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Workshop : Innovation Games at NSSpain

This document discusses innovation games and techniques for improving brainstorming. It begins with introductions and an exercise to get participants comfortable with failure. Various games and exercises are then presented to trigger creativity and solve problems in new ways, such as "Give Them a Hot Tub" where outrageous ideas are generated, and "Remember the Future" which envisions future success. Real-world scenarios are used to demonstrate how the games could be applied. The document emphasizes creating a culture of innovation and provides resources for running innovation games.

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INNOVAT ION GAMES Perfecting Your Brainstorming Techniques For Killer Products & Features Ben SykesUser experiencebehavior design @BenSykes
The Big Agenda Setting The Stage What Are Innovation Games? In a nutshell Actionable Takeaways What you can expect Introductions A little about me Getting To Know You What’sYour Story? Exercise: Failure Pledge Achievement Unlocked How Do You Innovate? Defining The Problem We NeedYouTo Innovate Where Do Big Ideas Come From? Triggering Creativity Lack of Innovation Discussion Exercise: Let’s See Your Brainstorm Achievement Unlocked Lack Of Innovation Is this happening and why? Real World Scencarios Solved by games? The Games Resources & Tools Team Best Practices Give Them A HotTub Exercise: Solve Europe’s refugee crisis Remember The Future My Worst Nightmare Exercise; Imagine (crowd sourced) worst case scenario Speed Boat Exercise: Define why innovation is lacking Real World Application Exercise: Improve A Feature Exercise: Build A Concept From Scratch
When You Leave Here Today… Feel Inspired • The next big idea is up to you • Have lots of ideas Innovation Action Plan • Culture of innovation • Improving a feature • Improving a product • Building a product from scratch Start solving real world problems Setting The Stage
Introductions Designing Since 1995 —————————- ‣ Oscars : Am. Beauty ‣ US Marine (combat) ‣ Microsoft, Cisco, Google ‣ Teach UX & IA ‣ Wrote the GA Curriculum for Job Search & Apprentice Program ‣ Have run 20+ workshops at GA around career development ‣ Run @IA_UXJOBS Sam Mendes &Paula Abdul Setting The Stage
What’s Your Story? Why are you here & what do you hope to gain? How many designers? How many IOS developers? SomethingElse? Setting The Stage
Failure Pledge (optional) My name is_______________________ I am giving myself permission to fail, screw up & be messy. I realize that I'm learning something new and it may be a rocky in the beginning just like it was for many huge successes before me. I will remember that procrastination only delays my greatness, and I’m going to be awesome! Setting The Stage
@BenSykes How Do you Innovate
How Do You Innovate
Are we trying to solve the right problems? Energy Water Food Environment Poverty Terrorism & War Disease Education Democracy Population How Do You Innovate
Our future depends on people like you. The world needs you to be fearless in your innovation. How Do You Innovate
How Do You Innovate BIG IDEAS Where Do They Come From?
How Do You Innovate Collaborative Intelligence
Go For A Walk “Creative thinking improves while a person is walking and shortly thereafter…” —Marily Oppezzo http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xlm- a0036577.pdf How Do You Innovate
T ime In Nature “The more you get away from the stresses of daily life and the more time you spend outdoors, the greater your level of creativity.” http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/ stories/study-nature-inspires-more-creative- minds How Do You Innovate
Take A Shower “A seemingly mindless task — showering, fishing or driving — might help spur creative thoughts, as the mind wanders from "lather-rinse- repeat" to a recent problem, and then back again.” http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/ stories/study-nature-inspires-more-creative- minds How Do You Innovate
Exercise : Let’s See You Brainstorm How Do You Innovate Goal Come up with a few solutions to solve Europe’s refugee crisis using an IOS app T ime 5 Minutes Problem To Solve Solving Europe’s Refugee Crisis Problem Definition Today, more than 19 million people have been forced to flee their home countries because of war, persecution, and oppression, and every day an estimated 42,500 more join them. Many, though far from all, of them head for Europe, which is why the crisis there can appear most acute. (http://www.vox.com/2015/9/5/9265501/refugee-crisis-europe- syria)
