There’s a clever and whimsical children’s book by Oliver Jeffers called Stuck that I was contemplating recently while working through my own development process. A little boy flies his kite into a tree where it gets Stuck. Attempting to knock it loose, he throws his shoe at it. Well, the shoe gets stuck too, along with his other shoe, his cat, a ladder, a bucket, his bike, a chair, and everything else he throws at it, including the kitchen sink. Eventually, he gets his kite but walks away with his other treasures still in the tree.
I’ve certainly found myself in a similar state of STUCK when it comes to my creative endeavors. Luckily, having worked in product development and production for years, I know it’s time to ask for outside help before I throw in the kitchen sink.
Some of the most brilliant and marketable ideas often never see the light of day because the innovator gets stuck somewhere in the process and doesn’t know who or how to ask for help or runs out of steam. A resource like the Creative Fold is great because they can help at any step in the creative process from early development to product testing to package and product concepting, sourcing, tooling and manufacturing and bringing to market. But when exactly is the right time to seek outside advice?
The Creative Fold team shares some of the ways in which they’ve helped clients find their way out of feeling stuck and put them back on a path to success.
Edoardo Kulp talks about how market research can be extremely helpful at both early and later stages in the process. Often times the client is too close to the project and needs outside collaborators to come in with fresh eyes. Edoardo says:
“When collaborating with clients, a little market research can make a big difference. Whether it's refining a game that doesn't quite feel right or exploring a new product idea, seeking external opinions can reveal unexpected “a-ha” moments. Sometimes, we turn to our database of over 200 families for feedback, while other times a quick chat with a neighbor can provide fresh insights. Stepping outside of the company's and client’s inner circle to gather feedback often brings new perspectives that can get the stuck unstuck.”
Jeremiah Eyster explains that once a product idea and design is fairly solidified it’s the manufacturing process that can be particularly daunting and is likely to send clients in a circle of uncertainty and endless questioning. Having a resource that understands the complete manufacturing process can be helpful in knocking down creative hurdles.
“Often our clients don't know where to start with manufacturing or don't have the time to work with suppliers once unexpected things arise. They might find themselves asking things such as, ‘How do I know I'm getting a good price from the factory? How do I find factories I can trust? How do I make sure there are no quality control issues?’ and ‘How do I make sure my product is compliant with safety regulations?’
A large percentage of what we do is push challenging projects through manufacturing using our knowledge and experience to navigate roadblocks as efficiently as possible. Every project hits unexpected snags. At Creative Fold, we have the industry experience to regain progress when the unexpected occurs.”
Our very best advice - before you throw your hands up and the kitchen sink in, consider some outside help to provide new perspectives, expertise and to get you unstuck!
Some signs it might be time to ask for help:
● I love my idea but I’m not sure if others will find it useful
● It’s all in my head but I can’t get it down on paper
● I’ve come up with 172 names but none of them seem quite right
● Wouldn’t it be great if I could have a prototype
● I don’t know a thing about manufacturing
Thanks for reading. We hope this will be helpful advice as you move forward in your own development process. Now we would love to hear from you. When have you felt STUCK?
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