Using pop-up innovation labs to reduce the gap between idea and execution

Pop-up innovation labs increase the speed of innovation by reducing the time taken from idea to the first version of a product, service or experience. A focused team of researchers, designers, developers and business stakeholders can discover unmet needs, prototype solutions, test them with customers and develop a first release in a matter of weeks rather than months. Whilst accelerating invention, they also involve a wide range of stakeholders, can inspire large organisations and work well alongside more traditional approaches to innovation.

Through a collection of case studies, we'll explain how to set-up and run a pop-up innovation lab. We'll expose the process, define the typical outcomes and talk about their relative strengths and weaknesses compared to other innovation approaches. Finally, we'll look at how you draw the outcomes of a pop-up innovation lab back into the host organisation to inspire the whole organisation. The case studies will be drawn from our studios work on everything from library services to retail stores of the future.

Updated on 14 June 2016 after I refreshed the slides for UX Scotland.

Transcript

1. MODERN HUMAN POP-UP INNOVATION LABS Reducing the gap between idea and execution MODERN HUMAN Paul-Jervis Heath Founding Principal and Chief Designer
 UX Scotland on Wednesday 8 June 2016
2. MODERN HUMAN MODERN HUMAN Imagine what’s next. We’re a boutique design practice and innovation consultancy that specialises in imagining disruptive new products, services and experiences and then making them a reality. http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
3. MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab MODERN HUMAN Pop-up Innovation Lab Pop-up innovation labs bring together a small team with the goal of inventing a solution in an accelerated timeframe by using a combination of design thinking and practical design methods.
4. MODERN HUMAN OPENNESS ESTABLISHED INNOVATION CULTURE SECRECY EMERGENT INNOVATION CULTURE http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
5. MODERN HUMAN Choose the location The space needs to support a variety of working styles: intense collaboration; subteams and independent work. There needs to be 3 wall areas for data, synthesis and concepts. http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
6. MODERN HUMAN MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
7. MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab Form a team The team should come from a variety of disciplines: design and technology skills are important, but so are sales, support, marketing and product development skills. A broad range of perspectives, seniority and tenure within the business is crucial. MODERN HUMAN
8. MODERN HUMAN _ At least two designers _ Design researcher _ Technologist _ Product owner or client business owner _ Client subject matter experts (e.g. sales, support, product development) Our team roles http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
9. MODERN HUMAN Establishing the interactive structure and flow between a human and a product, service or environment. Driving the concept direction Inventive: generating ideas toward a solution Conceptual and Generative GENERATOR http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab Articulating and synthesising the overall experience users have with the product, service, or environment. Ensuring that the concept is coherent and satisfies user needs and goals Synthesis of ideas, defining the problem, clarifying the solution, explicating rationale Analysis, communication, methodical, synthetic SYNTHESISER
10. MODERN HUMAN A broad group of stakeholders helps the results of the process gain traction in the organisation http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
11. MODERN HUMAN Adapt the method The space needs to support a variety of working styles: intense collaboration; subteams and independent work. There needs to be 3 wall areas for data, synthesis and concepts.
12. MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab IMMERSE INSPIRE INVENT IMAGINE
13. MODERN HUMAN Synthesis as a problem-solving strategy
14. MODERN HUMAN EARLY ADOPTER EARLY MAJORITY LATE MAJORITY LAGGARDS http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab Adapted from: Diffusion of Innovations, Everett M Rogers. (1962). Crossing the Chasm, Geoffrey Moore. (1991).
15. MODERN HUMAN MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
16. MODERN HUMAN WORKAROUNDS Quick, seemingly efficient solutions that address the symptoms of a problem not the root cause. VALUES People’s values play an important role in their motivations. What do they value? What’s important to them? What’s not? INERTIA Situations in which customers act out of habit. How can you leverage or break that inertia? SHOULD VS WANT The tension between things they crave in the moment and things they know are good for them. How can you help people move from where they are to where they want to be? What are we looking for? http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
17. MODERN HUMAN – Leo McGinneva, about whom the internet knows almost nothing. “People don’t want to buy a ¼ inch drill. They want a ¼ inch hole.” http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
18. MODERN HUMAN ROLE LOOK & FEEL IM PLEM ENTATION INTEGRATION Adapted from: What do prototypes prototype? 
 Stephanie Houde and Charles Hill (1997). http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
19. MODERN HUMAN MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab How long is long enough?
20. MODERN HUMAN Choose the right methods and give them the right amount of time, otherwise everyone will be disappointed http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
21. MODERN HUMAN Establish the brief It is important to establish the right brief before you start any human- centred design project. The project team should return to the brief throughout the project to ensure that their work is addressing the right issues.
22. MODERN HUMAN BROAD NARROW http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
23. MODERN HUMAN Evolutionary Revolutionary Incremental NEW USERS NEW OFFERING EXISTING USERS EXISTING OFFERING Evolutionary http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
24. MODERN HUMAN Some examples http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab MODERN HUMAN
25. MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab Project Lentil Project Samphire for a kitchen appliance manufacturer
26. MODERN HUMAN http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab Futurelib & Protolib for University of Cambridge
27. MODERN HUMAN Things to think about http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab MODERN HUMAN
28. MODERN HUMAN _ Assemble the team, make sure everyone meets _ Define the business reason for the pop-up lab and a statement of the brief _ Establish the stakeholder group _ Establish the tempo: book all meetings with stakeholders in advance _ Recruit research participants Housekeeping before a pop-up lab http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
29. MODERN HUMAN _ Get buy-in for further development or rollout from executive stakeholders _ Validate the roadmap _ Share the concept widely After a pop-up lab http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
30. MODERN HUMAN _ Storyboards, high-fidelity mockups _ Day in the life video _ Project website, blog or wiki Sharing the outcomes widely http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
31. MODERN HUMAN _ Tangible outputs _ Convincing presentation of concepts _ Actionable: roadmap shows you what to do next _ Based on real user needs _ Distinct but not divorced from the commercial process _ Supports the business case for a permanent innovation unit Advantages http://modernhuman.co @modhuman #popuplab
32. MODERN HUMAN Paul-Jervis Heath paul@modernhuman.co +44 79 7456 7823 @pauljervisheath