You may be dealing with a gimmick if…

…you can’t explain why you’ve made a particular choice.

…you’ve added an element or a feature just to make a sale.

…you want your product or service to look similar to someone else’s idea.

…you want to make a product more successful by adding unneeded features.

The use of a gimmick is the easy way out.  Creating original, thoughtful, and useful work is tough.  It requires a level of rigor, analysis, and patience that people don’t have time for within organizations.  Focusing on the problem you are trying to solve can help keep the conversation moving in the right direction.  Try not to get sidetracked by unnecessary or superfluous thoughts.

[Photo:  Urban art in Rosslyn, Virginia]