The document outlines 11 innovative ways to combine and mix various concepts for creative solutions, highlighting examples like a ski slope on a waste-to-energy plant and solar-powered phone charging points in red telephone boxes. It emphasizes the importance of integrating activities across different domains to create sustainable and beautiful outcomes, urging for collaboration and unexpected partnerships. The overall message encourages blending old and new ideas for innovation and happiness in everyday life.

1. 11 ways for cool combinations
Innovate by combining and mixing
Marc Heleven
© Tim Skellett

2. Combine the bold and the beautiful
Amager Resource Center Denmark
A waste to Energy plant which doubles as ski-slope
www.7ideas.net

3. Combine high and low tech
XBOX 360 controllers for periscope control in newest US Submarines
www.7ideas.net

4. Combine packaging and fun
Every child deserves the chance to play untroubled no matter what the circumstances are
Toys made of cardboard relief boxes
www.7ideas.net

5. Combine unused space and new functions
In 2013 a sports field was opened on the roof of an Ikea store in Utrecht in the Netherlands resulting a further 12,000 sqm being added to the building’s useable area. The local authorities would
not allow the centre to expand because it would have destroyed existing sporting facilities so two artificial grass pitches with a total area of ​​20,000 sqm were built on the roof of the building as
well as a club room on the roof of the new car park.
Ikea Utrecht (NL) and a bus stop
www.7ideas.net

6. Combine nostalgia and new uses
Solar box
Red London phone boxes on Tottenham Court Road are converted into free solar- powered mobile phone charging points.

7. Combine strong concepts and new applications
Uberfication, Tinderfication, Shazamifaction …
www.7ideas.net

8. Combine old and new
Beetle / Fiat 500
www.7ideas.net

9. Combine routine and surprise
www.7ideas.net

10. Combine digital and analog
In the store, you can test laptops, printers, mobile phones, televisions, Bluetooth speakers, compact cameras, action cams,
system cameras, and SLR cameras.
CoolBlue click or mortar shops
www.7ideas.net

11. Combine products / services and platforms
open source / partnering / open API’s / co-creation / crowdsourcing / platform / corporate startups / alliances / cool
combinations / network / junctions / cross-sector / mixing / love your competitors / co-branding / hybrid organisation /
ecosystem / open data / peer to peer / shortcutting / …
www.7ideas.net

12. Combine a chainsaw and a bike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcLN7V9zC9M
Video (with English subtitles)
www.7ideas.net

15. STOP DIVIDING THINGS
Long ago. Things used to be naturally ‘integrated’.
Later, we divided every aspect of our life in silo’s.
Kindergarten. Office. Shopping mall. Suburbs.
Play garden. Elderly care center.
Times are changing.
We run out of space, time, money and we need more sustainable solutions.
LET’S MAKE THINGS BEAUTIFUL BY COMBINING
Blend activities that are lonely
Share unused space with lost dreams.
Make elegant and smart combinations.
Mix things for happiness.
Look for unexpected extra functions.
Match everything like Tinder
Surprise with old and new together.
Form follows function, Function follows fun.
Put love in everyday objects.
Wonder if you can mix science and art.
REMIX YOUR LIFE.
Challenge paradoxes.
Go for strange partners in crime.
Look for how we are united in our differences.
Discover the beauty of elegant combinations.
It’s more fun when things come together.
Forget Ego, Play Lego
www.7ideas.net/#manifesto
Manifesto
LET’S MAKE BEAUTIFUL COMBINATIONS

16. Cool content for innovation
Relevante (voor)beelden voor innovatie
Voor sprekers:
sterke cases, rake verhalen, (voor)beelden en video’s.
Voor auteurs:
coole input voor boeken rond creatief denken, innovatie en
change.
Voor trainingsbureaus:
up to date tools, werkvormen en voorbeelden.
Voor eventorganisaties:
leuke beelden en video’s voor tussenmomenten – content voor
mailings
Voor innovatieteams:
state to the art innovatie websearch op basis van kansrichtingen of
innovatievraag.
Voor organisaties:
inspirerende innovatiesets en / of workshops op maat.
www.7ideas.net (Dutch)
http://marc-heleven.mystrikingly.com/ (English)