Hi, I’m Kriss
a researcher, strategist and innovation specialist.
A photographer, writer and founder of Studio Ology.
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I started off as an engineer but found myself more curious about people than things. This inspired me to become a researcher, a strategist and finally an innovation consultant. While calling China home for a decade, I witnessed both the possibilities and the challenges of innovation. Still curious, I studied anthropology to further explore the practices of innovation.
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I am currently based in London working with a network of like-minded people. My focus is on developing a more responsible innovation practice and bringing it to the places where it is needed most.
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Beyond my work, my love of photography was sparked by the work of Sebastian Salgado.
Alastair Humphreys is my go to source for micro sized adventure.
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You can also find me on the following community platforms
Extended About
With a background in both Engineering and Anthropology, I've spent much of the past decade working in China and across Asia, taking on roles as an engineer, a researcher and a strategist to a director of an innovation consultancy.
From the vibrant streets of Shanghai, LA, Tokyo and London to the remote villages of Yunnan, China, I've extensively researched diverse topics — ranging from the motivations behind consumption, the societal impact of technology to the intricacies of our global supply chains. My work has allowed me to cultivate a unique craft for decoding both the possibilities of technology and the intricacies of human motivations.
From the very beginning of my career, I've prioritized the study of innovation, delving into its processes, methods, and the impact of context on its purpose. From driving innovation internally within multinationals to facilitating externally as a consultant. I've taken the lead on diverse projects across industries, ranging from consumer goods, electronics, mobility to real estate and healthcare. I've cultivated a distinct understanding of innovation and its implementation in challenging environments. This experience has equipped me with a keen awareness of the current shortcomings and challenges inherent in our prevailing mindset and approach to innovation.
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The rapid pace of technological breakthroughs is pushing businesses into a constant state of catch-up, often resulting in hasty, poorly thought out responses.
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In our interconnected world, products and services often find their way to individuals for whom they were not originally designed—or, in more concerning cases, were never intended.
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As people, we are encountering rising decision fatigue and confusion due to the widening gap between our individual knowledge and the collective knowledge of society.
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How Studio Ology Works To Tackle These Challenges:
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Our approach to innovation shines a light on the shifts and signals that shape our future, both the opportunities and the challenges. We recognize that human motivations are messy and that the ecosystems our products and services exist in are complex and interconnected.
We ground our work in forward-leaning applications of ethnographic research, speculative experimentation and prototyping.
We take a systems-view of problems and draw on deep expertise across technology and industry domains.
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We use multi-sited research to trace the actions of people and products through their communities and into the wider society and beyond.
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We do this to identify opportunities and anticipate drawbacks so that we can invent the solutions others would not.
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Believing that those experiencing a problem are best suited to create solutions, we bring innovation practices to the places they are needed most, operating where others do not. We recognize that the purpose and methodology of our work are continually shaped by the people and contexts we engage with.
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All in the pursuit of responsible innovation.
These challenges are causing people worldwide to be exposed more frequently to poorly thought-out and poorly designed products and services. Addressing this issue requires a transformation in how we approach innovation.
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