The world runs on new inventions. Where would be without the light bulb, the elevator, or the humble microwave? It’s not worth thinking about. If you’re constantly tinkering around with new ideas, and have come up with something that might, with some hard work and a pinch of luck, become a viable product, then don’t just leave the idea sitting around in your idea: bring it to life. If you can dream it, you can do it, as R Kelly would say. Below, we take a look at a few essential tips that’ll help you to take your idea from your mind to the shelf.
Conduct Your Research
You’ve heard of all the world’s biggest inventions. If you’ve got something that could be world-changing in your mind, then, well, you’re incredible, and you don’t need our advice. However, it’s more likely that your invention will mildly improve the lives of a certain section of society. As such, there’s a chance that what you’re thinking of already exists, or a variation of it at least. Before you get too deep down into the planning stages, make sure that your invention isn’t already available on the market. You’ll only face legal issues if you take it to market and find out you’ve been infringing on a patent all this time.
Answer Some Key Questions
If the product doesn’t already exist, then there’s a tough question that you’ll need to answer, and that is: WHY doesn’t this product already exist? It might be that no-one has thought it up before. Only you, who has the idea, will know if that’s likely or not. The other answer might be that many people have had the idea before, but didn’t think it was worth pursuing, for whatever reason. Look critically at your invention, and see if you would think it was a good idea if it didn’t come from your own mind.
Find Out the Best Process
You’ve been existing in the ideas stage of your product. Pretty soon, you’ll need to progress to the “it’s getting real” stage, and that means figuring out certain things. It’ll also mean learning about new things entirely. You’ll need to read up on the Brushless vs Brushed Motor debate to determine which one is right for your product, figure out which materials blend value with effectiveness, and the look and feel of the product. All of these aspects will determine the later success of your product, so take your time getting them just right.
Learn the Process
You’re not the first person to come up with an idea. Just take a look around you: all those things only once existed in someone’s mind. Because this process has taken place millions of times before, there’s a whole host of invaluable advice floating around online and in books. These guides will walk you through the whole process, and make you think about aspects of your “invention” that you hadn’t yet considered. While you’re still in the early stages, make them an integral part of your nightly reading.