1. Compose a six-word memoir of your life to date. For example, my six word memoir is “exploring boldly, living freely, behaving justly.” 2. Use one word to describe your single best new product idea. For example, one word I might use to describe my current new product idea is “liberation.” The purpose of this assignment is to get you to start thinking about your new product idea. Please ensure that your submission is an actual English language word that I can find in an established dictionary. 3. Create at least five electronic files of your creative output. Examples of such output include articles, photos, pictures of paintings/sculpture/furniture/food/clothing you have created., etc. When in doubt, consult with the instructor before submitting to ensure that you receive full credit. You must be the sole person responsible for the creation of the artifact that you are submitting. These artifacts should be inanimate objects, please. Please don’t submit pictures of your kids or of you with your spouse/partner/significant other. 4. Building on your one-word new product idea of last week, submit one sentence describing your product idea in more detail. For example, one sentence I might use to describe my current new product idea is ” Silver Spring College empowers entrepreneurs to build high-growth enterprises through short-term residential education programs” (as edited, an A-). Please ensure that your submission is a single, simple sentence, not a compound, clause, fragment, or run-on. This simple sentence should consist of a subject, verb, object and appropriate modifiers. 5. Building on your one sentence new product submit 1) a one paragraph new product idea, and 2) one paragraph describing the creativity techniques from Thinkertoys that you used to develop this idea. Each paragraph should be no longer than five sentences. Your submission should be two paragraphs in length. In order to exceed standards for this assignment, you must 1) clearly and concisely present a new product idea that is both innovative and scalable, AND 2) demonstrate that you used three or more Thinkertoy techniques to develop it. In order to meet standards for this assignment, you must 1) clearly and concisely present a new product idea that is either innovative or scalable, AND 2) demonstrate that you used 1-2 Thinkertoy techniques. An assignment submission that 1) does not clearly and concisely present a new product idea, or presents and idea that is neither innovative nor scalable, OR 2) does not demonstrate that you used Thinkertoy techniques, does not meet standards for this assignment. 6. Post a 1 page paper of a pitch of your new product idea. In order to exceed standards for this assignment, your pitch must 1) thoroughly explain the opportunity, how the new product/service fits the opportunity, and the value created for potential customers, AND 2) be very persuasive, including an explanation of why you are the right person to pursue this idea. In order to meet standards, your pitch must 1) explain adequately two of the following three: the opportunity, product/service fit with opportunity, and value created for potential customers, AND 2) be adequately persuasive. Presentations that do not adequately explain at least two of the three elements (opportunity, fit, value) and/or are inadequately persuasive will not meet standards for this assignment. Good pitches have three elements: problem, solution, and you. They describe the problem you are trying to solve with your new product, demonstrating that 1) you both understand the problem, probably because you have it yourself, and 2) the problem is significant. The pitch then describes the solution, which must be 1) viable and 2) distinctive and unique. Finally, good pitches describe the founder (you) and what they bring to the product launch in the form of characteristics and attributes, knowledge and skills, and networks. Keep in mind that what you bring to the product launch cannot just be that you have a problem that you are trying to solve, or that you are a potential consumer or user. You must be able to build some kind of a mockup or working prototype that demonstrates that your new product is more than just an idea. So it’s important to focus in on those few things that you can actually do really well—that you have mastered—as you start thinking about your pitch.
