Best New idea might be an Old Idea
ThinkSolveDo
Every new product development project needs a product to newly develop.
And that is what I am working on... figuring out EXACTLY what I will be
working on.
Where should I look to get my innovation? For this project I need a new
product idea for my new product development adventure. I routinely look
at market data, existing products (old and new), new technologies,
current events and also old products ideas I came up with and let die
before they were brought to life. The reason I look at my old designs
is timing. What may have been a bad idea then might be a great idea
now!
I looked through my innovation journals and found an idea that fit my
timeframe, the target audience, of the tradeshow which it will be
released at, and can also be brought to life with my existing skills
and equipment. That means I have a potential winner.
But I need to make some new design modifications and solve several old
problems that plagued it while also consider new problems it now may
have. In about 3 hours I have determined it should be a Fantastic new
product development prospect. The design changes I made have turned it
from a potential dog into a potential Award Winner. That is the
advantage of motivation and the right timing combined with a Tradeshow
deadline.
Next, I go into the PIT (Preliminary Idea Testing). I know the idea is
good, when I look at it from big picture 100,000 feet, but before I
invest in molds, cad drawings, material and time I need to see IF it
makes sense when seen in the light. This is when you get to see the
innovation with all its warts and pimples at about 2.5 - 3 feet
(small picture).
I'll do a search on the web, take a trip to local stores, review news
groups and see what comes up. This first phase requires a lot of
research and reading. It is exciting and dull at the same time because
I would really rather be cutting metal than plowing through data. But
the PIT is very important and must be completed first.
If all goes well I will be able to make a Frankenstein Prototype™ and
if all goes bad I can put that idea back in its coffin and look for a
new one. Stay tuned and see where I end up.
ThinkSolveDo
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