User-focused business innovation - benefits and methods

The 19th of May BrainsBusiness ICTNORCOM proudly presents John Stoddard from IDEO.

John will present his opinions and ideas on the subject of user-focused business innovation - benefits and methods.

Putting a focus on empathy with customers can be a short cut for businesses wanting bigger breakthroughs faster. But evidence shows 'user-focus' is not easy - it takes the right combination of mindset, method and management to unlock the potential it offers for enterprise success. Drawing on examples amongst small and medium size businesses, John Stoddard will describe practical and effective ways to  'press the fast-forward button' towards greater competitive advantage.

John Stoddard's current focus is on helping IDEO clients build stronger brands through design of innovative product user experiences.

Prior to joining IDEO’s California design team in 1997, John was the head of design in IDEO’s London office. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Great Britain, a member of the Industrial Design Society of America, and of the Chartered Society of Designers in the UK. Furthermore, John Stoddard is an honorary doctor at Aalborg University, Denmark.

John has designed a wide range of products for clients in the US, Europe, and Asia, including telecommunications for Dancall. He has helped develop product brand strategies for companies such as Intermec and Samsung.

IDEO invention

IDEO is known for the radical way of thinking regarding methods of design and innovation.

To demonstrate its process for innovation for an episode of ABC’s late-night news show Nightline, IDEO created a new shopping cart concept, considering issues such as maneuverability, shopping behavior, child safety, and maintenance cost. The show concentrated on IDEO’s design process, recording as a multidisciplinary team brainstormed, research, prototyped, and gathered user feedback on a design that went from idea to a working appearance model in four days.

http://www.ideo.com/work/shopping-cart-concept