Lack Of Innovation? How Do You Innovate Michael Arrington’s latest complaint that he’s bored with what currently passes for innovation, there is a growing chorus of people voicing their disappointment with Silicon Valley’s inability to push the envelope. http://pando.com/2013/01/03/why-silicon-valley-innovation-has-stalled/
Lack Of Innovation? How Do You Innovate Apple Loses $37BN in Value Due to Lack of Innovation http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/apple-loses-37bn-value-due-lack- innovation-1449539 Lack of innovation is the biggest threat to care providers http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/jan/30/ lack-innovation-threat-care-providers One of the reasons for lack of innovation in the Valley is that entrepreneurs are not exposed to enough real-world problems http://thenextweb.com/entrepreneur/2011/07/13/the-problem- with-silicon-valley-is-itself/
Problems with Brainstorming How Do You Innovate The problem is, traditional brainstorming sessions are rarely the best way to ensure innovation. Forbes: Why most brainstorming sessions are useless Group brainstorming exercises can lead to fixation on only one idea or possibly blocking out other possibilities, leading to conformity of ideas Wired For Success : Why brainstorming doesn’t improve productivity or creativity. Anything, even doing laundry, will help you dream up new ideas better than sitting in a meeting… Debra Kaye: Why innovation by brainstorming doesn’t work
Brainstorming? Sort of How Do You Innovate
@BenSykes Real World Scenarios How Do You Innovate
Scenario: • First week on the job • Company is not innovative • You have full autonomy to make it so • What do you do?
Step By Step 1. Schedule weekly innovation meetings. • Don’t mention “games” in meeting invite. • Incentivize games 2. Advertise innovation • Buy display boards. Post weekly meeting outcomes in visible location. • Demo innovations at weekly all hands. 3. Institute quarterly hackathons • One day - company wide • Incentivize Building a culture of innovation
Scenario: • Google has asked you to improve the Gmail compose experience. • Will not give you access to user data
Conduct own usability test with own users Empathy Map Identify existing painpoints Give them a hot tub Improve Gmail Compose Experience Worst nightmare Research Innovation Games
Scenario: • Uber has asked your team to envision the future of the product and what the next version could look like. • Full access to user data & insights
Envision UBER future-vision Remember the future Give them a hot tub Innovation Games Identify existing areas of success and pain Research
Scenario: • The CEO has tasked you with finding out why the company is not successful or why it can’t keep top talent etc. to compete in the marketplace.
Identify Cause of Problems Speed Boat Innovation Games
@BenSykes The Games
Resources http://bitly.com/SUPERCOOL GameStorming • A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers • Book by David Gray, James Macanufo, and Sunni Brown Innovation Games • Creating Breakthrough Products Through Collaborative Play • Book by Luke Hohmann Thinkertoys • A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques • Book by Michael Michalko The Games
Tools You’ll Need 1. Pens 2. Post-its 3. Butcher paper 4. Masking tape 5. Dry erase markers 6. Mental notes My Big Idea The Games
Team Best Practices Do's • Do: Use use words like “product”, “innovation”,“challenge”,“ • Do: Clearly state the objective & value: e.g. - “find a solution to our compose feature” • Do: use at team offsets • Do: schedule a recurring weekly meeting for this • Do: Group, tally and share outcomes Don’ts • Don’t: use words like “games” or “exercise” and be careful with “brainstorm” • Don’t: stop The Games
@BenSykes Give Them A Hot Tub
Give Them A Hot Tub The Games Goal • Use outrageous features to discover hidden breakthroughs Activity • Write several features on post- its. One feature per post-it. The more outrageous the better. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories.
