Loading Profile...
6/30/2011
hi. I'm going to try to review the brainstorming session that I participated in today. I know that the brainstorming sessions are new and in development, but I wanted to express my experience back to the quirky staff.
From my point of view, participating in the brainstorming session on the Internet was not a success. I found it very frustrating to read any of the words written on the page/screen. Most of the text was far too small for me to comprehend what was written. I also found the audio a little challenging, and I couldn't see any of the faces to read expressions of people speaking. I couldn't understand when goals were asked of the group, so throughout the session I couldn't tell what the group was trying to achieve -- and I just felt lost. The few comments that I wrote in the chat took almost 8 min. before somebody even mentioned anything (that i could hear, about my comment, or anyone elses). That lag in time makes it very hard for me to feel it was worth my while to contribute something. By the time my particular comment was read, it was completely out of context and was brushed off by most of the staff. (i understand that my idea might not of been brilliant, but it would've been much more relevant 8 min. ago)
while I thought that the brainstorming session was very interesting from, I guess, you could say a voyeur perspective - and from understanding/learning how quirky works.... i don't think i want to ever participate in another live video brainstorming session. It's not worth my time to sit and watch, and not be able to input information. And there was no benefit to me to block out part of my day to do this live.
I would much rather see a lot of hand-held camera showing peoples expressions/conversations, product samples up close, readable text, and just sit back and listen to the quirky staff having a good intense discussion, knowing that I'm not actively participating in it to see how you guys go about your own live brainstorming sessions. more like a video journal entry for each product.
as for brainstorming with the quirky community, I would like to propose a different style of brainstorming for the future. -- I would like to propose that immediately after a winner has been chosen for a round, that a specific brainstorming webpage be formed for that idea. The purpose of this webpage would be a place for the quirky community to place at their leisure, any posts of positive brainstorming ideas about the new product. This could be a new feature for the new idea. This could be where an added function could get proposed. New sketches could be posted here. This would be a place that if I had a great idea in the middle of the night I could put a post up, and that design element would be able to get to the quirky staff early, and as fast as possible. I would also want this new post webpage to be monitored by quirky members and all Madonna YouTube videos be deleted from this area, unless relevant to the project.
Currently I feel that there is no place for the quirky community to input information and ideas between the date of the original winning submitted idea, and the concept phase. That is a waste of at least two weeks of the communities time that they could be pitching ideas forward to influence any idea. I thought that was the strength of quirky, was it's capability of pulling from thousands of community members new ideas.
I can only see this as being a positive -- to put more ideas in the quirky design staffs head early on, to create the best products possible from our community and the quirky staff.
as an example:
Robert Francois's winning 3-sided mop.
I might, right now, have a great reason why it should be a four sided mop. but I currently have to wait two weeks, or more, until it gets to the concept phase to propose this. At that point it may be too late for quirky to radically change the design to a four sided mop -- and an opportunity would be missed.
(sorry, I know that's not a great example but I was trying to make a simple example. hahahaha)
I apologize for this being a long message, but I hope that some people can see the beginnings of what I'm trying to suggest. I look forward to seeing anyone else's reply on this topic and hope the my ideas can help make quirky a better place for us all to design and develop awesome ideas.
of course all of this will screw up influence, and I know everyone has an opinion on that, so maybe this is just a thought to be saved for a future date when the influence system gets reviewed.
Cheers,
--J.Andre.
Help get this topic noticed by sharing it on
Twitter,
Facebook, or email.
Twitter,
Facebook, or email.
I’m
sad.
-
1Maybe Q could do their brainstorming as shown and then do one WITH the community. there is a wealth of information from all types of people of different backgrounds, degrees, experience, that are very creative and could take a product from blah to must have.Comment -
-
It currently reminds me of a brainstorming session at community junior college. All similar ages/experiences of people involved. Need some older people. a little more passion. Maybe we should work on a definitive plan of action...Who would be the market for this product, why would they need this or buy this, etc.
-
-
1Maybe you could post something like you have for DMV, but for brainstorming so we are on the same page to begin with. A list of topics to be covered in general (market, who would use this and why?), and then more specific for the product,(i.e. hardwoord floors, linoleum). If we kinda know what to expect, we could all research the various aspects and come to the table with definite info on competitive products, reviews, IP, materials etc.
-
-
1Quick ideas:
1) may not make sense for many reasons, but think about limiting # of peeps in room. This could allow for narrow & deeper ideation OR use entire time for 1 product. Part A could focus on need, criteria, market need - Part B would overview learnings from A than hone in on product attributes etc.
-
2) ensure Q team takes a few minutes before brainstorm to get set & go over ground rules - speak up, listen to moderator, look at camera on occasion, stay on point
-
3) start each segment with a 1-2 minute "state of the state" - problem, proposed solve, what's been learned to date, where things are at now & what 2-3 objectives the session looks to accomplish
-
4) place points in #3 in "bite sized" nuggets on chat board every few minutes (just cut/paste). why- helps get latecomers up-to-speed, eliminates any issue w/ hearing, provides a vehicle for moderator to continue to focus community
-
5) moderator to plan to pose 3 or so ?'s during a segment to community - AND QS team - to engage all and attempt to keep things on track. Not suggesting to take the free flow out of brainstorms - just slightly adjust.
