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R. MICHAEL HENDRIX

I am a founder, creative director, professor, and author. I gained widespread recognition as a Partner and the Global Design Director for IDEO, one of the world’s leading design and innovation firms. Often a spokesperson for the firm, I helped the public understand the full practice of design, from abstract applications such as strategy and innovation to more commonly understood work like new product development and experience design.

During my tenure I also led transformative organizational initiatives, built a global creative excellence program, and consulted with clients across various sectors and domains, from San Francisco to Shanghai. My high profile work spanned from entrepreneurship development with the White House to growth strategy for the GRAMMYs as well as working with diverse brands from Converse to Tempur Sealy.
While each industry has it’s own unique character, their challenges remain universal—accessing new markets, understanding customers, developing relevant offers and adapting the organization to deliver them. Innovative solutions require a balance of desirability, feasibility and viability, tenets of design thinking, an innovation methodolgy that appears in all of my work. Design thinking begins with understanding what is desirable from a human point of view (including sustaining our resources), and marries this with what is technologically feasible and economically viable.

Today I lead Huldunótur, a design practice that helps Iceland based organizations, brands, and individuals unleash their creative potential. I also teach design thinking and entrepreneurhship at Bifröst University, design strategies at Iceland University of the Arts and continue with my business in the US, Invisible Notes.

The following cases are representative of milestones in my career. Recent work available upon request.