Creative Control

Ideo layoffs and the end of design thinking


Listen Later

Ideo is one of the most famous global design agencies in the world. Founded in 1991, it is celebrated for popularizing the modern corporate mantra of design thinking. It’s also known for a top-tier client list including companies such as Coca-Cola, Disney, and Apple, with estimated annual revenues of more than $100 million. But Ideo has been shedding employees since 2020. This is the second round of layoffs in 2023 alone. Ideo has since confirmed to Fast Company that it’s eliminating 32% of its headcount this year. Fast Company Senior Editor Liz Stinson breaks down the reason for the layoffs and what this means for "design thinking."

For more, check out Mark Wilson's piece on Ideo

"People thought we were crazy." Somos cofounder and CEO Miguel Leal wanted to bring authentic Mexican food to people's kitchens. "It was time to move the cuisine forward," he said. "Eighty-two percent of Mexican food comes from a restaurant. That is not the same for Italian food. That is not the same for Chinese food. That is very peculiar to Mexican food. And because of the size of the market, it's a $68 billion market. We just thought, what a great opportunity to become the spaghetti and sauce of Mexican food."

And speaking of home cooking, Happy Thanksgiving!!

For more MIC behind-the-scenes, check out Yaz at @yazzyg on Instagram and Josh @joshuagchris on TikTok!

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Creative ControlBy Fast Company

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

60 ratings


More shows like Creative Control

View all
Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,979 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,396 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,887 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,694 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,094 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,712 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,812 Listeners

Make Me Smart by Marketplace

Make Me Smart

5,490 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,516 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,135 Listeners

The New Way We Work by Fast Company

The New Way We Work

100 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,078 Listeners

Fiction - Comedy Fiction by The Sunset Explorers

Fiction - Comedy Fiction

6,445 Listeners

World Changing Ideas by Fast Company

World Changing Ideas

23 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,503 Listeners

Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company

Most Innovative Companies

64 Listeners

On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

On with Kara Swisher

3,368 Listeners

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Lemonada Media

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

10,574 Listeners

Brand New World by Fast Company

Brand New World

9 Listeners

Office Hour by Fast Company

Office Hour

0 Listeners

By Design by Fast Company

By Design

7 Listeners