To: Design Teams

To: Design Teams From: The Boss Date: Today Re: Emergency Projects

We are about to seek the second round of venture capital for our company whose mission is to create new products that help students. The company is young, but did quite well in developing useful, but possibly silly products for students funded by a first round of financing. Now our investors are becoming nervous and want to know if we really can produce good products before they are willing to give us more money. That is why the company has retained you as independent consultants to help us develop the next generation of better products that help students solve the nagging problems of everyday life. These products must be things that can be used by all students, need not be practical (something clever but silly is OK), must meet minimal societal standards (i.e. no bathroom jokes), and must have some defined purpose that goes beyond making people laugh.

Your task is to explore/notice nagging annoyances in your everyday environment and to develop needs. From the needs, you will brainstorm product solutions. When you have found one or more ideas, as a team pick the one you want to prototype, and then build it out of index cards, tape and any other materials you might have on hand.

I have invited the venture capitalists to visit our company tomorrow morning when we must convince them that we have excellent product ideas. Accordingly, I ask that your team present your prototype to other members the class today at the time stated by the class leader. Your presentation should last 120 seconds. Start with a clear statement of the problem you were trying to solve, then a description of your solution and demonstration of your prototype. After the presentation, please vote as a class on the best product, which should be saved for presentation before the whole class next week.

The design process to be followed is:

1. Brainstorm on the nagging little problems of everyday life. Things YOU experience. 2. Brainstorm on inventions which solve those problems. Do not stop until you have at least 10 ideas. 3. Using specific criteria (clever, simple, innovative, can fabricate), select your best concept. 4. Detailed design of concept. 5. Fabricate prototype 6. Presentation. Problem and solution. Sell your idea. Communicate well.

Good luck, and remember that the future growth of our company. rests upon your shoulders!