Amy, your best shot is to have a concise pitch so that whether you use just words, a picture, a video or a prototype you are making sure the reviewer GETS your idea. Here is a link you may find useful http://www.edisonnation.com/forums/other/topics... Good Luck.

This is all such helpful information, thank you all.

Your on the right track Jamie! Goggle Sketch #8 ,3-D will do you justice concerning the illustration of your products. Jerry

Thanks Everyone! Darrel, I have used Google Sketchup, it is fairly easy. They have lots of tutorials on You Tube.

I think the video or prototype would only be critical if you are making grand claims, like saying you invented a Frisbie that goes 200 yards.. Your going to need to shoot a video of that. If you have a clever dog house idea, for sky mall, then your prolly ok with just a sketch.

Thank you sir! I’m going to check this out and the pro version is like $95.

Jamie,
Here is a link to a very insightful video concerning how EN looks at things. http://www.edisonnation.com/video_categories/ar...

Howdy Darrel,
A fairly easy program to use for 3D renderings is Google sketchup; http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos.html
I almost always start with a sketch before beginning a written description. It helps me to focus in on the attributes of my concept…and of course it’s a lot of fun. Happy sketching!

Thats good to know. My art work is horrible. I think I need to learn cad or something like it. Any recomendations for software around here for non engineer types? Maybe something user friendly. Hey now thats an idea. The EN Graphics and Blueprint Software is a nice concept :P 50 bucks for insiders :). Made for those of us who don’t have 500 hours of free time to learn how to run high end software. Another win win lol.

AWESOME! You guys are the best. I am submitting before the end of the week.

Hi Jamie,
I agree with Amy… Some of the biggest successes out here did not have a video or prototype (e.g. “Eggies”). I have done it both ways, some I submit with Video Presentations, others I just provided a good write up… Like Amy, I had a recent G7 pitched to the company with nothing more than a write-up…

Best of Luck to you!

Ditto…..well said.

Jamie,
I have submitted an idea with just words. No pictures, no prototype, no video, nothing. It went G7 and was pitched to the LPS company. The prototype and video are not as important as a very well explained concept.