how to build something in 20 minutes

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LUMINARY LABS WWW.LUMINARY-LABS.COM @LUMINARYLABS

September 2014

HOW TO BUILD SOMETHING IN 20 MINUTESAnd other lessons from our Rube Goldberg-a-thon

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In June 2014, Luminary Labs held its

inaugural Rube Goldberg-a-thon.

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A Rube Goldberg Machine performs a very simple task in a series of overly complicated chain reactions. The more complex, the better.

A Rube Goldberg-a-what?

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Following a tutorial from a subject matter

expert, we challenged our staff to build Rube

Goldberg-inspired machines that would launch

Ping-Pong balls into a trash can.

With just one hour to complete the task, the

team with the most complex and functional

machine would be awarded a prize.

How it worked

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Why a Rube Goldberg-a-thon?

1. It’s a fun team building exercise.

2. We love making things.

3. We err on the geeky side.

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But it didn’t stop at that.

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In the course of 1 hour, we moved from ideation to validation.*

*Note: This is precisely the process that companies of all sizes seek to adopt in the face of change.

Instruction

Ideation & Sketching

Rapid Prototyping

Validation

Winner

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Here’s what we

learned.

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1. Don’t overthink it. Just go.

2. You can make something in 20 minutes.

3. The best coaches aren’t always the best players.

4. Mix it up, team diversity works.

5. Create the space and time to innovate.

5 Lessons Learned

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1. Don’t overthink it. Just go.

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Pick a place to start and get moving.

For companies large and small, working

in an unfamiliar subject area is daunting

at best. We were encouraged to pick up

pliers and wire and start making the

components of a basic hinge. In a very

short period of time, our skills grew as

we learned by doing.

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2. You can make something in 20

minutes.

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Making something is easier that it looks.

Anyone can engage in rapid prototyping. From

sketch to validation, our inventions took shape in

20 minutes or less, proving that making it real is

possible – even within the tightest time

constraints.

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3. The best coaches aren’t always the best

players.

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The biggest losers: our CEO and two Rube Goldberg-a-thon organizers.

The team comprised of our “resident Rube

Goldberg experts” and our CEO came in last

place, reminding us that winning solutions

may not come from where you expect.

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4. Mix it up.

Team diversity works.

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A management consultant, an analyst, and a marketer walk into a bar… and walk out with the winning solution.

Our most diverse team of talent

proved to be the most successful –

flexing its planning expertise, tactical

execution, and some serious math

smarts.

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5. Create the space and

time to innovate.

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It’s all about the experience.

Our investment in the experience created

the time and space needed to focus on

the Rube Goldberg-a-thon.

We scheduled the event for minimal

disruption, rearranged our physical

space, developed a playlist, and brought

in good eats from our favorite local

purveyors.

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Bonus Reel

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The Tools

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Sketching

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Rapid Prototyping

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The Contraptions in Action

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