Dec 30th 2007 Update: I’ve added a new entry, “Mr. James Dyson, Tear Down This Wall!” to add my latest thinking on the Dyson Vacuum.
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“I thought it would take me about six months. In fact it took me 4.5 years and I built 5,127 prototypes until I got it right. That sounds tedious. In fact it was absolutely fascinating. I mean each failure, the 5,126 failures taught me so much. Successes teach you nothing. Failures teach you everything. Making mistakes is the most important thing you can do.” said James Dyson.
James is one of the coolest inventor, design genius, and entrepreneur that I know of. I saw James’ fascinating, fun to read and insightful book “Against the Odds: An Autobiography” sitting rather sadly in the discount bin of Chapters bookstore in 2003 and I immediately love it. James’ book was an absolue eyes opener for me and I have learned so much from him. He is not only a genius inventor (his products are innovative and benchmark setting), he is also a great entrepreneur (he built his business from the ground up to a multi-billion dollar company in the UK and around the world).
By the way, James also fought (costing $10 million) and won a really tough patent infringement battle against Hoover (dusts finally settling 7 years later)! That was not a fun exercise for James to say the least. (discussed at around 32:40 of the video.)
By the way, Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple Computer, godfather of iMac and iPod, saw Dyson’s vacuum cleaner when it first came out and he loved it so much that he immediately bought one for himself and one for Steve Jobs. And then, this is the fun part — the iMac came out *after* the Dyson vacuum cleaner!! But because of the popularity of iMac, most people think that Dyson copied iMac when it is really the other way around. (smile)
By chance, I came across this talk “The Art of Engineering” given by James at MIT on April 26, 2006. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. (Note: The whole talk is great but James started to talk about his wonderful vacuum cleaner at around the 20 minutes mark.)
Note: Is there such a thing as “by chance”? I strong believe that “Chance Favors the Prepared Mind” so if you are prepared and ready to “see or find” things, then you will see and find really cool lectures like James’ talk and you will treasure it. Just my 2 cents.
P.S. Here is a list of US patents hold by James. As I may have discussed previously, patent is a great tool to learn about things. They are very technical (an instruction set to build the thing) but the patents give you the full picture as required by patent laws. Happy learning.
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Sunday, 19 November, 2006 at 8:30 am
[...] I’ve previously blogged about the most insightful and creative inventor James Dyson. Here is a new article by him, “Industry will thrive if we focus on good design“. Here is an excerpt, [K: emphasis mine] For British design to prosper, we need to think long term. We can’t expect miracles; design is a slow (often painfully so) process of trial and error. “Eureka” moments are few and far between. It took 5127 prototypes before I produced the first vacuum cleaner that didn’t clog or lose suction. Each was a smaller piece in a larger design puzzle. It takes time, patience and money to bring innovation to life. [...]
Wednesday, 6 June, 2007 at 7:24 pm
The more I read about Dyson the more I like him. He seems like a practical guy. Not to compare, but Dean Kamen (of Segway fame) seems a bit more “out there” working wild and crazy things vs. Dyson’s more practical approach. I’ve recently blogged on the Dyson vacuum and my view as a product manager on why they are doing well.
http://onproductmanagement.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/why-is-dyson-doing-so-well/
Saeed
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Hi Saeed,
James and Dean work in different space so I guess it is difficult to decide which is “better” if there is such a thing.
Cheers,
Kempton
Monday, 6 August, 2007 at 11:54 am
[...] in my head. In case you don’t know, James Dyson is the inventor of the Dyson vacuum cleaner. It took Dyson 4.5 years and 5,127 prototypes until he got his vacuum cleaner right. It fascinates me to see this Dragons’ Den entrepreneur’s approach in contrast with the [...]
Saturday, 15 March, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Stay far away from Dyson
Dyson DC07
Not only was I unhappy with this vacuum from day one, I later found customer support not only to be non-responsive, but to lie to me.
This has no light, is to high to go under most furniture most vacuums glide under and has no release from the upright position. You need to place a foot off balance at the front edge and lower the handle. From day one, mine had a “catch” that sometimes did not allow it to lower the handle.
After a few years, the entire housing cracked in two. Emailed Dyson and no response. Several times.
After a week, I called. Spoke with Elizabeth Williams and I wanted to send a picture as this is most definitely a manufacturing defect. She gave me an email address. Never got a reply even after emailing a half dozen times.
Called again and got Martin Rubio. Very nice guy who looked at the picture, said he had never seen anything like this and put me under 7 day warranty to get it fixed and told me exactly who to take it to some 40 miles away. I did.
Several weeks later the repair place called to say it was ready, but Dyson would not honor the warranty. I called Martin who was now less than responsive. He claims his manager overruled him after telling me this would be fixed under warranty. Could do nothing for me even after making a commitment.
So now off to find out how much this will cost me.
Bad product, worse company. My advice, buy something else.
Saturday, 15 March, 2008 at 7:44 pm
My fiance kept going on and on about Dyson’s until I finally caved and we bought one. It’s brilliant and I love it. James Dyson is my hero.
Monday, 17 March, 2008 at 1:41 pm
@rebop
Where are you based? UK, US, or Canada, etc.?
Sounds like you had some real bad experience. Yours is the first one that I’ve heard about the housing cracked into two. That would suck. And I am surprised and disappointed if Dyson service had no responses to your problem. Do you have a picture of the cracked Dyson posted online? I think Dyson is great but I think it is important to let the problems to be known too.
I am more shocked that the second service rep first told you the fix will be covered under warranty and then told you his decision has been overruled.
Can you please update us on what has happened since you posted your comment? I am interested enough to follow up with you. And may be with Dyson directly, if I can get your case details. Please email me.
Regards,
Kempton
Monday, 17 March, 2008 at 1:46 pm
@Laine
Good to hear you have a wonderful experience with your Dyson.
Regards,
Kempton
Tuesday, 8 July, 2008 at 7:57 am
“Successes teach you nothing. Failures teach you everything. Making mistakes is the most important thing you can do”
Very wise quote.
Wednesday, 9 July, 2008 at 12:45 am
Hi Jamie,
I absolutely love that quote and believe it. “Successes teach you nothing. Failures teach you everything. Making mistakes is the most important thing you can do.”
- K
Friday, 1 August, 2008 at 11:45 am
i have invented a solar air dryer which is totaly self sustaining invest ni paid for the patent surch and it looks promising but i have had a run of bad luck and cant afford to do anything with it iwould rather you have it for nothing than any wone else come out with it what email addres would you like me to send it to
Friday, 1 August, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for the kind thought of offering your idea or patent to me for free but I have to politely refuse. You are passionate about your idea and I am not.
Many inventors don’t realize how much work is involved in bring an idea (or even a patented idea) to market and make it a success. A great patented idea is like getting a number to compete in the Boston marathon, the inventor/entrepreneur still has to run it, finish it, and try to win it. :)
I have my marathon to run and to try to win and I wish you the best of luck in yours.
Regards,
Kempton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon
P.S. I highly recommend you read James Dyson’s autobiography, there are much to learn from James’ successes and failures.