Improve Gmail Compose Give Them A Hot Tub How it works 1. T ime: 5 minutes 2. Multiple rounds as needed 3. Write several features on post-its. One per. 4. The more outrageous the better (hot tub integration) 5. Cluster into categories 6. Extract (excel) 7. Prioritize 8. Add to roadmap The Games
Improve Gmail Compose Suggested rephrasing based on goals: career driven Weekly analytics of recurring word use and grammar re. Recommends new words that make me look smarter Signature templates Every email sent donates .5 to charity of choice Pre-populates copy for people I emailthe most Auto themes for friends Never have to check email again - it sends on my behalf Tone Checker : This might hurt feelings. Rephrasing for sender Recommends mentioning personal info of sender that makes happy Sends me a visual breakdown of importance. Custom sounds for family Emotional state aware. Adjusts mails accordingly Give Them A Hot Tub The Games
Improve Gmail Compose Give Them A Hot Tub Suggested rephrasing based on goals: career driven Weekly analytics of recurring word use and grammar re. Recommends new words that make me look smarter Signature templates Auto themes for friends Never have to check email again - it sends on my behalf Tone Checker : This might hurt feelings. Rephrasing for sender Recommends mentioning personal info of sender that makes happy Custom sounds for family Emotional state aware. Adjusts mails accordinglySends me a visual breakdown of importance. Every email sent donates .5 to charity of choice Pre-populates copy for people I emailthe most
Exercise : Give Them A Hottub Goal • Use outrageous features to discover hidden breakthroughs Activity • Write several features on post-its. One feature per post-it. The more outrageous the better. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories. T ime 5 Minutes Problem To Solve Using a digital means (IOS App?) Find a solution to Europe’s refugee problem. Problem Definition Today, more than 19 million people have been forced to flee their home countries because of war, persecution, and oppression, and every day an estimated 42,500 more join them. Many, though far from all, of them head for Europe, which is why the crisis there can appear most acute. (http://www.vox.com/2015/9/5/9265501/refugee-crisis-europe- syria) Technology Platform + Apple Watch | + Mobile Phone | + SmartTV | + Computer The Games
Goal • Envision future success @BenSykes Remember The Future
Remember The Future The Games Goal • Envision success future success Activity • Imagine that it is sometime in the future (5 years?). You’ve been using the feature or product for sometime now. On post-it’s (one per) write down what the product or feature will have done to make you happy. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories.
UBER in 5 years Remember The future How it works 1. T ime: 5 minutes 2. Multiple rounds as needed 3. Imagine that it’s sometime in the future. You’ve been using the feature or product for sometime now. 4. On post-its (one per) write down what the product or feature will have done to make you happy 5. Cluster into categories 6. Extract (excel) 7. Prioritize The Games
UBER in 5 years Recurring scheduled pickups Moving parties Driverless Meals on wheels - literally Moving into airline & bus space Long distance & vacation travel Package delivery Knows my preferences and pre- enables Drivers have to take local street test Rocking GPS Googlemaps integration. IOT integration with home and wearables Comes with vomit bags Remember The future The Games
UBER in 5 years Remember The future Recurring scheduled pickups Moving parties Driverless Meals on wheels - literally Moving into airline & bus space Long distance & vacation travel Package delivery Knows my preferences and pre- enables Drivers have to take local street test Rocking GPSGooglemaps integration. IOT integration with home and wearables Comes with vomit bags
@BenSykes My Worst Nightmare
My Worst Nightmare The Games Goal • Discover hidden worst case scenarios. Create sweet dreams for your product by creating nightmares Activity • Imagine your worst nightmare related to your product or feature. (E.g. a sports drink that induces vomiting.) Write down one nightmare per post-it. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories.
Improve Gmail Compose My Worst Nightmare How it works 1. T ime: 5 minute 2. Multiple rounds as needed 3. Imagine your “worst nightmare” related to the product, service, system, or offering 4. Example: A “worst nightmare” sports drink might induce vomiting, cause dehydration, or simply taste bad. 5. Cluster into emotional themes 6. Extract (excel) 7. Create action plan to avoid creating worst nightmares The Games
Improve Gmail Compose Shocks me when I hit compose Sends me to spam Misspells words that are fine Forwards my emails to unwanted Makes me feel stupid Sends messages to old girlfriends Emails to mom get sent to trash Makes emails public Tricks me into giving away sensitive info Hides in my closet Deducts money without my knowledge Imports and attaches photos My Worst Nightmare The Games
Improve Gmail Compose Shocks me when I hit compose Sends me to spam Misspells words that are fine Forwards my emails to unwanted Makes me feel / look stupid Sends messages to old girlfriends Emails to mom get sent to trash Makes emails public Tricks me into giving away sensitive info Hides in my closet Deducts money without my knowledge Imports and attaches photos My Worst Nightmare The Games
Exercise : My Worst Nightmare Goal • Discover hidden worst case scenarios. Create sweet dreams for your product by creating nightmares Activity • Imagine your worst nightmare related to your product or feature. (E.g. a sports drink that induces vomiting.) Write down one nightmare per post-it. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories. Outcome Imagine (CROWD SOURCED PRODUCT) Worst Case Scenarios The Games T ime 5 Minutes
@BenSykes Speed Boat
Speed Boat The Games Goal • Identify issues (as anchors) that are keeping you / your team from moving forward. Activity • Draw a boat on a whiteboard or sheet of butcher paper. You’d like the boat to move fast. Unfortunately, the boat has a few anchors holding it back. The boat is your system, and the issues (problematic features etc) are its anchors.
