Working Backwards to the Technology

John Gruber:

That’s why Jobs dismantled Apple’s pure R&D department, the Advanced Technology Group. The work ATG had done wasn’t all thrown away, but what continued was product-focused rather than technology-focused. Starting with the product and working backwards to the technology instead of the other way around has made all the difference in the world for Apple.

A great read if only for the Apple angle, but if you’re an artist, you would be smart to learn the lesson here—saying ‘no’ is much more important than saying ‘yes.’

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