Don Norman was recently named by Business Week as "one of the world's most influential designers." His studies and books on design theory coupled with his extensive academic and industry experience help companies produce enjoyable and effective products and services. Norman brings a systems approach to design, arguing that great design must touch every aspect of a company.
He is well known for his books, including "The Design of Everyday Things" and "Emotional Design" "The well-rounded product," says Norman, "will enhance the heart as well as the mind, being a joy to behold as well as to use." He is the co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group, an IDEO fellow, a Trustee of IIT's Institute of Design in Chicago, professor emeritus at Northwestern University and the University of California, San Diego. He has been a Vice President of Apple and an executive at Hewlett Packard. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)