Why aren’t we profitable? Speedboat How it works Goal: Identify anchors keeping you from moving fast 1. T ime: 5 minutes 2. Write as many ideas related to the problem each on a separate postit 3. Cluster 4. Extract (excel), prioritize and create solutions. The Games
New CEO Lack of engineering talent No clear CTA Competitors have better technology Wasting time doing this activity No demand? Marketplace isn’t ready Value prop is week and not clear what problem we’re solving Free lunches Marketingefforts needto be social? Homepage is not clear Why aren’t we profitable? Speedboat The Games
Speedboat Why aren’t we profitable? New CEO Lack of engineering talent No clear CTA Competitors have better technology Wasting time doing this activity No demand? Marketplace isn’t ready Value prop is week and not clear what problem we’re solving Free lunches Marketingefforts needto be social? Homepage is not clear The Games
Exercise : Speed Boat Goal • Identify issues (as anchors) that are keeping you / your team from moving forward. Activity • Draw a boat on a whiteboard or sheet of butcher paper. You’d like the boat to move fast. Unfortunately, the boat has a few anchors holding it back. The boat is your system, and the issues (problematic features etc) are its anchors. Outcome Using a digital means (IOS App?) define why innovation is lacking The Games T ime 5 Minutes
@BenSykes Empathy Map
Empathy Map The Games Goal • Get inside the head of your customer or target user Activity • Give the target user a name and a title. • Create sectors related to 1. hearing, seeing, thinking, saying, feeling & doing. • Using post-it notes assign attributes or details to each sector.
Empathy Map Hearing X Hearing Y Hearing Z Seeing X Seeing Y Saying X Saying y DoingFeeling Thinking X From “Gamestorming”
@BenSykes Whose Design Is It anyway
Whose Design Is It Anyway? How it works 1. The audience, team, class is asked to come up with (in this order) 2. One Random problem to solve 3. Four random features or requirements 4. Three random design principles or success criteria 5. One random platform 6. Each person has 10 minutes to sketch a solution 7. When time is up each person will present outcomes
Problem to solve Features Platform Design Principles 1. Homelessness 1. Must levitate 2. Be edible 3. Water proof 4. Biodegradable 1. Social proof 2. Variable reward 3. Delightners 1. Apple watch Whose Design Is It Anyway? ? Your Great Product Idea
Whose Design Is It Anyway?
@BenSykes Product Box
Product Box The Games Goal • Identify the most exciting product features Activity • Divide into teams. Give each time a small white cardboard box and have each team design the product box they would buy off the shelf. The box can contain anything they want (marketing slogans, pictures, price points). When finished ask each team to present their product to the rest of the group. Take a survey of who wants to buy this product and why.
Product Box
@BenSykes Real World Application
Exercise : Improving A Feature Goal • Improve on the Gmail compose feature. Activity • Use two or more innovation games. You choose. • Cluster your results • Pick the best ones • Present as a narrative to the group The Games T ime • 15 minutes to generate & cluster.
Exercise : Concept From Scratch Goal • Design A New Apple Watch App Requirements • 2 design principles (random) • Apple Watch • Key functionality (min 3 class assigned - random) • End user emotional target (class assigned - random) • Real world problem to solve (class assigned - random) • Must use min. 2 innovation games The Games Activity • Build a product using requirements • Cluster your results • Pick the best ones • Present as a narrative to the group T ime • 15+ minutes to generate & cluster.
Our future depends on people like you. The world needs you to be fearless in your innovation.
Thank You! …and now you have my phone number Ben Sykes (650) 681-9016 @BenSykes If You Liked What You See Here Today, Please Let Others Know So I Can Keep Doing It!

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Workshop : Innovation Games at NSSpain

  • 1.
    INNOVAT ION GAMES PerfectingYour Brainstorming Techniques For Killer Products & Features Ben SykesUser experiencebehavior design @BenSykes
  • 3.
