Mike Stopforth

Rod Boothby points to Phill Ryu, an 18-year-old Apple evangelist, developer and marketing phenom (it seems).

Phill has a creative and brave idea for innovation - get people to make a fake version of your next product.

As an example, Phill ran a contest to get people to design fake screen shots on the next OS/X (Apple’s operating system). The initiative produced a wad of really good ideas, from the USERS of the product (isn’t that who we design new products for) that could be considerations for integration in future.

According to Phill, some of the resultant guesses and ideas are better than the real thing.

Rod sees an opportunity for Chrysler!

A few days ago, I remember hearing about the challenges that Chrysler is facing coming up with a replacement for the PT Cruiser. Copying Phill Ryu’s idea would be a brilliant way for Chrysler to build major brand buzz and cheaply generate the buzz they needed for their next product.

Start with a Contest for the best sketches. Pick 8 finalists. Get the people to refine their designs, and just like America’s Idol or Britain’s Pop Idol, start to kick out designs. Finally, the last 3 designers get to work with a professional Chrysler design team to make a real Concept Car. Get everyone to vote on their favourite, and then put the new hit car into production.

Very cool. Given the opportunity, which product would you like to fake the next version of?

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