Interesting question, Sam.
Psychology- for sales and insights into consumer behavior
Engineering- to actually make some things and understand how they work
Business- to run your own as a biz and relate to companies you’re trying to sell to
Graphic Design/Art- to visually communicate your ideas
Entrepreneurship- to create new businesses and do whatever it takes

Besides that I’d say reading books on entrepreneurs- like Sam Walton, the Google book, Ron Popeil, along with some of the other books rec’d on one of these threads from a while back. Back issues of Inventor’s Digest that are available online…….

That is GREAT advice Mike…I would say the same exact thing! I am glad you see the great importance of psychology in this field…few do. I have always studied psychology as it greatly intrigues me. I use what I learned constantly.

Also, entrepreneur books are what puts me way ahead of the pack. The books you mention I have read and am a fan of. The Sam Walton story is amazing and a great lesson for every business or even an employee…just a simple philosophy triggered by the love of just people….and that was the base for a man to build an empire.

Today the Sam Walton philosophy has slowly disintegrated.

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
www.handi-straps.com

I would say the most important would be engineering, but every field has its benefits. one thing that I get comments on is while i dont have anything more than a two year degree(i have almost six years of college and further education total), it is in several areas from physice, chemistry, electronics, nursing, and computers. having a broad area of expertise helps, but to actually invent knowing tooling, and design is probably the most beneficial. i do like the psychology aspect as i never thought of it before.
http://www.gallowaytechconsulting.com

I think it has more to do with life experience. The more things you have tinkered with and have experience with the better. Inventors usually invent things in their field of expertise, so the more things you have experience with the better off you are. I think most inventors that have various products on the market are those with wide variety of experience in life in general. Add on top of that, the ability to make and use prototypes for presentation is a big plus also. You see a lot of theory in patent applications, but it is clear that the large majority of these would be hard to make at a reasonable cost. I think too many things are invented but not made. I think one has to build what one invents, and stay in a reasonable cost with attainable manufacturing methods. This is just my opinion.

though my opinion is obviously biased(thats why its called an opinion) I believe the sciences are the key to much of what we do. even business uses mathematics, engineering uses physics, chemistry, math etc, if you work in the construction areas you use math, geometry, physics, ..the sciences(in general) will probably be of the greatest benefit to you. though as andrew stated and as i have found for inventing and invention related endeavors, a broad base of knowledge is far superior than a narrow specialty. to go to school just to be an inventor would be too narrow(or broad depending how you see it) follow what you love, then work on learning experience that will help. up until last year i only used CAD once or twice, now i cant live without it and use it in my business and do work for others. in the past i used to weld often in my job, though never had formal education, now i make money doing it for people on the side. the key isn’t so much what you learn, but that you keep learning. college should teach you how to learn efficiently, but it is only a stepping stone to basically learn to learn. learn something new each day, or more if you can, you will be much better off in the long run. if not sure what you want to major, then take just academic studies(there is a name for it when you don’t choose a major but i cant remember what its called) after taking some basic courses then you will have a better idea of what interests you.
Shawn P. Galloway
http://www.gallowaytechconsulting.com

Shawn…I will tell you this. We have some truly mastermind engineers in my inventor’s group.

While Handi-Straps is an engineering marvel on a simple scale, these engineers and technology whizzes actually make me feel like an uneducated child at times.

Their problem is they can be introverts so psychology and entrepreneur training can really help them.

These guys may have some truly engineered marvel invention, but unfortunately no one may ever know unless they are escorted to their basements to see.

Many knowledges or talents make up the successful inventor.

yes ron, i agree, and a well rounded education/experience combo is great. should someone know psychology to be an inventor, i don’t think is necessary but would be helpful. most colleges require social science eletcives so psychology could be one of them, certainly helpful. but this is why we have marketing companies, graphics companies, etc. most people don’t just want to be an inventor, they see an opportunity for a product or process and act on it. then you go to the people who have the necessary know how to fill in the gaps. again yes it is helpful but not by any means required. I have limited understanding of psychology, i come up with an idea and it is either good or bad, but sometimes wont know until i see what people think. will psychology help me market to people who don’t need it, will it help make a product more desirable, maybe in the sense of knowing how to write the label or ads so as to use psychology to convince people they need or want this when they otherwise wouldn’t. i really didn’t learn much from my psychology class, i learned more working as a nurse, but still very limited. and you basically stated the same thing as i did that ‘Many knowledges or talents make up the successful inventor’ it is very true.

Having a degree in Mechanical Engineering certainly hasn’t hurt my career. Since you are posting in the Engineering forum, I don’t imagine you are looking to get a Psych degree. I know a woman with a psych degree who is a successful web programmer.