    The Big Agenda SettingThe Stage What Are Innovation Games? In a nutshell Actionable Takeaways What you can expect Introductions A little about me Getting To Know You What’sYour Story? Exercise: Failure Pledge Achievement Unlocked How Do You Innovate? Defining The Problem We NeedYouTo Innovate Where Do Big Ideas Come From? Triggering Creativity Lack of Innovation Discussion Exercise: Let’s See Your Brainstorm Achievement Unlocked Lack Of Innovation Is this happening and why? Real World Scencarios Solved by games? The Games Resources & Tools Team Best Practices Give Them A HotTub Exercise: Solve Europe’s refugee crisis Remember The Future My Worst Nightmare Exercise; Imagine (crowd sourced) worst case scenario Speed Boat Exercise: Define why innovation is lacking Real World Application Exercise: Improve A Feature Exercise: Build A Concept From Scratch
  • 4.
    When You LeaveHere Today… Feel Inspired • The next big idea is up to you • Have lots of ideas Innovation Action Plan • Culture of innovation • Improving a feature • Improving a product • Building a product from scratch Start solving real world problems Setting The Stage
  • 5.
    Introductions Designing Since 1995 —————————- ‣Oscars : Am. Beauty ‣ US Marine (combat) ‣ Microsoft, Cisco, Google ‣ Teach UX & IA ‣ Wrote the GA Curriculum for Job Search & Apprentice Program ‣ Have run 20+ workshops at GA around career development ‣ Run @IA_UXJOBS Sam Mendes &Paula Abdul Setting The Stage
  • 6.
    What’s Your Story? Whyare you here & what do you hope to gain? How many designers? How many IOS developers? SomethingElse? Setting The Stage
  • 7.
    Failure Pledge (optional) Myname is_______________________ I am giving myself permission to fail, screw up & be messy. I realize that I'm learning something new and it may be a rocky in the beginning just like it was for many huge successes before me. I will remember that procrastination only delays my greatness, and I’m going to be awesome! Setting The Stage
  • 8.
  • 9.
    How Do YouInnovate
  • 10.
    Are we trying tosolve the right problems? Energy Water Food Environment Poverty Terrorism & War Disease Education Democracy Population How Do You Innovate
  • 11.
    Our future dependson people like you. The world needs you to be fearless in your innovation. How Do You Innovate
  • 12.
    How Do YouInnovate BIG IDEAS Where Do They Come From?
  • 13.
    How Do YouInnovate Collaborative Intelligence
  • 14.
    Go For AWalk “Creative thinking improves while a person is walking and shortly thereafter…” —Marily Oppezzo http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xlm- a0036577.pdf How Do You Innovate
  • 15.
    T ime InNature “The more you get away from the stresses of daily life and the more time you spend outdoors, the greater your level of creativity.” http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/ stories/study-nature-inspires-more-creative- minds How Do You Innovate
  • 16.
    Take A Shower “Aseemingly mindless task — showering, fishing or driving — might help spur creative thoughts, as the mind wanders from "lather-rinse- repeat" to a recent problem, and then back again.” http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/ stories/study-nature-inspires-more-creative- minds How Do You Innovate
  • 17.
    Exercise : Let’sSee You Brainstorm How Do You Innovate Goal Come up with a few solutions to solve Europe’s refugee crisis using an IOS app T ime 5 Minutes Problem To Solve Solving Europe’s Refugee Crisis Problem Definition Today, more than 19 million people have been forced to flee their home countries because of war, persecution, and oppression, and every day an estimated 42,500 more join them. Many, though far from all, of them head for Europe, which is why the crisis there can appear most acute. (http://www.vox.com/2015/9/5/9265501/refugee-crisis-europe- syria)
  • 18.
    Lack Of Innovation? HowDo You Innovate Michael Arrington’s latest complaint that he’s bored with what currently passes for innovation, there is a growing chorus of people voicing their disappointment with Silicon Valley’s inability to push the envelope. http://pando.com/2013/01/03/why-silicon-valley-innovation-has-stalled/
  • 19.
    Lack Of Innovation? HowDo You Innovate Apple Loses $37BN in Value Due to Lack of Innovation http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/apple-loses-37bn-value-due-lack- innovation-1449539 Lack of innovation is the biggest threat to care providers http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/jan/30/ lack-innovation-threat-care-providers One of the reasons for lack of innovation in the Valley is that entrepreneurs are not exposed to enough real-world problems http://thenextweb.com/entrepreneur/2011/07/13/the-problem- with-silicon-valley-is-itself/
  • 20.
