Patents
When I first started writing invention disclosures, it came as a bit of a shock that many good ideas are not innovative from an IP point of view. Good design is not always patentable and a patent does not necessarily lead to good design. It took me some time to realize that the value is in the crossover. A designerly approach to intellectual property is unusual and may therefore lead to unique, patentable material. At the same time, patents can help provide direction to design ideation.
Whilst many designers find it boring to write invention disclosures, I actually quite enjoy crafting the argument and making it flow. Writing an invention disclosure forces one to write down the status quo, the problem and the innovative step. In the end, for me IP is a deliverable that shows without doubt that there is an innovative element to a concept. One cannot debate an awarded patent, it definitely flags a first of a kind to the world.