Membership is by invitation only.
Link: INTRA-net
IDS-Research is a right-brained creation and documentation
design studio. We began business in April 1985 as a think-tank
with in-house projects focusing on simplicity in design
solutions with family and community needs in mind.
IDS-Research itself is as much a project as any project
within IDS-Research. The following is a brief description
of our "Interactive Design Studio" :
- Think Tank
- Design Nursery
- Brainstorming Web Network
We specialize in projects that are outside the mainstream
of traditional R&D. This way we do not directly compete
with large corporate R&D [research + development]
firms.
At IDS-Research, we specialize in those areas that
we view to be the essential core of society .... transportation,
communications, education, power production, water purification,
housing, food production and personal protection. We
also do some additional design work in lower priority
areas such as pure-science, telescopes, toys, clothing,
sports equipment, furniture and such things that simply
emerge as we do our primary work.
IDS-Research started with a goal of "simplifying
technology", .... redesigning technologies to be
cleaner, simpler, easier to maintain and less-polluting.
Because we focus on low-maintenance, we use the following
guidelines for our design solutions :
- fewest parts
- simple to operate and maintain
- modular construction
- 100% recyclable [with high residual value]
note: Notes are kept in digital format but are
structured to mimic this paper format.
- Thoughts are divided into categories.
- An accordian file is made out of 12 envelopes with
the flaps cut off.
- An 8.5x11 sheet of paper is cut into forths to form
3-inch stip-notes.
- One thought is written per strip-note.
- The strip-notes are then placed into their envelopes.
- Writing the notes places the problem in the subconsious.
- The subconsious has no sense of time or order, so
notes emerge from the mind in a random fashion.
- Pieces may emerge days, weeks or even months later.
note: That is why notes are kept in a modular
fashion rather than in a linear notebook fashion so
common in the old-style lab method.
- Spaces between thoughts fill themselves in over
time as ideas develop.
- Notes are occasionally merged and tossed in a distilling
process.
- Note writing takes place on a different day than
note critiquing.
- Writing is more right-brained while critiquing is
more left-brained so these functions are kept well
apart.
- Eventually thoughts become complete ideas and are
then transformed into a linear documention.
- The documentation process exposes any holes which
are then plugged or question-notes are filed to create
plugs later.
- The document is then shared for a group critique.
- Outside experts are then brought in to help fill
in any remaining holes.
- Associates are brought in as needed on a per-project
basis. They are provided both annonymity and a piece
of the pie. As a result, we gain easier access to
better talent.
- When all details are filled in and anticipated questions
are addressed the document becomes ready for "prime-time".
The more Web centered we are, the less face-to-face and
the more mind-to-mind we become. Associates have
independence within this flexible association. This flexible
association makes sharing and brainstorming more natural.
It also allows people to remain annonymous. Privacy has
become a cornerstone of our associate relationships.
We accept project requests. Simply email us and describe
the project that you would like us to tackle.
Link: (see "contact" discussion under "IDS-Consulting")
Link: INVEST
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