coming up with & coming up with & developing your developing your

ProjectLab proposal ProjectLab proposal

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If you are interested in taking part in ProjectLab but are unsure of where to start, then this short document provides some guidance on:

1) Coming up with your idea in the first place2) Working up that idea for submission

We hope you find it useful. If you have any questions or would like any further assistance please email lab@festivalsedinburgh.com

I don’t know where to start

coming up with your coming up with your idea for ProjectLabidea for ProjectLab

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While invention can often be a solitary pursuit, the vast majority of innovation comes from bringing different perspectives together. Therefore sharing an idea and a cup of tea is a great way to have that conversation which ends up with your submission being awarded support.

Idea tip 1: Have a cup of tea with someone!

Many of the best innovation projects start from an individual just wanting to solve a problem they have themselves. What are the things that you experience as part of your role in the festivals that you’d like to see improved?

When you then have a clear sense of need, then you can start to explore solutions.

Idea tip 2: What is your personal itch?

The alternative to the need-led approach is looking at opportunities. Have you seen a particular technology or new way of working in a different part of your life, or even at another cultural organisation or festival that you think could be adapted well to your particular festival? It may even be something you read in a magazine.

Often we are regular users of new tools or technologies at home but don’t use them in our working lives. ProjectLab is an opportunity to see those new connections.

Idea tip 3: What opportunities can you see?

As you know, through the Edinburgh Festivals Ideas Challenge in summer 2011, members of the public submitted almost 300 ideas of how to make the festiavals even more amazing.

Some are brilliant, some are bizarre, and by taking just a few minutes to review them online at http://ideas.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/submissions you may find some inspiration.

Idea tip 4: Be inspired by the Ideas Challenge!

By visiting http://design.festivalslab.com/portfolio/discover you will find a whole suite of methods and techniques which you can use to come up with ideas suitable for ProjectLab.

There are different methods for however long you have to spare and are very useful for bringing new perspectives to spot innovation opportunities in the middle of what you already do.

Idea tip 5: Use the Festival Design DNA tools

developing your idea developing your idea for ProjectLabfor ProjectLab

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Turning your good idea into a great worked-up proposal is likely to be key to success in the ProjectLab process. The best place to start is therefore simply to review the questions you will be asked in the online submission form.

These are available at www.festivalslab.com/projectlab

Develop tip 1: Reviewing the submission Qs

While you may understand the problem, you might not know as much about the steps needed to solve it. Therefore by sharing your idea with friends, your team or your network, they are likely to be able to help work up the details of the proposal.

Develop tip 2: Share your idea and get advice

There are further ways you can get additional support from the Innovation Lab:

1)Email Jennifer at lab@festivalsedinburgh.com to arrange a call and independent review of your submission, or to have a look through previous successful submissions. 2)Book a time with either Jennifer (jennifer@festivalsedinburgh.com) or James (james@festivalsedinburgh.com) to discuss your submission. This is dependent on available resources within Festivals Edinburgh.

Develop tip 3: Get support from festivalslab

Good luck and Good luck and please get in touch please get in touch with any questions with any questions

or for advice.or for advice.

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