Inside the IAA Jury Room: Elham Mirzapour Shares Her Experienced Perspective in Innovation

For me, innovation is not simply about novelty. When evaluating projects, I consider factors such as the originality of the idea, the quality of execution, its potential impact, the value it creates for users, and its ability to be translated into a viable solution. Many ideas are creative, but innovation becomes truly valuable when it solves a problem, improves an experience, or creates meaningful change within an industry or society.

Rather than pointing to a specific project, what stands out to me most are projects that deliver elegant solutions to real problems despite limited resources.

Over the years, I have encountered many projects that, through a deep understanding of users' needs and simplicity in execution, have had a greater impact than many complex and well-funded projects. These are the kinds of innovations that leave the strongest impression on me.

One of the most valuable sources of insight for me is the judging process itself. Evaluating projects from different industries and countries provides valuable insight into where innovation is heading.

In addition, I keep up with research, emerging technologies, the work of leading companies, and developments across different disciplines. However, I always try to look beyond current trends, because true innovation doesn't always follow them—it often creates new ones.

The greatest challenge in judging is maintaining a fair and objective perspective when evaluating projects with different goals, constraints, and contexts. That's why I evaluate each project within the context of its own objectives and concept, rather than by directly comparing it with other entries. In reality, every project presents its own unique challenges, so there is no single issue that defines the evaluation process.

Experience has taught me that the more deeply a project is evaluated, the more its unique qualities become apparent. This is what makes judging both challenging and deeply rewarding.

I have been involved in a wide range of projects within the field of product design and development. A significant part of my work has focused on identifying genuine user needs and transforming ideas into viable products. What fascinates me most is the intersection of design, technology, and human experience—where innovation translates into real value.

I only evaluate categories that fall within my area of expertise. That said, innovation spans a wide range of disciplines, and the fundamental principles of innovation remain largely consistent across them.

I first seek to understand the problem, context, and objectives of a project before considering factors such as its degree of innovation, quality of execution, impact, and the value it creates. I place equal emphasis on the quality of the thinking behind the solution and the technical aspects of its specific field.

In my opinion, the defining characteristic of a truly groundbreaking innovation is its ability to create meaningful and lasting change. Many ideas are new, but few truly change the way things are done, users' experiences, or the standards of an industry. Innovation becomes truly impactful when it is not only different, but also creates new value that did not previously exist.

Creativity and practicality are complementary, not contradictory. A highly creative idea that lacks practical viability or real-world impact is unlikely to succeed. On the other hand, a solution that is merely practical but offers no fresh perspective is rarely considered innovative. When evaluating projects, I look for a balance between the two—where creativity translates into real value.

I believe the future of innovation will be more interdisciplinary than ever before. Traditional boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, and many of the most important innovations of the future will emerge not within a single discipline, but at the intersection of multiple disciplines.

At the same time, I believe the most successful innovations will be those that focus not only on advancing technology, but also on improving people's quality of life, promoting sustainability, and addressing real-world challenges.