Jonathan Ringen is a regular contributor to Rolling Stone, Billboard, Fast Company, Men’s Journal, Details and other magazines. From 2004 until 2013 he was a music editor at Rolling Stone, where he was responsible for everything from cover stories and special issues (including the annual Hot List) to the music news section at the front of the magazine. During his time at Rolling Stone he wrote every kind of music story there is, from record reviews and front-of-book news items to major Q&As and feature profiles. Before arriving at RS he was an editor at the architecture and design magazine Metropolis.

https://twitter.com/jonathanringen

http://www.fastcompany.com/3040223/when-it-clicks-it-clicks

On the show, Jonathan spoke primarily about LEGO’s Future Group, which is basically the LEGO-wide research & development organization, focused upon creating next generation play experiences and markets for LEGO to enter. This group works with deep ethnographic research and other methods to identify ways of coming up with new products, in addition to new products themselves. With new areas – like working to make an online community product experience – come new challenges, such as making sure that the community corresponds to the strict values the company holds. It’s a fascinating process to watch, because the company is determined to produce the next great play experience, taking advantage of their key partners, research, and expertise, but this is a truly monumental task.