Want to learn the ideas in The Art of Innovation better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley, Jonathan Littman here.
Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.
Video Summaries of The Art of Innovation
We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on The Art of Innovation, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Tom Kelley, Jonathan Littman.
1-Page Summary of The Art of Innovation
Outsourcing Innovation
Companies outsource their creative and design functions for four main reasons:
Ideas are important in today’s world. They can change the way people think and inspire them to do great things. People who are better at presenting their ideas have more influence and success than those who aren’t as good at it, so wouldn’t it be helpful to dissect the best idea communicators and figure out how they’re able to communicate their ideas? We can do that by analyzing TED (Technology, Education, Design) presentations along with interviews with speakers and insights from business leaders like IDEO.
Understanding is important in order to make the right decisions. It’s necessary to know what market you’re working in, what technology will work best, and who your client is. You also need to understand the constraints of a project so that you can plan around them.
Watch the people affected by this problem and study their behavior. See where they have needs that are not being met. Construct a mental image of what you want to accomplish, or create physical models if possible.
Evaluation – Reevaluate the prototype frequently by implementing, testing and assessing a series of improvements.
The Limitations of Market Research
To innovate, you have to rely on your instincts. You can do that by asking people about their opinion of your product or idea. However, they may be hesitant to give you an honest response for fear of offending you. Instead, go straight to the source and talk with customers who use your products every day.
The Perfect Brainstorm
Most companies brainstorm, but they could do it better. Brainstorming sessions should be held weekly at the most, and daily if possible. The length of a session shouldn’t exceed 60 minutes because after that ideas become repetitive and flat. To improve your brainstorming skills: 1) Define the problem clearly; 2) Don’t let people get sidetracked; 3) Remember to identify the problem correctly first before you try to solve it.
Be playful with your ideas. Do not debate them at the beginning of a meeting, since this can drain energy from your team. Number your ideas so you have an idea of how many to try out and refer back to them without losing track.
“Build and jump” is a technique used by teachers to keep the momentum going. “Building” means restating an earlier concept, while presenting the next step that must be taken to perfect the idea. Jumping means switching directions entirely and trying a different approach. The facilitator has the job of using these techniques when the momentum starts to flag in order for students to learn effectively.
“Spaces remember” – If you cover a room with paper, the group can use their spatial memory to return to ideas that they had previously written down.
“Stretch your mental muscles” – If you’ve never worked with a group before or if the members seem distracted, start off by doing something to engage them. A facilitator can help come up with some fun exercises that will get everyone involved.
“Get physical” – The best brainstormers use materials to bring their ideas into the physical world. You may want to bring in building blocks or tape for this purpose.
The Imperfect Brainstorm
Now that you know some of the things to do in a brainstorming session, it’s time to look at what not to do. If you want your brainstorming sessions to be successful, avoid these missteps: * “The boss gets priority” – Let him or her run out for doughnuts instead. * “Everyone is permitted a turn” – Not all people are equally talented at coming up with ideas. * “Experts only please” – Outsiders often have great ideas because they’re looking from the outside in.
