NAIC 541420

Industrial Design Services

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

3companies1969–1991founding years3still active0no longer operating

§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory

FoundedFlextronics International Ltd.

1969

FoundedGroupe Guillin SA

1972

1975

TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.

1981

TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.

1984

TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.

1989

HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.

FoundedIDEO Inc.

1991

TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.

1993

TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.

1995

TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.

1997

EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.

2004

TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.

2007

TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.

2010

TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.

2015

EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.

2020

EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.

2022

EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.

2023

TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.

§ 02

The companies

Flextronics International Ltd. →

Active · founded 1969 · Singapore 408723

Flextronics International Ltd.

Groupe Guillin SA →

Active · founded 1972 · France

Groupe Guillin SA is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of plastics packaging products for the food and related…

IDEO Inc. →

Active · founded 1991

IDEO Inc.

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