The XO laptop designed for the One Laptop per Child initiative represents the intersection of industrial design and social utility that defines the career of Yves Béhar. By prioritizing low-cost, low-power hardware for students in developing nations, Béhar demonstrated how manufacturing efficiency could influence global education access, a core pillar of his professional output across multiple industrial sectors.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1967 in Lausanne, Switzerland, Béhar pursued formal training in Europe before relocating to the United States. He attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial design in 1991. Before establishing his own firm, he operated within the professional frameworks of Frog Design and Lunar Design in Silicon Valley, where he contributed to product identities for firms including Apple, Silicon Graphics, and Hewlett-Packard.
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In 1999, Béhar established the design and brand management firm Fuseproject in San Francisco and New York. The firm provides product design services for sectors including technology, sports, lifestyle, and fashion. By 2010, the company achieved recognition from the Industrial Designers Society of America, receiving 14 awards for its output. Beyond his firm, he served as chair of the Industrial Design Program at the California College of the Arts from 2005 to 2012.
Wearable Technology and Consumer Hardware
Béhar held the position of Chief Creative Officer at the wearable technology company Jawbone from 2003 to 2017. During this tenure, he oversaw the branding and design for the JAMBOX series of speakers and the UP health and wellness wristband. His hardware design portfolio further includes the Snoo smart bassinet, the Source home soda machine for SodaStream, and The Frame television, a collaborative effort with Samsung that incorporates digital art displays.
Social and Philanthropic Initiatives
Sustainability and social impact are central to Béhar's design philosophy. He served as a member of the Founder's Circle of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. His humanitarian design projects include the 'Ver Bien para Aprender Mejor' initiative, which distributes custom eyeglasses to students in Mexico, and his role as principal designer for the SPRING Accelerator, which supports entrepreneurs focused on improving outcomes for adolescent girls in poverty-stricken regions.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Education: Bachelor of Science, Art Center College of Design
- Firm founded: Fuseproject, 1999
- Role: Chief Creative Officer, Jawbone, 2003–2017
- Design focus: Industrial design, brand development
- Academic role: Chair, Industrial Design, California College of the Arts, 2005–2012
Questions readers ask
What is the scope of Fuseproject?
Fuseproject is an industrial design and brand management firm that handles product development for sectors such as fashion, sports, lifestyle, and technology.
What was Béhar's involvement with Jawbone?
He served as the Chief Creative Officer from 2003 to 2017, overseeing the design of products like the JAMBOX speaker and the UP health wristband.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Jawbone and California College of the Arts
- Educated at Art Center College of Design
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