The most fascinating innovation event in the history of products:
How to fill products and processes with values that arouse desire!
*) Semper Augustus was the name of a rare tulip in the Netherlands in the 1630s which was so desirable that its value steadily increased, eventually causing a virtual tulip mania. In 1637, a single bulb could fetch as much as 10,000 guilders, 40 times the annual income of a craftsman or equal to the price of a house.
True innovations arouse desire!
Arousing desire in target groups these days is becoming increasingly more difficult due to engineer-driven technologies, abstract innovations conceived in a cocoon-like atmosphere and the growing number of me-too products. Adding value to a product in the future will require more than just a unique idea. It will take a variety of well-matched innovations covering the entire product life cycle!
The Semper Augustus LAB (S-A-LAB) increases the added value of products and processes by “infusing“ them with value-enhancing ideas at any given stage of the product life cycle: from product development, product design, packaging, shop design and service up to marketing and disposal. The Semper Augustus LAB offers a highly specialised innovation process that generates valuable ideas of hitherto unknown quality in a hitherto unknown quantity through fascinatingly designed team processes and techniques.
The “S-A-LAB” modules
Module 1: Strategy and goal formulation
This workshop module fosters clarity, problem awareness, goal orientation, creates a functioning roadmap and a clear mandate by the customer! It is about developing a clear goal and a strategy to identify big ideas and possible risks.
Module 2: Trends, analyses and studies
Depending on the particular task in hand, we do research into trends, target groups, the competitive situation, markets or future-oriented topics always in conjunction with highly specialised partners from the respective areas!
Module 3: Knowledge scouting
This workshop module covers in-depth research, creates much new knowledge and deep insights in other outside segments, reveals state-of-the-art technologies and scientific findings, adds to the imaginative power of the teams, connects exotic areas of knowledge and produces new links that serve as a basis for the subsequent creative process (generation of material).
Module 4: Workshop “Generation of Material”
This workshop module allows for imagination, fun, relaxation, freedom, deviation from standard, visions for the future, pipe dreams, amazement and many emotions. It brings together different people (non-experts) at remarkable locations to generate a maximum of freedom and explore all conceivable possibilities.
Module 5: Workshop “Development of Ideas”
In this workshop module professionals and experts gradually introduce the “pipe dreams”, i.e. the previously generated material, to reality through opportunity thinking. The module deals with real creativity, identifies weaknesses as chances, focuses on solutions, love for challenges and the unbreakable will to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Module 6: Idea assessment and idea selection
This workshop module raises the awareness of feasible solutions, interesting approaches, real innovations, remarkable ideas and the associated risk of possible flops!
Module 7: Presentation of ideas
This workshop module delivers “Aha!” moments, surprises, convincing hits and ideas that exactly match the formulated goals. Selected ideas are processed clearly, briefly and brain-friendly.
Module 8: Project Management Coaching
This workshop module takes a peek into the future, provides for realistic implementation of strategies, choice of the right partners, time schedules, clear distribution of tasks and useful checklists. It is the time when we back out and hand over the project to the respective best partners (agencies, design studios, institutes, etc.) so that nothing can impede implementation.
Strategy as link between problem and solution
One of our strengths is our perspective as an outsider: business routines today leave too little room to sufficiently identify and explore problem areas. Likewise, there is hardly any time to deal with or playfully investigate solutions that inspire people to come up with ideas and innovations. Regardless of the stage in the life cycle of your product or project, we take the time to develop customised strategies to fill it with new value. Here are some of the key reasons why companies choose to work with us:
Ask the right questions - get surprising answers:
Together we keep an eye on the entire product life cycle, first uncovering the underlying problems with all their facets so that, secondly, the appropriate measures can be taken to lead to specific innovations.
Ideas generate values:
We focus on the unique idea that acts as the trigger, rather than starting off with limiting questions on feasibility and success potential. We give an idea the time it needs in a world overcrowded with me-too products so that it can develop into something really extraordinary and valuable.
We create room for bold and radical innovations:
Creative sessions use systematically radical and “crazy” approaches to open up inspiring creative room for brazen innovations. We help companies lift off and, for a certain time, shake off the confining structures of previous success!
Revolution instead of evolution:
The structures of successful companies often allow only innovations resulting from evolutionary enhancements of existing ideas rather than genuinely revolutionary innovations. Using the Semper Augustus LAB the innovation process is outsourced completely at the outset and then the ideas gained with the help of outsiders are gradually implemented and integrated in the company.
No prefabricated categories in our minds:
We are not an agency, nor are we designers, marketing or sales people and we do not apply prefabricated standard tools and templates when asked for a solution. “Packaging? Flagship store? Events? Never heard of them, what are they?” We remain consistently naïve and resist the temptation to use existing instruments or clichéd categories! Instead, we approach the problem in a way that will lead us to develop completely new tools, formats, processes or procedures! The results are then put into practice at the highest level by the top pick of experts in their discipline.
We turn the world into your play area:
The most fundamental creative principle is to link two things together that are not usually connected. Absolutely every idea is based on this principle. Therefore, we cross boundaries deliberately and ask unusual questions: how can novel medical technologies, innovative nano materials, new mobile devices, inventions from labs or new scientific findings be combined in a revolutionary shop design?
The farther apart two subjects seem from each other, the more astounding it is to discover the brilliant ideas that connect them.