Bluelime Media - Interactive Solutions with a Twist

Forget Innovation! Solve Problems Instead.

I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Scott Berkun at a VanUE event this week. In his often hilarious, entertaining presentation, Scott discussed some of the topics covered in his new book “The Myths of Innovation”. His discussion focused mostly on the perceptions of innovation (eureka moment) versus the historical reality (lots of sweat, hard work, and collaboration).

During the Q&A period, people were obviously engrossed in his ideas and wanted to know more about how to be innovative and how to reach the Eureka moment. Scott provided us with the best advice I’ve heard for a long time.

Forget about innovation. Don’t use the word innovation.
Heck don’t use the word design. Solve problems.
You have a problem? Fix it.
Your client has a problem? Fix it.

Most people when starting their own business think about the following:

• what’s my company name going to be?
• how am I going to sell this product?
• where are my clients?
• what should my profit margins be?
• do I need office space, staff, stationary, business cards, etc…

Similarly when graphic/web designers work with clients they think about the following:

• what is your logo?
• what section do you want to have and what’s your content?
• what colours do you like?
• what other visual elements would you like to use, etc…

A much better approach to both of these, would be to look at what’s not working and fixing it.

If you are thinking of starting a new company, think about the item or service that you want to sell, and figure out how it can help people. Instead of thinking how your business will satisfy your needs, think of how it will help your clients.

Similarly when working on your website, think again about how you can address your clients’ need and solve their problems.

If has a result of your work you can solve someone problems, then that will truly be innovative.