What makes a great idea?

I’ve got a good idea, actually, I’ve got loads. Alas, you’ve probably got a good idea, (or a bunch of them) too. But do you know what you want to achieve from this idea and how are you really going to do it?

Yesterday I was reading a blog about the topic of stealing ideas in the creative industry. Is it really possible to steal an idea? I actually wonder if these instances are merely a case of that the seed-of-an-idea wasn’t quite fully realised for various reasons: maybe your expectations were too high; maybe it wasn’t refined enough; or perhaps most importantly, you didn’t collaborate with trained professionals, so you missed obvious pitfalls and lacked the bespoke skills to get things moving.

A personal example I can think of, was when I was at Uni and was researching images on the web to create a mood board for a project. I found so many that I loved but weren’t relevant for that particular project, but I’d save them anyway – for a fear of never finding them again for future use. I couldn’t help but think, “I should create a website that lets me save all the nice things I find on the web as my own inspirations box”… thankfully, I can strike that off my to-do list, as someone created Pinterest.

In the case of stolen ideas, I’m sure the above wasn’t purely from the deep recesses of my 'anterior medial brain' (the bit where you daydream), but whatever happened, it’s a compliment that the idea was a good one in the first place. It was simply a case of someone took it further and achieved the real goal: its intended results. Maybe this is the difference between a thought and an idea?

And this here is my point.

What I’ve come to know to be true over the last 11 years in the industry is this: any idea – pertinent to any industry – needs the help of a professional to reach its intended results.

As a Designer, I’m trained to develop ideas (not ‘jazz-things-up’ contrary to popular belief). It's why creative professionals choose our careers in the first place. We’re the one’s who conceptualise, problem solve, refine, execute ideas - all for the intended results, above and beyond the solution.

Another way of looking at it is to think of us as the trained ‘Idea Architects’. The one’s who can see where the hypothetical doors and windows go; wooden floors or carpet; soft furnishings or upcycled bohemian; building on the foundations that are already in place.

By not collaborating with seasoned and skilled professionals, you can be sure that your idea will never be seen in its best light. Just like if you were to try to build your own house yourself[1].

It’s sad, and it pains me, but this happens more than we know. I’m not sure what the reasons are but I do know by not collaborating with creative professionals, your idea has a lower chance of meeting it’s intended results (particularly in time and on budget, might I add).

Here at Brand Brewery, our creatives are professionally equipped to develop ideas into a place that they meet and exceed their intended results.

Because we make ideas happen.

[1] Unless you are actually an Architect and a Master Builder all in one – if so, power to you.