There's an intriguing piece by Matthew Link in Design Week about how we alway think that innovation has to be technological in some way. He uses some clever examples to suggest that technological innovation isn't always the best way forward. As ever the power is the idea. I liked his suggestion of a chain of tea shops (as a counter to the ubiquitous coffee shop).

I agree Bryan,
Most innovation isn't about the technology... After all, what makes the iPod great? Maybe it's because it's an Apple product. Or maybe because it is a simply great idea; in the right place at the right time.

Most innovation is simply about thinking out of the box with existing technology. One obvious example that comes to mind is the recent success of the Tom Tom.

At the moment most designers are engaged as suppliers... they respond to the client's brief. I don't think we get real innovation using this structure. Yes we sometimes get wonderful creativity and 'good' design, but not that significant leap forward.

The question is, how do we work with our clients to change the nature of that relationship, and put a value on that new role, without it becoming so complex and daunting?

Funny you should mention tea shops- I had the very same thought a few months ago! I think the success of great ideas has to do with a combination of not just the idea but the execution of it. The i-pod for example has world domination because of its functionality and style-two things that every consumer wants. I know, I sound like Im stating the obvious, but I find it surprising that so many companies dont take note of these basic elements that add up to good design/product.

@down to earth: The ipod's successful because of more than style and function. It is a single component in a great integrated system. First they hooked us with iTunes then continued to expand and get us to invest time an effort and money into upgrading. Replace any part of the system and it no longer works as well as a whole.

Bryan Lawson said that designers are not characterized by the problems they solve but by the solutions they give. So maybe Apples success is down to not seeing boundaries of product design when they designed iPod, but seeing the whole experience. Maybe that is also what make the iPod so easy to use.

@mike: Often one of the biggest skills that a designer brings is to be able to simplify a complex and daunting scenario into a more defined manageable problem. I think the question of how to get real innovation is dependent on moving our perception of the problem from 'what does the product need to be' to a more fundamental 'what can we do for the person.'

Hi,
I think Rob has hit the nail on the head here. I would just like to add something, the person, the user. How did Apple capture this experience so well? I think that innovation is the combination of taking the technology and fitting it to the people, to their needs and latent wants.

It is about simplicity, the majority of people do not want complex objects or gadgets, they want simplicity, something easy to use that will enhance their daily lives.

Technological innovation can be exciting and groundbreaking, but taking that technology and fitting it to the needs of the average person or user is what will make it successful and profitable.

Is there any chance of giving the forum software the ability to email those who have contributed to a thread/topic when 70-284 exam further posts are made to it? Traffic on the forums is slow for the most part, so I'm not swinging past as often as I otherwise 640-721 exam might, and a reply might go unnoticed for quite a while. Similarly, the traffic rate might be a bit chicken and egg -- notification would 70-453 exam probably bring people back here more quickly and thus increase the posting rate... in turn bringing more people back via the notifications.

Suppliers respond to the client's brief. I don't think we get real innovation using this structure. Yes we sometimes get wonderful creativity and 'good' design, but not that corporate gifts significant leap forward. The question is, how do we work with our clients to change the nature of that relationship.

suggest that technological innovation isn't always the best way forward. As ever the power is the idea. I liked his suggestion of a chain of tea shops (as a counter to the ubiquitous coffee shop).

<a href="http://www.astrabeds.com/accessories/adjustables/">adjustable beds</a>