The Art of Innovation: Amazon.co.uk: Thomas Kelley, Jonathan Littman, Dick Hill: Books

Product Description

An inspiring guide to managing creativity in a business environment from the co-founder of one of the most innovative design companies in the world.

Discover the ten commandments of creativity, and much more…

Founded by Thomas Kelley and his brother David (dubbed by Fortune the best inventor since Thomas Edison), IDEO is responsible for the first commercial mouse, a virtual reality headset for Sega and the handheld Audible Mobile Player – a new device that downloads recorded books from the Internet. The company was recently challenged by US TV programme Nightline to redesign a traditional shopping trolley in just 4 days in front of the cameras. They took up the challenge with alacrity and produced a radically new design incorporating six small portable baskets fitted into the frame, an improved child’s seat with play area, and back wheels that turn at 90 degrees so you can move your trolley sideways.

The book explores their unique corporate culture which encourages original and creative ideas to develop. IDEO is structured around small design studios, which are seen as ‘villages’, each with their own identity. But all of their office furniture is on wheels which provides fluidity as individuals move between projects wherever their expertise is needed.

IDEO’s methods are based on revolutionary principles of team creativity, inlcuding:

The best asset you have is your own brain
• The first step in building a fresh and creative corporate culture is the willingness to change
• Collaboration – not isolation – is the key to unleashing creativity
• Successful brainstorming sessions are based on focused chaos

Increased creativity leads to increased profits in the business world of today, and The Art of Innovation demonstrates how to boost morale, productivity and customer satisfaction – and enjoy yourself in the process.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Discover the ten commandments of creativity, and much more…

IDEO’s methods are based on revolutionary principles of team creativity, inlcuding:
• The best asset you have is your own brain
• The first step in building a fresh and creative corporate culture is the willingness to change
• Collaboration – not isolation – is the key to unleashing creativity
• Successful brainstorming sessions are based on focused chaos

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

Innovation - the art of the paradigm 21 April 2001

By Mwmbwls

Format:Hardcover

It has been a good year for students of innovation. First Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point" described how ideas and concepts grow and are absorbed into society. Richard Leifer and his colleagues then followed up with "Radical Innovation" exploring the barriers to innovation within large organisations and how to break the mould. Jeffrey Pfeffer then followed in "The Knowing Doing Gap" with a blue print for breaking organisational inertia. Michael Schrage in "Serious Play" demonstrated the virtues of rapid prototyping and the provocative effect on thinking of a progressive prototyping method. A leading innovation practitioner Tom Kelley in "The Art of Innovation", (not Art through Innovation as it is confusingly catalogued by Amazon) now amply demonstrates and reinforces the key themes advocated by these experts.

The key strength of this book is Kelley's hands-on experience that crackles through every page. This book is not permeated by academic detachment but a bubbling and infectious enthusiasm.

He provides practical guidance as to how to get the best out of brainstorming. His list of pathologies that are bound to kill off a brainstorming session will seem familiar to many.

Kelley advocates prototyping as the shorthand of innovation, together with the benefits of direct observation and reconnaissance. IDEO recognise that people are their greatest asset and go to great lengths to live their values. He describes the pivotal conjunction of people and teams and context and how these are all are geared to maximise interaction - IDEO's Munich office was opened by an employee who sought forgiveness rather than permission. As an organisation IDEO has to impress its clients with its avant-garde image du marc. Whilst Kelley and friends have an impressive list of product successes under their belt their greatest achievement has to be creating the paradigm that is IDEO - or in the words from "Flash-dance" "take your passion and make it happen".

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

Well worth reading, but skim in places 14 Nov 2002

By Andy Bedwell

Format:Paperback

There's some good thought provoking ideas that are well structured, but at times you feel a little swamped by the sheer number of IDEO case studies. Each section of the book has some good nuggets of information which are generally worded in a way to help you see their wider application. Overall it's a good balance between the theory and demonstrating practical application. Worth reading.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Learn from the masters of innovation 9 Nov 2001

By A Customer

It's not without reason that Tom Peters always mentions IDEO as most innovative company. Having seen their funky and innovative offices but more important being involved in the way they work I can tell you; these guys know how to be innovative. In his book Kelley has very well succeeded in transferring that knowledge in a clear and non-boring way.

The book is an excellent combination to read with Clayt Christensen's Innovators dilemma that goes into why established companies are having a hard time dealing with innovation. If you add Alex Loudon's Webs of Innovation to that, this book goes into how you can set up new ways to innovate in established companies, you got a power pack to make sure your company has got all it takes to be innovative. Because these days the theme is innovate or evaporate.