With lots of options in Engineering, I think Mechanical and Electrical are the best overall concentrations. My dad is a retired Electrical Engineer, so I know that can be very interesting if you like getting shocked and typing on the computer all the time. If you like getting bruised and type on the computer all day, Mechanical is better. Options like Bio Engineering, Aerospace, Chemical, are all options, but limit your employment opportunities.

But, if you just want to be an inventor, figure out what problem needs to be solved, and figure out how to solve it. They won’t teach you that in the University, and is why I probably wouldn’t hire, actually, make that would never, hire a PhD.

Men, woman and children buy much for psychological reasons. Many are tricked to buying with psychology. You can look at all makeup, most clothing, all the body and face treatments and you will see how psychology will play a part for women.

Take the higher end markets when products sell for many times their worth to very rich or high status wannabees….more psychology.

What kind of car should Detroit design next? You can look at a 50% psychology based reason. The design must look good and “fit” around the driver. A tough guy doesn’t wanna be driving around in a sissy looking car….psychology

My daughter’s toy invention. Kids can have psychological connections to dolls and stuffed animals and very deep I have learned through testing.

As far as the sales and success of this toy invention, psychology is actually the main explanation and evaluation for the product’s forecast.

Further, there is no doubt psychology is heavily linked to why kids want what they want.

This is an area few inventors look through but I heavily rely on it down to colors and font on product packaging.

Handi-Straps makes the user feel twice as strong. Psychology acessed, it will make the user feel good about their performance…I do play that point when I can.

Marketing

I have to agree with Ami. That’s definately what I would go for if I had the choice.

This is a tricky question! I’ve already written this post 5 different ways, and I keep second-guessing myself.

The dilemma is that all the skills it takes to get a product to market are important. But you can hire someone to do every one of them: engineering, graphic design, sales, marketing, etc. Seems like the most valuable skill is management! Being able to work effectively with all those people!

It all starts with product ideas. If you come up with product ideas pretty frequently, then skip this paragraph. If not, you may want to get into a Product Design program. When I was a teen I read an article about Standford University’s Product Design program. In it, the teacher stood in front of the class and said: “Design a better bar of soap. You have ten minutes.” To me, that was completely exhilarating!!! I assumed at the time (and still do) that the class taught you how to find flaws in a current product, how to understand what the market would want in a year, and how to redesign the product to fit the new market.

But I think that it’s impossible to be great at every step in the process. You need a team. A great product idea with no team limits your chances of seeing it on store shelves! So I’m still thinking management is the way to go. (Or maybe sales. See, I’m second-guessing myself again!)

Thank you all for your wonderful responses now i have a bigger picture as far as deciding what field of expertise to choose from and how all these areas are beneficial in the inventing world mahalo.

Sam, will we get an update on what you decide? :-)

Hey Brett thanks for your concerns. I am still checking my options for now. I strongly might consider looking into mechanical engineering as one of my choices. But if any one in EE know about a program that would benefit the most as far as being an inventor. Much appreciative on your responses have a great new year.

Sam,

I’ve been pondering over this as it’s been something I’ve considered as well. I was thinking perhaps the way to go about it is to figure out the part of the inventing process that most interests you or that you feel passionate about and then pursue your degree in that area. For me, it is the ideation, the design, and the reasearch. You could continue to educate yourself in the other areas in different ways (books, EN, continuing ed courses, partnerships). Or you could outsource these areas as Brett suggested. I know there are Entrepreneur programs out there. That could be helpful as it covers everything you may need to know to turn your idea in to a business.

“Small business and entrepreneurship degrees provide a tailor-made curriculum to professionals wishing to participate in new or small business ventures. Like any business degree, these programs cover the obvious functions such as accounting, management and marketing, but you’ll also focus more on product or service development, start-up funding, purchasing and distribution issues, and client base development.”

I think if I was to do it again, I would major in Entrepreneurship, and take electives in the engineering and design fields.

ron, you are always on here. do you have a job, or do you have so much free time? I’m curious. I work as a truck driver putting in 65 and 70 hour weeks. I think I would be interested in getting to know you better.
rick
ps, I could use some of your expertise, if you don’t mind.
thank you!

my email address is itsmerickb@yahoo.com .
again, thank you.

Marketing major with a minor in industrial design!
No doubt.

I don’t actually think you can do a minor in Industrial Design, because it’s more of a “Program” than simply a degree major….similar to architecture . Maybe a degree in Industrial Design, with a minor in marketing.

However, if I were looking for a course of study that served well in the ‘Inventing” industry it would be a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, with classes in marketing, design, sales…and a PHD in creativity from the self-study university of life.

