being an inventor?

Question

How do you study to become an inventor?
Are there courses that you can take?

Thanks all for your answers so far.

If you want to invent, for example a radio you first need to have some background in the relavant subject.
I have extend on this question and maybe you could answer this one also.
thanks again
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Answer 1

Hi

I have been an inventor for many years.

I started off my working life as a cinema projectionist, then had my own window cleaning round then worked in a back street garage as a dogs body on auto electrics and bodywork repairs and at the age of about 20 I trained to be an electrician and then went on to study industrial electronics and I hold a full ham radio licence.

I worked as an industrial/domestic electrician. For some years then I went to work for a special equipment manufacturer.

I didn’t wake up one morning and think “today Ill be an inventor”. It came upon me almost without me realising what was happening. I solved peoples problems.

I think that an inventor starts off be being an enquiring child, asking how does this work and why dose that do whatever it does.

I remember taking my older sisters watch apart to see what was inside, I was about 8, I was fascinated but it got me into a lot of trouble as I couldn’t put it back together again.

I have always found that I like good inventions; they are the things that are fit for purpose. I can’t help but be critical of things that are not fit for the use that they were made for.

If you want to invent things for people to use, then those things need to be “fit for purpose” and even if the thing you invent works well, if you want other people to believe in it, you have to prove you know that it’s fit for purpose and that usually involves numbers. You have to be able to calculate how the item will perform. Although this is a pain when all you want to do is make whatever it is you have in your mind sooner or later you will realise that you are over designing or under designing. Even if you’re inventing a board game, no one will support an invention that doesn’t make a profit or is economic to produce.

The more you learn about what materials can do the more you will realise there’s a lot more that you don’t know.

I have sold my company to an American group and I have retired now form industry but I can guarantee that wherever in the world you live you will have been affected by products that I have been involved with these range from food processing equipment to aircraft components.

I have worked with most major car manufactures and aircraft manufacturers and most of the well-known electronics companies making audio-visual equipment.


Don’t be too worried about the numbers, if you don’t know or don’t understand something ask someone for help and if they can’t help ask someone else. Read physics books try to understand mechanics.

I said don’t worry about the numbers, I’m dyslectic and I used to try to hide it, I still can’t do mental arithmetic and I cant spell to save my life but I find out what formula or calculation I need for a specific job and let the calculator do the rest.

Look at other people’s inventions. Take a Black and Decker work mate it’s a good invention, fit for purpose. Then look at one of those wine bottle openers the type with the two wings that push down to remove the cork, it’s a poor invention in my opinion as it doesn’t remove the cork completely i.e. it’s not fit for purpose.

I don’t know if there’s “an inventors school” if there is it would probably produce a set type of inventor, the fact that you “want” to be an inventor is the best place to start. Look for problems that need solutions then go about inventing the answer. Ask people what would help them in their day to day life.

I recently looked at a way of easy opening plastic bags in the supermarket. I came up with what I thought was a winner, when I did a patent search I found that some in the USA had already patented it about 5 years ago but it hasn’t been put it into practice yet. It’s not the first time I’ve been too late.

You if you make it and become an inventor, you will have your failures, make sure you learn from them. Remember the old adage “the man that never made a mistake never made anything” it still holds true.

I don’t know if that helps you at all? I hope it does.

I wish you well, I have had a lot of fun “inventing” and I have also made a bit of money from it too.

Regards Andy

Answer 2

An inventor is really anyone who sees a problem nobody else has solved and finds an answer. The skills you need to develop ideas are so varied you can't study them all but you could look at industrial design courses which give a good grounding. More specific skills and routes to market can be accessed using sites such as Innvolve (innvolve.com).

Answer 3

being an inventor doesn't need any courses. it depends on your creativity and the power of your mind. studying is good but not as important as being creative, in this case.

Answer 4

Study alone do not create inventor, curiosity, innovation, taking risk and dedication only can make an inventor..

Answer 5

The course of life. Combined with observation. Makes one.

Answer 6

i would say a balance of your own creative thinking and researching the minds of other inventors