--
Note - "arguably" moderator is one of the most important peeps on the call. This role should not be seen as a "community" moderator. The role should moderate the session being mindful that there are 2 audiences/stakeholder groups.-
I think the problem with much of what you're saying is that this creative brainstorming process shouldn't be constrained. (As far as I know) It's an initial process like a stream of conscious writing process. You wouldn't want to try and contain that. I could be wrong, but this should be the same. Viability and such should be determined after you know what it is you're going to try and do.
-
-
-
-
-
2J. Andre--great points. I only popped in and out of the session but was never fully engaged because I never felt drawn in. There is a site/iPad app called Popplet in which groups can create mind maps together (you can simply type in responses or add visuals). I think an ongoing brainstorm would be very beneficial, starting the moment the product is announced as going into development.
Totally agree with the sentiment about better visual & better sound. Otherwise, I think it's a start to something really great at Quirky. -
-
I'm glad you guys are having a lively conversation here and coming up with good suggestions. Let's keep it up. Also keep in mind that there's an entry in the pipeline on quirky.com/next that calls for a more interactive Brainstorming system. Upvote it if you want that to become a priority!
-
-
I like montys point which reminds me of the old saying, say what your going to talk about, talk about it, then say what you talked about.
-
-
@Bobby I noticed alot of thumbsdown on Brainstorming which I find odd. I wonder if people understand the thumbs up/down concept? or maybe they just didn't like the first couple efforts due to tech probs??
- view 1 more comment
-
-
Hey David, check out this thread where Rob pretty succinctly explains how the upvoting/downvoting system is intended to work.
-
-
Thanks Bobby!
-
-
-
-
I’m
silly.
here's a thought:
I think it would be much more valuable to me, if a webpage was created where the quirky community could post their ideas (comments and images) on where a product should go right after it is announced as the winner for around.
.
What I would find fascinating next, would be if all comments and images were printed out at quirky headquarters, and then a live brainstorming session were to begin. One at a time the comments and images can be placed on a table and it would mean a lot to me to hear quirky staff comment on what is in front of them ( their responses to the communities input).
.
doing this would streamline the brainstorming session forcing all of the quirky employees to comment directly on what is in front of them while giving the quirky community a feeling of participating in the event. the brainstorming sessions would not feel so scattered and lost.
.
any thoughts on that? -
-
1Obviously, the lighting, staging, sound, etc can and will be improved upon. For this first one, and as someone who caught it after the fact, I really appreciated the fly on the wall perspective. Watching the way Gaz framed things and listening to QDS was helpful to understand how they approach the problems. It seemed each person came to it having reviewed community inputs and with some individual takes on what mattered and a direction that made sense. I think everyone had enough time to bring an angle to the conversation. And, in the lead up they did provide some direction. I'm afraid with too many formalities it might not feel like a brainstorming session. But, I have to agree that it seemed more voyeuristic than participatory for the community. Personally, I like the over the shoulder view. The one thing that through me was feeling like this process is totally independent of community inputs in ID phase. It definitely changed my perception of how I should approach the concept phase, and gear it toward QDS instead of trying to win over the community for the votes. Because, it was apparent that that ( the voting mechanism) didn't matter to QDS.
-
-
Use a big magic marker.
The drawing and writing will naturally/automatically/instantly be visible to the QC without changing the cameras or anything else.
"Fly on the wall" is great. Even with no changes these sessions are fun.
But, here's one way to overcome the lag between the QDS' brainstorming and the QC's chat comments and questions:
Review the ideas...every time there's a natural break.
Like this:
...OK, let's look at issue #1
We could do A,
Or we could do B,
The QC talked abut C,
Here's my concern with C,
And this was brought up about A,
So, B is looking good.
...Great. lets run through that again,
We could do A, but there is this concern (Rob interjects with a couple of the QC chat ideas and questions about A, and the QDS discusses and answers),
Then there's B (Rob interjects...the QDS discusses and answers),
And the QC talked about C, but we don't like it for this reason (Rob Interjects...the QDS discusses and answers),
So, we're looking harder at B (Rob interjects...the QDS discusses and answers)
Then the QDS moves on to the next issue and repeats the cycle. -
-
I like my idea of them doing there thing and then Gaz and Kate or someone doing another one with just Community input. Maybe they could post theirs and we can watch it. Then they can do a short one with us and we can add ideas to what they have come up with.
-
-
-
Hey brainstormers. We've heard your comments. We're refining the brainstorm a bit for the next go-around. Check out Rob's wise words.
-
-
Brainstorming 3 was very fun. It would make for a must see, fun, weekly 2 hour time slot for early evening. Change the time, better techs and u have a hit show! The time flies by.
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Brainstorming 3.- view 8 more comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Well David, you've pointed out a shortcoming of the previous brainstorms. I shared it with Gaz and he agrees that we can do a much better job of including community comments in the conversation. We're making good on our promise to evolve this from week to week based on your feedback, and every time we do we take a step forward. Separating the conversation is just going to set us back.
-
-
OK Thanks Rob! P.S. They never mentioned my blog input for the whisk either. But I'm not bitter. no.
-
-
-
-
I’m
thankful
i only caught the 'Pet Soap Brush' brainstorm...... but....
.
Wow.... Brainstorming has gotten WAY better!!!!!
i can hear people... the 'crowd cam' shows me whos talking and that makes it easier to follow the conversation..... i can read "most" of the mindmap..... inserted graphics are great.....
.
and.... i felt like i was a part of it. ;-)
.
overall... great job. it's so much better!!-
nice! good to hear, J. Andre. Keep the feedback coming, and we'll keep improving.
-
-
-
-
EMPLOYEE
