Influx Insights Tag Feed: idea http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/ 2008-12-03T23:01:04Z 10 things i learned from IDEO http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/article/1669/10-things-i-learned-from-IDEO.html 10 things I learned from and about <b>IDEO</b> from hearing them present<br><br>Jane Fulton and Paul Bennett of <b>IDEO </b>presented at yesterday&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="http://adage.com/article?article_id=122026">Idea Conference<br></a><br>1.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;They don&#8217;t do ego- self-deprecating and humble is their style.<br><br>2.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;They are observers of the world and look for ideas in it- the way people do or don&#8217;t use things. My observation on this, planners in the ad business listen, but don&#8217;t look. &nbsp;<br><br>3.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;They aren&#8217;t afraid to talk to their own employees to glean insight.<br><br>4.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Observation doesn&#8217;t just lead to product solutions, it can also help services; seeing a woman round-up her utility bill was the inspiration for <b>Bank of America&#8217;s</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.37signals.com/svn/archives2/bank_of_america_says_keep_the_change.php">&#8220;Keep The Change&#8221; </a>concept.<br><br>5.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;They believe people just want dialog- they are now willing to say anything to get a response, they just like having the power to speak. They wonder if marketers can help them.<br><br>6.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Dialog is the new optimism. Showed us an example of Sainsbury&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/YourIdeas/forums/showthread.aspx?PostID=3604">asking customers for product suggestions</a> and warning them if products are about to be de-listed.<br><br>7.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;They like Japan and Japanese creativity- especially the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dxc8f7Il6Y&amp;mode=related&amp;search=">Panasonic battery campaign</a> that encouraged people to build the first battery powered plane and the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/business/worldbusiness/20tieless.html?ex=1274241600&amp;en=a076e5ef3479388e&amp;ei=5089&amp;partner=rssyahoo&amp;emc=rss">tie removal campaign to help save energy</a> in Japan. Both by Hakuhodo.<br><br>8.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;They believe communication needs to be playful, optimistic, enthusiastic and participatory.<br><br>9.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;They see the world fragmenting into micro-communities of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.yelp.com/topic/los-angeles-the-great-pug-out-may-20-pug-lovers-unite">Pug lovers </a>and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ratspacnw.org/">Rat fanciers.</a><br><br>10.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Moments can become movements- lots of little actions can add up to something bigger.<br><br><br><br>Posted by Ed Cotton Influx Insights 2007-11-16T10:42:59Z