Independent ideas.
Practical knowledge.
THE INVENTION JOURNAL
For the questions, prototypes and decisions that turn an idea into something useful.
Explore the field guidesTHE LATEST FIELD GUIDE 9 MIN READ
Check manufacturing, modification and supplier-sharing rights before buying CAD files, with real license examples and a 250-unit production checklist.
Validate the problem
Test the customer problem, existing workaround and buying path before paying for a prototype.
5 MIN READPlan a prototype
Choose the smallest prototype that resolves a costly uncertainty, with a test question, acceptance rule, and practical build brief.
5 MIN READWork with suppliers
Specify revision, material, quantity, finish, inspection, delivery, and assumptions so manufacturer quotes describe the same work.
4 MIN READWHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS?
Observe, ask and test the assumptions behind your idea.
Choose materials, build prototypes and learn from testing.
Work through costs, suppliers and the first production run.
Plan a launch, find customers and keep improving.
BEFORE THE FIELD GUIDES
Meet the inventors who shared their ideas, experiments and stories with the original Inventor Underground community.
Mark Burginger, Architect AIA
A Educational Construction/Science Toy. Break the mold of typical rectangular building blocks, use the shape that mimics the structure of Snowflakes and naturaMichael Killian
This bicycle is ridden sideways and is balanced by using human Front to Back balance. This bicycle uses Front and Rear steering.CaliforniaWade Sun
Wipes out CD-Rs and DVDRs safely. No waste material, environmentally friendly. Easy to use. Prevents Data and Identity Theft.The February 2006 podcast page featured in MAKE.
Lessons and reflections from the original contributors.
Interviews and broadcast references from 2006.
WHERE IT BEGAN · 2006
Inventor Underground brought together people who had auditioned for invention television programmes and those developing an idea away from the cameras. The directory gave each contributor room to describe an invention in their own words.
The collection follows that work through inventor profiles, personal stories, discussions and advice. It records a community interested in the process of invention as much as the television result.
Contributors’ accounts and product descriptions reflect their original time.
