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It’s not very often that I am captured by a book that I would actually class myself as addicted to it. I believe that it takes great content, a great writer, an interesting sway of dialogue and it also takes an interest in the subject. For me, all of these virtual boxes have been ticket with “The Art of Innovation”
Often after reading about innovation and methods of inspiration i found myself thinking about great innovation, and an appreciation for some of the references to innovation within the book. Little ideas which can make a product, small touches and breakthrough ideas. They all come from somewhere.
The book is aimed at anyone really, although there is a primary target that business veterans might pick it up and experiment a little with the innovation within their own company. Space planning, hot groups, observation and brainstorming might help a company to start thinking outside the box a little more, and stop worrying about being so corporate!
From the point of view of a designer it displays a great insight into the valuable workings of IDEO. Right from the general manager’s mind. How does it all work? Who works there? What sorts of products to they design? How do they get to design these sorts of products? These questions are answered along with plenty of examples of industrial designing at it’s best.
The IDEO way is what they call their way of designing. IDEOers is what they call themselves. IDEO is the company, formed in 1991 by David Kelley. The company believes strongly in open brainstorming sessions, hot groups, multi-disciplinary teams and a whole host of other factors which they believe leads them into innovation. Innovation helps them and their clients lead within their field.
The book is a great descriptive source of the company’s way of life, both within the methodology behind their work and their social lives. The book also references a great number of examples within Silicon Valley of how innovation succeeds and fails. For failure is also one of the stepping stones of innovation.
I finished this book on my travels into work this morning. It has been something more than just an interesting read, but a motivation tool, a learning aid and a source of inspiration.
