IDEO has been a global leader in innovation and design for decades. Their work ranges from product development to societal change, from small design solutions to complex system innovation. Regardless of the field, IDEO always starts with people.
There is a lot to learn here for anyone who wants to innovate products, services, business models or social structures.
Human-centered design in practice
The most central aspect of IDEO’s work is their application of human-centered design. This means that every product, service or system begins with an understanding of people’s needs, behaviors, frustrations and dreams. Not just what people say, but what they actually do, think and feel.
This approach has helped IDEO develop everything from childcare systems in Ghana to next-generation digital banking solutions in the US. Through empathy, listening and creative exploration, they find insights that are then transformed into innovation. It reminds us that it is not enough to be smart, you have to be curious. Not just asking what people want, but also understanding what they need before they see it themselves.
Product development as an open process
IDEO has shown that product development is not about a linear process from idea to finished product, but rather about opening up, testing early and iterating often. An idea is best shaped by taking place in the real world, not just on the drawing board. Prototypes, whether they are sketches, role-plays or digital click models, are central to learning. It is in testing that both the product and the team develop.
Anyone who works with product development therefore has a lot to learn from IDEO’s culture of quickly visualizing ideas, allowing them to be criticized and improved, rather than protecting them from the outside world.
Service design with empathy and systems understanding
When it comes to service development, IDEO has gone far beyond process maps and customer journeys. They see each service as a living organism, where users, suppliers, technology and society interact. Services are shaped by relationships, and this requires building trust, understanding and clarity at every touchpoint.
By working closely with users in everyday environments, IDEO has shown how complex services can become both more human and more effective. For them, design is not just about form but also about function, feel and experience.
Business model innovation as a creative exercise
IDEO also has a clear approach to business models. They do not see them as static structures, but as creative platforms that can be explored, reshaped and renewed. In their work, the business model is often part of the designable – just like the product or service. This means that you can ask how value is created, delivered and captured, and then challenge each part.
If you want to develop business models from the ground up, a design perspective is crucial. IDEO has shown time and again that the combination of business thinking, empathy and creativity can open up completely new possibilities, not least when it comes to sustainability and social innovation.
Social change using design as a tool
One of IDEO’s most interesting branches is their work with IDEO.org, where they apply their methodology to social challenges around the world. They have worked with gender equality, education, health and climate in collaboration with organizations such as UNDP and the Gates Foundation, among others.
Here it becomes clear that design is not only for selling products, but also for changing societies. By involving people in the creation of solutions that affect their own lives, innovations with local roots and real impact arise.
Leadership and facilitation in a creative culture
An often underestimated part of IDEO’s success is how they build teams and lead creative work. They have developed a facilitation style where ideas are welcomed, where different perspectives are given space and where it is safe to fail. In such an environment, innovation thrives, because everyone dares to contribute.
IDEO’s way of looking at leadership is not top-down management but rather as a way of holding space for the creativity of others. A good leader is one who can facilitate energy, rather than having to provide all the answers themselves. This is a lesson for every organization that wants to become more innovative.
Organizational development in a creative direction
IDEO’s model is not just a method, but also a culture. It is characterized by curiosity, collaboration and a willingness to explore. Creating the same type of environment in other organizations requires long-term work with structures, norms and working methods. Creativity is not a department, it is a way of thinking and collaborating.
IDEO shows that it is possible to build organizations that are both human and powerfully innovative. It is about cultivating a culture where you think together, test early, learn from your mistakes and share your successes.
IDEO U – learn to think like a designer
To make their knowledge available to more people, IDEO has started the IDEO U platform. Here they offer courses and programs for the one who wants to delve into design thinking, creative leadership, storytelling, team dynamics and much more.
IDEO U is not just education, it is an invitation to exercise your creative muscle. By offering tools, exercises and feedback, they want to spread the way of thinking that has made them successful. The courses are based on real cases, which means you can directly see how the theory is applied in practice.
Learn from IDEO
Learning from IDEO is learning to listen, test, fail and start over. It is daring to be human in the midst of the chaos of innovation. It is understanding that creativity is not a rush, but a craft. And that the companies and societies of the future are shaped by those who can combine empathy with a desire to experiment.
It is not only what IDEO does that is inspiring, but how they do it. That is why it is worth not only reading about their projects, but really delving into their methods and thinking. Then innovation no longer begins to feel like something foreign, but like something that is available to all of us.
