(Blog-Off II Entry) Bring Your Invention or Idea to LIFE

I am going to start this blog off by going into some of the stages of New Product Design or Product Development (NPD). Those stages will also correlate with the number of blogs that I will post. Each stage will go over what is needed to take a product (idea or concept) from start to finish. Follow the blog in each of its stages to learn how you can easily produce a product and quickly bring your idea to the market.

Let me put in a short disclaimer ;). This blog is based on research and experience in NPD. I cannot be responsible for the millions of dollars you might make or the millions you may lose.

Stages of NPD:
1. Idea, Research and First Concepts (CONCEPT)
2. Patents, Development and Engineering (DEVELOPMENT)
3. Design, Pre-Production Prototype and Testing (DESIGN)
4. Tooling, Sample Production and Full Production (PRODUCTION)
5. Marketing (MARKETING)

So, you have this idea for an invention to either bring to market or to better a product that has been on the market for some time.  But you just don’t know how to get started and what steps that you need to take.  For example, you want to make a cell phone cover made out of stainless steel or you love that your spatula can flip pancakes but feels weird on your hand and you want to make a new spatula that feels better but achieves the same goal of flipping delicious pancakes.

 

Successful idea generation is part of the hunt for the vastly superior undiscovered idea, and it is a secret ingredient in the opportunity scanning process. It is very important that all ideas no matter how ludicrous or extreme may sound, be gathered. The idea generation process should be on-going, have a specific purpose, involve the whole of the company including its clientele, use a variety of methods, and have an objective moderator.

For the sake of this blog let’s focus on bringing two new products to the market, the stainless steel cell phone cover and the new ergonomic spatula. The reason why I chose these two products is because I want to go over metal and plastic, and the differences and processes each will use for the above listed stages. Stages 1, 2 and 5 will be the same for both products; stages 3 and 4 will be slightly different because of the prototype methods and sample production that will be involved.

The product idea is the first step in the new invention process.  Inventing a new product takes careful research, and is impacted by a number of factors; Consider the new invention's commercial potential; Put the invention through every field test you can possibly come up with; Avoid getting discouraged if there are similar products on the market; Study the similar product and you may find that your idea offers something their product does not. 

It is always helpful to keep a notebook to write down or sketch out your ideas. A small spiral notebook or 3x5 index cards also work well for on the go situations. Make sure you date your ideas and write as much about the ideas as you can at the time of the original thought. You will be thankful once you come back to work on the idea. Keep writing ideas in your notebook. Once you find an idea that keeps you awake at night thinking of ways to get prototypes made, ways to market it, or ways to sell the product, you may have a winner!

I know I have your mind going all over the place thinking of inventions to make our lives easier, so follow me on my next blog where I will get started on the first stage of the process, idea, research and first concepts.

Tim Ruffner
Email: Timr@GPIprototype.com
Click On Any Of The Following Links To Follow Tim/GPI

Comments

[Anjeanette]

I read alot & I like to read things that stimulate my brain...your blogs so far have the gears grinding upstairs. I enjoyed it!

[Heather Fesing]

I agree! VERY informative! Thank you! Now my imagination is working!

[Danielle Paulenich]

Thanks so much for putting together these blogs, Tim!
Now I'm excited about what comes next. With some ideas at hand, I look forward to learning more and possibly working with you in the near future to create something magnificent.

Everyone starts somewhere,
Thanks again!

[Dan]

very good guildlines for getting an idea moving, maybe the hardest part of something new made

[Kirk Hochburger]

Great Blog! Now I feel like inventing something.

[Darlene Sabella]

Wow, I can't believe how may comments you have, I think I have one...LOL This is such a fantastic article to folks to learn how to take that thouoght out of their heads and get up out of that chair and create something. You writing style is awesome. And you pictures is something I always in joy in any article.

[Brad Jenks]

I had no idea you were an expert in this area; good to know.

[Darlene Sabella]

Excellent Tim, and thanks for your comments on my articles. I have tried to follow your advise. What a great article you wrote. I really liked reading about each step of an invention. This is great, now all I need to learn is how to follow you during this contest and also subscribe. Darlene

[Lucia Brawley]

Very cool, Tim! Thanks for posting.

[Jim]

Very well written, so a layman can really understand!

[Tim]

Hi Matt,
You are correct it is very text book kind of stuff yet written in layman's terms. Also keep in mind that some people who have ideas really don't know where to start they are looking for "guidance" so to speak. Look over the next few blogs and follow me to see what I blog about next ;). I value your input. The 1st stage of the blog is now posted please check it out.

http://www.communitymarketing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/12/make-your-dream-a-reality-from-concept-to-action.html

[Matt]

Tim. Im not sure what you are going with this,
Its kind of your typical product developement, text booky kind of stuff.

