September - , 2006

NEAT IDEAS FAIR

SPONSORED BY

Recommended format for creating an Neat Ideas Fair (Social Innovation Award Entry) Poster

• This slide set includes: Neat Ideas Fair poster introduction guidelines (this page), descriptions of the various elements of the Neat Idea Fair poster and what is generally expected within each area of the poster (slide 2), and, a blank template for your use in creating your own Neat Idea Fair poster (slide 3). Be sure your finished Neat Ideas Poster is completely contained on ONE page.

• Leave the Blue Headings/Questions in. The questions act as titles and should appear in the same order on every poster. Additionally, the Blue Headings/Questions should be located on the same side (i.e., left and right) of the poster as is on this template. Simple, concise answers help people understand your idea.

. Do NOT change the poster size (36” x 48”). For a printed 8.5” x 11” copy, use the Scale

to Fit Paper option.

• Avoid pixelation! Many images look good on your computer screen, but will lose quality as they are enlarged to poster size. A good rule of thumb is to use a graphic that is 200-500 KB (large enough to have good resolution, small enough to save space.) When in doubt, do a full-size test print.

•Compress your pictures! Double click a picture in the poster & the “Format Picture” dialog box will appear. In the lower left of the dialog box, select the “Compress” button. Select “All pictures in document” and click “OK”. Click “Apply” if a dialog box pops up. Click “OK” to close the “Format Picture” dialog box.

•The minimum font size is 20-22 pt in order to allow the poster to be read when it is printed full size. Please stay with standard fonts on the outside borders; using common fonts like Garamond, Arial, Times New Roman, Sans Comic.

Describe what a day in the life of your intended user is like today.

What specific problem or opportunity are you addressing?

What is your fundamental product, service, and/or solution idea & how does it work?

Who, and approximately how many, will benefit from the adoption of your idea and in what way will they benefit?

What steps in the innovation lifecycle are next?

What is needed in order to take the next steps in developing your idea?

Who is on the Innovation Team?

Title

Imagine if…

Value Delivery System and Target Users/Beneficiaries

Send your poster file to socialinnovation06@sbcglobal.net by 11/15/2006 for free printing made possible by a grant from Hewlett Packard. Send any questions to malu@email.sjsu.edu

September - , 2006

NEAT IDEAS FAIR

SPONSORED BY

Describe what a day in the life of your intended user is like today.Who is your end “user” / “beneficiary”? Describe “a day in the life” of that “user” / ‘beneficiary”. Tell a rich story so your reader can relate intellectually and emotionally to the “user’s” / “beneficiary’s” situation and the issues / opportunities involved.

What specific problem or opportunity are you addressing?Within your “Day in the life” story context, explain: A. the fundamental problem that exists in terms of the costs being incurred (e.g., monetary, time, emotion, quality of life, etc), and/or B. the opportunity that exists to improve productivity, lower costs, increase emotional satisfaction, quality of life, etc.

What is your fundamental product, service, and/or solution idea & how does it work?Explain the idea to your next-door neighbor. Why would they want it? What are the advantages / benefits that adoption of this idea offers vs doing nothing and/or adopting another product, service , or solution alternative?

Who, and approximately how many, will benefit from the adoption of your idea and in what way will they benefit?List all those across the value delivery system (VDS) and within current environment of the user that will benefit from the adoption of the product, service, and / or solution. Highlight how each benefits (in terms of resources, time, money, emotion, quality-of-life, etc.). Also, include approximate number of people and/or organizations that will benefit; use Santa Clara County as your target market area. Use nationally, regionally, or locally generated county census information and/or other relevant county statistical information as is available to you to arrive at your rough estimates.

What steps in the innovation lifecycle are next?What are the next things to investigate, discover, learn, document, or try? What next steps do you and your team plan to take along the innovation lifecycle process?

What is needed in order to take the next steps in developing your idea?• What help do you need to make this happen (time, talent, resources)?

Who is on the Innovation team?•Names.

Title

Use the middle section to visually catch the eye of the viewer and more fully communicate your idea, its use, and its benefits within its intended user environment. May show “before and after” scenarios, etc and utilize a combination of drawings, graphics, pictures, some limited text, to tell the story (remember ,“a picture is worth a thousand words”). To complement the idea poster itself, you may want to display a demo, samples, handouts, and/or other embellishments to enrich your presentation and more fully and tangibly communicate your product, service &/or solution idea.

Imagine if… Your two sentence statement of what the “ideal” future would look like. (Statement should peak the curiosity and imagination of the reader)

Value Delivery System and Target Users/Beneficiaries Who are all the people/organizations potentially touched by your idea? (i.e., in the ongoing production, distribution, and delivery of product, service and/or solution as well as those who are direct and/or indirect users/beneficiaries of the this product, service and/or solution). List (and/or draw a relationship map to paint a picture of) the VDS & User/Beneficiary members and their relationships.

September - , 2006

NEAT IDEAS FAIR

SPONSORED BY

Describe what a day in the life of your intended user is like today.

What specific problem or opportunity are you addressing?

What is your fundamental product, service, and/or solution idea & how does it work?

Who, and approximately how many, will benefit from the adoption of your idea and in what way will they benefit?

What steps in the innovation lifecycle are next?

What is needed in order to take the next steps in developing your idea?

•Who is on the Innovation Team?

Imagine if…

Value Delivery System and Target Users/Beneficiaries

Title