where to find better ideas? +10 categories to explore with examples
TRANSCRIPT
IDEA HUNTINGTips for your team to find more crea;ve ideas.
boardofinnova;on.com
Photo: flickr cc usfws_pacificsw
Tech
IN THIS DECK
TrendsYour assets History
Other industries Reverse Innova;on
VCs Science Fic;on
Problems
Extreme users Random
Prepare your team for an idea;on session. An overview with prac8cal 8ps that literally everyone can use.
Get inspira;on from
ProblemsHow & where to find problems of users, clients,…
Observe how people create workarounds to fix (small) frustra8ons,
or temporary solu8ons,…
It could indicate there is a bigger problem to solve!
example: airport context, not losing things. “people take pics of their own car, in large parkings to help them retrieve their car a7er 2 weeks.”
example: airport context, not losing things. “The shoes of this girl make a sound at every step to help her parents not lose her in the crowd.”
example: airport context, not losing things. “Do you no?ce how people are struggling with the same black suitcases? How to fix this?”
Look around you, every day you can easily spot +10 problems that need a beTer solu;on.
People discuss ‘problems’ on specialised Q/A plaYorms.Browse to find similar pains that beg for a solu8on.
example: “How to + Invoicing” on quora.com
example: “/r/invoicing” on Reddit.com
Track what people search for viaKeyword monitor servicese.g. hTp://keywordtool.io
Filter on ‘Youtube’. Many usethis plaQorm to find video guideson how to solve specific problems.
Browse ‘guides’ websites on how tofix & repair products.
e.g. instructables.com e.g. ifixit.com
Need more structure in yourinnova;on process?
just reach out to us [email protected]
or boardofinnova8on.com
Your AssetsExplore how you could re-use your exis8ng assets,
but in a different context.
3 op;ons how your own assets of your company
can lead to new ideas & revenue streams:
Sharing Alt Use Create
The most obvious, but least exci;ng way: Make some of your own resources/assets
available to others + ask for rent or other reward.
example: construc@on industry Via plaForms like anyquip.com companies canrent out their assets that are idle or unused.
Sharing Alt Use Create
Find an alterna;ve use: Let others access your assets for a different purpose.
example: Logis@cs & Pharma Leverage the global distribu?on network of Coca-Cola to distribute live-saving medicine tothe most rural areas. Coca-cola is everywhere!
Sharing Alt Use Create
example: Logis@cs The US Postal office have equipped some of their trucks with cameras & sensor to monitor noise levels, pavement,… to offer to the local city.
example: Smart city Some ci?es re-use their ‘trash cans’ to monitor crowd density by integra?on of wifi sensors to track smartphones nearby.
Most difficult op;on: Use your exis8ng assets (+ new assets) to create something
new that could be valorised.
Sharing Alt Use Create
example: Byproducts from Cereal An easy starter is to focus on “waste” that your assets already create. An additonal process step could make your “waste” valuable to others.
TrendsSpot changes in consumer behaviour & society in general
that could impact your industry.
It’s not your goal to predict to future. Just use Trends & Forecasts to ask beTer what if ques;ons:
Time
example: “What if consumers only trust companies that are fully transparent about their supply chain?”
Example tool (basic insights)trends.google.com/trends/explore
Example: Rising interest for “parental leave” in Germany
Explore industry specific Trends (sites & reports)
Finance:
Travel:
Pharma/medical:
Telco:
Automo8ve:
Food:
airlinetrends.com
bankinnova8on.net
trendhunter.com/food
automo8vemegatrends.com
…
medicalfuturist.com
telecomstechnews.com
HistoryYou don’t need to re-invent everything. Old ideas, in a new
context can trigger new opportuni8es!
Old ideas? Ask yourself, why didn’t it work at that 8me?
What can we do be_er today?
1967 2017
Browse old (failed) patents on patents.google.com Some8mes a patent is not the right solu8on yet,
but indicates there is at least a relevant problem to solve.
1994
Hands-free pet carrier
NYC Subway Bans Dogs Unless They Fit into a Bag.2016
S?ll no decent solu?on yet…
1948 Tucker Sedan Way ahead of compe??on, 1948 Tucker Sedan has incorporated seat belts, disc brakes & fuel injec?on. 50 cars were produced and it was considered a failed product. 10 years later it became common prac?ce.
Bar codesInvented in 1948, but they only became popular in the late six?es. What inven?ons of 10y ago could be commercialised today?
TechPeople can start dreaming when they see the poten8al of
new tech, but try to look beyond buzz-words.
Spoang new tech is easy…
But how to translated this info into new ideas?
