Discover the 9-step evolutionary inventing method to make better inventions, optimize prototypes, and target the right customers for maximum impact.
Introduction
Most inventors do the wrong thing. Only a few truly know how to create the best inventions — and I’ve developed a methodology to do just that.
I’m Jarrel Byer, a master inventor and educator, and I teach Evolutionary Inventing, a structured approach to mastering invention skills. Using this method, you’ll learn how to generate, refine, and market inventions efficiently — without wasting time or resources.
In this blog, we’ll walk through the 9-step evolutionary inventing process. Stick around till the end — these steps will surprise you and transform how you approach invention.
Step 1: Activate the Inventor’s Eye
The Inventor’s Eye is your mental capacity to see, manipulate, and improve products in your mind.
- Some people are epigenetically gifted with visual/spatial intelligence, which helps them mentally visualize products and mechanisms.
- Even without a computer program, you can strengthen this skill by practicing mental exercises:
- Rotate products clockwise and counterclockwise
- Enlarge and shrink components
- Break products into pieces and visualize each part simultaneously
These exercises build mental agility that allows you to design better inventions faster.
Step 2: Collect Mechanisms and Build Memory Recoil
An inventor’s job is problem-solving. To do it efficiently:
- Collect mechanisms from existing products and analyze how they work
- Study inventions on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook
- Vocalize your observations — speaking while visualizing strengthens memory and recall
This practice, called memory recoil, is essential for making new, patentable inventions.
Step 3: Practice Making Alternate Inventions
Before creating the “best” invention, flex your invention muscles:
- Generate alternate versions of a product, even if they already exist
- Focus on creativity, not perfection
- This strengthens your ability to innovate under constraints
Step 4: Combine Benefits in Your Designs
To make your inventions more appealing:
- Combine multiple beneficial features into a single product
- Reduce the number of parts to lower manufacturing costs
- Aim for maximum utility at competitive pricing
Example: A wallet design that is simple, functional, and cost-effective appeals more to customers than a complex design.
Step 5: Direct Your Inventions Strategically
Every invention should be guided in a specific direction:
- Make it more convenient, efficient, portable, or affordable
- Use your memory recoil to consistently push products toward improvement
- Each iteration strengthens your ability to predict and fulfill market needs
Step 6: Aim the Evolutionary Direction Properly
Study evolutionary trajectories of products to predict market behavior:
- Example: The hammer evolved from a rock → stick hammer → levered hammer → electric hammer
- The evolutionary goal was always more power and efficiency
- Apply this method to your inventions: identify trends, leverage improvements, and innovate along the same trajectory
Step 7: Write Preliminary Patent Claims
Writing preliminary patent claims saves time and money when working with patent attorneys:
- Draft preliminary claims outlining the essential structure and functionality of your invention
- This reduces lawyer time and ensures your ideas are protected efficiently
Tip: This exercise clarifies your invention and improves focus on what truly makes it unique.
Step 8: Find Your Ideal Customer
Understanding your target audience is crucial:
- Identify the customers who will buy your product most frequently
- Tailor your invention to their preferences, needs, and pain points
- Align marketing and sales strategies with the habits of your ideal customer
Step 9: Iterate for Your Ideal Customer
Finally, refine your invention based on the customer’s use case:
- Example: If a hammer user carries it on a belt, make it more portable
- Optimize for efficiency, convenience, and usability
- Continuous iteration ensures your product remains relevant and desirable
Why Evolutionary Inventing Works
The Evolutionary Inventing framework is the methodology I developed while mastering invention skills. By combining mental exercises, memory recoil, feature optimization, and customer-centric iteration, inventors can create better, faster, and more market-ready products.
Check out my creations like the Pop Card Wallet and Grinder Rolling Tray — real examples of this methodology in action.