Understand the three types of innovation and different methods of defining your audience.
In the first stage of your journey, you will explore what’s possible, identify opportunities and set your ambitions. That means understanding how you want to innovate — should it be core, adjacent or transformational? You then seek out potential market opportunities and start building upon them with your audience in mind.
lesson 1 takeaways:
Core, adjacent and transformation innovation define three different types of innovation one can pursue in Explore. The question is, which one is right at this time, in this context?
Opportunity springboards must be grounded in consumer insight for them to be effective.
Applying customer empathy, the cornerstone of insight-led innovation, will help you understand the opportunity from the consumers’ point of view.

Becky Mead has over 18 years of experience in insights & innovation both here in Australia and in the UK. She is passionate about all types of innovation from strategic planning to later-stage tactical work. She’s also deeply passionate about getting under the skin of her clients to understand their challenges and use the consumer perspective to help their businesses grow.
When she isn’t busy playing at work, she is playing with her toddler Holly, stretching her legs on a hike or a bike, or devouring a delicious feast.
Take it from us, all those who wander are definitely lost. The direction you take in Explore will set the tone for your whole project, so let’s get this part done right! Take a moment to reflect on these questions about your customer, opportunity and team.
your customer
Who is our core opportunity target?
What are their pain points?
Why do we want to improve their lives?
the opportunity
Is this a sizable opportunity, one worth going for?
Is it feasible and realistic and do we have the time and resources?
What does it mean for our brand; our product portfolio; the organisation?
Do we have permission to play in this space? Can the consumer buy into us doing it?
your team
Do I have stakeholder and leadership support to make it happen?
Is everyone aligned, including the retailer (if involved)?
What is our project timeline?