This experience is designed for learners to translate a market opportunity into a viable product opportunity for the project partner. Learners begin by identifying unmet needs in the marketplace (with help from the partner), translating these into actionable problem statements, identifying stakeholders and their needs, considering existing products and related patents, and generating innovative solution concepts to address the opportunity. Once a wide array of alternatives has been generated, learners will apply concept screening and selection, and recommend their best ideas for further investigation and development. The learners will be taught a wide range of systematic innovation tools and apply them throughout the project.

Students will produce:

• A clearly defined problem statement (or set of statements) based on market opportunity
• Stakeholder/customer needs analysis
• Competitive landscape report (including existing solutions and patents)
• A portfolio of initial concept ideas, including rationale and sketches or diagrams
• Concept screening and selection summary with top recommended ideas
• A final presentation or report outlining findings, recommended concepts, and next steps