In the annals of Television history, Steve Martin and Dan Akroyd in some of the earliest seasons of Saturday Night Live performed a (politically incorrect) bit where they described themselves as wild and crazy.
People have described us that way on occasion. However...
When we were developing our latest set of materials for our Innovation for Results training program that teaches people (among other things) tools and techniques for creative thinking, we had to create some innovative ideas for the purposes of demonstration. To teach the concept of "forced connections," where one creates a new idea by forcing a connection between the problem and something unrelated, we decided to work on new restaurant concepts as an example. We created ideas based on the attributes of a coiled metal spring such as:
- Small: restaurant that only seats 5 people. Restaurant with booths that you can close off for privacy.
- Bouncy: restaurant with really upbeat music, or with really comfortable furniture.
- Spiral: restaurant with many different levels or with many different price levels of food.
You know, fun. Creative. Thought provoking. One of the ideas (that made it into the materials) was critiqued by one of the partners (who shall go nameless) as "too crazy." That idea was an exclusive restaurant with random opening and closing hours, based on the attribute of "flexible."
Really? That's too crazy?
One of the hottest trends on the L.A. Culinary scene last year was the Kogi Korean taco truck that announced where and when it would show up only via Twitter. Not even the same location, let alone random hours.
And the newest related concept was the Ogori Cafe in Kishiwa, Japan, where the patron don't get what they order and pay for, they get what the previous patron ordered and paid for. There's a great description of the cafe at: http://bit.ly/nENuq
What's the point? Well, for starters, depending upon the category, no idea is too weird -- especially the restaurant category. Need proof? Got a strong stomach? Then check out the scatologically-themed restaurant in Taiwan called, Modern Toilet.
And even if it is too weird, in the words of the Godfather of modern creative thinking, Alex Osborn, "it's easier to tame down a wild idea than it is to invigorate a weak one." So even if that idea is beyond reason, when you need a really new idea, you're better off starting there, since you and your team will be able to figure out how to make it workable with much more innovative results than if you start with something boring and try to figure out how to make it more interesting. Unfortunately there are many more examples of the latter than the former.
Want proof? Turn on the TV. But that's the topic of another blog...
Next Generation.
When people from different backgrounds and countries put together their ideas to create new solutions - they could reinvent Europe through innovation. Watch this new clip and find out how looking over the garden fence could help you find new ways!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlOPZtZtCg
Posted by: Anne | 04/07/2010 at 07:59 AM