Sheffield Inventors Club Presentation

Also, here is a copy for download of the Sheffield Inventors Club Presentation.

The file is a huuggee download at 30MB, as it contains a lot of images and I had not originally planned it for general release. However you can download the Zipped Folder with the PowerPoint and Video here on this link

You will need to extract all to a single folder on your PC computer, and run the PowerPoint. If you dont have MS Office installed, then you can email me on john@thebigconsultant.com , and I will send the presentation as a PDF.

Kind regards,

John Biddleston

Business Plan for New Product Development

At my presentation to the Sheffield Inventors Club recently, I highlighted the STRONG importance of having a Business Plan in place.

Any company, start-up or individual, will need a Business Plan if wanting to work in the "Business of Invention" ... See this guide here for more details http://thebigconsultant.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-get-lot-of-enquiries-from-inventors.html

And a Business it is!

I am making available a Business Plan template, with instructions included on there specifically designed for New Product Development (NPD).

You can download this business plan template here on this link

For any method of taking your idea forwards, whether, licence, self manufacture, Ltd Company, royalty etc etc, you need to have a plan in place, to help ensure you dont make mistakes in your strategy!

The plan I have posted here, is very similar to ones used internally within larger companies. And we call this a Strategic Product Plan, or sometimes a Strategic Marketing Plan.

Use it, and dont lose it! As I said at the presentation "If you were to play football with Eric Cantona. You would likely get lose, as you dont have the same skills ... and probably 'kicked in the face' in no particular order!" ....

... Well business is the same. If you are going into the boardroom, then the advantage you can have on your side is planning planning and more planning. You need to plan for all eventuallities, if you want to play on a level playing field.

So, plan what is said, the process, the numbers (sales forecast etc), the IP strategy, and every eventuality. Even better, this plan is the 'key' to unlock funding and Venture Capital.

Please dont hesitate to contact me, if you have any problems using the plan. I am happy to help, and I have been through the mill myself, just as you are about to! So, I can help you prep or organise meetings that will get the sale. My email is john@thebigconsultant.com

The plan again is available for download here

A well planned strategy, is without doubt the 'key to success'. And will definitely get you a better deal and outcome. Dont forget to also visit www.thebigconsultant.com

Thanks for now,

John Biddleston

Sheffield Inventors Club

I have been invited to present at a popular Inventors Club in Sheffield at the Central Library, where I will be presenting and answering questions relating to developing new products, and most importantly the process of taking a design from the drawing board to production!

Please find the flyer here. Entry is free, and you can turn up on the day and register with reception.

If you require more details, you can contact Lynne Hinchcliffe who runs the club monthly a at the library via email at lynne.linchliff@sheffield.gov.uk , or myself at john@thebigconsultant.com for further details. The libraries telephone number to discuss meetings of the club and this event is on 0114 273 4736

Educational Toy Product Design

A product that I am very proud to have designed, and which is currently in production and sale in USA, Europe and Australia, has now had a product video review by Inclusive Technology

I am hoping to develop further products for special educational needs, and as some of you might already know, this has been of great interest to me since 2001 where I first embarked on developing learning toys for younger learners with disabilities!

Comment 41 inShare360 13-Year-Old Designs Efficient Solar Array Inspired By Oak Trees

I had to re-blog this, as it's an amazing (if true) story:-

"When it comes to renewable energy solutions, sometimes nature has the best ideas. That was 13-year-old Aidan Dwyer’s conclusion after a wintry hike in New York’s Catskill Mountains, a trip that inspired him to build a unique and effective solar array design."

"Dwyer observed patterns in the trees and, after further research and contemplation, realized the branches matched up with the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical pattern found throughout nature, such as in falcon flight paths, nautilus shells and ratios within the human body."

"Dwyer speculated that this pattern aided the trees in photosynthesis and tested his hypothesis by building a miniature tree-shaped solar array. The project won him a 2011 Young Naturalist Award from the American Museum of Natural History.

