I love Post-it Notes.
I’ve written about them before (Sticky Notes: A Simple “Idea-Capture” Technology), but some things are just so fabulous it’s OK to write about them more than once.
Consider the famous quote by the Roman Architect Vitruvius:
Firmitas, Utilitas, Venustas (Translated as Solidity, Usefulness, and Beauty.)
— Vitruvius in his book De Architectura (On Architecture)
I look at that little solid block of paper. I scribble down a small idea on it. And then I tear this written idea off, place it on some inviting surface, giving it a three-dimensional reality.
Isn’t this a physical manifestation of an innovation process—or perhaps even a creative idea architecture?
Look, the story of the Post-it note is cool (here’s 3M’s version: History Timeline: Post-it® Notes) and it’s one that probably should be taught in every business class, but even without knowing this background, the functionality and simplicity of the Post-it note stands by itself as a beautiful tool. Just enjoy it.