IDEO is a design consultancy based in Palo Alto, CA, with other offices in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, London and Munich. According to its web site, it is focused on helping its clients innovate. This is manifested through the design of products, services, environments and digital experiences .
IDEO was formed in 1990 by a merger of three established design firms: David Kelley Design (founded by David Kelley, who is also a professor at Stanford University), ID Two (founded by Bill Moggridge), and Matrix Product Design (founded by Mike Nuttal ). The firm is now majority-owned by Steelcase , the world's largest office furniture maker. The founders of the three predecessor companies are still involved in the firm. The current CEO is Tim Brown_(IDEO) .
The firm employs approximately 350 people in the disciplines of Human Factors , Mechanical, Electrical and Software Engineering, Industrial Design, and Interaction Design. IDEO is active in many fields of design. It has worked on thousands of projects for a myriad of clients in the consumer, computer, medical, furniture, toy, office and automotive industries. Notable examples are Apple's and Microsoft's first mice, the Palm V , and Steelcase's Leap chair . The only industry which it has consciously avoided is defense. Major clients (as of 2004) include Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Microsoft, Eli Lilly, and Steelcase.
Tom Kelley wrote the book 'The Art of Innovation' which is widely read by design students and even business managers.
In the realm of design awards (BusinessWeek, IDSA, etc.), IDEO has won more than any other firm.
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