SB+Lab+1


 * __Lab 1:__

1. Question: Describe the unusual business model used in the ipod's fabrication as developed by Apple.**

The unusual business model used by Apple is how they branched out to other companies in order to design parts for their products. For example, the main frame, plastic, sound system, and other increments of the ipod came from companies within the Silicon Valley. For Apple, their first mode of importance was to know about the sound clarity of the ipod, and then the look and feel of the ipod. In accordance to the design principles, the look and feel of the product should be first and then comes the other components; Apple did it backwards.

To gather the required parts for the ipod, Apple reached out to specific companies who were best at specific products that would be beneficial for creating the ipod. For example, Sony was recruited to make lithium batteries for the ipod. Lastly, the MP3 decoder (the main element within the ipod) was embedded. The irony of this is that the most important component that completes the ipod was the last form of configuration that Apple reached to get. In effect, Apple created a layer strategy where they volume maximized the ipod and limited any form of useless space.

Also, as the process of finding the right components for the ipod Apple never tested the product till the very end. Most companies test their product constantly but Apple did not. Apple uniquely created a business model by having various trusted partners and having its products be made by those trusted companies that also do business with other clients other then Apple.


 * 2.** **What distinguishes the work of the team of Jobs and Ive in relation to products designed by Apple? What new materials are enabling different design?**

Their ideas and ability to look at various materials are opened just like the open space they created for different departments to work together. The company looks at everything and anything to create a product that is user-friendly and functional. Jobs and Ive both established a product and team that was "rebellious... unapologetic..." and created alternative and adventurers productions that showcases their personalities. This is different from other companies that were competing with the same agenda in mind. Ive and Jobs wanted to be "superficially" differently and make products better by using smartly invested resources. What Ive and Jobs did was to build products that were followed modern elements, were user friendly and simply designed.

New materials such as plastic, processes, and product architecture are enabling different modes of design. Ive and his team looks at ways of holding a product to using it in order to decide how it can be functionally designed for a user. Thus far, Ive and Jobs design team are looking at polymer advances and twin shooting materials. Polymer advances has enabled Apple to make composites in order to reach specific requirements and functional goals. Twin shooting on the other is a material that allows Jobs and Ive to mend plastic into one or corporate them into metal. These two types of material is what is making Jobs and Ive innovative mind a reality.


 * 3.** **Describe the importance of Apple's design team. Are other companies trying to compete with Apple by creating their own design teams?**

The importance of Apple's design team is that they are the leading innovators within the company. The team has one goal and work collaboratively with other departments (i.e marketing). The ergonomics of the environment allows the team to have privacy- as well as no room at all. The team is like a tight -knit family that is able to explore for ideas and make mistakes together due to their understanding of the products, tools, and purpose of the company. These mistakes are what leads them to great products because as Apple's motto says "Think Differently". Another issue that Apple designers do not have to deal with is budget constraints; the designers are able to use various forms of materials in order to make it complete, original and simple for their users.

Other companies such as Sony, Microsoft, and Hewliett- Packard are trying to compete with Apple by creating their own design team. This is because they see that Apple designs have hit emotional cords of buyers. However, since many companies are constrained by budgets and sale quotas, it makes it harder for them to catch up to Apple's uniqualy groomed design team.