Are We Still Innovating?

If it hasn’t dawned on you yet, over the last two years the world was forced to go digital or die trying. The ability to continue innovating is dwindling. Personally, we have never been busier within the digital creative space than we are right now – both as design creatives and developers. As more and more businesses find themselves in unchartered waters, we started realising that we are applying the same/similar creative solutions to multiple digital migrations. Suddenly, it struck us… Are we creatively fatigued? Are we running out of juices? Are we still innovating?

What is Innovation?

Most people hear the word “innovation” and think of new technology, but innovation isn’t just about gadgets and gizmos. It’s about finding new ways to do things, whether it’s a better way to manufacture a product or a more efficient way to deliver a service. And it’s not just about coming up with new ideas; it’s about turning those ideas into reality.

Innovation has always been important, but in today’s fast-paced, competitive global economy, it’s more critical than ever. Companies that innovate will be the ones that succeed in the future.

So, are we still innovating? Yes, we are. In fact, there’s never been a better time to be an innovator. We live in an age of incredible opportunity, where new technologies and ideas can be quickly turned into products and services that change the world. If you have an idea for something new, now is the time to make it happen.

Innovating vs Reinventing

In the age of innovation, you may be hard-pressed to find a truly original idea – both digitally and otherwise. Unfortunately, in a solution-driven industry, we often find ourselves doing research on previously applied design and business solutions to assist our clients as much as possible (without reinventing the wheel). After all, we live by the motto “work smarter, not harder”. And sometimes the research and ideas we discover end up sticking, and we simply apply them without thinking “how else can this be done so that it’s still original”.

The more we started asking around about this, the more we realised from our peers that this seems to be a norm. And whilst we all endeavour to create something truly unique for each and every use-case scenario, designers and developers DO NOT build for the?exception, we build for the?rule?within practical timelines and budgets. And that’s the truth! So again, as an industry, are we still innovating?

Innovation as a necessity in our digital world

The term innovation is often used in business and technology circles, but what does it really mean? And why is it so important?

Innovation can be defined as the process of creating something new or improved. In a business context, it typically refers to the development of new products or services. But it can also refer to process improvements or the introduction of new business models.

In today's digital world, innovation is more important than ever. The speed of change is accelerating, and businesses must continuously adapt or risk being left behind. What was cutting-edge a few years ago is quickly becoming obsolete. To stay ahead of the curve, companies need to continually invest in research and development and create new ways of doing things.

There are many examples of businesses that have failed because they didn't innovate fast enough. Blockbuster, for instance, was slow to embrace the digital age and was ultimately overtaken by Netflix. Kodak didn't adapt to the shift from film to digital photography and filed for bankruptcy in 2012.

On the other hand, there are also countless examples of businesses that have thrived because they were able to innovate and change with the times. Apple is perhaps the best-known example. The first Macintosh computer was introduced in 1984 and the iPod, the first Apple smartphone and the first MacBook Air were all released after 2000.

Other notable companies have also invested a great deal into R&D and changed their business model several times to keep up with changing consumer tastes. Starbucks, for example, began as a retailer of coffee beans but that helped it develop a knowledge of what consumers like. It then moved into manufacturing brewing machines that it used in its stores before entering the food service industry. Today it operates almost 11,000 locations globally -- more than half of which are owned by other businesses or franchises -- and still operates roughly 1,000 coffee shops itself. Today some of those well-known brands are struggling to adapt in an increasingly competitive environment.

How does scope affect the capacity to innovate?

Several things have to be considered when you’re putting a proposal together for a client:

• Scope of the Project
• Client’s Budget (as unrealistic as these sometimes are)
• Research & Development
• Project Milestones and Deadlines
• Resources Required (Both financial and human resources)
• Practical Applications to remain within Scope & Budget
• Post-Deployment Snags & Fixes

Due to all of the above, we often have to limit the number of resources we have to exhaust, simply because the timelines are tight or the budgets are restrictive. And once that happens, you eventually choose the road that’s easiest. That’s not to say the work you present is not remarkable, innovative or meets the brief's requirements. It simply means that the “blue-sky scenario” we may have wanted for outstanding innovation was cut short – and alas, another miscarriage of creativity that another agency has to contend with.

Different ways to innovate and prevent the inevitable plateau

There are different ways to innovate. You can improve on what you have, or you can come up with something new. You can also do both at the same time. There are a few ways to make sure you don't get stuck in a rut and keep innovating.

One way to innovate is to improve on what you already have. This could be a new way to do something, or a better way to do something. There are always ways to improve, and if you can find them, you'll be ahead of the competition.

Another way to innovate is to come up with something entirely new. This is usually harder than it sounds, but it's worth it if you can pull it off. If you can find a new way to do something, or a new product or service, you'll be in good shape.

You can also combine both of these methods. You can improve on what you have while also coming up with something new. This is usually the best way to go, because you'll be able to stay ahead of the competition and keep your customers happy.

Don't try to reinvent the "wheel"

Something that innovators get trapped by is misunderstanding the difference between innovation and reinvention - constantly trying to reinvent the proverbial wheel. When innovators are under pressure, they tend to fall back on their innovation instinct rather than using their distinctive insight to reinvent and update the wheel. The wheel might have been invented by an innovative explorer - but your challenge is not necessarily to be a trailblazer or inventor.

You may develop a product or service that can act as an enabler for the next stage of innovation. Catering for your intended customers. If you don't focus on what will enable or benefit your market or customer, then you never resolve that initial block of developing the value chain that will solve the customer's problem. This eventually leads to businesses dumping assets into R&D (research and development) without sufficient visibility into prospective return risks becoming a sinkhole.

Innovating, ultimately, is creating something bigger than yourself

We often hear the phrase "innovation is dead" used to describe the state of the world today. But is that really true? Are we really no longer capable of coming up with new ideas and concepts that can change the world?

No, innovation is not dead. In fact, it's very much alive and well. We're simply facing different kinds of challenges than we did in the past. And finding new sources of inspiration can be difficult in a world that often seems to offer little hope.

But there are still people out there who are innovating. They're finding new ways to solve problems and create something new and incredible. They're inspired by a desire to make a difference and improve the world around them. And they're succeeding.

So don't despair if you feel like you're struggling to come up with new ideas. The world still needs your creativity and Innovation. If you find yourself stuck, chat to us at WritersHand Studios to help propel your idea beyond its innovation plateau and turn its potential into profit!