We create ideas, surround ourselves with people
who know how to get things done, we find teams
and get them up and running. Each project is a new world.
If you don’t ask questions, you won’t get answers!
we know how to find the essential qualities of things we are a laboratory of ideas
0. THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE KNOW HOW TO DO:Looking & asking
The only thing we know how to do well is observing with an unbiased and unprejudiced perspective, asking questions about what we’re looking at and helping to find answers.
Giving an answer to any request is possible by managing to look at things without biases and asking without prejudice.
Looking and asking results in finding the strong points of companies or the products. Finding their soul.
1. Looking without prejudices. 2. Askingwithout biases.
1. THE QUESTION. Grab people’s imagination!
To find the unique solution to the question every project asks, we get rid of all preconceived ideas about what the client wants or expects. We stay clear of prejudices from past experiences and review basic concepts, starting from the beginning.
Each problem and each request have unique characteristics and require new solutions. All responses with new components need to be imaginative, which tends to go hand-in-hand with risk. Imagination is linked to an unbiased attitude, which allows us to provide unexpected and unconventional answers.
1. Getting ridof preconceived ideas. 2. Lookingat things from a different perspective, unlike anyone else. 3. Actingwithout prejudices or biases. 4. Reviewingbasic concepts at any level. 5. Findingthe unique quality of things: the soul. 6. Workingfor people.
2. THE METHOD. Have vision!
A method is needed to form the question and find the answer. A method seeking to provide an unexpected answer requires a degree of vision, and must be able to sense and see what others can’t see, either because they don’t know which way to look or because their eyes are not focusing on the right things.
A new system must be established, a working strategy to guide us when we feel lost and to drive a process that moves away from the daily routine, avoids commonplace answers and shakes off restrictive labels.
1. Developinga new working system. 2. Believingin the process and following it strictly. 3. Not imposing the end result at the beginning of a project. 4. Being intuitive and not being scared of making mistakes. 5. Being aware of what you know and not being scared of the unknown. 6. The method works at every level: for a product or a company.
3. THE IMPLEMENTATION. Let the action begin!
Developing a product or a new strategy for a company is the objective of every project. We are not looking for speculative results.
After finding the answer, it has to be implemented. Once the strong points have been identified, these have to be used to create a product or a strategy. Our own experience has been the step prior to exporting the model. The whole system has evolved since creation, within the company and the Agency in charge of providing solutions for clients, and the Lab that oversees the development of future visions, until reaching Responses, which externalises the method in new companies.
Implementation requires the introduction of a degree of uncertainty to immediately maximise potential creative capacity. Uncertainty helps to shake off biases that block out certain voices or prevent us from using ideas deemed inappropriate, and this momentum eliminates speculative results.
The key factor is to create possibilities that have the momentum to move forward, in any direction. From then on, people’s motivation and the need to implement actions will help innovation to flourish.
Once an interesting idea has been conceived, it must be implemented for the innovation process to take effect: we are action people.
1. Awakeningpeople’s capacity. 2. Startingthrough the creation of possibilities to create momentum in a certain direction. 3. Discoveringan interesting feature and make it a reality: innovating. 4. Always creating a product or strategy. 5. Avoidingspeculative processes. 6. Learningfrom mistakes: constantly evolving.
4. EXAMPLES. STRATEGIES for companies
EQUIPinnovation & TOUS
Tous is a multinational jewellery company that has evolved from traditional craft production for private customers to industrial production for large consumption. Identification of the strong points of the design team and establishing a work protocol to exploit them. EQUIPinnovation works with the in-company teams to establish protocols and design strategies that respond to the multiple needs of the new large-scale client.
1. ORGANISATION of the design department: establishing a work strategy with a stable structure. 2. SPECIAL WORKS: detecting the needs of each department in the company and establishing the foundation and strategy for internal teams to provide answers.
