Dan Lockton

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Professor of Design & Imagination and Director of the Institute at Norwich University of the Arts. Creates design and imagination tools for climate futures. Peer reviewer for Futures, International Journal of Design, Design Issues, Design Studies. Track chair at DRS 2024.

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Articles by Dan Lockton on Design, Patent, Legal, Business Plan and Funding Advice for Inventors

Government Programs

The UK government offers grants and funding programs to help inventors and small businesses develop new ideas and grow their operations.

Types of Grants Available

Government grants for product development and innovation exist if you have matching funding and can meet specific project requirements.

How Do I Raise Money for an Invention?

Friends and family funding only gets you so far with an invention, here's where to find grants and what you'll need to qualify for them.

Applying for a Loan

Bank loans can help fund your invention, but don't risk your home as security, many inventors have lost everything this way.

The Top Ten Greatest Inventions

From the safety bicycle to electric lighting, these ten inventions shaped how we live and move through the world today.

The Invention Process-Gaining Inspiration and Utilising It

Most inventions start with someone frustrated by a everyday problem and borrowing an idea from somewhere else to fix it.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

NDAs protect your invention's secrets before patenting, but you need to cover who's involved, what's confidential, and how long it lasts.

New Product Income Projections

Figure out when you can actually start making money from your invention and what affects those income projections.

Conflicts of Interest

When inventors receive funding or work within institutions, conflicts of interest can quietly undermine the development process and erode trust.

Experimentation

Independent inventors have more freedom to experiment and take risks than corporate R&D teams, despite having fewer resources and time.

Applying for a Patent

Walk through how patent applications are structured, from title and background through to technical drawings and descriptions.

Break Even Analysis

Figure out when your invention stops losing money and starts turning a profit with break-even analysis.

How to Avoid an Invention Company Scam

Protect yourself from invention company scams by learning what to watch out for before paying upfront fees.

Invention Promoters

Most invention promotion companies charge high fees for poor research and marketing, but there are better ways to get your invention noticed.

Carrying Out a Commercial Assessment on Your Invention

Check if your invention is worth pursuing by doing a commercial viability assessment yourself rather than paying unreliable third parties.

Researching the Market

Understanding your market's size, customers and competitors helps turn your invention into a product people actually want to buy.

Proving You Were First to Invent

How the US and UK patent systems differ in proving who invented something first.

Product Development Stages

Walk through the key stages of turning an invention into a market-ready product, starting with defining your product specifications.

Presenting the Product

Presenting your invention as a professional product rather than a hobby project makes it more credible and increases your chances of success.

Understanding Patent Rules as a Budding Inventor

Patents come down to three basic rules: your invention must be new, involve a genuine advance, and actually work or be useful in practice.

How to Do Your Own Preliminary Patent Search

Check what's already patented in your field before investing time and money in your invention.

When Should You Patent?

Figure out the right time to patent your invention by understanding when it's developed enough and what changes might come later.

How design patents and UK design rights protect the look and feel of your products.

Patent Examining Procedure

Your patent application typically takes three to four years to get approved, and here's what happens at each stage of the process.

Plant Patents for New Plant Varieties

Get your new plant variety protected through US plant patents, which cover asexually reproduced varieties and last 20 years.

Securing a Licensing Agreement for Your Invention

Get the basics of licencing your invention to manufacturers, including how royalties work and what rights you keep.

Understanding Copyrights as a Budding Inventor

Copyright protects your written descriptions, drawings and recordings automatically in the UK, no registration needed.

Track your invention's financial health with a personal balance sheet to monitor progress and impress investors or lenders.

Improving Old Products

Improving existing products is often easier than starting from scratch, and real frustrations with what you use daily can spark better inventions.

Investor Venture Capital

Venture capital works best when your invention is market-ready, and investors want details on your business plan, IP protection, and exit strategy.

Product Definition and Specifications

Writing down what your invention does, who needs it and why it's better helps guide your design decisions from concept to market.

Royalty Income Stream

How inventors can earn ongoing royalties by licensing their invention to manufacturers instead of selling outright.

Value of a Product Evaluation

Figuring out what your invention is actually worth helps you negotiate deals and plan finances with real numbers instead of guesses.

Protect your product's identity with a trademark, here's how names, logos and other marks set your business apart.

Student Programmes and Young Inventors

Degree programmes in design and engineering can give young inventors the practical skills they need, though success also comes from real-world experience.

The Top Ten Greatest Inventors

Meet the inventors who changed the world through relentless effort, teamwork and brilliant innovation.

Checking what patents already exist in your field helps you avoid wasted work and shows why your invention is genuinely different.

Loan Applications for Your Invention

Banks rarely approve invention loans based on impressive demos anymore, so you'll need a solid business plan and collateral to get funding.

Capital Equipment and Supply List

Deciding what equipment to buy as an inventor depends on your project stage, start small and rent or borrow before spending heavily.

Becoming an Entrepreneur

Inventors need to think and act like entrepreneurs, not just innovators, to turn ideas into successful businesses.

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