IDEO: Masters of Innovation [Paperback]

Jeremy Myerson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

“When people ask me what IDEO does, I say we design neat stuff,” says David Kelly, one of the firm’s founding partners. But neat stuff is just the beginning. Since its inception this world-renowned design firm has operated under the philosophy that in order to design for the future, you have to understand what’s missing in the present. Clearly, that philosophy has paid off. With a client list that reads like an A—Z of top businesses, from Amtrak and Canon to BMW, Nike, and Pepsi-Cola, IDEO has helped hundreds of companies leap to the forefront of the marketplace, earning them the kind of visibility and reputation that has made their name synonymous with innovation, excellence, and creativity.

This first in-depth study of IDEO’s background, working methods and design output explores how and why the firm continues to lead the way in industrial design. Filled with vibrant, fascinating shots that demonstrate IDEO’S unparalleled ingenuity, it reveals why IDEO’s strategies are as innovative as their concepts. From projects most people never even thought of redesigning (chocolates and flip-flops) to things we all wish could be designed better (office chairs, electronic books, and remote controls), IDEO helps companies and their consumers change the way we think about doing ordinary tasks. Whether it’s kitchens that speak to you, shopping carts that glide down aisles, trains that reach destinations more efficiently than planes, or sunglasses that help Olympic athletes compete more effortlessly, IDEO continues to be one step ahead of the present. This vibrant volume offers an inside look at an exciting firm—and future—brimming with neat stuff.

· Worldwide offices in Palo Alto, San Francisco, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Boston, London, Tokyo, and Tel Aviv
· An inspiring record for product designers and students
· Visit the site- ideo.com
· Designs include Palm V, “Neat Squeeze” toothpaste dispenser, Copy Jet color printer, and Pop Shots camera

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's hard to believe that objects such as the Palm V organizer, the neat-squeeze dispenser, and the Polaroid i-zone camera have anything in common. Yet these were all developed at IDEO, a Palo Alto-based engineering and design firm. IDEO: Masters of Innovation gives us page after page of products that are compelling not just in name, but in concept, whether they are prototypes or manufactured products. The text of the book, unfortunately, is more about the firm than the firm's work, and, in keeping with that, the adjective-laden writing does not do much more than lavish praise. Still, the book is mostly composed of photographs of products and the sketches that produced them. Their strength, and the book's clean and beautiful design, transcend the lack of information in the writing, making it a worthy sourcebook of ideas and a good introduction to the work of this remarkable firm. --Juliette Cezzar

About the Author

Jeremy Myerson is the Director of the Helen Hamlyn Research Center at the Royal College of Art, London. The former editor of DesignWeek, which he founded, and former managing editor of World Architecture, he is a contributor to newspapers and magazines worldwide. His previous books include International Interiors 5, 6, and 7, New Public Architecture, International Lighting Design and The Creative Office.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Te Neues Publishing Company (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3823854852
• ISBN-13: 978-3823854852
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,580,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Images, Less than Average Content, May 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: IDEO: Masters of Innovation (Paperback)

This is a great (and very beautiful) collection of works by the design firm IDEO. There is some content about IDEO's philosophy of innovation and process, but if you're buying the book for such content only, than don't. Instead, buy "The Art of Innovation" by Tom Kelley. You will be disappointed by the fairly shallow treatment of IDEO's great process in Myerson's book. Some of the content has also been previously printed (in magazines), and FOI's (Fans of IDEO) will have already read many of the quotes included within the text (e.g., Tom and David Kelley, Tom Peters, Robert Sutton).

In a nutshell, buy for the pictures, and view them to complement Tom Kelley's awesome book.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A catalog of designs that leaves you wanting., August 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: IDEO: Masters of Innovation (Paperback)

From THE design firm, IDEO, this book has cataloged a range of product and environmental designs that are at the forefront of our culture. With innovation after innovation from IDEO I would have thought this book would be more . . . well . . . innovative. In their defense, this is the best way to have their design portfolio on your home coffee table, at least for now. Incredible pictures and some good documentation, but The Art of Innovation, by Tom Kelley, is the roller coaster story behind it all, this book is meerly a slide show from the trip.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little self promoting, August 5, 2001

By 

Michael Hopwood (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: IDEO: Masters of Innovation (Paperback)

Having worked with IDEO when I was @ Kodak I was a little disappointed. The process working with them was better than reading the book. It was a little bit more self promoting than I like in a business book