PERLab

Unlocking the power of products

About Future of Product

Great design helps companies bring their products to market faster, lower their supply chain costs, and earn passionate customer loyalty. And design thinking holds unimaginable potential for achieving profitable growth. Brought to you by PERLab, the Future of Product summit brings together design and operations leaders from some of the world’s most innovative product companies to re-imagine what’s next in the product ecosystem.

The 2024 Future of Product Summit for North America will take place on May 16 in Chicago. Our panel themes and participating experts for this event can be found below.

WELCOME

Welcome remarks

Bharat Kapoor Headshot

Bharat Kapoor

Partner & Global Lead, Kearney PERLab

KEYNOTE

Keynote address

PANEL 01

Product design’s seat at the table: a boardroom revolution

In this CxO session, we delve into the transformative journey of product design from the studio to the boardroom and explore the pivotal question: how can companies leverage the prowess of product design to leapfrog their competition? Join us as we unravel the reasons behind the ascension of design to the boardroom, examining how it is not only a creative endeavor but also steering the course of corporate strategy and propelling companies toward unparalleled competitive advantage. We’ll discover how companies harness the power of product design to fuel innovation, enhance customer experiences, and build loyalty to gain a leading edge. This session will focus on understanding the dynamic role of design in shaping the business landscape.

Headshot of Jim Singer

Moderator: Jim Singer

Partner, Kearney

PANEL 02

Supply chain resilience by design: unlocking the potential of supply chains through innovative product design

Global disruptions and evolving geopolitical tensions underscore the vital importance of robust supply chains. This session will unveil the pivotal role that product design plays in fortifying and reimagining supply chain dynamics. Join us for an insightful conversation that transcends traditional supply chain discussions, focusing on the power of product design. Our expert panel will discuss the intricacies between design decisions and supply chain resilience as well as how innovative product design choices can mitigate risks and reduce vulnerabilities, enhance adaptability, and create efficiencies throughout the entire supply network.

Headshot for Balika Sonthalia

Moderator: Balika Sonthalia

Partner, Kearney

PANEL 03

AI unleashed: revolutionizing products for the future

As AI permeates every aspect of our lives, from smart homes to autonomous vehicles, this session will explore how AI is reshaping the very essence of products. Journey into the heart of the AI revolution as we investigate the ways AI is revolutionizing various stages of product development. From ideation, prototyping, consumer validation, and demand forecasting to personalized customer experiences and autonomous production, we’ll share real-world examples, discuss emerging trends, and uncover the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into end-to-end product life cycles.

Headshot for Kushal Fernandes

Moderator: Kushal Fernandes

Principal, Kearney

PANEL 04

From like to love: understanding why consumers fall in love with some products

Join us for a captivating session as we examine the psychology behind consumer affection toward certain products. Some products have a magnetic allure that goes beyond functionality and captivates the hearts and minds of consumers. This session isn’t just about selling products; it’s about understanding the deeper human desires and aspirations that drive consumer behavior. Our expert panel will discuss the underlying factors in product design that contribute to this phenomenon—from intuitive design, minimalism, personalization, and emotional resonance to storytelling, brand identity, and much more. We’ll uncover the secrets to what constitutes a great product design that forges deep connections with consumers, inspiring loyalty, advocacy, and even love.

Namrata Shah headshot

Moderator: Namrata Shah

Partner, Kearney

PANEL 05

Design for sustainability: profit and planet in harmony

With today’s growing emphasis on sustainability and ethical business practices, this enlightening session will dive into how companies can use the principles, strategies, and methodologies of designing for sustainability to create products that have a positive impact on people, profit, and the planet. Join us as we consider the crucial intersection of product design and sustainability. Our expert panel will share insights into the multifaceted aspects of sustainable product design throughout the various phases of a product’s life cycle—from conceptualization, product design, supply chain, and life cycle analysis to recovery and circularity. Discover how forward-thinking companies are integrating sustainability into their design processes, not only to minimize environmental impact but also to drive innovation, enhance brand value, and meet the evolving expectations of conscious consumers.

Kristen Etheredge Headshot

Moderator: Kristen Etheredge

Partner, Kearney

WRAP UP

Summit Wrap-Up

Namrata Shah headshot

Namrata Shah

Partner, Kearney

PERLab INAUGURAL HALL OF FAME AWARDS

Celebrating exceptional products

The PERLab Hall of Fame is where only a few select products make the cut. These assets reflect the PERLab ethos of a well-designed product that is good for the company, the consumer, and the planet. The PERLab team conducts an extensive review of products, and we believe only a few products meet these criteria. We’ll be inducting three products into our inaugural class of the PERLab Hall of Fame. Join us for this session as we recognize these amazing products and engage the people behind the products who have in some way made a positive impact on our lives.

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ABOUT PERLab

We help clients make products consumers love.

Product Excellence and Renewal Lab (PERLab) is Kearney’s global dedicated practice for “everything product.” We help our clients make products that consumers fall in love with. Our design-driven approach to gross margin transformation offers end-to-end capabilities to support growth at every point in a product’s life cycle. Our experts in product design, product development, sustainability, user experience, industrial design, IoT, consumer insights, product engineering, packaging design, and manufacturing excellence help organizations disrupt markets and leapfrog the competition.

With studios in Chicago, Stuttgart, Bengaluru, Hamburg, and Shanghai, PERLab has clients that range from Fortune 500 companies to private equity portfolio firms. With a team of management consultants, designers, and technologists, PERLab boasts of a global team of seasoned operators with the trifecta of expertise needed to build great products.

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