Monday 18 July 2011
The PreCog's at Ebay's PreViz Hive
MIT's media lab, London's RCA IDE program and private initiatives such as Ebay's PreViz group do just that. More the lessons learned from Ebay's group are some of the basic building blocks for the development of consistent innovations similar to what GE, XEROX PARC, AT&T, etc., have been doing for years.
These programs and the internal mechanisms used in these groups are the building blocks of a firms capability to stay ahead of competitors and ultimately the marketplace. Firms consistantly staying on the cutting edge therefore are poised for growth by delighting customers with functionality BEFORE it is even requested or understood as valuable by the customer - one of the best definitions of innovation.
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Design in the Boardroom
Wednesday 29 June 2011
tiny design, BIG INNOVATION
Friday 27 May 2011
Entrepreneurs, "good design" & true innovation
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Misnomers - The "Science" of "Good" Design
Wednesday 27 April 2011
mass customization = innovation and pure design
Monday 4 April 2011
ROI and "good design"
The answer, is one most may not agree with as it is a question - "what are the criteria" and none better seem to review and understand this as the "Good Design Awards" started more than 50+ years go and which is now taking applications for the 2011 award.
What is important to note is that the jury is truly an international body composed of the 3 most basic areas: design, engineering and finance. Their criteria for review is nothing short of a mystery, by voting and peer review. Their numerical review is not published and the process is as comprehensive as it is complicated in the same way as a VC funding review. What IS important is to note that no one area takes precedent: design, engineering & manufacturing or finance & ROI nor is this limited to the scope of "is this beneficial" to the company that produced the work.
What IS important is the fact (which cannot be easily seen from the results of the award) is the creativity and value that the design brings above and beyond what exists in the market, e.g. the competition to the product that has been designed and released. THIS is the true value of design and potentially the underlying value of the award itself and should be noted as you look through the many categories of fine output.
Wednesday 30 March 2011
Innovation never stops when you are MIT
While this may seen an incredible feat of science the technology was readily available in the past. The process to commercialize it and more, make it stable for mass production is the center-point for the innovation cycle. In many ways, which is highly ignored, 1st to market, or 1st to science in the case of the credited inventor of the earliest working designs does NOT = the person or firm being given credit or even economic benefit for the success of the work/innovation/design.
Here MIT demonstrates that the process is the point and the innovation is the end result of the effort from discovery through to commercialization. Not to mention a sizable economic benefit from the entire process when handled correctly.
Monday 28 March 2011
Creating a Culture of Innovation
An interesting place to start digging into this is with an article by the Gallup Group on Creating a Culture of Innovation. While basic, it is an excellent primer on how to begin the journey.
Friday 25 March 2011
Normal photos become 3D products instantly.
What this means for clients and end consumers is the ability to snap photos, scan, render, send and then manipulate physical objects for the comparison and possible re-engineering into other products. Add the capability of Rapid Prototyping and new products (skins specifically) happen immediately. Companies now have to contend with anyone taking a photo of a competitors tea cup, send it to a Indonesian designer, re-interpret the design, have it produced in China and out to market in 30 days. And there is no slow down in sight
Wednesday 9 March 2011
"Innovation" is not just for R&D labs
In an effort to bring this more to the public eye, The Cooper Hewitt Design Museum has once again began to round out their design triennial by detailing products and firms who are not only redeploying existing aesthetic models but utilizing modern day engineering and production capabilities to further create value for the firms that they sell into thus creating new value chain possibilities and therefore creating innovations. An example of this is the Mango Wood Radio which at first glance might not impress. However, the reach of the product, price-point, aesthetic and over all strategy that the client had to create the product is the exact example of how breakthroughs happen and similarly how iGNITIATE can do the same for your firm.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Exploring Consumer Perceptions Of Product Innovativeness
Understanding how ratings systems and how they impact the data and perceptions of performance is they key to new product launches. Exploring Consumer Perceptions Of Product Innovativeness details a rating system to defines product innovativeness (PI) serving as a benchmark in order to assess other perspectives on product innovativeness, especially from the consumer angle. When it comes to details, empirical evidence is always an excellent way to NPD efficacy.
Saturday 5 February 2011
Integrate design in the product development process for increased ROI in company performance.
How does design impact a product’s ROI? More than you think. Via 2 different Dutch manufacturing industries – home furniture and precision instruments empirical evidence shows selected firms increasing ROI directly – an emerging trend in precision industries. These findings in an excellent article to purchase show that industrial design had a direct and positive effect on company performance, especially with new innovations for industries concluding that “industrial design” itself can be taken to a managerial level to include design strategy which is the basis for increased ROI on a firms full level of market performance and investability.