This castle, Inventalot, has a round table for meetings. The staff has created products sold at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Lowe's Cos., Sears Holdings Corp., and other retailers. Plans to shutter as many as 120 Sears and Kmart stores should have little impact on the firm, it says.  This castle, Inventalot, has a round table for meetings. The staff has created products sold at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Lowe's Cos., Sears Holdings Corp., and other retailers. Plans to shutter as many as 120 Sears and Kmart stores should have little impact on the firm, it says.  George Davison, at left, founded the company in 1989, after a frustrating experience trying to get his first products to market. The firm now creates about 200 prototypes each month and has exceeded $10 million in annual revenue.  George Davison, at left, founded the company in 1989, after a frustrating experience trying to get his first products to market. The firm now creates about 200 prototypes each month and has exceeded $10 million in annual revenue.  Stationed aboard the pirate ship are a handful of product designers who specialize in children's toys. The ship is made of several varieties of wood. The poles holding up the sails are recycled telephone poles.  Stationed aboard the pirate ship are a handful of product designers who specialize in children's toys. The ship is made of several varieties of wood. The poles holding up the sails are recycled telephone poles.  Inside the ship's hull, there's a workshop where the staff builds the products designed on the ship's deck. The water is only about a foot deep.  Inside the ship's hull, there's a workshop where the staff builds the products designed on the ship's deck. The water is only about a foot deep.  This giant shoe, at left, is a work space intended to inspire ideas for new baby products. The company uses dummy babies to test the car seats, strollers and bottles it creates.  This giant shoe, at left, is a work space intended to inspire ideas for new baby products. The company uses dummy babies to test the car seats, strollers and bottles it creates.  The blue house at left is where Davison staff researches and designs pet products like the Hydro Bone-- a rubber toy that releases water as the dog chews, and which sells for around $10. In the top window is a giant tank containing live saltwater fish.  The blue house at left is where Davison staff researches and designs pet products like the Hydro Bone-- a rubber toy that releases water as the dog chews, and which sells for around $10. In the top window is a giant tank containing live saltwater fish.  Inside this racetrack, Davison staff brainstorm automotive products, such as the Hover Creeper, a wheel-less platform that mechanics lay on to work under cars. In their free time, some employees race cars on the track.  Inside this racetrack, Davison staff brainstorm automotive products, such as the Hover Creeper, a wheel-less platform that mechanics lay on to work under cars. In their free time, some employees race cars on the track.  Kitchen products are conceptualized in this house. Mr. Davison says it took some 60 architecture plans before the cupcake façade was built.  Kitchen products are conceptualized in this house. Mr. Davison says it took some 60 architecture plans before the cupcake façade was built.  A tree house serves as Mr. Davison's office. The trunk is made of steel, wood and resin. The branches, fashioned with silk leaves, were trimmed from real trees and repurposed here.  A tree house serves as Mr. Davison's office. The trunk is made of steel, wood and resin. The branches, fashioned with silk leaves, were trimmed from real trees and repurposed here.  Pumps keep the water circulating. Mr. Davison says being around "things that are magical" like these waterfalls, help to keep creative ideas flowing.  Pumps keep the water circulating. Mr. Davison says being around "things that are magical" like these waterfalls, help to keep creative ideas flowing.
Davison International Inc., a Sears supplier and 285-employee company that designs and creates consumer products, turned a 61,000 square-foot Pittsburgh, Pa., building into a hub of playful work spaces.