IDEO
IDEO is a global design and innovation company committed to creating positive impact through human-centered design.
The company collaborates with clients to tackle complex challenges, ranging from addressing climate change and building new ventures to helping organisations be more creatively competitive.
Based
London
Additional locations
North America (Cambridge, Chicago, Palo Alto, San Francisco)
Europe (Munich)
Asia (Shanghai and Tokyo)
Founded
1991
Company Size
600+
Office Hours
9am-6pm (Flexible)
Specialism
Design Consultancy
Key Departments
Design Research, Communication Design, Interaction Design, Software Design, Data Science, Industrial and Product Design, Business Design, Organisation Design, Environments Design, Circular Design, Programme Management, Strategic Operations, Talent and HR, Employee Experience, Business Development, Marketing, Finance, IT, Coordination
Jobs and Opportunities
Packaging designed by H&M Group and IDEO, which saved an estimated 1,300 tons of single-use plastic in 2021
One of more than 80 Innova schools in Central and South America, designed by IDEO to provide international quality education at an affordable price
Updating Lufthansa’s long-haul business class service involved building a 1:1 model of an Airbus A380
Inside the Company
With roots dating back to 1978 in Palo Alto, California, IDEO was officially born in 1991. Today, the company’s studio and project spaces span North America, Europe and Asia.
Working across a range of skills and specialisms, the team is made up of designers, builders, entrepreneurs, engineers, data and behavioural scientists, teachers, researchers and other specialists.
There is a non-profit arm of IDEO called IDEO.org which designs products and services alongside organisations that are committed to creating a more just and inclusive world. IDEO is also part of kyu, a collective of strategically curated creative organisations.
The team at IDEO always make room for moments of humour and lightness
Mission and Values
IDEO knows that its advantage lies in the overlap between its team’s skills and lived experiences. With this in mind, the company looks to find, support, keep and nurture team members, while inspiring and enabling them to do their best work.
Underpinning this is a set of values that are central to IDEO’s culture and work – from being optimistic and collaborative to embracing ambiguity and learning from failure.
Diversity is important to IDEO, in particular the goal of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within its organisation.
All new hires receive the Little Book of IDEO on their first day, which captures the company’s history and values
Culture and Benefits
Impact is as important as ever at IDEO. It wants to be inclusive of both people and the planet, while having fun in the process.
Play is core to IDEO’s culture. There are creative making sessions every week, as well as inspirational lunches where the team gets to hear from a range of interesting people with varying beliefs and interests.
Employees also get access to a laptop, phone, pension, a learning and development budget, holiday insurance, eye care, healthcare, dental care, cycle scheme, wellness budget and income protection.
Inside the IDEO offices
IDEO is a human-centered company that makes room for furry friends
The London studio mirrors the qualities of the city: curious, worldly and optimistic
Entry-Level Opportunities
There is a whole raft of initiatives designed to help new team members settle in. Newcomers are matched with mentors to help them navigate not only their careers, but IDEO as a company – both from a content and cultural point of view.
Those working at the European arm of IDEO can expect to attend weekly meetings with discipline-specific cohorts – an opportunity to catch up, share inspiration and work on specific projects. Depending on the project, it is expected that most people will work in multidisciplinary teams across both London and Munich.