Innovation Labs

Who would win in a fight between Walter Gropius and Darren Almond?

At Nico's encouragement, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on the process we've just been through. As always with me, these come straight out of leftfield, but I'm hoping they'll contribute even further to the BBC's development of some cracking online tools.

• We knew, and were repeatedly told, it wasn't meant to be a competition, but the fact that only a handful of us were going to get a commission was always hovering at the back of our minds, especially when some of the ideas had a lot in common. (...she said TAG!) Generally I found all the teams to be incredibly helpful and fluffy, but some did more mingling than others. It would have been nice to have at least a day after the presentation when we could just hang out together in a relaxed way and kick around ideas with no agenda except mutual inspiration (Beeb included).
• It might be interesting to try a different way of developing ideas through the week, aside from a straight logical approach to user-centred design. Now, we all know how terribly important UCD is, but the kind of process we went through (in this author's humble opinion) tended to mould more standard solutions. I'd like to see what the labs might look like if a more playful route were chosen. Innovation driven versus results driven. The YBAs versus the Bauhaus. Almond versus Gropius. Or something.

I understand that the BBC has to be accountable for its output, and the "de Bono" approach to invention is much more risky, so I can see my thoughts might be a little controversial in this regard. Although, given the current propensity for success of content which doesn't (in the eyes of the top brass) address user needs in a logical manner, perhaps logic is just as much of a risk? (See Myspace, South Park, John Peel.)

Hey, just my £0.02. I'm still a long way behind the designers of the lab in terms of experience. Just kicking off the debate...

PS: I've just run Gropius and Almond through Googlefight and Gropius wins hands down! D'oh.

All over including the shouting

So, that's it. All done. Everybody's finished their presentations and found out what Jem Stone really thought of them.

rechord's idea got the thumbs down, at least for now. It was disappointing but expected. Past experience, however, teaches us that something better than we'd hoped for usually comes along right after such a disappointment. And we have a fantastic solution to take to other potential clients after the 3-month embargo runs out.

No post-match analysis would be complete without thanking our mentors, including Nico, whose wine we finished off without realising that it wasn't on BBC expenses, and whose sleep deprivation we engendered. I have no idea what we'd have done without the supporting characters of Plot, who kept us going when we despaired, and encouraged us at exactly the right moments. Thanks also go to Ben who was a major help, even after the base/apex inversion incident. We owe you all a pint (or 2, or 3...)

We'd like to offer a hearty congratulations to those companies who did attract a commission from the wonderful Beeb. You are all thoroughly deserving, and we are genuinely pleased and excited for you. Good luck, and let us know when the prototypes are finished because it will be great to play with them after such tantalising presentations.

Here's to next year...