Ideas with Legs – Nils Vesk (2011)
Ideas with Legs – Nils Vesk
In this book Nils sets out not merely a process for ideation (conceiving of new ideas), but a structure and framework for creating, testing and realising those great ideas.
Having met Nils at a presentation at Sydney Business school, I was impressed by both his pragmatism as well as his zany style and deep-seated passion for driving innovative processes. Coming from an industrial design background, Nils has a huge amount of experience not only coming up with ideas, but driving those ideas all the way through to fruition. With this comes an appreciation for how many great ideas get left on the cutting room floor, simply for lack of a thorough, supportive and consistent approach to managing the journey from creation to launch.
Leaping to the end for a moment, for me the best thing about ‘Ideas with Legs’ is not only the framework itself, but that Nils not only suggests, but recommends, that you open the book at whatever point is most suitable for the idea you are working on. His framework is designed to be adapted and melded around whatever stage of innovation your idea is currently resting in, initial ideation, testing, market verification, re-design, financing etc – this is not a ‘one size fits anyone’ approach, it’s ultimately adaptable – which to me has made it a resource I come back to again and again after a couple of years of use.
In short, the framework is divided into four sections – Evolution, Revolution, Revelation and Execution. Ideally every idea will get put through the diligent assessment and proving in each of these stages, sometimes migrating back and forth through them as they progress towards release to market and actualisation.
Nils writes in a deliberate and thought provoking style, with graphical thought prompts throughout to keep you engaged even in the most detailed of chapters.
This will be of interest for leaders;
- Heading creative teams
- New to innovation processes
- Charged with driving innovation in your business
- Interested in innovation generally, but especially with ideas of your own to develop!