6 Principles to Work Differently // Imagine and Model

Making ideas tangible to share and inspireIMAGINE and MODEL

6 principles to WORKdifferentlyWORKdifferently Copyright © 2015 gravitytank.com

WORKdifferently Copyright © 2015 gravitytank.com WORKdifferently Copyright © 2015 gravitytank.com

WORKdifferently Copyright © 2015 gravitytank.com

“Genius is that ability to put into effect what is in your mind.”

F . S C O T T F I T Z G E R A L D


Imagine and Model

WORKdifferently Copyright © 2015 gravitytank.com 5

The need for great ideas


Where do good ideas come from?


The myth of the “eureka” moment“It’s very, very rare to find cases where somebody on their own, working alone, in a moment of sudden clarity has a great breakthrough that changes the world.” S T E V E N J O H N S O N W H E R E G O O D I D E A S C O M E F R O M



Great ideas come from other ideas

“We’re better served by connecting ideas than we are by protecting them.”

S T E V E N J O H N S O N W H E R E G O O D I D E A S

C O M E F R O M

“We can know more than we can tell.”

M I C H A E L P O L A N Y I T A C I T K N O W L E D G E

“Evolution advances by taking available resources

and cobbling them together to create new ideas.”

S T U A R T K A U F F M A N N A D J A C E N T P O S S I B L E



Great ideas build on existing ideas

1954

Transistor radio

1970s

Portable boombox

1979

Portable cassette tape player

1984

Portable CD player

2001

iPod

2007

iPod touch iPhone

It’s still a personal listening device

Transistor Radio: by Joe Haupt from USA [CC BY-SA 2.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons | Portable Boombox: By Puding Jahodový (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons | Portable Cassette Player: By Evan-Amos (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons | Portable CD Player: By Morn at the English language Wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons | iPod/iPod Touch/iPhone: By rsprünglich von Kyro, weiterverarbeitet von IWorld [CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons


TERMITE DEN

Uses cooling chimneys and tunnels to keep a consistent and comfortable interior temperature

EASTGATE CENTRE

Built to mimic the termite mound’s structure to use less energy and reduce cooling costs

Great ideas make leaps

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Even disruptive innovation borrows ideas



Sounds easy, right?


The not-so-easy realitySTUCK

We’re used to thinking about problems in the same way, restricting our creativity

“RIGHT ANSWERS”

Using things like incentives, risk aversion, and judgement


“To have a great idea, you need to have lots of ideas.”

M I C H A E L P O L A N Y I


Imagine + ModelMake ideas tangible and

push developmentGenerate many ideas and

explore possibilities


Imagine and Model has some very familiar formsIDEATION

A method for developing creative ideas

PROTOTYPE

A preliminary model from which other forms are developed



Problem framing

Solution refinement

Ideation

Solution development

Imagine and Model happens throughout the development of ideas

Business modeling


Imagine


“You need a novel stimulus - either a new piece of information or an unfamiliar

environment - to jolt attentional systems awake. The more radical the change, the greater the likelihood of fresh insights.”

G R E G O R Y B U R N S I C O N O C L A S T

New ideas lead to more ideas

Exposure to novelty stimulates dopamine production, which acts as a motivator for exploration


Different perspectives help idea generation

BUILD ON EXISTING IDEAS

Reimagine existing solutions or aspects of a solution

LEAP ACROSS CATEGORIES

Translate solutions from outside the immediate problem area

COMBINE AND BORROW

Blend individual aspects from multiple solutions


Ideas are just the starting place



Model


Bring ideas to life


The practice of modeling is as important as the model itself

Reduces abstraction

Develops ideas

Encourages input



Modeling reduces abstractionVisually expressing elements of an idea creates clarity

“Palm Taxi”

Small, light and totally connected, these organizers make it easy to store and access all your important information and exchange it with your desktop PC. Say good-bye to messy paper schedules, to-do lists and sticky notes. The lightweight, pocket-sized organizer integrates all of your personal and business information into one device.

You'll have access to thousands of addresses and appointments, as well as hundreds of to-do's and e-mail messages, notes and more, anytime, anywhere.

Derived from image by Michael Hicks from Saint Paul, MN [CC BY

2.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons


Modeling develops ideasIdentifying undetermined details and adjusting concepts based on deeper exploration improves ideas


Modeling encourages input

27

Tangibly representing ideas makes them shareable

“Too small”

“What if…”

“I keep my files like…”

“I love this feature!”

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