EQUIPinnovation & SMARTLIVING SmartLiving is a next generation developer that covers the whole business chain, from the solar to the final sale. Identification of the strong points of the existing constructive dynamics and the proposal of a system to achieve affordable housing. EQUIPinnovation identified both the need for affordable housing and the possibility to restructure existing tools in the construction sector to obtain a final sale price well below the market price.
1. NEED. Need for affordable and quality housing, which adapts to clients and locations. 2. PRE-MANUFACTURE. Development of a pre-manufactured collective housing unit: execution speed. 3. COMPANY. Setting up a new business model: an integrated company that eliminates intermediaries.
EQUIPinnovation & GALACTIC SUITE Galactic Suite is a company that offers and develops aerospace tourism experiences. Identification of the strong points of existing aerospace technology and the proposal of an orbital hotel without creating new technology. EQUIPinnovation identified the existing technology necessary for the construction of an orbital hotel and proposed a whole value chain associated with the space experience.
GALACTIC SUITE SPACE RESORT 1. NEED. People’s interest in space. An economic growth area.
2. ESTABLISHMENT. A white paper on mission needs and partnership with an aerospace technology centre. 3. MARKETING. Press releases and participation in conferences. 4. COMPANY. Agreement with EADS-ASTRIUM. Creation of Galactic Suite Design.
GOOGLE LUNAR X-PRIZE 1. NEED. Lack of a common project in the Spanish aerospace industry. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. Creation of a multidisciplinary team and the registry of a foundation to manage the project. 3. MARKETING. Press release and promotion of educational and informative events. 4. COMPANY. Agreement with aerospace companies: ALTRAN, SENER, DEIMOS. Agreement with other companies (in progress: DAMM, ENDESA, GAS NATURAL, etc.)
EQUIPinnovation & EQUIPXCL
EQUIPXCL is a company that provides engineering and architectural services targeted at the needs of the Arab world. Identification of the strong points of the design dynamics and the proposal of an architecture catalogue ready to be adapted and built without starting the design process from scratch. EQUIPinnovation proposed the use of a prêt-à-porter architecture catalogue to provide fast solutions to the urgent need for large-scale landmark buildings.
1. REHABILITATION. Taking advantage of projects that do not enter construction: shorten construction times. 2. CATALOGUE. Compilation of a typology catalogue with generic implementation of buildings for different uses. 3. MARKETING. Press releases. 4. COMPANY. Agreement with LANDCOM, engineering company with a licence for construction in Dubai, and the opening of sales offices in Mexico and China.
EQUIPinnovation & ROCA
Roca is a multinational company and a global leader in bathrooms and wellbeing. Identification of the historical evolution of the company and the proposal of a horizon for channelling lines of research. EQUIPRESPOSTES analysed the strategic track record of the company and provided a future vision that would serve as a guide for its R+D teams. The research of water and their conditions without gravity in the space was proposed.
EQUIPinnovation & CUNILL
Cunill is a craftwork company that combines master craftsmen with modern production technology. Identification of the strong points of the distribution strategy and the proposal of a loyalty product that takes advantage of the system characteristics. EQUIPRESPOSTES designed a new product and its sales and distribution strategy. A unique piece that transmits exclusivity and gains customer loyalty.
EQUIPinnovation & CHIC&BASIC
Chic&Basic is a pioneering hotel management company in the low cost market. Identification of the interests of tourists visiting Barcelona and the proposal of an activity experience that helps the guest to play a more prominent role. EQUIPRESPOSTES defined a hotel concept based on a new interaction experience between people who stay in the hotel and the city using light and innovative room distribution.
5. EXAMPLES. PRODUCTS for companies
EQUIPinnovation & FACES
Faces sells products that make the new concepts and uses proposed by Ferran Adrià possible. Identification of the strong points of the best cutlery sets on the market and the proposal of a new cutlery set that integrates the characteristics identified. EQUIPinnovation analysed the best cutlery sets on the market to identify the main features and produce a cutlery set that included these features.
