We Want Change. When Do We Want It? Now!

If there’s anything we’ve learned in the past few months, change — and changing quickly — is the only way forward. From producing facial masks beyond the disposable variety to harnessing the power of an existing online platform, these companies adapted at the right moment to benefit both the business and the people that rely on them.

- Anton D. Javier

It has not been “business as usual” for most companies in the past few months. In fact, everything has been so unusual and uncertain for most that they failed to adapt in order to survive a world marred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In times of such confusion and uncertainty, how does one shift the business to adapt to a new reality? Where do you invest? Who do you look out for? What needs have to be addressed? And ultimately, what changes should be implemented to tide you — and the people depending on the business — over?

FROM SNORKELING MASK TO PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

For some companies like Gill™ Lab — which was founded in Singapore by partners Jean-Luc Fringeli, Lim Eng Seng, Ken S.K. Chuang, Cheong Siah Chong, and Veronica Chew — a new point-of-view was a good place to start. What resulted was Gill™ Mask: The unexpected brainchild between engineering design firm Mdesign Solutions and industrial design firm TITO Associati.

In August 2019, both companies collaborated on a project to design snorkeling masks. Their familiarity with facial contour features, user comfort, and enhanced fit would lead to the innovative design of the Gill™ Mask.