TED Talk: The first secret of great design | Tony Fadell

In this funny, breezy talk, the man behind the iPod and the Nest thermostat shares some of his tips for noticing — and driving — change.

Tony Fadell holding yo-yo.

Tony Fadell has an impressive resume, he is known as the "father of the iPod" and co-creator of the iPhone. He later co-founded Nest Labs and launched a series of smart home products, including the well known Nest Thermostat.

The Invisible Problem

Fadell starts his speech by describing little things, he want to emphasize how important the little things are. He thinks that great thinkers, not only designers, notice these things and when you see the world for what it truly is, you can be truly innovative. He tells us the story of the first windshield wiper, and also why battery-powered products come charged out of the box.

He calls this the invisible problem. He insists great design comes from trying to solve the invisible problem, instead of the obvious one.

"That's my first tip, look broader. For my second tip, look closer."

A lifetime of habits

He talks about a story he had with his son; in short, his son asks why doesn't the mailbox check itself instead of having to go out there and check it. He tells him he doesn't have the answer and it's just how the world works. He argues that this is why young minds are important on design teams, they force everyone else to think younger.

"We all saw the world clearly when we saw it for the first time, until a lifetime of habits got in the way."

You can find the TED Talk linked below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uOMectkCCs