The Role of Intermediaries in Culture-Driven Innovation

Culture has overtaken technology as a driver of innovation, especially in consumer goods. I’m convinced that cultural resources are critical to product development and future orientation in these companies, and my PhD research is focused on exploring these processes.

Socio-cultural developments and trends often emerge in certain small communities, subcultures, or (avant-garde) art circles, where it’s difficult for them to be directly observed or integrated by corporations. I'm focusing on the role of intermediaries, e.g. communication agencies, in brokering and interpreting these cultural resources.

Therefore, I'm looking for any cases where artists or other cultural actors have been helpful in fostering innovation at organizations, in which I could conduct interviews to learn more about these collaborations.