The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley

The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity by IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm by Tom Kelley with Jonathan Littman. New York: Doubleday, 2001. ISBN: 0-385-49984-1

I read this book because of an article in American Libraries, one of two general library news publications that I regularly read. It comes as part of my membership in the American Library Association.

The article described the basic innovation strategy, or cycle espoused in the book, and attempted to apply it to libraries, and the projects that libraries undertake to serve their customers, patrons, or users, whatever term you wish to use. Here's that strategy in summary:

• Understand
• Observe
• Visualize
• Evaluate and refine
• Implement

Each of these steps is fleshed out in the book, with many examples of how IDEO has put that particular aspect of the process into practice. If you're looking for ways to innovate more creatively, to come up with better ways of doing things, to be more innovative in what you and your organization do, and how you do it, this book will give you lots of ideas, lots of things to try, and plenty of suggestions. Recommended if you're interested in, or needing this kind of advice.