Product and service innovation - potential realised

March 11, 2019

5:30 PM - Cambridge

We live in a world dominated by products, and services-accessed-through-products… from food and beverage, to consumer electronics and personalised healthcare. But how many consumers ever stop to think about how much effort has gone into understanding their daily challenges and underserved needs, matching these potential innovation opportunities with enabling technologies, and facilitating routes to market through viable business models?

At this latest CIM/ARU Marketing Club event Ben Strutt and Cesar Lastra, from Cambridge Design Partnership, will present a human-centred ‘end-to-end’ new product development reflection on how products transition from the earliest functional, emotional and social insights, into devices that can be found in homes, and improving lives across the globe.

Speakers from Cambridge Design Partnership: www.cambridge-design.com

Ben Strutt, BA Hons, MCIM, FRSA, Director and Partner of Design and Front End Innovation -

Ben is a professional and active industrial designer, with a first-class degree, and is a Chartered Marketer. His career includes new product development and innovation roles for consumer product companies including Dyson and Black & Decker, and a role in creating and implementing strategic government initiatives that used design as an economic growth catalyst. In his current role, he carries out primary research and insight activities around the world and directs design and strategic innovation activity for businesses ranging from start-ups to billion-dollar brands. A named inventor on more than 25 patents, Ben is passionate about stakeholder-centred and sensory design approaches and improving commercial performance by creating exemplary product experiences.

Cesar Lastra, BSBA, FCIM, FRSA, Consumer Insight & Innovation Leader

Cesar is a front-end innovator with more than 20 years’ experience in innovation, marketing strategy, insights and capability building. He founded innovation consultancy Bash and Build, where he collaborated with clients to build innovation capabilities, culture and disruptive ideas. Before that, he held senior roles for global companies such as Coca-Cola, Young & Rubicam, Colgate-Palmolive, and SABMiller. Cesar is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, where he has run masterclasses and in-company training sessions for multinational corporations across sectors including financial, technology, pharma, automotive and FMCG. Cesar is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

CPD category: Insights
Duration: 1.5 hours

Registration and networking is from 17:30, the event starts at 18:00 and finishes at 20:30. If you are non-EU resident, please call the Regional Events team to make your booking.