{"id":1804,"date":"2014-04-04T10:45:58","date_gmt":"2014-04-04T09:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1804"},"modified":"2015-11-04T11:20:55","modified_gmt":"2015-11-04T11:20:55","slug":"ten-ways-to-innovate-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/2014\/04\/ten-ways-to-innovate-on-a-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten Ways To Innovate on a Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"SolidWorks<\/a><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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You\u2019d be hard-pressed to walk into any space full of creative people and not see, hear, or feel the power of innovative thinking.\u00a0 While the notion of \u201cinnovation\u201d can be applied to everything from food science development to urban expansion, the term seems to pop up most frequently in the world of product design and its various sub-industries. But what makes an end-user feel like a product is \u201cinnovative,\u201d and most importantly, how did the product get there?<\/p>\n

To understand what makes something innovative is to see beyond its physical properties and understand the thought process that went into its design. \u00a0As a designer, I try to take any given object I encounter during the course of the day and see it as the final manifestation of numerous ideas that went into a team\u2019s \u201cinnovation machine\u201d in an attempt to solve a particular problem. No matter the reason for something going into that innovation machine, it\u2019s truly what your machine looks like inside<\/i> that dictates how the final product will look and perform.<\/p>\n

The common denominator in any well-oiled innovation machine consistently is the ability to create change while simultaneously embracing that change.\u00a0 One of the best examples of this in the product design realm is Apple\u2019s introduction of the iPhone in 2007. Not only did Apple create change with the introduction of an affordable touchscreen phone, they also embraced how it would revolutionize the market of mobile devices as a whole, and thus, moved forward with better products and better experiences. This approach ultimately drove the iPhone to be an industry-defining product responsible for billions of dollars in sales across various global markets. While Apple has an R&D budget that few (if any) companies can match, their approach can serve as an inspiration for those with little or no budget.<\/p>\n

So how do you create that change to help drive a more innovative culture at your own company, design office or personal workspace?\u00a0 How do you keep the innovation machine well-oiled and ready to crunch any challenge that goes through it? And how do you drive that change on a budget?\u00a0 Here are ten proven ways ideas will help create a more fertile ground for innovative thinking regardless of your company, project, or budget size:<\/p>\n

1. Prepare for innovation and make room for failure<\/b><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve heard stories about people waking up in the middle of the night, or walking down the street to get coffee, and suddenly being struck by a world-changing idea. Prepare for these moments by keeping some way to take notes with you at all time\u2014be it a simple notepad and pen or a note-taking app on your smartphone. Moments of inspiration rarely occur while sitting in front of a computer.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to prepare yourself mentally for bad<\/i> ideas, because for every great idea, there may be dozens of bad ones leading up to it. Understanding what makes an idea bad and how you came to it is just as important as knowing what makes one great.<\/p>\n

2. Use a cloud service to collect ideas<\/b><\/p>\n

Services like Dropbox, Box.com, Google Docs make it easy to upload and access \u00a0data from any device at any time. You can upload something from your smartphone and retrieve it later from your office computer, and vice versa. Using one of these services is a great way to build a dedicated folder for pictures, articles, and videos that inspire you. Since we\u2019re on a budget here, it\u2019s important to consider which service has a plan that works with your budget, so do some research.<\/p>\n

Once you picked your service, create a dedicated \u201cinnovation\u201d folder and fill it with things that inspire you. Your brain can only process so much information at a time as you move from one idea or environment to the next, so consider this an anywhere, always-accessible extension of your brain; use it as a harbor for your favorite part lines, surface inspirations, brand languages, and so on. Chances are if something appeals to you, it will appeal to somebody else too.\u00a0 Keep a record of these things because you will never remember them otherwise.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever seen the design process of a world-class character designer or concept artist (basically anybody who creates \u2018fantasy\u2019 out of nothingness), they always start with a strong handful of images that they\u2019ve carefully curated over the years.\u00a0 You can replicate this by creating a handful of sub-folders within your innovation folder and giving them themes (vintage robots, Japanese architecture, airplane interiors, 3D printing, etc).<\/p>\n

A final note: never <\/b>use your innovation folder for anything else. This means no backups of three-year-old RFPs, passport information or pictures from your family vacation in Mexico.\u00a0 This is a special folder that is completely removed from all other aspects of your life.<\/p>\n

3. Absorb and take as many images as possible<\/b><\/p>\n

Now that you have your accessible-from-anywhere innovation folder in place, it\u2019s time to fill it up. But don\u2019t race to fill this folder with ideas\u2014let them come to you organically.\u00a0 You can, however, increase the chances of being inspired by strategically setting up ways for these moments to find you.<\/p>\n

Start by following some people on Tumblr who regularly post on interesting design elements.\u00a0 Here\u2019s one to get you started<\/a>.\u00a0 Set up a Pinterest account and follow tags that speak to you, then check it frequently for new images.\u00a0 Follow hashtags on Instagram.\u00a0 Learn how to leverage these platforms as your own personal crowd-sourced inspiration feed.<\/p>\n

Additionally, keep your favorite camera app handy on your smartphone\u2019s home screen. Take pictures constantly throughout the day, then use that handy cloud service app to upload the pictures directly to your innovation folder. See where we\u2019re going here?\u00a0 Keep that folder full!<\/p>\n

