TEN THINGS ABOUT ME
25 Things About Yves Behar
As chief creative officer for Jawbone, Yves Behar is responsible for some of the most iconic product designs in the tech world, the Jawbone bluetooth earpiece and the Jambox. In his spare time, he also designed the XO series of laptops for the One Laptop Per Child project and the Leaf Light and Sayl Task Chair for Herman Miller. All of these things embody an elegant combination of form, function and style — so it’s not surprising that he idolizes Charles Eames and Paul Rand. Below, he shares a little bit about the man behind the curtain, as well as his stellar taste in literature.
What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
Barbapapa as a child, The Avengers and The Persuaders as a teen.
What qualities do you like in a person?
Engaging and passionate, original thinking, genuine.
What qualities do you dislike?
Boastfulness, lack of caring, disconnectedness.
Name one thing you will regret never having done (if you never do it)
Surfing Jaws in Maui.
What’s the single most important issue in the world today?
We do not have a vision for the future of ALL of humanity.
Do you still buy CDs or rent DVDs?
No.
What would you be doing if you were not in your current job?
Can’t imagine.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
Believing in a few crazy ideas, like Jawbone and One Laptop Per Child. Having a great family and being happy.
iPhone, Android or BlackBerry?
iPhone, but I’m always hungry.
If you could meet any historical or fictional person, who would it be?
Living: Charles Eames, Fictional: Papillon.
What site/app do you check first when you wake up?
UP by Jawbone to see how long I have slept.
What was the last thing you fixed?
The training wheels on my son’s bicycle.
What was your first computer?
Some kind of Mac.
What was your biggest mistake?
I make many, my biggest mistake is not to acknowledge them fast enough.
Do you have a dog or cat or other pet?
No pets, I like animals and plants to live in the wild.
What’s your favorite mode of transportation?
Skateboard or any kind of board (surfboard, snowboard, kite-board).
What was the last book you read?
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue by Maurice Sendak.
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
To make people happy with a magic touch.
Name your favorite guilty pleasure.
A straight-up high-end tequila.
What was your biggest most recent purchase?
A Tesla Model S.
Whom do you idolize?
Charles Eames, Paul Rand.
What do you drive/ride?
Soon that Tesla Model S.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Inner peace and passionate creativity bundled into one person. I seem to achieve each of these things at separate times.
Who was your biggest influence growing up?
My dad said “you can be good at anything you put your mind to if you work hard” and “imagination is what makes you most happy.”
Describe an ideal day.
An ideal day for me is a combination of a fun-exciting creative moment with work partners, some laughs and games with my kids, a good surf session, and great conversation with friends around a meal. This actually happens sometimes.