The 7th grader describes his experiments in a detailed essay:

I designed and built my own test model, copying the Fibonacci pattern of an oak tree. I studied my results with the compass tool and figured out the branch angles. The pattern was about 137 degrees and the Fibonacci sequence was 2/5. Then I built a model using this pattern from PVC tubing. In place of leaves, I used PV solar panels hooked up in series that produced up to 1/2 volt, so the peak output of the model was 5 volts. The entire design copied the pattern of an oak tree as closely as possible.

The design generated up to 50% more power than the model of a traditional solar installation during periods of low sunlight. The individual solar panels’ various angles help the array capture light even when the sun is very low in the sky. And, since they don’t lie flat, many of the panels are also less affected by shade and snow.

At this point, Dwyer’s design a backyard experiment, but perhaps in the future we’ll see roof gardens planted with solar tree arrays. "

Cool!!

Breeze Block Sculpture

As you should know by now, at The BIG Consultant, we take learning seriously. We strongly believe that learning to be creative and teaching creativity benefits us all. Therefore we are developing and running a series of courses aimed at schools, youth clubs and indeed for all learners to undertake fun design tasks.

Breezeblock sculptures utilise traditional stone masonry techniques on light-weight aerated concrete blocks (breezeblocks). Unlike traditional stone, the blocks are soft and easy to carve making them an ideal medium for young peoples first sculptural experiences.

Please contact us for more information at www.thebigconsultant.com and more details here to download sculpting activities fact sheet.

New Designer Silvia Bianco

The BIG Consultant is very proud to announce our new designer, Silvia Bianco, who as a fantastic and highly creative professional, will be bringing a little Italian design flair to our customers designs!!

-People look at the things, and they say:“Why?” A Designer dreams things that never exist,and says:“Why not?”- She says;

"Art and design have always been my passion (ask my parents) since I was little I continue to draw and invent new things. I have always work to make others understand the importance of creativity in everyday life.

My experience as a Designer started in Italy where I did first an Art School and than a Laurea ( 5 years : BA + specialization) in graphic and product design at the University of Venice IUAV Art and Design Department .

While studying I always work as a designer for two company : LAICA http://www.laica.it and Emmedisplay. There I worked as a healthcare product designer, as a graphic- brand designer and as a display and shop designer. During the University I also worked in some research project with some important designer like Riccardo Blumer and Michele De Lucchi. One of my work was also exhibited at the SALONE DEL MOBILE in Milan last year for Alias Design.

When I finish to study I decided with my boyfriend to move to Sheffield and now we are stable here. The first time was really hard for me to start something because I was a stranger in a new place but with all my passion and with hard work I can say that I’m now happy about our choice."

I am glad to say that Silva has decided to stay, and join the ranks of the BIG Consultant. Right away, she has been involved with our current client developing an innovative and highly marketable medical device, which we hope will be in the high street soon! And brings a refreshing deign angle and world class design experience to The BIG Consultant, which as you know is "the little company with the BIG ideas"

All watched over by machines of loving grace!

OK, this is not a strictly design related post, or is it? However, if you have not seen Adam Curtis's documentary ALL WATCHED OVER BY MACHINES OF LOVING GRACE you should really do so! Fascinating, challenging, and fun to watch too. Heres a clip

It really makes you think, what is behind the design explosion. I have to say that I am not a follower of Ayn Rand by the way. I am more of a Buckminster Fuller if anything!! Watch this!

The full version is on BBC Iplayer here or on Youtube here

His other films are here if you want more!

Renewable energy and efficiency

I went with a colleague to Sustainabilitylive! 2011 on Weds 25th May, and the exhibition covers all renewable energies. Something which I am very interested in.

I have to be honest, that I was rather disappointed to see a lack of innovative products from Britain, in the show, although I am very sure there are some extremely forward thinking companies in the UK. Something seems to stop us from taking the technology lead to the forefront. In the main exhibition, the only product I got really exited about was unfortunately German! A great idea to increase the the efficiency of impellers, and very much borrowed from nature. Makes the machine run silent too, and is designed for air-conditioning on the outside of buildings.

