Innovating Innovation – Top Tips from 5 Recent Innovation Case Studies

Steve Jobs said ‘Learn continually, there is always ‘one more thing’ to learn’ and when it comes to Innovation we never stop learning and innovating our innovation sprint approaches.

These 5 recent case studies show us there are so many different ways to innovate and always learn something new

1. USER CO-CREATION TO SOLVE UNMET NEEDS

What if…you want to create new, big ideas that are rooted in real user  experiences, in a category that is highly sensitive and icky to discuss?

Our client wanted to find some new user insight from diverse geographies in a category that is so embarrassing, nobody wants to talk about it. We engaged 10 creative consumers from different markets and helped them to lose their inhibitions and really think deeply about and then share what could make their use experience better. They joined a series of live online co-creation sessions that were highly creative, playful and fun, delivering 12 new big, bold ideas.

Top tip: Taking time to find and inspire the right mix of consumers will pay off with fresh, creative solutions that are truly rooted in their unmet needs

2. OUTSOURCED IDEATION

What if… you need a pipeline but don’t have capacity to run big internal workshops?

Our client wanted a pipeline but didn’t have internal head-space or team capacity to run insight or innovation workshops. We recruited, briefed and inspired 4 highly creative external experts in their chosen chosen markets, who delivered 50+ ideas. Within 7 weeks we had 20 signed off concepts ready for BASES testing – the results were ‘insanely good’

Top tip: sometimes the best ideas come from outside the business and you can then build them with your team, even in very limited time

3. MAKING THE SCIENCE COMPELLING FOR SOCIAL

What if…you have amazing science solution but don’t know how to explain it to consumers?

Our client R&D team had a brilliant technology innovation. We brought in  category influencers to advocate for consumers and help find social-friendly ways to demonstrate the product benefit in compelling consumer language

Top tip: Bring influencers and scientists together to find the social sweet spot fast

4. UNLOCKING BIGGER, BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS

What if…you want to disrupt your own business, shaping a new future (before others do)

Our client wanted to lean into the big headwinds facing their business and tackle the possible scenarios and challenges they may face – in order to unlock true breakthrough thinking and ideas into their pipeline
We took more time on this one. Engaging experts from challenger categories, creative category rejectors, to drive deep insight and foresight that stretched and disrupted thinking. We led a 4 days sprint with a small senior team to get deeper into the

Top tip: You will learn more by engaging category challengers and rejectors to uncover deeper insight and help predict the future

5. IMMERSIVE JOURNEY TO 2040

What if…you need to align and excite senior leaders about a future vision to agree strategic focus for investment?

Our client was losing their leadership edge to challengers in a fast-changing category but felt the business wasn’t clear or focussed about about how to win. We took them on an immersive journey to 2040 to disrupt their thinking and challenge the status quo.  From broad trends to tangible future scenarios, this helped them to land on a vision and unlock momentum for change and innovation.

Top tip: disrupt, refocus and energise your business thinking with an immersive, collective journey to the future