Idea
Generation Blog
What is idea
generation?Idea generation is the process of generating, developing and realising new concepts and ideas whether they are developments on an existing product or new products entirely (Johnson, 2005). According to Lilien et al. (2002) the normal process for idea generation is to collect information on the needs of the customer by randomly selecting a group or choosing a typical set of customers. A new product can be generated out of the need for it or a product can create itself a new market and therefore create the need.
Examples of Idea Generation
in sport
Hit Right Sensor |
Another
example of idea generation in sport is Airflow Tennis Racquet (Ideo, 2006). This
tennis racquet was created by ideas company Ideo for the tennis organisation
Head. Iit aims to appeal to the female recreational market. Ideo chose to
create a racquet that had a large frame in order to provide the largest ‘sweet
spot’ for developing players, however, they discovered through their research that
a large frame is often frowned upon because it suggest the player is less
skilled. In order to combat this they added concave sections and ‘wings’ in the
body of the racquet so that it looks smaller than it actually is and therefore
gives the impression of a better player.
My ideas
My first idea for a new
sporting product came from asking a sports coach what issues he faces when coaching
football and other sports. He said that at the end of every session you have to
go round the pitch bending over and picking up multiple cones when you just
want to go home. The product I have devised would make this job a lot easier by
picking up the cones without the need to bend over, therefore reducing time
taken and improving efficiency. It would be a stand with adjustable heights
that could click through the small hole in every cone when pushed through in
order to pick them up quickly, it would also double up as a stand to hold the
cones.
Another idea, developed
out of the problem faced by footballers up and down the country, was a boot
cleaner that could be used quickly after every game. It would be on a long
adjustable pole that could fit into a boot bag and could be used whilst stood up
to rub mud off boots.
Reference list
Ideo. (2006) Airflow
Tennis Racquet for Head. Available
at: http://www.ideo.com/work/airflow-tennis-racquet/
Accessed: 30/10/ 2013
Jonson, B. (2005) Design Ideation: the conceptual sketch
in the digital age. Design Studies Vol 26 No 6 pp 613–624.
Lilien, G.,
Morrison, P., Searls, K., Sonnack, M. & Hippel, E., (2002) Performance
Assessment of The Lead User Idea-Generation Process for New Product
Development. Management Science Vol 48 No 8 pp 1042-1059.
Sport Product Review.
(2013) Coach is in Your Ear. Available
at: http://www.sportsproductreview.com/review/?currentPage=2
Accessed: 30/10/ 2013
Well structured and clearly written. You show a good level of knowledge about this stage of the NPD process and your examples provide evidence of your understanding too. Your first idea is sound, but your second might need much further assessment of the specific needs of the sports marketplace.
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