One of this weeks learning assignments was about problemsolving, being practical and creative. The assignment goes: You are given a teaspoon as an object. Now apply each one of the SCAMPER techniques to it and give a brief explanation of what new product comes out of this and how it can be marketed.
I found this assignment a little difficult in the beginning. Having a preconceived idea of the object made it hard to get past the barrier to changing it. Using the SCAMPER model helped a lot to make the ideas flow and make a finished idea.
If you’re wondering SCAMPER stands for:
Substitute
Combine
Modify/Magnify
Put to other use
Eliminate
Reverse/Rearrange
Using this model I adapted the spoon and created a new product from it. I had several ideas but I decided to keep the idea to make a spoon with a termometer in the stem. My audience target is mainly parents and children. This spoon is perfect for parents with children in the age range 0-5 years old. The spoon shows the temprature of the food the children are about to eat and makes sure it’s the right temprature for them.
The spoon has a rubber stem that comes in different colors and makes it fun for the kids. The rubber also makes it easy for little hands to grab it. The star on the termometer moves and shows the temprature with what color it’s on. The termometer is easily color cordinated to show the temprature. If the star is on red, the food is too hot. If it’s on blue the food is starting to get too cold, and when it’s on green it’s the perfect temprature between 63-65 degrees for children and babies.
Going through the SCAMPER model this is how i used it on my product:
Substitute: I changed the stem of the spoon to rubber material and placed a termometer on the inside.
Combined: I combined the spoon with the termometer making it convenient and practical especially for parents.
Adapt: I adapted the spoon and gave it two purposes. You can eat with it normally and see the temprature of the food you are eating.
Magnify/Modify: I made the spoon multifunctional and added fun colors and a gold star that moves to make it more kid friendly and fun for the user.
Put to other use: The other way you can use the spoon now is taking the temprature and using it for the comfort of your children.
Eliminate: I eliminated the steel stem and simplified the design of the termometer.
Reverse/Rearrange: You can use the spoon the way you would like. Rearranging the colors and using bright ones is eye catching and the children can learn the colors as well while eating.
My Reflective Journal 