BUTTERS INNOVATION
Helping innovators build the right thing (not just build something right)
We engage strategically with our clients in Innovation and User Centred Design processes, to reduce risk and boost growth. Offering plug-and-play expertise, we have worked with dozens of corporates, small-medium enterprises, start-ups and university spin-outs, to help them embed a user-centred culture and develop successful manufacturable solutions, devices and machines, and digital platforms.
We can help you with:
- User-centred innovation and design thinking
- Product design and development
- Unbiased problem/solution research
- Co-design
- Proving through prototyping (digital and physical)
- Direct manufacture
- Design for manufacture
- Supply chain development
- Regulatory compliance for medical devices
- Building development/collaboration partnerships
- Funding applications
How can we help?
Reduce commercial risk and costly mistakes
Right-sized support
Compliant medical device development
We are experienced in developing medical devices and are compliant with the quality management systems required under UK, EU and USA regulatory law
Prototyping as a way to learn
We don't design prototypes, we prototype designs - using prototyping to test ideas, user behaviour and investigate what aspects of a solution will work and where the real problems lie
Fractional Support
Jonathan Butters and Charlotte Corke both have over three decades' experience helping businesses to innovate. Our mentoring and fractional services enable you to bring their user-centred innovation expertise into your business, or onto specific projects, in a flexible and tailored way.
Whether you're a start-up founder, or an established business facing new challenges, their strategic thinking, experience and insight will reduce your commercial risk and increase the likelihood of commercial success.
Why user-centred innovation?
Developing new products or services in consultation with end users and customers
reduces your commercial risk by ensuring you build the right thing!
Establishing a user panel to inform product development
- We established a user panel for medical device startup Senti Tech, a smart garment housing accelerometers and microphones
- Early feasibility studies were run with a working prototype leading to the discovery that data quality required the user to lie down
- This led to a rethink of how the device would be used and the development of an AI filter to remove poor quality data
- As a result, the business developed an effective device which has now completed its first clinical trial with 200 patients and is proceeding to market certification under FDA and UKCA
Understanding the value proposition of a new solution
- Helped Hy-Genie founder, Dr Richard Cooke, to conduct unbiased problem interviews with Infection Prevention and Control teams and Directors at multiple NHS Trusts, to properly understand the issue and the value of his proposed solution
- The insights gained led to a simplification of the solution design, where ease of use and staff engagement was paramount
- A prototype RFID-based system that could be mounted next to gel dispensers and wash basins was developed and tested within a limited budget
- Results were published in an international Journal, greatly strengthening the founder's pitch for next stage funding
Proving the desirability of an innovation through early testing
- A Community Respiratory Nurse, caring for children with complex conditions, had a vision to develop a wearable smart garment to monitor baseline symptom data and flag early signs of the child becoming unwell, to improve their care at home
- To raise the significant funding required to develop such a device, the founder needed concrete evidence of the solution's desirability
- We developed a first release of the mobile app that would accompany the device, to allow carers to manually record the key symptoms (which the device would do automatically)
- The high level of engagement of our user panel in this study proved the value of the solution and enabled the founder to raise a further £300k of EIS funding for the next stage of development.
Tools and techniques we use to help our clients achieve commercialisable solutions
Lean Canvas
The one page business plan that evolves with you
Problem Interviews
Making sure you do the right thing, not just do something right
Assumption Mapping
Calling out your gut feelings, blind beliefs and biases to prioritise effort most effectively
Value Ecosystem
Understanding how value flows between all parties to ensure the viability of an innovation
User Journey Mapping
Visually mapping the journeys your users or customers take, to aid strategic thinking
Personas
A handy reference to make sure you keep the needs of real humans in mind
Value Proposition
Capturing the benefits that your new product or service will deliver to users or customers
Design Thinking
Human-centred innovation to make sure solutions are attractive, easy to use and a positive experience
Want to get your innovation project off to a flying start?
Book a free one hour diagnostic
