How can you use Creative Problem Solving to develop new products?

I start by conducting in-depth user research, Based on research findings, I clearly define the problem or challenge. Then I craft a problem statement that is specific, clear, and inspiring. I encourage brainstorming and divergent thinking within the design team and We evaluate and prioritize ideas based on feasibility, alignment with the problem statement, and potential impact. Identifying the problem correctly and applying CPS systematically has consistently led to innovative, user-centered product designs in my experience.

Each service or product exists to solve a problem. It has a purpose. And the success of the product or service depends on how well we can solve a problem. But the fact is: if you don't know the problem deeply, you can't solve it. You can't move forward.

I assemble a diverse team with varied skills and perspectives, then We revisit the problem statement and ensure a deep understanding of the challenge. I foster an open, judgment-free environment for brainstorming. We encourage wild and unconventional ideas without immediate evaluation, Sketches, mind maps, and mood boards are useful tools to visualize ideas and Drawing parallels with unrelated objects or concepts often leads to innovative solutions. We encourage team members to borrow ideas from unrelated fields. As i always say, a solution in automotive design might inspire an innovation in kitchen cabinetry.

* Establish clear and objective criteria for evaluation * Involve a cross-functional team with diverse expertise in the evaluation process * Assign weights to each criterion based on its importance * Rate each idea against the criteria on a numerical scale * Begin with a preliminary screening to eliminate ideas that clearly do not meet essential criteria. This narrows down the pool for in-depth evaluation * Conduct user testing or surveys to gather feedback on the prototypes. Users' preferences and needs are invaluable in the evaluation process * Evaluate ideas using a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. This provides a comprehensive view of each idea's potential

* Conduct a thorough cost analysis to ensure the solution remains within budget constraints. Identify opportunities for cost optimization without compromising quality * Choose materials and finishes that align with the design concept, functionality and sustainability goals * Assess the manufacturability of the solution. Ensure it can be efficiently produced at scale * Incorporate sustainable practices into the solution's development * Ensure the solution complies with relevant industry standards and regulations * Create prototypes or mock-ups of the selected ideas and Continuously test and refine prototypes and Gather feedback from users and cross-functional team members

As innovation facilitator of 100+ projects, I advise you to TEST SOLUTIONS BY PRETOTYPING, like TESLA… FAKE IT BEFORE YOU MAKE IT ???. Pretotyping is a technique for testing - and validating ideas quickly and cheap, founded by Savoia. It involves creating a simplified version of a product or service to collect user feedback and understand market demand. It’s a non-working prototype. Pretotyping reduces the risk of failure by assessing market response early in the development process. A famous pretotyping story is how Tesla ‘faked’ their first electrical car, the Roadster, using a so-called ‘glider’ of a Lotus Elise to confront their potential customers with a ‘real car’, leading to 250+ launching customers who paid $ 5000,- in advance.

Here's how I leverage PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) to enhance solutions: *Plan: Define clear objectives for improvement, Identify key performance criterias that need enhancement *Do: Implement the planned changes in a controlled environment, This could involve building and testing prototypes or conducting small-scale pilot runs of the new product features *Study: Collect data and feedback from the implemented changes, This can include user feedback, performance metrics and observations. Analyze the data to assess whether the changes had the desired impact. *Act: Based on the findings, make informed decisions. If the improvements are effective, integrate them into the final design. If not, iterate on the changes or explore alternative solutions

As facilitator of 100+ innovation projects all over the world, I love to share a CHECKLIST: 15 TIPS for THE PERFECT BRAINSTORM: 1. Define a relevant challenge 2. Create with the sponsor an assignment 3. Create momentum 4. Invite people for whom it is relevant. 5. Invite people for content as well as decision-making 6. Include outsiders 7. Invite the senior problem-owner 8. A special venue 9. An psychological safe environment 10. Never at the office 11. Spend twice as much time on the convergence - as on the divergence process. 12. Apply various idea-generating techniques 13. Keep up the pace 14. Appoint an expert facilitator 15. Make the output concrete Extra Tip: Check the FORTH innovation method for a structured approach.