1. Prototyping
In the book, Kelly writes, “A picture is worth a thousand words. Only at IDEO, we’ve found that a good prototype is worth a thousand pictures.” When creating a new product, it much easier to show someone your idea if you can hand them a physical object and let them play and look at it. Words can only do so much, pictures are better, but a prototype is the ultimate hands on experience. I would use prototypes when pitching my ideas to bosses or potential investors.
2. Brainstorming
Coming up with ideas on your own is difficult. I believe bouncing ideas off of another person helps you bring your ideas to life and helps you see other perspectives. It is best to brainstorm in groups and just let it flow. Kelly writes about 7 secrets for better brainstorming:
1. Sharpen the Focus – Develop a problem statement to keep everyone on track.
2. Playful Rules – Let wild ideas fly! Do not criticize others’ ideas. Use bells or slogans to remind people to be friendly and open minded.
3. Number Your Ideas – Motivate your team to reach a certain number of ideas in a limited amount of time.
4. Build and Jump – Perhaps the most important of these secrets. Build off of other’s ideas to form better ideas. Or go back to previous ideas to add to current ideas.
5. The Space Remembers – Write ideas down where everyone in the group can see them. On the walls, white boards, or large paper. Always have room to write more down.
6. Stretch Your Mental Muscles – Get people warmed up for a brainstorm. Assign homework to get participants in the mindset of the topic.
7. Get Physical – Bring samples, examples, draw, and build prototypes, anything to get your ideas a visual look.
3. Hot Groups
Teamwork is vital when coming up with new ideas for a product or service. Hot groups are people who are all excited and passionate about reaching their goal. They all know what has to be done, and they just do it. They are together for one purpose and there are no authority figure so it allows them to play and just focus on the end result instead of worrying if they are doing what someone else wanted to do.
4. Building a Greenhouse
In the book, Kelly describes the places teams work as “greenhouses” How can you be inspired if you are stuck in a cube with 4 blank walls? When coming up with new ideas for products or services, it would help to be surrounded by things that help you think, become inspired. Having a fun workplace would make people want to work.
5. Experiences
Products and services are memorable if you can create an experience for the customer. If your customer remembers being treated well, having fun, seeing something interesting, doing something out of the ordinary, they will associate that good time with your product. Creating experiences help create return customers.
6. Observations
A good way to get new ideas is to go out and look at what people are currently doing. By watching how customers interact with products, you can witness problems or difficulties they may have. You might design a product for one use, but people use it in a different way. So go out there, and see how it is being done and what you can do to improve it.
7. Take risks
The future is uncertain, but no one would get anywhere if they didn’t take risks. Kelly writes, “We’ve got a saying around IDEO: ‘Fail often to succeed sooner.’” Try things out, test it, and see what works and what doesn’t. Failure is not the end of the world but an opportunity to learn and grow.
8. Keep it Simple
When designing a product, do not load it with so many features that the customer feels overwhelmed and confused. Use pictures and give simple directions.
9. Checklists
Before you begin designing your product, make a list of the essential items your product should feature. These are the most important features the product should contain. Refer to this checklist throughout the design process to make sure you do not forget about these features.
10. Communicate with Customers
Keep a constant communication with your customers. Let them know what is going in every step of the purchase. Send out confirmation e-mails, shipping updates, reminders, always letting them know what is going on. It is bad that a customer has to wait and doesn’t understanding why. When you update them on each step, they are still waiting, but now they understand why and are happier.
