IDEATE ASSIGNMENT
Design Thinking Action Lab – Aug 2013

Problem statement
 Rutger, a young, open minded, flexible and
aspiring enterpreneur (before a business
professional) needs a good way to approach
his new business idea for a storage tool for a
lap top because he feels there are still a few
open (not addressed) parts in his business
plan.

Ideas
 Rutger needs to fly in some professional
business professionals
 Ruther can learn from specialized idea
generators
 Are business angels available (for knowledge
and/or financial support)?
 Would a designer studio be helpful?
 Can he partner up with another enterpreneur?
 Can he a join a collective of enterpreneurs?

 Can he barter his business knowledge against
help with the new product?
 Can he buy the knowledge he needs from
professional designers and/or other consultants?
 Can he check for interest with manufacturers of
laptops for the storage tool to help him?
 Is it smart to try to figure out everything himself?
Books, online, talk with friends?
 Can imaginary strong and thin product materials
help the design process?

 Can he get help from schools or interns who
specialize in design or business challenges?
 Can he join a special project from such a
school?
 Can parts of the total product (design) be
purchased on the market?
 What is the most distinct part of the product?
 Where can value be added in the product?

Three ideas – nr. 1
 At this stage Ruther could get some relevant
help with design challenges and business
ideas in general from special schools which
are sometimes helping aspiring enterpreneurs
with their ideas.

Nr. 2
 Rutger would be wise to get involved in
networks where creative persons /
enterpreneurs are working together on new
ideas. These ideas might create new insights.

Nr. 3
 Rutger could get his tool quickly in the market
if he could team up with manufacturers of
laptops which could not only have some ideas
for the design but could also promote the
product.