Wrench in the System by Harold Hambrose

On Tuesday, February 23, Electronic Ink founder and CEO Harold Hambrose enjoyed a warm reception at his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Hambrose was back at the Pittsburgh-based institution to take part in the Carnegie Mellon School of Design Lectures series. 

Speaking to an audience gathered at Giant Eagle Auditorium, Hambrose displayed his trademark enthusiasm and humor as he continued his campaign for Design’s rightful place in the development of new, usable technology and business systems.  

Sharing both anecdotes from his 20 years  growing Electronic Ink, and observations from his recent book, Wrench in the System (Wiley 2009),  Hambrose pointed out that industry now turns to design as a source of innovation – in business operations and in the tools that support the execution of business. His message was warmly received by CMU’s latest batch of aspiring designers as well as their colleagues from many other of the University’s departments.

This isn’t Hambrose’s first trip back to Carnegie Mellon. In 2005, he was on campus to receive the Carnegie Mellon Merit Award from the university’s Alumni Association for his leadership and contribution to the technology industry. The award acknowledged that Hambrose and his company have pushed the influence of designers and the design process from the visual design of early computer desktops, through leadership in user centered design practices, to the modeling of complex business operations and the systems that will be the backbone of business transformation.

Hambrose and Electronic Ink continue to cultivate their relationship with CMU students, graduates and faculty. This is just one of many ways, Hambrose says he keeps Electronic Ink on the cutting edge.