With IDEO Prototypes the Future, The Palo Alto Art Center explores IDEO’s iterative and future-facing approach to innovation through design, June 22–September 10, 2006.  IDEO Prototypes the Future is the first exhibition to present a comprehensive collection of IDEO’s concepts and prototypes, representing work from the past twenty years with more than 75 individual pieces. Spanning conceptual objects to time-based media, the exhibit builds awareness about IDEO’s hand in expanding the terrain of design beyond industrial objects to social and educational domains. IDEO Prototypes the Future is presented in conjunction with ISEA (International Symposia of Electronic Art) Symposium, which takes place August 6–12, 2006, in San Jose.

A public opening reception will be held at The Palo Art Center the evening of June 22, 2006, from 6–8:30 pm. Admission is free. Docent-led tours, “Art Dialogues,” will be offered every Saturday at 2pm at no charge during the exhibition. In addition, a series of associated programs will be held at the Palo Alto Art Center.

Podcast:
Design Thinking Out Loud: Exploring Innovation and Creativity with IDEO:
Panel members include IDEO CEO and President Tim Brown and Cofounder Bill Moggridge
Moderater: Geoffrey Moore, author of Crossing the Chasm and Dealing with Darwin: How Great Companies Innovate in Every Phase of their Evolution

Lecture:
Design Thinking: The Historical Perspective:
Barry Katz, Design Historian / California College of the Arts and Stanford University
August 3, 2006 / 7–9pm, Palo Alto Art Center

Lecture:
Sustainability: A Lens for Design: Bob Adams / IDEO
August 31, 2006 / 7:30–9pm, Palo Alto Art Center

By Paul Bennett

IDEO’s creative director Paul Bennett calls for a halt to the nonsensical buzzwords that have overrun branding and marketing, and makes a case for a return to “simple stories” and “truths well told.”

Read the article here.

As more businesses adopt ethnography as a way to uncover people’s needs and spark innovation, work like that of IDEO for Marriott stands as proof of process. Also featured is Jane Fulton Suri, IDEO’s director of human factors.

Read the article here.