Browse Case Studies

IDEO is a design agency founded by David Kelley that has helped dozens of companies design innovative products, starting with Apple's first computer mouse in 1980. The firm emphasizes using design thinking principles, diverse perspectives, and cross-functional collaboration to solve complex problems. David also co-founded Stanford's d.school to teach design-based problem solving to students.

Meridith Baer, a former screenwriter and actress, started a home staging business at age 50 after accidentally discovering the opportunity when a rental house she'd decorated sold immediately. She built one of the most well-known home staging companies in real estate, operating across Los Angeles, New York, Miami and beyond with hundreds of employees and multiple warehouses, without ever raising outside capital. Her success came from understanding the psychology of staging—designing spaces that make buyers fall in love in the first 10 seconds—and pricing based on value created rather than hours worked.