Values / 06
At Labs, we don’t always know where our work will take us (and that’s half the fun), but each step we take into the unknown is made with consideration and rigor. We combine different perspectives, technologies, and talents to make visionary futures tangible – and have established a reputation for integrity by being honest and transparent with our stakeholders, be they associates, external partners or Labs team members.
We make innovation real and the future tactile through prototypes, proofs-of-concept, and scaled productions you can touch, feel, test, and learn from. Our culture is built on the idea that there’s always something new to uncover, that there’s always more to learn and new people to learn from. That’s why building a team with diverse backgrounds and different points of view isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s an essential part of how we do our work.
-
Focus on customers
We specialize in emerging tech—but always in service of solving real, human problems. And whether we’re focusing on Lowe’s external customers, our store associates, technology collaborators or internal business partners, we strive to empathize with and empower whoever we’re collaborating with.
-
Deliver results
At Labs, we don’t (and can’t) always know where our work will take us. But we always set clear expectations about what we want to achieve. Then, we apply rigor to ensure we generate beneficial learnings and value along the way. Credibility is our currency. We establish a reputation for integrity by being honest and transparent with our stakeholders—and by delivering on our commitments. Lastly, we make innovation real. Our journey often manifests as prototypes and concepts that you can touch, feel, test and learn from.
-
Take action
Innovation is an open-ended field with limitless possibility, which can feel daunting, understandably. We thrive in ambiguity, and believe the best way to navigate it is by taking it one step at a time. We draw on the best data that we can gather, break down big challenges into smaller, testable hypotheses, and build prototypes and proofs-of-concept—all to move the ball down the field --all to accelerate the future.
-
Show courage
We explore emerging technologies, concepts and futures that might seem wildly far off to others. We challenge doubts with respect, and shore up our exploration with conviction and data. But showing courage isn’t just about defending the future—it’s about taking ownership over our decisions. We’re not afraid to make first-time mistakes—nor are we afraid to own them. They’re great opportunities to learn.
-
Continue learning
Our culture is built on the notion that there is always something new to uncover, and that failure is often a better teacher than success. We aim to build a culture of continuous development, upskilling and sharing. And we translate what we learn into tools and opportunities to help others.
-
Create and connect
This is a value distinct to Labs and is core to to our success. We consider ourselves to be alchemists: a team that combines different perspectives, technologies, and talents to build something greater. Our team draws not only on insights from the worlds of home improvement and technology, but absorbs and remixes thinking from fields as far-flung as behavioral psychology, arts and humanities, economics—even pop culture—to generate novel futures.
At Lowe’s Innovation Labs, our passion for innovation drives us to explore uncharted territory, challenge the status quo, and pioneer new frontiers in home improvement. At the same time, our close collaboration with business partners and relentless focus on customers enables us to deliver innovative novel solutions at Lowe’s scale.
Offices
The Kirkland office is designed to foster collaboration and creativity, with an open floor plan that encourages interaction and idea-sharing. The space includes a state-of-the-art makerspace, where teams can prototype and test new products, as well as a user research lab, where they can gather feedback from customers and improve their designs.
Lowe's Innovation Labs in Kirkland is also known for its partnerships with startups and academic institutions, as well as its work with emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The office serves as a center for innovation not just for Lowe's, but for the broader retail industry as a whole.
