About Ivy
Ivy Ross is a distinguished leader in design and innovation, currently serving as Vice President of Hardware Design at Google, and contributing as an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute.
Who is Ivy Ross?
Ivy Ross leads the design vision for Google's hardware products, including phones, laptops, home devices, and wearables. Her work has significantly shaped Google's consumer technology offerings, establishing a cohesive design language that has garnered numerous industry accolades. Ross is recognized for her ability to integrate art, psychology, science, and technology to foster human-centric design solutions.
She is a prominent voice in the discourse on creativity and its impact on human well-being, co-authoring the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. Through her work at Google and her contributions to various thought leadership platforms, Ross emphasizes the importance of design, innovation, and a supportive workplace culture in driving success.
Quick facts about Ivy Ross
| Role | Vice President of Hardware Design |
| Company | |
| Expertise | Hardware Design, Innovation, Creativity, Leadership, Workplace Culture, Sound Therapy |
| Notable for | Leading Google's hardware design language (240+ awards), co-authoring Your Brain on Art |
| BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |
What is Ivy Ross known for?
Ivy Ross is known for several key contributions and achievements:
- Revolutionizing Google's Hardware Design: She developed Google's award-winning hardware design language, launched in 2017, which has since accumulated over 240 design awards. This achievement led Fast Company to recognize Google as the most important design company in 2018.
- Co-authoring Your Brain on Art: Alongside Susan Magsamen, she co-authored the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us (2023), which explores the neuroscience of creativity and the profound impact of the arts on human health and potential.
- Executive Leadership in Fortune 500 Companies: Ross has held significant executive roles at major corporations such as Calvin Klein, Swatch, Coach, Mattel, Old Navy, Gap, Art.com, Bausch & Lomb, and Procter & Gamble, demonstrating a track record of achievement in diverse retail, direct mail, and manufacturing environments.
- Pioneering Innovative Projects: She spearheaded initiatives like "Project Platypus" in previous roles, focusing on sustainability and collaborative team efforts to drive innovation and positive organizational change.
- Distinguished Jewelry Design Career: Before her corporate roles, Ross was an acclaimed jewelry designer whose work is featured in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian, the V&A, and 12 international museums. She is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, the Women in Design Award, and the Diamond International Award.
What is Ivy Ross's background and experience?
Ivy Ross's extensive career spans multiple industries, showcasing her versatile leadership and design expertise. She received general management training at Harvard Business School, which complemented her innate talent for design and innovation. Her early career saw her recognized as a jewelry designer, with her creations exhibited in major museums globally.
Ross transitioned into executive roles within Fortune 500 companies, systematically applying her creative and leadership acumen to brands such as Calvin Klein, Swatch, Coach, and Procter & Gamble. Her strategic vision allowed her to grow global businesses, successfully enter new markets, and develop new brands. Prior to her current role at Google, she held executive positions at Mattel, Old Navy, Gap, Art.com, and Bausch & Lomb.
Beyond her professional accolades, Ross completed a master's program in energy medicine and has dedicated three decades to studying sound and vibration, integrating these insights into her broader understanding of human potential and wellness.
What topics does Ivy Ross speak and write about?
Ivy Ross frequently speaks and writes on critical topics at the intersection of design, technology, human potential, and organizational culture. Her work often delves into the transformative power of creativity and the arts, as highlighted in her book Your Brain on Art. She explores how artistic engagement can profoundly affect the human brain and overall well-being, advocating for the integration of creative thinking into all aspects of life and work.
Her discourse extends to innovation leadership, emphasizing how to foster environments where creativity flourishes and how design can be leveraged to create meaningful and impactful products. Ross also addresses the dynamics of workplace culture, focusing on team orchestration, collaboration, and strategies for maximizing human potential within organizations. Additionally, her background in sound therapy informs discussions on the broader applications of sensory experiences in design and personal development. She has been a speaker on podcasts such as Design Better, Clever, and Time Sensitive, discussing her design philosophy, the impact of art, and Google's design principles.
How does Ivy Ross contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
As an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, Ivy Ross shares her extensive knowledge and experience in leadership, design, and innovation with BPI's global network. Her insights are invaluable to BPI members seeking to understand how to cultivate creative cultures, drive impactful design strategies, and enhance employee engagement within their own organizations. Ross's approach aligns with BPI's mission to identify and disseminate best practices that contribute to creating Most Loved Workplaces® and foster organizational excellence through frameworks like the SPARK Model. Her expertise helps BPI advance its research into how innovation and human-centered design principles translate into tangible business success and a thriving workplace.
Where can you learn more from Ivy Ross?
To learn more from Ivy Ross, explore her contributions as an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute. You can also delve into her book, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, co-authored with Susan Magsamen. Further insights into her work and philosophy can be found through her interviews on podcasts like Design Better, Clever, and Time Sensitive. She has also served as a contributing author to publications such as The Change Champion's Field Guide and Best Practices in Leadership Development and Organizational Change.