it
was great to be recognized for creating something that was innovative and
helpful for vehicle dynamic control.
What is the new tech trend
in design about which you are the most excited?

RV: The proliferation of
high-end visualization tools (hardware and software) that allow designers to
rapidly and easily express their creativity. I think we sometimes take advancements
in this area for granted and, for me, they are truly revolutionary.
And finally, what Pantone
color describes you best, and why?

RV: Pantone 291U.
It's a subtle blue ' like the sky on a sunny day. I am a positive person. Every
day I remind myself that the sky is the limit.
Join Ron at his FEI2017 session to tell him what Pantone color best describes you and learn how to
execute on your innovative vision.

Share this article