Silicon Valley has been criticized for being ageist, but that’s not what 90-year-old designer Barbara Beskind discovered. She is on staff at IDEO, the legendary firm that designed Apple Inc.’s first mouse, the Pilates machine and dozens of high-tech gadgets and digital interfaces. Ms. Beskind started designing at the age of eight when she came up with an idea for a hobby horse made out of tires. She became an occupational therapist and now uses that experience to design products that work for seniors. “I live among people who are retired,” she said, “in some cases very retired. I want to be someplace stimulating, with people who are passionate and creative. This is the best experience I have had in my professional life.” Read more about her here and listen to an NPR story here.