    Problems with Brainstorming HowDo You Innovate The problem is, traditional brainstorming sessions are rarely the best way to ensure innovation. Forbes: Why most brainstorming sessions are useless Group brainstorming exercises can lead to fixation on only one idea or possibly blocking out other possibilities, leading to conformity of ideas Wired For Success : Why brainstorming doesn’t improve productivity or creativity. Anything, even doing laundry, will help you dream up new ideas better than sitting in a meeting… Debra Kaye: Why innovation by brainstorming doesn’t work
  • 21.
  • 22.
  • 23.
    Scenario: • First weekon the job • Company is not innovative • You have full autonomy to make it so • What do you do?
  • 24.
    Step By Step 1.Schedule weekly innovation meetings. • Don’t mention “games” in meeting invite. • Incentivize games 2. Advertise innovation • Buy display boards. Post weekly meeting outcomes in visible location. • Demo innovations at weekly all hands. 3. Institute quarterly hackathons • One day - company wide • Incentivize Building a culture of innovation
  • 25.
    Scenario: • Google hasasked you to improve the Gmail compose experience. • Will not give you access to user data
  • 26.
    Conduct own usability test withown users Empathy Map Identify existing painpoints Give them a hot tub Improve Gmail Compose Experience Worst nightmare Research Innovation Games
  • 27.
    Scenario: • Uber hasasked your team to envision the future of the product and what the next version could look like. • Full access to user data & insights
  • 28.
    Envision UBER future-vision Rememberthe future Give them a hot tub Innovation Games Identify existing areas of success and pain Research
  • 29.
    Scenario: • The CEOhas tasked you with finding out why the company is not successful or why it can’t keep top talent etc. to compete in the marketplace.
  • 30.
    Identify Cause ofProblems Speed Boat Innovation Games
  • 31.
  • 32.
    Resources http://bitly.com/SUPERCOOL GameStorming • A Playbookfor Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers • Book by David Gray, James Macanufo, and Sunni Brown Innovation Games • Creating Breakthrough Products Through Collaborative Play • Book by Luke Hohmann Thinkertoys • A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques • Book by Michael Michalko The Games
  • 33.
    Tools You’ll Need 1.Pens 2. Post-its 3. Butcher paper 4. Masking tape 5. Dry erase markers 6. Mental notes My Big Idea The Games
  • 34.
    Team Best Practices Do's •Do: Use use words like “product”, “innovation”,“challenge”,“ • Do: Clearly state the objective & value: e.g. - “find a solution to our compose feature” • Do: use at team offsets • Do: schedule a recurring weekly meeting for this • Do: Group, tally and share outcomes Don’ts • Don’t: use words like “games” or “exercise” and be careful with “brainstorm” • Don’t: stop The Games
  • 35.
  • 36.
    Give Them AHot Tub The Games Goal • Use outrageous features to discover hidden breakthroughs Activity • Write several features on post- its. One feature per post-it. The more outrageous the better. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories.
  • 37.
    Improve Gmail Compose GiveThem A Hot Tub How it works 1. T ime: 5 minutes 2. Multiple rounds as needed 3. Write several features on post-its. One per. 4. The more outrageous the better (hot tub integration) 5. Cluster into categories 6. Extract (excel) 7. Prioritize 8. Add to roadmap The Games
  • 38.
    Improve Gmail Compose Suggested rephrasing basedon goals: career driven Weekly analytics of recurring word use and grammar re. Recommends new words that make me look smarter Signature templates Every email sent donates .5 to charity of choice Pre-populates copy for people I emailthe most Auto themes for friends Never have to check email again - it sends on my behalf Tone Checker : This might hurt feelings. Rephrasing for sender Recommends mentioning personal info of sender that makes happy Sends me a visual breakdown of importance. Custom sounds for family Emotional state aware. Adjusts mails accordingly Give Them A Hot Tub The Games
  • 39.
