IDEO

American company

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July 17, 2026

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The term "ideo-" is a combining form meaning "idea," derived from the Greek word "idea."1

In the context of design, IDEO is a company founded in Palo Alto, California, in 1991 by Bill Moggridge, Mike Nuttall, and David Kelley. This American firm is known for its collaborative approach to design, emphasizing teamwork among design and engineering professionals. IDEO has worked on a diverse range of projects, including the Amtrak Acela high-speed train, the original Microsoft computer mouse, and products for Apple and Hewlett-Packard. Their design philosophy contrasts with the traditional Modernist idea of "form follows function," instead embracing the concept that "form follows emotion."2

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industrial design
Postmodern design and its aftermath
…of the 21st century was IDEO. Founded in Palo Alto, Calif., in 1991 by Bill Moggridge, Mike Nuttall, and David Kelley, it grew rapidly, adding offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston as well as London, Munich, and Shanghai. With its design studios operating globally, IDEO stressed the team approach…
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…of the 21st century was IDEO. Founded in Palo Alto, Calif., in 1991 by Bill Moggridge, Mike Nuttall, and David Kelley, it grew rapidly, adding offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston as well as London, Munich, and Shanghai. With its design studios operating globally, IDEO stressed the team approach…
Read More