thinkinghow.com

I recently read a great article from Business Week‘s head economist Michael Mandel. In the article he looks at the impact – or rather the non-impact – of innovation in the United States and world economy. He even suggests that the lack of commerialized innovation over the last decade could be considered as a contributing factor in the prevailing economic climate.

I’ve read and listened to many good debates on the causes of the current economic climate (including this one from CUNY). This is the first time that innovation, or the lack of it, has been suggested to have had such an impact.

There have been many commentators appealing to the business community to keep investing in innovation. But if we take Michael Mandel’s assertions to be correct it leaves us with one important question:

Does “business” actually have the capacity to deliver on the innovation promise?

One good thing from the current financial situation that might help is that businesses are being forced to be more effective through efficiency. There’s no fat on the plate anymore!

This is and will continue to force changes in thinking, changes in business models, and hopefully changes in how innovation is viewed, valued and invested in by business.

Related Posts:

• Is the Boss always the problem?
• Does brainstorming still have value
• give innovation the right environment to survive

I spotted this design for a combination door handle and lock from a Yanko design feed. What I really like about it is that it does two things really well.

Firstly, I solves a problem that I didn’t know existed. And, secondly it does more with less.

Let me explain.

1. Solves a problem the doesn’t really exist: With so much turmoil in the world with financial meltdowns, energy and climate crisises, and war and famine; does re-designing an door hand and a lock really make a difference? I mean is it really a problem that we have a handle and a lock, and have to manually reshuffle the combination. I don’t have an answer other than I don’t think it matters anyway. The fact that designers can see ways to improve everyday things is good enough for me.
2. Do more with less: Combining objects and functions into a new design is a great pathway to innovation. This design does it well. There is physically less hardware (less cost?), setting the combination can be done while your hand is on the handle (less effort), and you don’t even have to reshuffle the combination when finished (less thinking!).

Related Posts:

• Problem Statement Template downloaded 10053 times.
• the Innovation Paradox
• Vision of the future