4. Read design blogs for 30 minutes a day<\/b><\/p>\n

You may already do this, but if not, take some time to really absorb current trends that aren\u2019t directly tied to your industry.\u00a0 Many trade magazines (both online and print) tend to isolate their readers from things going on outside of their particular market, so don\u2019t confine yourself. Learning about how the latest basketball shoes are manufactured may spark a new way of thinking about new ways your latest plastic mold design could be manufactured.<\/p>\n

This is also an opportunity to keep your finger on the vanguard of industry activity, such as the latest Kickstarter projects or design events in your area.<\/p>\n

5. Walk around the mall, or a forest, or a beach.<\/b><\/p>\n

Get out into the world. Experience life. Be a sponge.<\/p>\n

If your mission is to design a new digital camera housing, touch and hold every single camera on display at the local big box store.\u00a0 Don\u2019t even look at the prices or features\u2014just absorb the materials, processes and user experiences that go into each and every product.\u00a0 If it suits your budget, purchase objects that stick out to you. Take them apart, study how they were built, and re-assemble them. Then do it again. And again.<\/p>\n

The same can be said about a natural environment. How can things from the natural world inspire the form factor for your camera body? Depending on what you\u2019re trying to achieve, you may find more success in a forest than a mall, but I\u2019ve found success in both environments when gathering inspiration.\u00a0 The key here is to observe things. How do these surfaces meet?\u00a0 How does this weight feel?\u00a0 Why is that<\/i> over there<\/i>?\u00a0 Be a sponge.<\/p>\n

\"btd\"<\/a><\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> Sketch daily<\/b><\/p>\n

And not just what you\u2019re currently working on.\u00a0 Industrial Designer Spencer Nugent has made a name for himself with his Sketch A Day<\/a> blog, where he posts a random industrial design-inspired sketch every day. You can follow Spencer\u2019s lead by picking any object in a room\u2014be it a coffee maker, a travel mug or a suitcase\u2014and thinking about how you could make it better.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to understand that this isn\u2019t simply about practicing your sketching abilities; it\u2019s about changing how you think about the world around you. This could even be a good opportunity to put that innovation folder to good use and incorporate some of the surfaces, textures, and design styles that you\u2019ve collected.\u00a0 That picture you grabbed of an airplane window?\u00a0 That form factor could be integrated into a carry-on suitcase design. The sky is the limit.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Learn new ways of doing the same thing<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been said that those who learn how to become fluent in another language come back to their native language with a much more refined approach and delivery.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about creating something amazing at this point; the idea here is to learn a new way of thinking about something.\u00a0 How can you communicate an idea through a different medium?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t know where to start?\u00a0 Pick up a watercolor brush and communicate the surfaces in your latest CAD model assembly.<\/p>\n

8. <\/b>Leave your technology at home<\/b><\/p>\n

Sometimes you need to get away from your computer and phone as if you\u2019re being paid good money to do it\u2014because when it comes to innovation, you are.\u00a0 Make a pact with a friend or significant other to occasionally leave your various devices at home and go on an adventure. Go to the beach for the weekend; go to a new restaurant; go for a bike ride; take a stroll through your city; simply just be<\/i> outside.<\/p>\n

No matter how technologically-advanced and comfortable we\u2019ve gotten with touchscreens, virtual reality and the like, nothing can inspire you like actual life experiences. Fight to make sure that you get your daily quota.<\/p>\n

9. <\/b>Do Nothing <\/b><\/p>\n

Yes, you\u2019ve heard it before: meditation is good for you.\u00a0 But meditation comes in many forms beyond just sitting in the lotus position on the floor of a zendo.<\/p>\n

Meditation is the act of just being<\/i>, whether it\u2019s in the car on the way to work, walking back from lunch, or even doing the dishes at night.\u00a0 The goal is to clear your mind so you can process that next round of juicy, innovation-driving information.<\/p>\n

Besides being completely cost-free and possible at (almost) any given moment of any given day, meditation is extremely simple. Just focus on your breathing and nothing else; there\u2019s no reason to get into anything more complicated at this point unless you\u2019re seeking Nirvana.<\/p>\n

Repeat daily.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0 <\/b>Learn How to Accept Change<\/b><\/p>\n

This may be the most important item in this list.<\/p>\n

Actively seek out new ways of doing things, from varying the route you take to work, to switching up the meals you eat each week, to adopting the suggestions in this list.\u00a0 Once you have those new ways of doing things in place, the same thinking patterns will eventually spill out into your creative endeavors.<\/p>\n

Albert Einstein once said \u201cIf you always do what you did, you will always get what you always got.\u201d If you make innovation a part of your daily life, your innovation machine will always be well-oiled. Be the change. Embrace the change. Do this, and innovation will find you. \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Posted by Cliff Medling in the SOLIDWORKS Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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You\u2019d be hard-pressed to walk into any space full of creative people and not see, hear, or feel the power of innovative thinking.\u00a0 While the notion of \u201cinnovation\u201d can be… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[25],"class_list":["post-1804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-solidworks","tag-solidworks-2"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1804"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3788,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1804\/revisions\/3788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solidapps.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}