About
Suzanne Gibbs Howard coleads IDEO’s Systems at Scale practice, a business community that tackles large-scale complex challenges that often involve diverse stakeholders in multiple channels. Examples include building the innovation capabilities of established corporations, bolstering collaboration within government institutions, and helping foundations to improve early childhood education. She is passionate about the design of beautiful things and of less tangible experiences (future visions, innovative processes, and social movements) that enhance people’s experiences.
Suzanne arrived at IDEO in 2001 via a crooked path through anthropology, archaeology, museum-exhibit design, high-school teaching, and dot-coms. Since then, she has worked an equally eclectic mix of projects, such as affordable eyeglasses in the developing world, integrated services for high-tech households, postpartum hospital services, and the relationships people have with their shoes.
In addition to her business leadership role, Suzanne has also served as a Design Director, developing IDEO’s insight and design-research capabilities. She has written and spoken about topics such as ethnography in design, Generation Y, wellness, luxury, ethical challenges in design, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches, insights for systems, and scaling change in traditional organizations. One of her favorite endeavors at IDEO has been conceiving and developing PATTERNS, an idea-sharing digital and print publication.
Suzanne has a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, where she studied art history, anthropology, and African studies, and a master’s from the University of Chicago, where she focused on cultural anthropology and religious history. She is an avid traveler, educator, research geek, climber, sailor, and mom.