The only constant in the world \u2026 is change. Innovation is both a driver of change, and a response to it. It\u2019s an important skill and mindset for any learning designer. It\u2019s not about chasing the latest shiny new toy, or constantly pushing the boundaries on risky projects. It is about identifying emerging trends and matching them with appropriate projects. It may sound counter-intuitive, but the future of work requires that innovation becomes mainstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018But I\u2019m not innovative!\u2019 Then learn! Here\u2019s how the easyA<\/strong> team stay innovative:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Get physical<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re stuck with coming up with a learning design for a particular piece of content, take some old Latin advice \u2013 solvitur ambulando \u2013 it is solved by walking. Take a break from what you\u2019re doing and head outside \u2013 your brain will continue to work on the challenge in the background and the change of setting may unlock those new ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re having a discussion or meeting about a design, stand up. Not only will your standing meeting generally be faster than a sit-down one, the change in perspective may spark new approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Squeeze a ball in your left hand. This stimulates neural activity in the right (creative) side of your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get social<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re designing, having a deep understanding of your end-users will help you to consider how you can best meet their needs. Start with basic demographics, but don\u2019t stay there \u2013 find out their pain points, get personal with some qualitative, ethnographic research. Talk to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surround yourself with innovative people, not just in your immediate circle of colleagues, but get to know the other innovators within your organisation, and beyond it \u2013 make sure your learning network includes innovators in the fields of learning design and \u2018nearby\u2019 professions, and include some far-flung innovators in the mix as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But don\u2019t just have a general network of innovative people. Be specific for your projects \u2013 identify and buddy up with a particular person who can give you feedback and provide a bouncing board for ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get cultural<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Innovation in design doesn\u2019t happen in a vacuum. Your organisation needs to invest in innovation through allowing time and budget, and through providing rewards, incentives and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How you and your organisation respond to failure is also important. If it\u2019s not safe to fail (and learn), then it\u2019s not safe to innovate and experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have some fun. A positive affective environment is much more conducive to innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Get a new perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To break out of the usual ways of thinking and designing, look at your project through some different \u2018lenses\u2019 \u2013 there\u2019s the tried and trusted \u2018blue-sky\u2019 thinking where you consider what the design could be if there were unlimited resources at your fingertips. You could consider how the design might change if you changed your primary audience, or if your main design tool suddenly was unavailable, or the LMS didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try some constraints \u2013 if you had to finish the design in half the time, or with only 20% of the budget, or with less than 50% of the word count \u2013 how would that change things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What would X do? From mild (your team manager, CFO, intern) to wild (your barista, favourite fictional character, global-thought-leader), a different perspective can help you to think outside that proverbial (and let\u2019s be honest, a little cliched) box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes innovative ideas build from what others are doing. Start an innovation file where you keep examples of new ideas, creative approaches, examples of where people have broken the mould \u2013 colour combinations, design layouts, interactions, phrasing, blended approaches \u2013 if it catches your attention, keep a copy of it. When you\u2019re in need of inspiration, pull the file out and use it as a springboard to new ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you shift into innovation being just a regular part of your design processes, you\u2019ll position yourself and your learning designs as both handling the future, and creating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interested in a deep dive?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n