    Improve Gmail ComposeGive Them A Hot Tub Suggested rephrasing based on goals: career driven Weekly analytics of recurring word use and grammar re. Recommends new words that make me look smarter Signature templates Auto themes for friends Never have to check email again - it sends on my behalf Tone Checker : This might hurt feelings. Rephrasing for sender Recommends mentioning personal info of sender that makes happy Custom sounds for family Emotional state aware. Adjusts mails accordinglySends me a visual breakdown of importance. Every email sent donates .5 to charity of choice Pre-populates copy for people I emailthe most
  • 40.
    Exercise : GiveThem A Hottub Goal • Use outrageous features to discover hidden breakthroughs Activity • Write several features on post-its. One feature per post-it. The more outrageous the better. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories. T ime 5 Minutes Problem To Solve Using a digital means (IOS App?) Find a solution to Europe’s refugee problem. Problem Definition Today, more than 19 million people have been forced to flee their home countries because of war, persecution, and oppression, and every day an estimated 42,500 more join them. Many, though far from all, of them head for Europe, which is why the crisis there can appear most acute. (http://www.vox.com/2015/9/5/9265501/refugee-crisis-europe- syria) Technology Platform + Apple Watch | + Mobile Phone | + SmartTV | + Computer The Games
  • 41.
    Goal • Envision futuresuccess @BenSykes Remember The Future
  • 42.
    Remember The Future TheGames Goal • Envision success future success Activity • Imagine that it is sometime in the future (5 years?). You’ve been using the feature or product for sometime now. On post-it’s (one per) write down what the product or feature will have done to make you happy. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories.
  • 43.
    UBER in 5years Remember The future How it works 1. T ime: 5 minutes 2. Multiple rounds as needed 3. Imagine that it’s sometime in the future. You’ve been using the feature or product for sometime now. 4. On post-its (one per) write down what the product or feature will have done to make you happy 5. Cluster into categories 6. Extract (excel) 7. Prioritize The Games
  • 44.
    UBER in 5years Recurring scheduled pickups Moving parties Driverless Meals on wheels - literally Moving into airline & bus space Long distance & vacation travel Package delivery Knows my preferences and pre- enables Drivers have to take local street test Rocking GPS Googlemaps integration. IOT integration with home and wearables Comes with vomit bags Remember The future The Games
  • 45.
    UBER in 5years Remember The future Recurring scheduled pickups Moving parties Driverless Meals on wheels - literally Moving into airline & bus space Long distance & vacation travel Package delivery Knows my preferences and pre- enables Drivers have to take local street test Rocking GPSGooglemaps integration. IOT integration with home and wearables Comes with vomit bags
  • 46.
  • 47.
    My Worst Nightmare TheGames Goal • Discover hidden worst case scenarios. Create sweet dreams for your product by creating nightmares Activity • Imagine your worst nightmare related to your product or feature. (E.g. a sports drink that induces vomiting.) Write down one nightmare per post-it. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories.
  • 48.
    Improve Gmail Compose MyWorst Nightmare How it works 1. T ime: 5 minute 2. Multiple rounds as needed 3. Imagine your “worst nightmare” related to the product, service, system, or offering 4. Example: A “worst nightmare” sports drink might induce vomiting, cause dehydration, or simply taste bad. 5. Cluster into emotional themes 6. Extract (excel) 7. Create action plan to avoid creating worst nightmares The Games
  • 49.
    Improve Gmail Compose Shocksme when I hit compose Sends me to spam Misspells words that are fine Forwards my emails to unwanted Makes me feel stupid Sends messages to old girlfriends Emails to mom get sent to trash Makes emails public Tricks me into giving away sensitive info Hides in my closet Deducts money without my knowledge Imports and attaches photos My Worst Nightmare The Games
  • 50.
    Improve Gmail Compose Shocksme when I hit compose Sends me to spam Misspells words that are fine Forwards my emails to unwanted Makes me feel / look stupid Sends messages to old girlfriends Emails to mom get sent to trash Makes emails public Tricks me into giving away sensitive info Hides in my closet Deducts money without my knowledge Imports and attaches photos My Worst Nightmare The Games
  • 51.
    Exercise : MyWorst Nightmare Goal • Discover hidden worst case scenarios. Create sweet dreams for your product by creating nightmares Activity • Imagine your worst nightmare related to your product or feature. (E.g. a sports drink that induces vomiting.) Write down one nightmare per post-it. • Generate as many post-it notes in the allocated time. • Cluster into categories. Outcome Imagine (CROWD SOURCED PRODUCT) Worst Case Scenarios The Games T ime 5 Minutes
  • 52.
