The Designful Company: How to Build a Culture of Nonstop Innovation

I consider myself a student of design thinking. As such I'm always seeking to learn more about this topic and how I might apply it in my work. While I am constantly on the lookout for writings by Tim Brown, Roger Martin and other design thinking gurus, I had not previously known about Marty Neumeier. I recall a mention of this book in a design blog. Now I'm glad I have read the book. It can be a short read, but I took my time with it. There were many passages that I read over multiple times because I wanted to reflect on them and write some notes and ideas. For me it was that kind of book - lots of inspiration. In fact I was so inspired by the "deep design" chart on page 81 that I wrote a blog post about it at my blog "Designing Better Libraries". You may want to read this post in addition to the review:[...]Here is an excerpt from my post:I liked this chart [Deep Design] so much that I shared it with my colleagues. We are working together to develop a new strategic plan for our library. For me it does a great job of effectively communicating the importance of first creating a library that has a strong core which then extends out to a clearly articulated identity and culture with well-regarded products with the right brand. If we can get this right we can then begin to move our user community beyond their surface perceptions of our library and what we do (e.g., we are only about books, doing research is painful, there is no one who can help you, etc.). I think this chart says more than my words can about the value you may derive from Neumeier's thoughts about design and how it can help improve our organizations.

If you haven't read a book by Marty Neumeier you're missing out. All his books are short, to the point, and very relevant. With that being said, The Designful Company, builds on the previous two books Neumeier wrote: The Brand Gap and Zag. If you've read them then great you'll love this book. But for those who haven't, I would suggest buying at least one of his previous books to understand his style and thinking first before buying this one.Neumeier proposes that design drives innovation: innovation powers brand: brand builds loyalty: and loyalty sustains profits. His definition of design is change (design = change) and he takes you through 16 levers which will launch you on a trajectory of change.I won't spill all the beans but Neumeier and Neutron LLC know what modern branding is and this book is the perfect edition to his previous two.

I have all 3 of Marty's whiteboard books.The Designful Company,WOW! Great book.Clear/Concise & Packed with Info!!!Marty taps into what is TRULY important in Design & Business!Instead of focusing on all the Glitz/Glamour/Egos & Competitiveness of the Design World, Marty focuses on Design THINKING/CREATIVITY and WHAT makes for SUCCESSFUL Design and Design's Impact on the Business World. The Designful Company presents a concept, no a reality, that I have beenpostulating for all of my 30+ years in Graphic Design & Marketing, thatGreat Design is INTRICATE and ESSENTIAL to successful business.

If you are married to "command and control" then this book will be uncomfortable for you. But if you have gotten over the illusion of control, you will find your future here. Read and implement. Then come back to it and read it again a year later. You will continue to extract additional value.

I'll keep it brief and to the Marty Neumeier style. Great insight, somewhat repetitive, a bit on the abstract and philosophical side. I much more preferred his ZAG book which contains the similar ideas but reads in a more fluid and informative way.

This book is not teaching you only the secrets of innovation and design, but also how to make your ideas and your colleagues ideas to build a new organization that will change your life. And I will promise you will not complain about your job anymore! so my only advice is read, learn and make these ideas work in the real world and watch the difference.

Provocative, stunning, and powerful - The Designful Company should be required reading in every MBA school in the country. Neumeier proposes a new perspective that will invigorate every company who is willing to take on new challenges: Create innovation and a chance to build wealth through design. Buy this book, you will not regret it.

Flashes of disorganized, occasionally useful brilliance. The wisdom of the peacock, not the owl. (Opinion of 80-year-old CEO/entrepreneur, now a member of boards.)

I bought this after reading Zag and The Brand Gap, both of which are excellent. Marty Neumeier has a distinctive style which is brief, to the point and almost always insightful. I would highly recommend this if you're expanding a company rather than trying to start-up.

Very insightful book. Every designer and strategist should read it! Marty Neumeier is a very creative professional and is an icon in the design world!

A good book for thinking which explains that how design can evoke in each and every part of business sector to make things beautiful. A well and logically explained that without a design there is nothing, if we need to create something we have to design, to some extent which is true. I would recommend this book for business managers, CEO or some one who is responsible for running a company. After the traditional 6 sigma or the 7S management this is something which helps you to think 'out of the box management'.

Whether you are in business and care about design or you are in design and care about business, this book will change your life. Marty Neumeier is peerless when it comes to changing the way we think about business. Let this book – and anything else he's written – be your inspiration and guide.(I've also discovered his books make great thank-you gifts, especially through Amazon, because they're short and snappy, and irresistibly readable.) There's a Chinese proverb that says, "A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers." The same could be said for Marty's books.

Design thinking is the way of the future.This book(let?) is perfect to share with your colleagues, if you really want to make your evangelisation job easier.