A Fine Line: How Design Strategies Are Shaping the Future of Business Hardcover – Illustrated, June 29, 2009

First, this book is dated. It was written before Facebook was on the stage, and the innovations over the last 12+ years are a glaring gap as you read this.Second, the bulk of this book centered around the author's ego and the big name people he knows and works for. The book talks repeatedly about all the companies who hired him and succeeded. Conversely, it was not shy in associating failures with a companies refusal to hire him, and it seems like any pitch he didn't win was due to lack of innovative thought on the part of the client. Additionally, the author seems to go out of his way to avoid discussion of failures, outside 1-2 that had nothing to do with his core business.There is one chapter that talks in detail about the environmental impact of design that I felt was really interesting. It is because of this chapter that I bumped the review to the 2nd star (and only because 1/2 stars aren't accepted).Beyond that, I definitely don't recommend

I really liked "A fine line". Harmut Esslinger shares his experience and insights gathered during all his carreer. His wisdom about "selectivity" explained as a key carreer success is one the most useful advice I found in the book. He is very convincing in his field, the industrial design, a bit less when it comes to digital design. But still A Fine Line is worth reading, as it is rare to access so directly to the thinking of great "design achievers" such as Harmut Esslinger.

As a new venture strategist I recognize every day the "fine line" between home run deals and strike-out deals. This book is a great read about a great designer and his even more famous clients. This book offers one reality check after another. The reader has to have his/her attitude on "Got-to-Have" mode to take away the jewels Hartmut has packed in this box. Hartmut didn't have to write this book and give away so many secrets about frog design's success - he did and I'm better off today for it.

Let's all join hands and sing kumbaya... I was hoping for some good insight into the design process and instead get a diatribe on saving the planet and how design = (or should) corporate strategy. Those of us in the industry know Frog's success is pretty much solely the result of their association with Flextronics, an ability (or good luck) to have compliant clients, and an ability to bring "fashion" to otherwise utilitarian products. I was hoping for detailed thoughts on things like region influence on design, various design trade-off issues, and the design/engineering/manufacturing interface. Zip. If you are of the save the planet mindset this book may have appeal but if you have to make a living doing design and managing its' product execution it is pretty worthless.

This book, while a little short is something that every designer should read. This book along with Design Forward point out how just how small of a total vision most designers have in respect to the product they are designing. Not just that particular item but also where the materials come from, the influence the factory has on the surrounding area, what happens after its used and so on. Short but excellent read.

Hartmut has one or two "off" chapters, but otherwise this is a genius book showing genuine insight to industry and what it takes to stick out from the crowd. How to attack design instead of being complacent. A very good read.

Cost cutting is a race to the bottom. Design and Innovation (a powerful combination) is the new differentiator - and who better to talk about it than Esslinger.

I was reading this book after John Ive's biography book and this is very interesting point of view on the same times and cases but from different angle.

Quaility!

Order today, delivered in 2 days as expected from Amazon. Wonderful package of Amazon.in. Amazon is going to rock in India too.Now about the book. One of the best books i have ever read. My admiration for this book goes on and on. MUST read for everyone. Great to learn the experiences of a great designer who has shared workplaces with best of the world. Love to work with these kind of people in my life if God gives me an opportunity. Thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts with the world Mr. Hartmut. I salute you for what you have done for the world.