  • 53.
    Speed Boat The Games Goal •Identify issues (as anchors) that are keeping you / your team from moving forward. Activity • Draw a boat on a whiteboard or sheet of butcher paper. You’d like the boat to move fast. Unfortunately, the boat has a few anchors holding it back. The boat is your system, and the issues (problematic features etc) are its anchors.
  • 54.
    Why aren’t weprofitable? Speedboat How it works Goal: Identify anchors keeping you from moving fast 1. T ime: 5 minutes 2. Write as many ideas related to the problem each on a separate postit 3. Cluster 4. Extract (excel), prioritize and create solutions. The Games
  • 55.
    New CEO Lack of engineering talent Noclear CTA Competitors have better technology Wasting time doing this activity No demand? Marketplace isn’t ready Value prop is week and not clear what problem we’re solving Free lunches Marketingefforts needto be social? Homepage is not clear Why aren’t we profitable? Speedboat The Games
  • 56.
    Speedboat Why aren’t weprofitable? New CEO Lack of engineering talent No clear CTA Competitors have better technology Wasting time doing this activity No demand? Marketplace isn’t ready Value prop is week and not clear what problem we’re solving Free lunches Marketingefforts needto be social? Homepage is not clear The Games
  • 57.
    Exercise : SpeedBoat Goal • Identify issues (as anchors) that are keeping you / your team from moving forward. Activity • Draw a boat on a whiteboard or sheet of butcher paper. You’d like the boat to move fast. Unfortunately, the boat has a few anchors holding it back. The boat is your system, and the issues (problematic features etc) are its anchors. Outcome Using a digital means (IOS App?) define why innovation is lacking The Games T ime 5 Minutes
  • 58.
  • 59.
    Empathy Map The Games Goal •Get inside the head of your customer or target user Activity • Give the target user a name and a title. • Create sectors related to 1. hearing, seeing, thinking, saying, feeling & doing. • Using post-it notes assign attributes or details to each sector.
  • 60.
    Empathy Map Hearing X Hearing Y HearingZ Seeing X Seeing Y Saying X Saying y DoingFeeling Thinking X From “Gamestorming”
  • 61.
  • 62.
    Whose Design IsIt Anyway? How it works 1. The audience, team, class is asked to come up with (in this order) 2. One Random problem to solve 3. Four random features or requirements 4. Three random design principles or success criteria 5. One random platform 6. Each person has 10 minutes to sketch a solution 7. When time is up each person will present outcomes
  • 63.
    Problem to solve Features Platform DesignPrinciples 1. Homelessness 1. Must levitate 2. Be edible 3. Water proof 4. Biodegradable 1. Social proof 2. Variable reward 3. Delightners 1. Apple watch Whose Design Is It Anyway? ? Your Great Product Idea
  • 64.
    Whose Design IsIt Anyway?
  • 65.
  • 66.
    Product Box The Games Goal •Identify the most exciting product features Activity • Divide into teams. Give each time a small white cardboard box and have each team design the product box they would buy off the shelf. The box can contain anything they want (marketing slogans, pictures, price points). When finished ask each team to present their product to the rest of the group. Take a survey of who wants to buy this product and why.
  • 67.
  • 68.
  • 69.
    Exercise : ImprovingA Feature Goal • Improve on the Gmail compose feature. Activity • Use two or more innovation games. You choose. • Cluster your results • Pick the best ones • Present as a narrative to the group The Games T ime • 15 minutes to generate & cluster.
  • 70.
    Exercise : ConceptFrom Scratch Goal • Design A New Apple Watch App Requirements • 2 design principles (random) • Apple Watch • Key functionality (min 3 class assigned - random) • End user emotional target (class assigned - random) • Real world problem to solve (class assigned - random) • Must use min. 2 innovation games The Games Activity • Build a product using requirements • Cluster your results • Pick the best ones • Present as a narrative to the group T ime • 15+ minutes to generate & cluster.
  • 71.
    Our future dependson people like you. The world needs you to be fearless in your innovation.
  • 72.
    Thank You! …and nowyou have my phone number Ben Sykes (650) 681-9016 @BenSykes If You Liked What You See Here Today, Please Let Others Know So I Can Keep Doing It!