One of the most effective ways to generate invention ideas is to anticipate problems your target customers may be experiencing. Listen to their complaints and identify common problems. Then, create a solution that will solve a lot of these problems at once. Remember, it has to be inexpensive and effective for your customers. You don't want to waste time or money developing a product that does not solve the problem.

Market research

If you are an inventor, one of the best ways to validate your ideas is to conduct market research. Market research helps you understand what customers need and want, and can help you create or refine your product. It can also help you gauge how easily your idea could be commercialized, as well as what types of competition may be in the market.

Prewriting

Prewriting is a great way to generate ideas. It helps you to focus on a specific topic and question and to develop lines of inquiry and concepts that support your thesis. You may be surprised at the insights you may find when you start prewriting.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming invention ideas is a process that many people find difficult. Incorrect brainstorming techniques can result in a poor idea selection. Before you attempt to come up with an invention idea, you should make sure that you know what you want to accomplish.

Keeping an inventors notebook

When you get an idea for an invention, keeping an inventors notebook is a great way to record it. It not only serves as a de facto organizer but it also provides legal protection should you ever need it.

Companies that pay for invention ideas

There are several companies that pay for invention ideas. Some of these companies pair inventors with big manufacturers and product designers. They will then take your idea, build it, and sell it, and pay you a royalty when you sell it. Other companies pay inventors for their products, like Quirky, which pairs inventors with gadget designers and big manufacturing companies.

Developing a prototype

To develop a working prototype for your invention idea, you may need to get a few different things. First, you'll need a design. Just as you'd need a blueprint to build a house, you'll need a design to build a product. You can hire an engineer to create a prototype for you, or you can try to design it yourself. However, if you don't have the experience, you may find it easier to hire a machinist or handyman to design the product.

Protecting intellectual property

Protecting intellectual property for invention ideas is important for many reasons. The rights granted by intellectual cover a wide range of topics. Infringing upon these rights can lead to losses for organisations. The proliferation of the internet increases the risks of infringement.