In 1958, Stanford's Joint Program in Design was established by Professor John E. Arnold, aiming to shift the meaning of design to be human-centered and focused on innovation.

In 1959, John E. Arnold proposed the idea that design engineering should be human-centered and focused on beautifying products and machines to increase their salability.

Ken Garland's manifesto criticized the advertising industry for prioritizing profit over social good, emphasizing the importance of using design skills for the betterment of society.

Victor Papanek's book highlighted the necessity for design to focus on solving real-world issues while considering the well-being of humanity and the environment.

Robert McKim's 1972 book, Experiences in Visual Thinking, explores the realm of visual thinking and its applications. This work played a crucial role in shaping the foundations of design thinking methodologies.

George Nelson's influential book from 1977, How to See, provides a comprehensive guide to interpreting the man-made environment. It contributed significantly to the development of design thinking principles and practices.

IDEO is often credited with inventing the term 'design thinking' and its practice. Design thinking has deep roots in a global conversation that has been unfolding for decades. IDEO started practicing human-centered design in 1978 and adopted the phrase 'design thinking' to describe the key elements of the practice.

IDEO was founded in 1984 and has since become a global design and innovation company known for its multidisciplinary approach to solving design challenges.

IDEO was established in 1991 through a merger of several design firms including David Kelley Design, Moggridge Associates, ID Two, and Matrix Product Design. It is known for its design thinking approach in creating products, services, and digital experiences.

In January 1996, office furniture manufacturer Steelcase Inc. made an equity investment in IDEO, and IDEO CEO David Kelley became Steelcase's vice-president of technical discovery and innovation.

The company became known as simply IDEO, Inc. in 1998.

Nightline featured IDEO in a segment where they were challenged to redesign the shopping cart in five days, showcasing IDEO's innovative process. The result was a shopping cart with a nestable steel frame, removable plastic baskets, a dual child seat, a swing-up tray, a cup holder, a barcode reader, and steerable back wheels.

In April 2001, IDEO unveiled 'Dilbert's Ultimate Cubicle' in partnership with cartoonist Scott Adams, showcasing innovative workspace design.

In 2002, IDEO delved into fashion design by helping create a high-tech showroom for Prada Group NV, reaching revenues of $72 million before the tech bust.

In a meeting with IDEO CEO Tim Brown in 2003, David Kelley had a breakthrough moment where they decided to rebrand IDEO's approach from 'design' to 'design thinking'. This shift in terminology marked a significant change in their methodology.

The d.school was founded at Stanford University with the goal of fostering creativity among students from various disciplines. David Kelley played a key role in promoting the idea of a diverse team to generate innovative ideas. The school's curriculum drew from fields like business, law, education, and engineering to enhance creative thinking.

In August 2010, IDEO launched OpenIDEO, a collaborative platform initially meant for internal use but later opened to the public. It aims to drive the creative process for solving social issues by enabling collaboration among individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise.

In 2011, IDEO incubated IDEO.org, a nonprofit focused on serving poor and vulnerable communities.

Japanese holding company Kyu Collective purchased a minority stake in IDEO in 2016, while Steelcase retained a small stake. This investment marked a new chapter for IDEO.

IDEO acquired Datascope, a data science firm based in Chicago, to enhance their focus on human-centered applications through advances in data sciences and machine learning. Datascope's team of 15 will join IDEO's Chicago office.

In April 2019, Sandy Speicher was appointed as the new CEO of IDEO, succeeding Tim Brown. This leadership transition marked a significant change in the company's direction.

After serving as IDEO's CEO for nineteen years, Tim Brown announced his resignation last week, passing the position to former global managing director Sandy Speicher. The transition signifies a new chapter for IDEO and its approach to design thinking.

In November 2022, IDEO announced Derek Robson as the incoming CEO, effective January 5, 2023. This leadership change signaled a new era for the design and consulting firm.

In 2024, IDEO has a privacy and cookie policy in place to improve browsing experience. They use cookies to enhance user experience and even boost morale with cake on Fridays.