Entrepreneurship is not what I would consider a teachable skill – it’s something you know from a very young age, and the actions you look back on in life clearly point to that being programmed in your DNA ….much like the ability to visualize, the ability to problem solve …..or like most of us here….to invent.

I agree with what you’re saying, and it looks like the entrepreneurship program is a business program that covers all those classes. It sounds like it’s not teaching you to be an entrepreneur, but more like it’s teaching you what to do with you entrepreneurial talents.

Rick…in this economy I realize sales growth will be just a trickle.

My game plan is to get as much recognition for me as an inventor and my inventions right now and the sales will come later. I am really trying to promote myself as an inventor…honestly.

Besides that I just enjoy the collaboration as I learn and build my network and help whoever I can as they will not forget I am sure.

I have met a few people here that one phone call can lead to atleast a million dollars in profit. Their network that they have worked many years I can have in 10 minutes as they are that helpful. that network can put me in the right place at the right time with my next idea I want to run.

People don’t realize like I do how to make something from nothing. I am an inventor in a great sense. I see what others can’t.

From hanging out here, besides the wonderful friends I have made, I got myself a two page spread in Inventors Digest magazine, filmed as a guest inventor for Edison Nation and a local NYC news show and another inventors show coming up wants to film me, plus an offer by the co-founder of Edison Nation to be a regular writer for Inventors Digest magazine.

Also, from getting to know all here I became good friends with the editor of Inventors Digest. Twice I manned the Inventors Digest booth at an inventors show. From that I met the Discovery Channel and they filmed me once. I filmed again this past weekend with the top two infomercial guys on TV.

Discovery Channel just loves Handi-Straps and they want my story and they say they will put it in front of 150,000,000 viewers worldwide.

I am also sure there are many other people here that don’t say a word that are looking. Medias, companies, investors…you name it.

Now you can see how just being an honest nice guy in a place like this can just make everything happen for you.

I am an expert at making things happen in a place where nobody else saw any opportunity at all, but this is an excellent place for anyone to expand their network.

Never know what could happen here…stick around and start talking more if you know what is good for ya!

i’m a big advocate of getting practical experience in addition to your studies….experience in sales and communication has worked wonders for me in this industry…of course i wish i could design things on a computer, i wish i was creative to come up with artwork or a logo…but i really can’t do everything anyway…i can hire out those things….and i wholeheartedly agree with Mark that entrepeneurship is not taught…it’s truly an inherent quality, which can come out when exposed to the right kindling….

Industrial Design is the major most specific to inventing. Its sorta where engineering meets business/marketing.

Engineers are known to pay too much attention to what can be done as opposed to what should be done – they make products work better from a functional standpoint but are often blind or semi-blind to the preferences of the end user. Marketing/entrepreneurship majors are probably most specific to examining and understanding and trying to meet consumers’ needs and what not, industrial design contains a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I agree that the traits of a successful entrepreneur cannot really be taught at all. But that’s not equal to saying that many inventors couldn’t benefit from that course of study. An entrepreneurship major should learn about evaluating ideas and products, writing business plans and pitching them to investors, while taking classes in subjects like management and marketing. Many inventors lack helpful skills which can result.

Lastly, entrepreneurship shouldn’t be viewed as a major for entrepreneurs. I view it as a solid alternative to a more general business administration major. The principals which govern the success of any large multinational corporation are the same principals that govern the success of a sole proprietor. As an entrepreneurship major you are simply examining everything on a more simplified level that is easier to break down.

Like popsicles – entrepreneur programs at the college level come in many flavors. Some are based on family business, some on structure….and yet others on the mechanics of business.

But like the mind of an inventor, the mind of an entrepreneur is a set of pre-programmed thoughts that guide a set of actions.

Several places offer a minor in Industrial Design (Ohio State, Savannah college of Art and Design, San Francisco State). It is my understanding, in several schools, once a student has a firm grip on their major, the minor often can be custom built. The minor is subject to approval by the department head and Dean. In short, Marketing and ID are still my choices. If you have the time and money, learn whatever you need to learn. Invent your education and utilize it.

Thanks for all of your kind input it gives me peace of mind and a sense of direction and guidance thank you all so much for your time and efforts aloha.

Sam, as i believe i alluded to previously, i dont think anyone says, i want to be an inventor when i grow up. of course perhaps though this is the case. what i would do though is focus on a career which you enjoy, then focus inventing from that perspective. its hard to look in the classifieds to find inventor jobs. you can however always get a job. unless you have a lot of money majoring in something just to invent probably isn’t a good idea. if you have a good career and just want to go to school to learn necessary skills for inventing then i would say follow the other suggestions. you could never go wrong in engineering skills, these are always in demand. also healthcare and computers are good fields. learning the basics of several areas will definitely help as an inventor