[Conrad Hall]

Hi Tim,

You're doing beautifully. Keep communicating with your connections on other sites, and keep linking.

Everyone should be following your example.

Go ahead and use blog space. You're getting lots of comments, and that's good. You don't have to reply to every single comment, but part of your "grade" is based on engaging in conversations.

Good work, Tim.

Sincerely,
Conrad Hall

[scott]

Tim,
Interesting topic, I enjoyed your introduction, I look forward to your view and insight on this.
Well done on being so informative in such a short usage of time and space.

[Jenny R]

Great write. You make good points that are total common sense, but you just don't think about.. While reading I kept thinking "Duh! I should have thought of that, so simple!". And I cannot express how correct you are when you keep stating "write it down". I am excited to see the next blog(s).

[Michael]

Overall it looks fine. Just keep in mind that I see the target of such a blog to be inventors and people with limited experience in product design/development. For people such as industrial designers this is basic and what we constantly are trying to educate our clients about. I come across many people who have a great idea for the next greatest widget but don't really know what their getting themselves into. Good luck.

[Scott]

Tim nice job, I will follow with interest on how GPI Prototype might help me develop some of my own idea's. Good Luck
Scott

[Roger]

Very good information Tim. If I am ever in a situation to pursue some type of idea I will definitely follow these steps.

[Dave]

Okay Tim Good job on creating stages (phases) of a getting a product to market. Great analogies. Now, what are the tasks behind those stages? Who would be involved, one person or a team? In which stages would they be involved in? What would the tasks those indivuduals or Team do in each of the stages? What kind of timeline?

[Crystal]

Good job Tim, im impressed with it and i wish u the best of luck with it

[Becky]

Very well written, Tim! A lot of folks have "big ideas" but often do not know where to go with these ideas. This is helpful and informative in steering people in the right direction to get their ideas and concepts noticed, and what it takes to bring those ideas and concepts into production.

[Brandi]

This is a very interesting subject. I am sure a lot of people have an idea but do not have the slightest idea how to get started therefore, things remain dormant. Even the individuals that go on to the show Shark Tank, already have cost analysis, prototypes, and market research completed so while the show is entertaining, it lacks the education one would need to literally start from scratch. There needs to be a plan, available to the public, utilizing common terms any one can understand, such as this. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this and look forward to your next blog.

[Patricia]

~ Gosh very well written Tim. I'm truly looking forward to reading up on your next blog. Keep me posted.

[Tim]

WOW, Thank you to everyone who left me feedback even the anonymous person who says these comments are fake. I am going to reply to those who commented starting from the top.

Conrad, Thank you for your kind words. You are correct when saying I was using friends and social network to market my blog. I thought this blog contest was also about marketing so I took the time and sending some emails on linkedin, myspace and facebook to get some feedback. Please look for the following blogs.

Parmesh, I will walk you through some more stages of NPD within the next week, hopefully by then I tapped into your creative mind and than I could be purchasing your great new product!

James, I love your comment, it made me lol. I can not tell you what makes an optimal spatula as I was just using that as an example for reading purposes, me personally I like a large pancake so I would say optimal diameter for my pancakes are about 7 1/2".

Mark, That was my goal to get your inner entrepreneur out of you. What's next you ask? Follow me on any of your favorite social networking sites and I will send you an email when the next blog comes out :)

Chris, I know I have thought about little products we use everyday and how they come to market, I will tell you in the next blog how we can release that inner creativity.

Sharon, Follow me and I will let you know when the next blog is ready for you to read.

Rachel, Thank you for your kind words.

Dynamite, with all the feedback on the actual product ideas I put into the blog makes me want to product a new spatula and cell phone cover.

Andrea, I love that you think my disclaimer is key. I believe someone in the contest writes for the Huffington Post, maybe she wrote the article you posted ;)

Ok I think I am taking up a lot of blog comment space by writing to each person who commented those under Andrea, thank you so much for participating and reading my blog and commenting. I will let you all know when the next blog is published for your reading pleasure.

Tim

[Conrad Hall]

Hi Tim,

Well done. I actually started reading your post last night during the conference call...The number of comments you've generated is impressive.

Here's a note for every competitor in Blog Off 2: Talk to your existing audience about what you're doing. Your objective here is to engage "an" audience - not necessarily a "new" audience.

