posted by admin on Nov 16
Invention Design Ideas From A Successful Businessman.
We have all been there. We have a great idea for a product, but we can’t quite get it to look how we want, or do what we want. But we keep trying.
Some people, however, go without one half of the process and their products are sometimes highly desirable and amazingly stylish - but generally they don’t last long and can damage your brand name.
Or they are fantastic at what they do and amaze all who witness their achievements - but they look like a machine rather than a work of art. There is a limit to what the general public will have in their homes or gardens, and it has nothing to do with snobbery.
So make sure you get both parts right with your inventions.
What makes a product successful?
Well, it isn’t just what it does that makes it a must have. It is the whole energy surrounding it that makes it a winner. Sometimes the design is just perfect - but if it doesn’t get into the public eye in a favourable climate, it is a loser. It needs to surprise people with its character.
Take Fair Trade for example. Noone used to pay the premium for that 20 years ago - now it couldn’t be more trendy to have your coffee and chocolate brandishing it’s fairtradeability. And Harry Potter. Noone wanted to know him the first few dozen times J K Rowling took him to the publishers.
The product also has to do everything that is expected of it - and for a very long time. If a product gets a reputation for breaking easily it could easily make it a failure. Also it needs to be easy to use - it’s no good having great technology and software if the buttons are too small for anyone to use or it only works in certain places.
Think of the problems you have with the products and technology you use, and try to overcome them. However, don’t forget that it is other people you are making this for as well. So, unless you are aiming for a niche market (narrow fitting shoes/people allergic to bee stings/underwater weddings) try to cater for everyone’s needs, specialise later if you want.
So, what makes a product iconic?
Well, this one is a bit different although still about timing to a certain degree. You need to have the product associated with something in the buyers memory, so they know and love this product by association, by memory.
Take the whole range of products being re-released now that remind everyone of their childhood/ their school days/ their mums cooking/ their granma’s kitchen. All these things are embedded in our memories as happy times so we remember those products and desire them as we get older. Think of the current sales of ‘old stuff’ on eBay at the moment. People are even buying incomplete sets and games off the Internet just to keep hold of that piece of their past.
The same thing needs to be incorporated into products being designed today. Will this stick in the mind of your customer? Will they enjoy using it? Will they like how it looks - what it does - what it represents - how it helps them? All these things will be setting the future for your product and of course your current sales.
What new technology is just around the corner?
There is lots of work at the moment with materials, which have little changed over the past decade or so. For example, there is just different types of plastic rather than a whole new concept.
Nanotechnology could soon change all of that. There is hope for some amazing new ideas and products to enter the market based on this new technology. For example, a paint containing nano particles of carbon could actually make the car it is painted onto photovoltaic - therefore able to power itself. That’s some exciting stuff to look forward to!
Based on James Dyson interview in STUFF
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Understand the Patenting Process - Once things start moving - make sure you know what every one else is talking about and what your rights are - don’t rely on other people to lead you through the process - make sure you know every step yourself…..
