Business
Where do Innovative Ideas Come from?
Written by Paul Sloane
Last Updated: Jun 07, 2023

Cities around the world suffer from a common problem – a shortage of affordable, decent quality housing. Cutworks Studio, a design company based in Paris and Amsterdam has developed an approach called PolyBlocs – modularly constructed residential sites consisting of individual block rooms which can be stacked in different ways to create an array of sizes and shapes. The basic component is called a PolyRoom which is shaped like a shipping container. They provide multi-functional spaces with flexible configurations that include a range of window and door placement options. Other features include a bed which can be folded upwards, tables with built-in cupboards and compact bathrooms. The PolyRooms are designed to be stacked like Lego bricks.

This is an innovative but derivative idea. Where might it have come from? Let’s imagine we were working in the design studio trying to brainstorm ways to create affordable urban housing. We could have started in a number of places to come up with this idea.

image

Learn from the Best

image
Master Sales Trainer
Keynote Speaker
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Sales Skills
Motivation
Mindset & Strategies
image
Bestselling Author
Personal Development & Habits Expert
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Communication Skills
Public Speaking
Personal Development
image
Master Speaker Trainer
Bestselling Author
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Public Speaking
Persuasive Presentations
Lead Generation
image
Web Designer
Marketing Consultant
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Web Design
Online Business
Freelancing Career
image
Executive Coach
International Speaker
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Leadership
Employee Engagement
image
Emotional Intelligence Strategist
Award-Winning Business Leader
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Emotional Intelligence
Leadership
Sales
image
Certified StoryBrand Guide
Public Relations Expert
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Public Relations
Marketing Communications
Attraction-Based Marketing
image
Technologist
Leadership & Productivity Expert
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

People Management
Productivity
Leadership
image
Serial Entrepreneur
International Speaker
Founder of EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Entrepreneurship
Leadership Development
Change Management
image
Professor at Wright State University
Success & Communications Expert
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Leadership
Motivation
Communications
image
Medical Doctor
Business Strategy Coach
EntrepreneurNOW Network

Subjects of Expertise

Work Stress Management
Behavioural Patterns
Business Strategy
image
Lecturer of Networks & Cybersecurity

Subjects of Expertise

Network & Security
image
image
image
image
image
image
Analyse the Problem

It takes a lot of time and so costs a lot of money to have workers on site constructing a new building in a city centre.

How can we minimise the build time?

Could we build the building elsewhere and then quickly assemble it on site?

How can we minimise the assembly time?

Earn As You Learn
Earn 25% commission when your network purchase Uplyrn courses or subscribe to our annual membership. It’s the best thing ever. Next to learning, of course.
image
Go Back in Time

Let’s think about prefab buildings – which have been around for a long time. In 1160 the Normans built a prefab castle! How can we update these old ideas to make them sustainable and suitable for modern needs?

Adapt

Adapt a different kind of housing solution – mobile homes. Could we take the wheels off a mobile home and turn it into a stackable unit?

Start with a Different Industry

How does shipping make the best and most economical use of tight spaces? They use containers. Could we take the idea of a container and apply it to housing?

Let’s Play a Game

What game involves fitting things together? Let’s use Lego as a metaphor for building and see where that leads.

Rearrange the Components or the Process

We normally build a house sequentially starting with foundations and walls, then doors and windows and services, then finally fitments like beds and baths. Could we rearrange this sequence and put them together all at the same time?

There are many ways we could have approached this problem. A well-facilitated brainstom using a technique such as SCAMPER or Similes would probably have thrown up this idea along with many others. We need lots of innovative ideas to solve today’s problems. The more different starting points we use, the more likely we are to generate winning ideas.

Paul Sloane
Featured Uplyrn Expert
Paul Sloane
Keynote Conference Speaker, Visiting Lecturer, Author
Subjects of Expertise: Lateral Thinking, Problem Analysis Skills, Innovation Leadership Skills
Featured Uplyrn Expert
Paul Sloane
Keynote Conference Speaker
Visiting Lecturer
Author
Subjects of Expertise
Lateral Thinking
Problem Analysis Skills
Innovation Leadership Skills
Leave your thoughts here...

Find Your Place
In The World

Top Companies choose Uplyrn
to look for Talent.