Hoka Founder & Deckers Group VP of Innovation, Jean-Luc Diard - a podcast by BLISTER

If you are interested in product design and the process of innovation, then you need to listen to this conversation. Jean-Luc Diard started as an intern at Salomon, developed the first shaped ski, became the CEO at Salomon, played a major role in the development of Salomon’s running shoes, moved on to found Hoka One One, and is currently the VP of Innovation for the Deckers Group, where he currently heads up the Deckers X Lab.

This conversation explores the process of bringing about real innovation, how to make it happen, what to do, and what to avoid. It is not to be missed.

TOPICS & TIMES

• What is the Deckers X Lab? (3:18)
• What is the Deckers Group? (4:25)
• Jean-Luc’s background (5:50)
• Why outdoor brands used to be narrowly focused (10:08)
• From intern to CEO of Salomon (14:40)
• Designing Salomon’s first ski (17:45)
• Getting Salomon into running shoes (24:23)
• Tangent: what happened to inline skating? (31:56)
• Starting Something New: Hoka One One (34:58)
• Adoption - and Resistance - to Innovation (48:39)
• From Hoka to the Deckers X Lab (52:29)
• ‘Not-My-Invention Syndrome’ & the Process of Innovation (58:45)
• Putting huge balloon heels on shoes (1:14:28)
• What is Deckers X Lab up to today? (1:23:05)

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