The UKTI were a different matter however. I was very very impressed with their forward-thinking, and clearly on the button of what is needed for business. But it looks like the Government unfortunately is always a step behind? So perhaps this is a side effect of BIG government? There are currently too many stages between ideas and success. Lets hope that we don't miss out on the next upcoming technologies... After meeting with the Chinese deligation, I know that they have a "5 year plan" and these people don't just make cheap products, they plan ahead and are on to it now in a big way. Lets take the lead, as the technologists are here in the UK, and surely we are not going to give the game away on the next big thing. Energy saving products.

Inventors Guide

I get a lot of enquiries from inventors, and unless they have learned the heard way, they are often a little "wet behind the ears" when it comes to understanding the dangerous market that they are heading into.

This is no reason to give up, but be warned that you can fall easily at the first hurdle, if you are not prepared to understand how this market operates.

It is good to get legal advice, and you can often get an hour for free through Legal Aid. But for now, there is this...

I cannot recommend this Invention Guide enough. The website http://www.abettermousetrap.co.uk/ is an excellent resource from a seasoned inventor, and the book by Peter Bissell, is one that I reccomend to many many new clients.

A Better Mousetrap is practical, plain-speaking and readable. It treats invention as a business activity that demands a professional and well-planned, strategic approach. It tells you how to:

•…avoid mistakes
•…limit your risk at every stage
•…stay in control.

And for only £12 this invaluable book is everything you need to understand IP, how to deal with companies, the development process, and marketing. You should consider putting this on your reading list. It could save you a fortune!

Moreover, the clue to the reason that this book is so great, is in the title "The Business of Invention". This book is easy to read, and is written by a seasoned inventor who has made all the mistakes that you really don't want to. Knowledge is power, so buy it today!

New funding scheme to support innovative small companies - Starts April 2011

Hi,

I have just created a mailing list with people I know that are interested in developing new products. If you want to be included, just email me at john@thebigconsultant.com

I created the list I created today. I thought it would be easier and quicker to send any useful info that I come across and share it.

As you may or may no know, I am no big fan of Government backed funding schemes. They often end up being intensive on the old paperwork, and you often get sidelined to advisers who in my opinion have very little experience of product development.

However, I did think that this link was of interest. The blurb says

"Managed by the Technology Strategy Board, the Grant for Research and Development scheme, which comes into effect from 4 April 2011, will support small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) across the UK that want to carry out research and development generating new and innovative products and services. The new scheme supersedes the Grant for R&D scheme previously managed by England’s regional development agencies and will have similar objectives."

And the direct link is here

http://www.innovateuk.org/content/news/new-funding-scheme-will-support-innovative-small-c.ashx

I have not researched this link fully yet, and there is as we know a hold on Business Link for funding new ideas. However, I do know that government grants will be available, even with the cuts. But these will likely be subject to strict financials being provided.

Please direct any enquires via my email john@thebigconsultant.com

Kind regards,
John Biddleston

--
The BIG Consultant John Biddleston MDes BSc LCG By Phone:- +44 (0) 7879 498079 Email:- john@thebigconsultant.com "The little company with the BIG ideas" www.thebigconsultant.com

Smooth Talker product launch

The BIG Consultant is pleased to announce the launch of a new product "Smooth Talker" this month.

Designed for Special Needs (SEN) and with a modern and stylish design SMOOTH TALKER is the most versatile, single and sequential message, Communicator currently on the market.

I am pleased to see that there is already a review of this product here http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/2011/01/smooth-talker.html in which is is clear that consumers, in this case for Special Needs, are very happy with at least 2 of the new products features, which we researched and created for this market with our customer.

The product is now widely available for sale at a guide price of £109 in the UK and is also being distributed in Europe, USA and Australasia

For more product details or availability see Inclusive Technology

http://www.inclusive.co.uk/smooth-talker-p4946 in the UK or QED

http://www.callscotland.org.uk/Services/Equipment-Bank/Item-Details/index.php?recid=5790;search=toy;type=Switch in Scotland

http://www.tfeinc.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=3548 USA

http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/smooth-talker Austrailia

For all other enquiries please see http://thebigconsultant.com/partners.html