MIT Tech Review Wired Tech Vimeo Tech
Example: start from this technology “Face Recogni;on”
The most obvious ideas would be: Security; log in my computer with my face; photo tagging; …
But, try to start by wri;ng down all new ‘features’this tech could offer today/tomorrow. Be very specific!
- Detect Disgust - Count # of people in a room - Check if someone lies? - Track ?redness? - Spot siblings - Transi?on of emo?ons - Adrac?veness - Medical condi?ons - …
Once you have list, it’s easier to generate new ideas.Where could this feature become valuable?
Example: Track Tiredness (use case in the car, produc?on facility, sports, educa?on,…)
Other industriesExplore other markets. Understand how other companies
innovate in their domain.
Start from a first idea. Put this idea in other contexts(other industries) to generate alterna;ve ideas.
Fill empty fields
Check for your concept (or similar) in a database +browse related items to find more inspira;on.
example tracxn.com How are ‘industrial robo?cs’
used in a wide range of sectors?
Example search via crunchbase.comWhat are remarkable startups in different industries
that are using ‘auc8ons’.
All different industries
Reverse innova;onRural areas & development na8ons have to be more
crea8ve due to the lack of resources.
Designed for rural India:The Leveraged Freedom Chair. focus: low-cost, long distance rough terrain,…
Later on, adapted for wealthy consumers who need an off-roadmobility solu@on.
You start from a context with extreme limita;ons:(developing na8ons = an interes8ng context to explore)
Try to copy some of these principles to your normal business context.
How to build a messagingsolu?on, without central
network or internet?
hdp://firech.at
Cool food at a very low cost, no compressor,..?
hdp://www.chotukool.com
The 50cent microscope to detect Malaria and Tuberculosis
h_ps://www.foldscope.com/
Originally designed for developing countries
Foldscope™ is being used by schools and researchers in all
around the world
VC & InvestorsIt’s their job to look ahead what’s coming.
Understand why they move in a certain direc8on.
How to keep an eye on investors:
Quick & Dirty (Free) reports In-Depth
Whatever format fits you. Just regular but small updates, or detailed reports!
Quick & Dirty (Free) reports In-Depth
whogoQunded.com/top-100 A monthly overview of deals & investors
www.launch8cker.com A daily news-mailing, includingfunding rounds.
Quick & Dirty (Free) reports In-Depth
KPMG creates reports onVenture Capital trends, free to download.
CBinsights, one of the leadinganalysts in this field, offers regularextensive reports. Some are free to download.
Quick & Dirty (Free) reports In-Depth
Specialised services example below: CBinsights Mosaic & Smart Money
check other tools: ma_ermark.com/discovery/ or pitchbook.com/products/plaQorm
Science Fic;onGet your inspira8on from sci-fi movies & novels
where they explore new ideas how people interact with products & services.
Step 1: Watch a movie for the story & entertainment value.
Step 2: Rewatch your movie, but pay close a_en8on to newproducts & services. Omen there are remarkable but subtlenew inven8ons in the background, inspired by real research.
Example: BLACK MIRROR (S3e1) all interac?ons with others lead to a ‘life’-score. Some products are only for people with minimum life-score.
Based on: voice assistants, smart lenses, full connected API’s, credits score,…
Remember the Power Mags from Back to The Future in 1989?
You can buy them for 720$ now
In 2009 Young-suk Kim designed an all-in-one credit card In 2016 Stratos, Coin, Plas8c, Swyp are
figh8ng to become credit card of the future by releasing all-in-one credit card
Designers are great at imagining on how future products could look like
There must be a reason why car manufacturers create future concepts of the cars, right?
Extreme usersDon’t focus on average users & customers.
Look for outliers. They will challenge your assump8ons.
People you want to focus on while idea;ngWhat would you current offer look like if it was only used by extremes?
Example: What if smartphones were used by people who want modern design, but only use phones for calling?
The person who made TwiTer use #hashtag
You heard me right, it wasn’t Twi_er’s idea to use hashtags. Chris Messina and other extreme & early users of Twi_er needed a way to group tweets by topic.
Follow your extreme user behavior to understand their needs
Inspira;on behind Epson’s new revolu;onary printer
Extreme users got fed up with buying expensive cartridges all the 8me.
Therefore, made tweaks to their current printers
Epson came up with “revolu8onary” printer
Random inspira;onHave 8me and want to browse the web for possible EUREKA
moments? Here are some sources to start with
If you’re stuck? Just try to free up your mind by browsing some of the following sources of inspira;on:
behance.net adsomheworld.com tumblr.com
stumbleupon.com producthunt.com
So what are we missing here? Send your 8ps to
www.boardofinnova8on.com