The Engine of Creation
The Dream Factory: Inventionland
Inventionland is a highly engineered, 60,000-square-foot immersive work environment designed to maximize creative output and accelerate product development. Founded in 2006, this “idea factory” is not merely a whimsical office but a strategic asset, featuring 16 uniquely themed sets—including a pirate ship, a castle, and a giant robot—that serve to inspire a diverse team of designers, artists, engineers, and fabricators.1
Attracting approximately 15,000 visitors annually, Inventionland has garnered worldwide acclaim for its innovative approach to fostering creativity. Features in Ripley’s validate its legitimacy as a pioneering workspace. Believe It or Not!, which hailed it as an “unbelievable office space,” and I.D. Magazine, which named it one of “40 Amazing-Looking Design Offices.” The facility also received the inaugural CRIB Award from the Pittsburgh Technology Council, recognizing it as a model for creative and productive work environments.1 Products designed within its walls have been featured in publications from the Industrial Designers Society of America, and the facility itself was the subject of a History Channel special, cementing its status as a globally recognized hub of creativity.
From Concept to Consumer: Prototyping & Strategic Acquisitions
Beyond ideation, the Davison ecosystem possesses a mastery of the physical means of production. The organization is one of the largest prototype manufacturers in the U.S., capable of transforming concepts into tangible objects.1 This capability was strategically enhanced through key acquisitions designed to control the entire path to market. These were not opportunistic diversifications but deliberate integrations to solve critical bottlenecks in the innovation pipeline: manufacturing and distribution.
The 2018 acquisition of Jokari, a company with a 50-year history of “world’s first” products, secured vital manufacturing resources and direct access to retailer networks and online marketplaces. This move allows innovative products developed within the ecosystem to be launched and distributed efficiently under a revitalized and respected brand.
Similarly, the 2014 acquisition of Dorrance Publishing, America’s oldest publishing services company (est. 1920), provided control over the means of production and distribution for authors and other creative individuals. This vertical integration grants the ecosystem end-to-end control, increasing speed to market, capturing greater revenue at each stage, and building a more resilient and efficient business model.
Building the Future: Award-Winning Innovation Labs
The Innovation Labs initiative translates the creative philosophy of Inventionland into educational environments. These are not just decorated classrooms; they are “crucibles of creativity” designed in partnership with school districts to foster hands-on, project-based learning. Each lab is a customized space, tailored to the specific needs of students and teachers, transforming traditional learning environments into hubs of innovation.
The profound impact of this concept has been recognized at the highest levels of design and education. In the 2017-2018 academic year, the labs received a prestigious Edison Design Award, marking the first time an educational space had won the award in the competition’s history. This was followed by accolades, including the Outstanding Project Award from Learning By Design Magazine in 2023, for the labs implemented at Berkshire Local Schools.1 Testimonials from educational leaders like Dr. Sean McCarty of the Seneca Valley School District praise the partnership for creating remarkable opportunities for students to lead and innovate, providing on-the-ground validation of the program’s transformative power.
