{"id":16283,"date":"2019-03-12T10:00:56","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T09:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hatrabbits.com\/?p=16283"},"modified":"2023-11-21T14:56:15","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T13:56:15","slug":"the-evolution-of-ideas-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hatrabbits.com\/en\/the-evolution-of-ideas-1\/","title":{"rendered":"The evolution of ideas. Why innovation is a gradual process sped up by competition and misfortune"},"content":{"rendered":"

Innovation and evolution are more similar than you might suspect.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Innovation is like evolution<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Evolution; the adaptation of life forms to deal with living conditions. By now, almost everybody in the world knows about this fascinating \u2018theory\u2019 and all but the most fanatic creationists accept that this is how organisms gradually adapt to their environment. Organisms that are well suited to deal with the surroundings survive (and reproduce) while less well-adapted organisms disappear. Slowly and gradually over many generations organisms become better equipped to face whatever nature throws at them.<\/p>\n

It might be a bold claim that innovation is a fairly similar process. But I\u2019m more than happy to elaborate on the similarities between Darwin\u2019s revolutionary theory<\/a><\/span> and the way innovation works. Like organisms, processes, products and services tend to improve gradually. Ineffective processes and products with an unpleasant user experience tend to be replaced by generations of \u2018better\u2019 processes and products.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t happen overnight<\/strong><\/h4>\n

An eye doesn\u2019t appear fully formed out of nowhere. There are many incremental steps<\/span><\/a>\u00a0between the appearance of the first light-sensitive cells and a fully formed eye numerous generations later. In fact, those steps that eventually lead to a spectacular new feature in biology can have entirely different purposes. Feathers probably evolved simply because they helped animals stay warm. That they eventually would make flight possible was a bonus.<\/p>\n

New features in animals and plants don\u2019t appear overnight. The same is true for innovative ideas. In innovation, the same \u2018intermediates\u2019 exist. No idea appears fully formed and perfect. A new idea is usually fairly rough. An unpolished thought. Sometimes with great potential, but never fully developed. Any new idea needs to be sharpened. By refining a rough idea, you make sure it survives.<\/p>\n

How do you refine an idea? By showing it to as many people as possible. Share your idea<\/a><\/span> early on. Make it tangible. Prototype<\/a><\/span>. Ask your target audience what they think. Let them play with a prototype and refine the idea again and again. Use the feedback and insights you collect to improve your idea.<\/p>\n

Even when you think your idea is finished\u2026 it probably isn\u2019t. No idea is perfect. There is always a better idea<\/a><\/span>. Take the umbrella, for instance. Great idea, right? The perfect design for defying the rain. For thousands of years, the design of the umbrella stayed practically unchanged. It wasn\u2019t until the 2000\u2019s that 3 Dutch students decided to improve this great design. The Senz storm umbrella<\/a><\/span> was born. An umbrella that doesn\u2019t fold over when you\u2019re out in stormy weather. The guys behind Senz even thought of small improvements like \u2018eyesavers<\/em>\u2019 to prevent people from accidentally stabbing a passer-by in the eye.<\/p>\n

As is often the case, once things are moving new alternatives start appearing. Change leads to an \u2018arms race\u2019. Competitors won\u2019t stand idly by for very long. Suddenly, the umbrella-world seems to have woken up. Competitors and newcomers alike start innovating that once untouchable design:<\/p>\n