51 pages • 1 hour read
Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All
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Key Figures
David Kelley
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness.
David Kelley is one of the foremost figures in the modern design and innovation movement. As the founder of IDEO and the Stanford d.school (officially the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design), David has been instrumental in shaping how organizations approach problem-solving, creativity, and user-centered design. A mechanical engineer by training, he began his career at Boeing and other tech firms before co-founding a design firm that would eventually merge into IDEO, a global leader in innovation consulting. His work bridges the disciplines of engineering, business, psychology, and art, embodying the interdisciplinary spirit the book promotes.
In Creative Confidence, David serves not only as a co-author but also as a deeply personal case study. His battle with throat cancer—recounted in the Preface—adds emotional depth and urgency to the book’s central thesis: that unlocking one’s creative potential is not just professionally valuable but also a source of meaning, resilience, and legacy. David’s lived experiences—both personal and professional—give him a unique authority when he argues that creativity is not a rare gift but a skill that can be developed by anyone.
