Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Why Empowering Creative People In Business Works: Steve Jobs, Jonathan Ive And Pixar

By Byron Jonas


The people and companies that are flourishing today benefit from brilliant innovation in their product designs, business and marketing strategies. In basic terms, they accomplish this by empowering creative people in business. Three examples who fall into this description are Steve Jobs, Jonathan Ive and Pixar.

Most people will recognize the name of Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple Computers. His many achievements are too numerous to list within the scope of this articles, and include industry-changing, market-shifting strategies and concepts, astute product deployment and creative branding techniques, the growth of an immensely loyal user-base and a plethora of frequently controversial decisions and statements. Mr Jobs is a prime example of the value that innovative individuals add to the business world.

This article describes the results of Jobs empowering the correct individuals to become industry-leaders and create revolutionary products in two instances: investing in/buying The Graphics Group, now called Pixar; and employing Jonathan Ive. The products created by the group of genius individuals that compose Pixar and the results of Ive's innovative product designs at Apple have been exceptionally well-received, and the intense creativity employed in their respective models and practices has motivated the implementation of industry-wide changes.

Ive is the genius design chief behind Apple's iMac, the innovative, highly distinctive all-in-one desktop that became the top-selling computer in the US shortly after its release ten years ago. Today, the iMac maintains a respectable market share, but Ive has not been idle. The iPod, iPhone, and iPad have turned the world on its head.

Industry-changing technology, Apple's (and Ive's) attractive design aesthetics, easy-to-use operating systems and customizable functionality (not to mention the massive success of the iTunes and App Stores) have made Apple's iDevices coveted status symbols.

Pixar stands for technological innovation, artistic integrity, the highest quality standards and, above all, valuing talent and the creative process in all aspects of their organization. This philosophy has led them to eleven critically-acclaimed, stratospherically-grossing animated features (March 2011). Pixar has been awarded the most lauded creative, technical and business awards and honors thanks to their films, their ever-growing contributions to technological development and their enviably empowering model (which is informed by Frank Gehry's 'Organization of the Artist', which prioritizes talent, creativity and artistic integrity over other interests).

The empowerment of creative people in business is always a great strategy for success. The luminaries featured in this article have contributed to and improved their industries in more ways than their obvious developmental and technological achievements. They have also introduced new models in terms of best practices, tech trendsetting, market strategies and HR management.




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