EQUIPinnovation & COSMIC
Cosmic proposes leading concepts and products with the objective of establishing a new bathing culture. Identification of the strong points of existing products and the proposal of a new system for organising bathing. EQUIPinnovation analysed bathing needs from a functional perspective and, without changing production technology conditions, proposed a new way of organising the small objects in a bath.
EQUIPXCLinnovation & EQUIP
EQUIPXCL is a multidisciplinary architecture company that works in jewellery, industrial design and architecture. Identification of the basic needs and starting ideas for architecture projects. EQUIPRESPOSTES identifies the basic needs behind an order and develops the roadmap for creating the project that responds to the client’s needs.
EQUIPinnovation & DAMM
Estrella Damm is a company that produces and distributes drinks that has built a strong image. Identification of the strong points of a difficult location and proposal of an image façade that is not directly linked to marketing. EQUIPinnovation proposed the passive message that had to be transmitted on a new building in a location with great advertising appeal.
EQUIPinnovation & HOSPES
HOSPES is a company that offers exclusive accommodation experiences. Identification of the strong points of an extreme location and the proposal of an adventure experience of varying degrees. EQUIPinnovation analysed the island of Tabarca to propose a travelling experience with varying degrees of marine adventure.
EQUIPinnovation & ACTA
ACTA is a company that specialises in the management and marketing of independent hotels. Identification of the strong points of local culture and connections to Barcelona, and the proposal of a music experience that plays the role of guide when exploring the city. EQUIPinnovation sought to identify potential clients for the new ACTAMIMIC hotel, and using the Barcelona scene, proposed an experience based on the musical season and its international connections.
EQUIPinnovation & ALFAFAR TOWN COUNCIL
ALFAFAR is a town within the sphere of influence of the Albufera Natural Park in Valencia. Identification of the strong points of a location and a tradition, and the proposal of a common approach for a multiple programme. EQUIPRESPOSTES provided a common content and architectural solution for the new auditorium and cultural centre for Alfafar.
6. EQUIPinnovation.
01.WHO WE ARE
A COMPANY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS (ANSWER!)
EQUIPinnovation is a company that, based on a desire to give people new experiences, helps companies to RESPOND TO QUESTIONS they have never asked themselves with the aim of finding and implementing new products or new strategic directions.
02.WHAT WE DO
FIND THE SOUL OF THE COMPANY AND PUT IT TO WORK (INNOVATE!)
WE IDENTIFYthe qualities of a product or company with the greatest potential for achieving a specific objective: its soul. WE TRANSFORMthese qualities, this soul, into a new product or a new strategy that makes this specific objective a reality. WE ENCOURAGE the internal organisations of the company to change their culture to adapt to the new strategy and the new products they need to produce.
03.HOW WE DO IT
REVIVING THE PRIDE OF BEING A COMPANY (WAKE UP!)
WE WORK ALONGSIDE existing structures in companies, incorporating ourselves as part of the established teams. WE TAKE SPECIFIC STEPSby proposing a programme based on the new work dynamics and directly related to the creation of new products and strategies. WE POSITIVELY STIMULATE the team members from the company to ask questions about the rationale of their dynamics and to find their own path towards achieving a renewed vision.
7. XAVIER CLARAMUNT
Xavier Claramunt (Igualada, 1965) is an entrepreneur who constantly surprises us in the fields of architecture as well as interior design and product design. He works in Barcelona with satellite offices in Hangzhou (China) and Abu Dhabi (UAE). He mainly focuses on consuner culture, economic dynamics and people’s needs in order to work towards a radical in the role of the architect in Spain. He is designer of buildings as well as a designer of experiences.
As a visionary strategist, he is managing a project wich seeks to put a space hotel into orbit.
Claramunt is a regular guest speaker at universities and conferences worldwide.
Currently, he is director of innovation of some multinational companies.
He always uses a red Pilot V-Sign, his way of higlinghting every word, every drawing.
Some people believe that Xavier is also a good jewelry designer, faucets, sinks, buildings, hotels, hotels in space, elevators experiences, strategies of creative methods, creative processes … is a curious character, active and enterprising.