The Innovation Platform

The term "innovation" has sprung up more and more lately. In advertisements, on nightly news programs, in newspapers, the idea of innovation seems to be inescapable. But what does it all mean?  In the gloom and doom of the current recession, many public communicators are turning to promises of innovation as the hope for a brighter tomorrow (and their likelihood for election). Frankly, I think the term is abused by people. It is used casually and assumes that it is a given that people will be able to innovate and innovate well. After taking this class, I learned that there is a science behind innovation and in order to create as a result of innovative design, you will have to follow the steps of the innovation process:

Explore : secondary research

Observe : user observation

Ideate : brainstorm & create

Refine: prototype & test

Launch: implement

I do not mean to sound negative but I really wonder if these politicians preaching innovation really know what they are talking about. Innovation is a nice word, very promising. But, if you do not know how to go about innovating or have the minds needed to facilitate the innovation process, getting ideas into action seems almost impossible. If they do access the right people, I think that is wonderful!  I guess after this class, it is more difficult to listen to a politician speak about the need for innovation and I question their education on such a topic.  Innovation is not just willy nilly ideas, it is much more thoughtful and purposive than that. The cartoon below is just a light hearted example of my idea!