The DATALIS project, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is a breakthrough in how the Library and Information Science (LIS) community can reimagine professional education. Using the Innovation Funnel, a research methodology developed by Kevin Popović, DATALIS addressed the urgent question:

How might we help libraries collaborate to innovate professional education that impacts recruitment, growth, and retention?

More than a research framework, the Innovation Funnel became a community-driven engine for engagement, ideation, and solution development. It channeled the collective intelligence of hundreds of professionals and students into 13 innovative, data-informed, and field-tested solutions—all rooted in the actual challenges faced by the LIS community.

IDENTIFY: Clarifying the Right Problem to Solve

The first phase of the Innovation Funnel centers on one essential truth: the solution is only as good as the problem you define. In DATALIS, this phase began with a simple but provocative question—how might libraries collaborate to innovate professional education? To answer it, the project team conducted interviews and field research with a diverse array of stakeholders across academic, public, and special libraries.

Rather than starting with assumptions, participants were encouraged to explore the full complexity of the professional development landscape. Through structured interviews and collaborative workshops, participants surfaced systemic challenges such as access to professional development, uneven mentorship support, and limited diversity pathways.

The outcome of this phase was a well-scoped problem statement that was inclusive, ambitious, and actionable. More importantly, it gave participants a sense of shared ownership—an emotional investment that carried forward through every subsequent phase.

LEARN: Building Collective Understanding through Deep Listening

With the problem framed, the Innovation Funnel shifted into the LEARN phase—a deep-dive into the lived experiences of LIS professionals. Using tools like Miro boards, Zoom workshops, and the “Rose, Thorn, Bud” exercise, more than 100 participants helped uncover the most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities.

What makes this phase distinct is its dynamic structure. Unlike passive surveys or static focus groups, LEARN invites participants to co-create insights in real time. They don’t just provide feedback; they analyze, interpret, and reflect as a group.

Key findings from this phase included:

• Financial and geographic constraints that hinder access to career advancement

• A widespread desire for inclusive, DEI-centered training

• A critical need for sustainable mentorship structures across all career stages

This phase laid the foundation for empathy, alignment, and momentum, fostering a learning community that continued to evolve throughout the project.

WORK: Co-Creating Bold Ideas Together

By the WORK phase, participants had already invested in the problem and understood the ecosystem. Now, the Innovation Funnel invited them to generate solutions. Three identical workshops were held to maximize participation and idea diversity. These weren’t brainstorming sessions in the traditional sense—they were facilitated design labs grounded in the data from the LEARN phase.

Participants used Miro boards to ideate, group, and map their ideas visually. Role-playing and drawing exercises helped them push beyond linear thinking. The energy in this phase was palpable, as individuals across geographies and roles built on each other’s ideas to create something new.

What kept engagement high? The method invites participants to bring their whole selves, creative, analytical, and empathetic. This multidimensional experience transforms contributors from attendees to collaborators.

At the end of WORK, 19 distinct problem statements had been generated. These ideas were refined and prioritized for prototyping in the next phase.

DEVELOP: From Concepts to Prototypes

The DEVELOP phase is where ideas become tangible. Over 80 participants engaged in the structured prototyping of the most promising ideas. Using lo-fi prototyping methods—including digital sketches, storyboards, and concept simulations—participants created early models of real solutions.

The Innovation Funnel methodology stands apart here. Each prototype was evaluated not only through discussion but also by quantitative feedback using a feasibility-desirability-viability matrix. Participants scored each idea on a scale from 0 to 10, and the results provided objective, data-driven prioritization.

Top-rated solutions included:

• LibLine, an online mentorship platform for underserved LIS professionals

• Community Engagement as a Catalyst for DEI, a framework for inclusive professional development

• Fostering Growth Through Mentorship, a nationwide coordinator network.

Rather than a single polished deliverable, the project produced 13 field-ready concepts—each reflecting the real constraints, needs, and opportunities of the LIS field.

PRESENT: Sharing, Validating, and Amplifying the Work

By the time solutions reached the PRESENT phase, they had been developed, tested, and refined. Now it was time to return to the broader community for validation.

Hundreds of LIS professionals attended showcase events, where they engaged with the prototypes through live Q&As, interactive voting, and collaborative discussion. The format was designed to be both celebratory and evaluative. Participants saw themselves in the work, and many noted how the process gave them a new language and lens for addressing their own institutional challenges.

During this phase, more than 400 solution ratings were collected. These responses were not only feedback—they were votes of confidence from the field. High ratings for feasibility and desirability confirmed that the Innovation Funnel had produced viable ideas worthy of further investment.

SYNTHESIZE: Turning Insight into Implementation

The final phase of the Innovation Funnel is not a wrap-up—it’s a launchpad. In SYNTHESIZE, the project team brought together every data point, idea, and score to create a unified strategic framework for implementation.

This wasn’t just an internal report. DATALIS published the complete artifacts—including problem statements, prototypes, and evaluations—on datalis.design and archived the synthesized dataset on DataDryad for open access.

The synthesis process illuminated the pathways for scaling the solutions across LIS institutions. It also demonstrated the power of structured, community-driven innovation to generate results that are creative, grounded in data, and deeply aligned with stakeholder needs.

What Made the Innovation Funnel So Effective?

Unlike traditional research frameworks that focus on one big idea, the Innovation Funnel supports a portfolio of interconnected solutions. Each phase reinforces the next, keeping participants engaged not through obligation but through meaningful contribution.

Here’s what sets it apart:

• Iterative engagement: Each session builds on the last, creating a sense of momentum and ownership.

• Multimodal collaboration: Participants engage through writing, drawing, speaking, building, and voting.

• Emphasis on communication: From branding to digital engagement, the process ensures people know what’s happening, why it matters, and how to contribute.

• Hybrid intelligence: The methodology scales without losing nuance by combining human insights with GenAI-assisted clustering and analysis.

• Emotional investment: Participants move from observers to co-creators to advocates.

In the words of Ken Blanchard, “None of us is as smart as all of us.” DATALIS proves that structured collaboration doesn’t just generate ideas—it builds community capacity to solve the right problems the right way.

A Blueprint for the Future of Professional Education

Through the Innovation Funnel, DATALIS generated:

• 13 solutions addressing LIS workforce challenges

• 400+ ratings from field experts

• Dozens of new problem statements and prototypes

• A data repository for future research and implementation

These outcomes weren’t accidental. They were the result of a methodology designed for deep engagement, transparent iteration, and inclusive participation. As the LIS field—and many others—continue to evolve, the Innovation Funnel offers a replicable model for transforming professional education and beyond.

To explore the solutions or learn how to apply the Innovation Funnel in your organization, visit:

• Project site: https://datalis.design

• Methodology: https://theideaguy.us/programs/innovation-funnel