Box UK: BBC Innovation Labs Blog

So I’ve just got back home from the week-long labs… We’re both mentally worn; can hardly think, but are very pleased with the commission result!

We worked some long days this week (in excess of 18 hours sometimes), so can’t really make much sense at the moment, but I thought I’d jot down some tips for future labs-attendees (if it runs again), while I can think of them. Then, I’ll leave you with some photos…

Some Tips:

• Your idea WILL almost certainly change, possibly completely. Be prepared.
• Don’t expect to have any spare time during the week; it’s work, work, work. This includes the evenings.
• The ‘big’ ideas are the toughest to get through; remember that the BBC will initially only release a small amount of budget for the idea, so think about phasing or prototyping if your idea is big.
• Be prepared to iteratively pitch over the week.
• Be prepared for much criticism, and constantly finding problems. It’s psychologically grueling.
• React to the criticism, by changing your idea/pitch. It’s mostly accurate.
• If a commissioner even slightly hesitates about something, it’s probably worth changing! At the end of the day, it’s your commissioner who you need to feel comfortable with the project.
• Remember the BBC have some particular bug-bears which can SERIOUSLY affect the viability or direction of your project. Consider, with A LOT of thought:
  • Copyright Issues: The BBC don’t fully own the rights to much of their content…
  • Licensing: If you’re working with web-data – and probably other data too – remember that it may have been provided to the BBC under licensing conditions which may prevent your idea from happening.
  • Commercial Impact – If you’re idea is similar to something that already exists in the private marketplace, or is likely to impact the revenue of an existing private marketplace, it’s very difficult for the BBC to proceed