Creative Thinking - New Perspectives

Try something different.  Break your routine.

A nice plus about working in a consultancy is that we have experience with numerous subjects of product development.  Solutions from a medical project might have great potential in a consumer product.  Things like traveling to a new country, picking up a new interest/hobby, spending time with a crowd you might not normally hang with....these are all good ways to expand your thoughts and opinions.  Very useful for building your creative mind.

Image-Line's Harmor Plugin

I've recently become more and more inspired by interface designs, like those in phone and tablet apps - but more specifically DAW music production software.  The hundreds of plugins which can be used in a DAW have many different styles, layouts, colors, themes, etc ... Some of the designs and details are beautiful and very well done.  Unique buttons/knobs, slider/tab shapes, color use, font types and sizes, pop up menus - all of these provide inspiration for the work I do.

This is just one example of a recent personal hobby I've gotten into that has opened my eyes to many new visual ideas.  Without exposure to these interfaces, my creative thinking wouldn't have the same range of possibilities.

Relevancy

How to stay relevant to a seasoned client...

Sometimes when firms like ours have long-term relationships with company's that have a steady pipeline of new projects, you need to find ways not to become complacent or loose your independent perspective.
One of the challenges I'm facing with a client of ours is how to keeping them focused on our expertise while building a long term relationship.

I use a couple techniques...

1. Change up the presentations.
It’s easy to fall into a routine, but I think routine kills creativity. Juggernaut has implemented a new research method, and engaged them by sharing ideas through story telling. The goal of our process is to encourage action on the part of the client. Is someone working harder than you to find out what your competition is doing?

2. Focus on why they need it and NOT what they need.
As a design consultants, we wear many hats and have to tap into countless knowledge bases. The client is expecting us to help pave the future of their product road-map. Here at the studio, we tap into our client's concerns and work to turn their problems into potential opportunities.

3. Simply be available.
I like to think of our client’s time is more important than mine; good chance it probably is. When the client has an idea (whether it’s a new product category, new material or manufacturing process) I engage them, show interest, and point to advantages and disadvantages of topics discussed. Assist in building new SOW, if they value our input, they will trust our insight.

I always remind myself, our valued client may be looking at our competition!