product development | Fast Company

3 Ways To Put Your Customer First

BY Emily HeywardFri Dec 16, 2011

The brand that puts its users first, whose sole purpose is to serve them, will surely win. But it’s one thing to know this, another to put it in action. So this holiday season, start with these three simple ways to grow your business by practicing generosity.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

How To Give Your Customers More Of What They Love

BY Greg RollettThu Dec 15, 2011

It is always easier, less expensive, and more effective to sell more to existing customers than it is to attract, court, and sell to new ones. Here are the best ways entrepreneurs and small business owners can provide multiple products at multiple price points to keep customers coming back for more. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

What Where They Thinking? For Oreo--And Lots Of Brands--Bigger Isn't Better

BY Sandie GlassFri Nov 4, 2011

Marketed as America's favorite cookie, Oreo has become an American icon. Two chocolaty circular cookie wafers held together by a sweet vanilla creme filled center have become the perfect accompaniment for milk and an irresistible ...READ»

CHRISTOPHER COX

A Visit With Facebook's VP Of Product, And The Social Network's Redesign Team

BY Cliff KuangThu Sep 22, 2011

In all the coverage of Facebook and its dominance, one group is seldom talked about: The 64-member design staff, which is busy honing interactions that affect hundreds of millions of people. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

What Were They Thinking? The Cautionary Tale Of Kinoki's Snake-Oil Ad Tactics

BY Sandie GlassWed Aug 10, 2011

Kinoki foot pads promised to painlessly suck harmful toxins from your body through the soles of your feet, and the company sold $14 million worth before its ads were yanked by the FTC and it was forced to pay it all back. The first in a series about the absurd ideas and products that actually made it to market--and what we can learn from them. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Best Way To Develop A New Product

BY Neil BaronMon Aug 8, 2011

Most companies develop a product and then ask marketing to figure out who may want to buy it. There is no guarantee that anyone will. There is a better way to increase the odds of commercial success.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Beautiful Consumer At The Ball: How Consumers Can Lead The Choice For Brands

BY Douglas CretsTue Jun 14, 2011

Consumers are like the beautiful lady at the ball. They have all the power and the time in the world to make their choices. But her suitors, the marketing and product development teams, really have no idea what she wants. We're about to find out. READ»

LADY GAGA

Four Keys To Creating Products For The Lady Gaga Generation

BY Sarah NagleWed Jun 1, 2011

I think Gen Y is awesome because they are dramatically shaping how we all think about design. But, I am a little biased -- I was born in 1981, which makes me Gen Y, too. In April, one of my colleagues at Smart Design and I were asked ... READ»

MANAGEMENT

To Innovate for Boomers, P&G and LG Are Tapping... College Kids?!

BY Kaomi GoetzMon Mar 14, 2011

Last year, when Proctor & Gamble set out to make its Tide liquid laundry-soap packaging more appealing to seniors, the company turned to the last designers on earth you’d expect: college students. [The Indiana-based medical ... READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Taking Your Product from Concept to Shelf

BY Kaihan KrippendorffWed Feb 2, 2011

I got a chance to sit down with Vik Venkatraman, author of "Inspired! Take Your Product Dream from Concept to Shelf," and I asked this former Red Bull brand manager, break-dance event promoter, Deloitte consultant, and serial entrepreneur what tips he has for someone interested in moving their dreams from mental shelves and onto store shelves.READ»

MARKETING | Comment

Why Pretty Pictures Are Not Enough

BY Bobby BranniganWed May 19, 2010

Make sure your business looks good without makeupREAD»

STRATEGIC PLANNING | Comment

If You Snooze You Lose: Real-Time Execution Wave & The Speed of Innovation

BY nwolfe@quantumleaders.comThu May 13, 2010

A Note to Our Readers: In this installment, my Quantum Leaders colleague, Gregg Gallagher, contributes another post from our Quantum Thinking blog which continues our "Strategic Planning is Dead" ...READ»

BUSINESS DECISION MAKING | Comment

New Community Metrics for Corporate “Value”

BY Richard LangThu May 13, 2010

The current protests against Wall Street executives have made me think about how we look at corporations, and perhaps how that might soon expand. From the protests on television, you would think some people want corporations to disappear from the face of the earth. And at the same time, people are protesting the lack of jobs. To me, this paradox presents a big opportunity to shift our perspective.READ»

BUSINESS DECISION MAKING | Comment

Choosing Wisely

BY Richard LangTue May 4, 2010

Humans are distinguished from animals by their ability to make choices. When a horse gets hungry, he puts his head down in the grass and starts chewing; he doesn’t try to decide between eating now or later, or between grass and an apple. He eats what is in front of his nose.READ»

DESIGN RESEARCH | Comment

Participatory Design: Less Design, More Participating

BY Ross TeagueTue Apr 27, 2010

Sure your consumers are participating, but are they designing? Participatory design has been an on again, off again approach to design that currently is in the “on again” status. It promises a lot, but what does it really deliver?READ»

DESIGN RESEARCH | Comment

The New VOC

BY Ross TeagueThu Apr 22, 2010

Voice of Customer (VOC) research is so yesterday. Forget what you think VOC is and understand that it is so much more.READ»

DESIGN RESEARCH | Comment

I’m a Thief and You Should Be Too

BY Ross TeagueThu Apr 15, 2010

Theft of any type is generally frowned upon but when looking for techniques to help you conduct better design research, all’s fair. There are several considerations for making sure your thievery gives you the biggest payoff. READ»

DESIGN RESEARCH | Comment

What is design’s role in the future of healthcare?

BY Ross TeagueThu Apr 1, 2010

While we are talking about healthcare, lets not forget the role design plays in the development of medical devicesREAD»

DESIGN RESEARCH | Comment

That’s not how we did it in my day!

BY Ross TeagueTue Mar 9, 2010

President Obama and the nation’s governors met recently to discuss the preparation of students for college and careers. This isn’t the first administration to address this and it’s not a new topic, but as test scores of American ...READ»

DESIGN RESEARCH | Comment

Scalpel, Forceps...iPhone?

BY Ross TeagueMon Feb 22, 2010

Two product developers debate the pros and cons of non-dedicated medical devices READ»