Innovation Crash Course

What is 'Innovation'?

Simply put, Innovation is making something better.

If you've ever made anything look better, smell better, taste better, easier, more fun... You've Innovated it. Innovations can be big or small, for the masses, or just yourself, a brand new invention or just a tweak to something that already exists.

Just about anything can be used to innovate, below is a list of materials that can help you get started... You won't need everything listed, and there may be things you think of that aren't on the list. In general, as long as you have permission, and it's safe to use, let your imagination run wild! Everything, even your innovation kit, has the potential to be innovated.

Adhesives: stuff that sticks this to that

• Tape (masking, scotch, packing, double sided, foam, etc…)
• Glue (school, carpenter, etc…)

Fasteners: non-sticky items that help attach, and hold things together

• Staples and stapler
• Brads/paper fasteners
• String
• Rubber bands
• Twist ties
• Paper Clips/clamps
• Pipe cleaners/chenille stems
• Needle and thread
• Zip ties
• Rivets/grommets

Tools: help you change your materials to suit your needs

• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Straightedge (ruler)
• Pencils/pens/markers
• Pliers
• hammer

Construction materials: the main building supplies of your project

• Corrugated cardboard (from boxes)
• Chipboard (cereal box cardboard)
• Cardstock (note cards, greeting cards, etc…)

Soft/flexible materials: stuff you can easily squish, flex, and twist into the form you want

• Plastic bags/wrap/sheeting/bubble wrap
• Fabric scraps/rags
• Paper/Tissue paper/Newsprint
• Coffee filters
• Tin foil

Structural materials: stuff that helps you build up and out

• Straws
• cardboard tubes (paper towel, toilet paper, shipping, wrapping paper, etc…)
• Take-out chopsticks
• Disposable cups
• Craft/Popsicle sticks
• Misc. recycled bottles/containers

Embellishments: decorations are the cherry on top!

• Crayons/Colored markers/gel pens
• Googly Eyes
• stickers
• Pompoms
• Ribbons
• Stick-on jewels/studs

The ‘X’ factor: there are just too many possible tools and materials to list here, what would you add?

It's a big world, and there's lots of things to innovate. If you already know what you want to innovate, you can skip this step, but if you're having trouble deciding, have a look through the challenges in the images above. You might just find some inspiration...

Innovation starts with an observation, something we want to make better.

But sometimes it can be hard to break down bigger problems into innovateable bites, so let's think of some Bad ideas...

Instead of the best ways to solve the big problems, write down the worst you can think of... it might seem counter intuitive, but this exercise is actually a very good way for you to identify what part of the problem is most important to you.

For example: If your goal is to make a better Smart phone and you apply this exercise, you might think of ...

A phone that shatters the moment you touch it, or has a two second battery life...

What you've done is Observe that durability or battery life are things you want to improve... now that we've Identified 'What' we want to improve, it's time to start thinking about 'How'

Now that you've figured out what you want to Innovate, you've probably already started into the next phase...

Brainstorming!

...but let's formalize this step a bit. there are a few important tips and tricks for good Brainstorming.

First and foremost, there are NO BAD IDEAS.

No idea is too weird or crazy at this stage, because, if nothing else, they might just inspire other, even better ideas.

It also really helps to brainstorm in a group, because their ideas will inspire your ideas and vice versa.

So spend a few minutes thinking of as many ways possible to solve your observation as you can. Come up with at least five different ways to solve your problem, and no matter how weird, silly, or far fetched it may seem, draw, doodle, write down, or discuss any idea that comes to mind.

During your brainstorming session, a few ideas will start to stick out to you. Things or ideas you want to take further... That's where Prototyping comes in.

Innovation often involves creating a Prototype... But what does that mean?

A prototype is the first one, a rough draft to help others understand your idea. if a pop bottle, some PVC pipe and a bicycle pump can grow up to be a super soaker, and some cardboard and a toilet paper tube duct taped to an old vacuum cleaner can become a Dysen, what magical items might be hiding in your home just waiting to be transformed? the next great invention might be sitting in your recycle bin or junk drawer, patiently waiting for you to unmask it's greatness and your own creative genius so have a look around, see what you can find. in the materials section, I've included a list of possible items you might use, you won't need all of these things, and you might also think of some things that I didn't; as long as you have permission, and it is safe to use them, let your imagination run wild, just about anything has the potential for innovation.

as you work on your prototype, you may notice something about it that either isn't working so well, or could work better. Instinctively, and perhaps without any real conscious thought, you will change it. You will innovate your innovation, this is a natural and integral part of the innovation process, you have entered into the iteration loop

At some point during this process, whether it's only for yourself, or for the universe, or somewhere in between, you will realize that your innovation is ready for use. This is the point of launch... but it's not the end. truly, most innovations are never really finished. Just think about cars, smart phones, gaming consoles... they don't stop with the first version; they launch, and then they drop right back into that Iteration Loop, observing what could work better, experimenting with new features and improvements, prototyping new designs, and eventually Launching again. Innovation is a constant cycle of iteration and improvement, so keep going! who knows where your creativity will take you!