Innovation Games
Accelerate readiness to innovate with this real-life game format for organizations!
During this event, teams compete for the winning concept that fits the goals of the organization as well as the target audience. While doing so, they are introduced to new and innovative ways of working, attend mini master classes, have to make smart choices and communicate with key stakeholders!
Innovation is not just a topic of conversation; it is an experience. By actively involving employees, stakeholders and decision makers in the innovation process, you deepen their understanding and increase their commitment to impending change.
Below you will discover the power of our Innovation Games, designed to strengthen the readiness for innovation within organizations and society. Learn how to transform participants’ mindsets, introduce fresh ideas and build a future together where value creation is paramount.
Are you ready to actively engage your teams in your organization’s innovative journey? Then dive into the world of Innovation Games and boost innovation!
How does it work?
The Games are designed to inspire and activate. In teams, participants attend master classes on Dutch Design Thinking and receive insights on various topics. Within this intensive setting, they develop solutions to innovation issues supplied by clients.
Ideally, teams will consist of 4-5 young-minded professionals or staff with diverse backgrounds: economic, technical, creative and social.
Games can vary in duration, from one day to two weeks, and are suitable for groups of 10 to 1,000 participants, both physically and online.
The 5 key ingredients for a successful Innovation Game
What makes an Innovation Game a success? It all revolves around five crucial elements:
-
Challenge: The core of the game is the challenge. Together with the client, we carefully formulate the challenge. It is essential that the challenge is both educational for the participants and that it leads to valuable results. Through a thorough intake, we find the perfect balance. An effective challenge is open, focused, realistic, unresolved and has clearly defined stakeholders and assumptions.
-
Multidisciplinary Teams: Diversity is power. We strive for a mix of backgrounds, specializations and personalities. Using specific testing and an experienced startup recruiter, we create teams that perform optimally under pressure, such as during this event.
-
Process: Before you can solve a problem, you must first fully understand it. We support teams in their journey from problem recognition to creative solutions and ultimately to persuasive pitches. We do this by offering mini master classes, guidance and various resources.
-
Real-life Experience: Theory alone is not enough We involve real stakeholders in the process so that teams can communicate directly with them. This direct interaction enriches the experience for both teams and stakeholders. We facilitate these connections.
-
Engagement: Teams are supported, but not dominated. They take the lead themselves. They redefine the problem based on client conversations, come up with their own solutions and deliver a compelling pitch. We encourage original ideas, even if they fall outside our proposed framework. This entrepreneurial approach significantly enhances the learning process.
Previous challenges
STUDIO.WHY has been organizing Innovation Games for organizations in education, government and for business since 2015. Below you can see what issues the Innovation Games was an appropriate kickstart for. Do you have similar challenges? Then the Innovation Games might also be for you.
Corporate:
- How can employees regulate workload so that they experience more time for self-development?
- How can we as an organization ensure that people experience more job happiness so that we become the best employer in the north?
-
How can we ensure that we as an organization are visible to the job market as an attractive employer?
- How can we be more daring and entrepreneurial so that we get more assignments
awarded? - How can we organize work so that employees can better reconcile work and private life?
- How can we better guide young employees in onboarding so they do not leave the organization early?
Goverment:
-
How do we accelerate the energy transition for citizens with a narrow purse?
- How can we make the XXX neighborhood a vital zone? (a healthy and safe living environment)
- How can we increase equity of opportunity for young people?
- How can we solve the teacher shortage in schools across the province?
- How can we make sure that no medicine residues end up in wastewater?
- How can we work together in new ways to combat organized crime?
Education:
- How can we facilitate our students to learn about entrepreneurship and collaboration so that they are able to solve complex challenges in life?
- How can we provide an educational environment for children ages 4 to 18 by working together as schools instead of competing with each other?
- How can we get students, startups and clients from government and industry to co-create innovative solutions to societal challenges?
- How can we engage 800 teachers in innovation?
- How can we improve our communication with our students so that they have the
getting the right information at the right time? - How can we renew our studies using innovative technology for all
faculties?
For whom?
- Innovation managers who want to accelerate the innovation readiness of their employees, stakeholders and decision makers
- Event organizers seeking hands-on fulfillment for their events.
- Moderators who want an interactive day for their business associates.
- Industries such as: Education, Government and Business
Result
The Innovation Games have a profound impact on the lives of the participants. Through this experience, many discover new insights about themselves, allowing them to make choices that better match their ambitions.
Some notable results from recent years include:
- Lumion, a high school and also the sister of the Ajax School, introduced a Design Thinking curriculum after participating in an Innovation Game. This helps young people realize their personal ambitions, allowing them to follow their passions and focus on what they are really good at or want to become.
- A group of young professionals was brought in by a province as a kind of startup within the government. They were tasked with approaching social issues, such as energy transition, from the point of view of young people. In doing so, they developed solutions that bridged the gap between young people and the government.
- Several participants saw opportunities and started their own businesses. Examples include startups focused on sustainable agriculture through impact farms, reducing drug residues in wastewater, innovations in the bamboo industry and innovative teaching concepts that pair creative teachers with inspiring elementary schools.
user cases
What others said about this
Want to know more?
Contact us if you have a question or would like an in-company session tailored to your needs!
After filling out the form, you will be asked to choose a time.
During our initial conversation, we will determine if and how we can help. Then we’ll put together a customized plan for you. Finally, we implement the plan and increase your organization’s innovative power!
“I am Kees, co-founder of STUDIO.WHY. I like to share my knowledge and experience and to organize things and be service oriented. I am socially involved, future-oriented and think in possibilities instead of obstacles.”