Yes, Blog Off 2 will bring you new audience participation. I'm also willing to go out on a limb and suggest that Tim told his audience about what he's doing and has asked them to participate.

That foundation of audience participation is going to make it easier for him to draw new audience members. Talk to your existing audience and get them involved.

Now back to Tim.

Tim, you have a wonderful, evergreen topic. It taps into people's desire to be creative and help other people. That there is the potential for reward is icing on the cake.

It always strikes me as amazing that the process for product creation is the same across platforms. You're writing about everyday, physical products, and the process you describe is the same one I use when writing a new book.

Your material is wonderful because it applies to anyone wanting to create ANY product. Excellent work Tim.

Sincerely,
Conrad Hall

[Paramesh]

yes his is an good idea to tell what u have in ur mind and how can we approach for NPD

[anonymous]

Okay.... these comments are all fake..... Common a little more originality than this

[James]

I can't stop thinking about pancakes now. And everything that revolves around them. That is, what makes an optimal spatula? What material? Shape? Size? What about the fry pan or griddle? What is the ideal diameter of the pancakes I should be flippin' in my kitchen?!

Looking forward to more.

[Mark]

Lots of good stuff here. Releasing the inner entrepreneur in all of us can be tough, but this presents a good formula for those who need a little direction. What's next?

[Chris H.]

This blog DOES in fact have my mind all over the place thinking about the ideas that have crossed my mind in the past while performing everyday tasks around my home. I have already begun to write a few things down and am very excited to read the next blog on Stage 1. I appreciate the time and thought that the was put into constructing this blog and will be waiting for the next installment and keep the wheels turning in my mind. Thanks again.

[Sharon Morris]

Interesting subject. Something I have thought about in my past. Put's everything in perspective. Good Job. I wanted to keep reading and learn more. Looking forward to the next one.

[Rachel]

Very interesting and well written. I love your ideas. I thinks important that people share their ideas. Interesting what people can think of that others miss. Thank you for the tips! Cant wait to read your next blog! Keep going!

[dynamite]

Very well written Tim, and very informative.Good Luck with it I hope it all works out..

[page]

best of luck bro its fantastic bro best of luck

[Andrea]

The disclaimer is key... I'd add before you throw your life savings behind a product, test drive the idea with your harshest critic. Not everyone is going to love your idea, and you can save yourself a lot of aggravation by not waiting until the marketing phase to see what people hate and where you can improve... or if this is a total waste of time a resources. After all, no one wants to end up on this list: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/the-15-stupidest-products_n_342316.html?slidenumber=uyVPIHYjKVk%3D

[Jason Ward]

Interesting outline. It is a good idea for the testing part and what materials that need to be used so that you do not become liable. Never thought that far ahead on that note. Nice Work.

[michael]

it was set up nice and cant wait to see next weeks blogs keep me posested lol and i like how there dirfferent type of model make it that much more interested lol well im glad to reaad ur blog keep me on the up dates lol just perfect lol

[Melissa]

Tim - well written and informative. Very interesting reading. :) Let me know when you post your next blog post.

[Mike]

Ok I never had an idea on what entailed to producing a new invention. I Had this idea of making a new chair but never knew what steps to take. I am so interested, I will be following your blogs, please email me when you post your next blog.

[Brandon Crawford]

Wow this is excellently, and well written. Gives great tips and facts. Good luck Tim!

[Capt Redeye]

Excellent tutorial on the implementation of an idea. I look forward to the next one, as this was so concise and well written that even me as a layman, can gather a clue!

[Nelson Williams]

love the ideas! and they sound like they would be very well executed... just make sure that your cell phone cover comes with some sort of shock absorbtion method... that's the one thing that most cell phone covers are lacking.... they do a great job of making the phone look pretty, but they don't do the best at actually protecting the 500 dollar piece of equipment inside!

Happy Inventing!

[Tim]

Catrenia and Kiwi, Thank you for your kind comments. Please look for the following post on Thursday.

[Russell]

Nice little article, makes for a good springboard into a variety of topics. States some very simple concepts that many people overlook.

I'm interested in seeing where the next posts are headed.

[Michelle]

they both sound like very good ideas. great blog!!!!

[Brandy]

Extremely well written, I think everyone has ideas for new inventions but many people discard the thought. This was helpful and I after reading it I may put more thought into any ideas I have!

[Kiwi]

very impressive Tim.. good luck I hope it all goes well for you...
Kiwi

[Catrenia Overweg]

Very Informative. Something for me to think about. Written very well.