A Visit to IDEO

IDEO is a global design firm.

  I met with Hilary Hoeber who leads the portfolio on driving public sector innovation.  We spoke on a number of subjects ranging from - human-centred design thinking (concentrating specifically on peoples' perceptions, needs and behaviours around a process), social innovation and IDEO's initiative OPEN IDEO, innovation toolkits, the act of prototyping to provoke the system - to the innovative initiate of Michael Bloomberg's 'Mayor's Challenge' which Hilary is a judge.

Bikes are raised overhead for
daily storage
 

It's a very funky space (of course being a design firm) filled with lots of colour, creative architecture, couches, art walls and kitchen space overlooking the Bay. 



Great coffee and lunch area overlooking
Harbour and views of Bay Bridge

Due to privacy issues, I didn't take photos of work spaces but here's an idea of the corridors!!!! The bike rake is special


Work spaces were open and very colourful due to all the white boards covered in post-it-notes which they move around with them to discuss ideas or take to meetings.  They live by post-it-notes, I'm told. They use them for brainstorming, capturing stories and crazy ideas, interviews, representing thoughts, drawing pictures and anything else useful - it's a very visual environment. IDEO have 7 specific brainstorming rules and here's the link to IDEO's human-centred design toolkit that has step-by-step descriptions of their innovation process: http://www.ideo.com/work/human-centered-design-toolkit/ (click link at bottom of page).