Art of Innovation 2. Winging it in Start-Up Mode

The founders of what would one day be IDEO set up their first office in a couple rooms above a dress shop in Palo Alto.

They enjoyed creating a playful office with unique decorations and pervasive pranks.

With no business plan, David Kelley met Steve Jobs through the company's neighbor. The meeting led to a collaboration on the Lisa computer and the mouse. David Kelley loved the infectious culture and at Apple where employees of all levels of experienced appears to collaborate seamlessly.

Pranks and wild play led to taking chances and problem solving, stumbling left to forward momentum.

The company became David Kelley Design and then IDEO (from "ideology") in 1991.

Chapter Takeaway: Play leads to innovation.