Bill drove a series of filmed interviews about the internet in the early 90’s with IDEO employees. I showed up with all kinds of notes about what I should say and sat in the chair in front of the camera and completely froze in a nervous brain lock.

He walked up to me and grabbed all the notes in my hand and smiled saying, “You don’t need any notes. Just tell me.” I think Bill taught me how to think and he drove everyone to be entirely authentic.

I visited him and Karin this last Christmas in NY with my kids and Laurel… He so engaged my kids in Carnegie stories and gave a wonderful tour of the mansion and museum space under construction. He will forever remain one of my greatest heroes.

I first met Bill in South Africa at the Design Indaba conference. He saw us talk about the Stitches – small knitted creatures that we were encouraging people to “adopt” and was keen to join in the game. He adopted Griffin and spent the whole conference with Griffin in his top pocket, making sure he could see the action.

I recall the first time I met and experienced Bill. It was at a design conference, and his entry marked the moment I branded him as “the Obi-Wan Kenobi of the design world.” There was a grace and purpose to his presence that I’ve never experienced in anyone else. Many years later I was fortunate enough to become an IDEO employee, and saw the same energy and spirit remained in Bill. He will be missed so greatly, but his legacy of work and passion will survive always in our hearts and minds.

About 7 years ago, we shared a wonderful day with Bill and Karin at their beautiful home. After moving from England, we were still adjusting to living in the U.S. We had just had our first baby and had no family out here but Bill and Karin made us feel so welcome and taken care of. This is a photo of Bill taken that day with our oldest boy, Connor. Bill, you will be missed.

When Dad received his most recent and most dire diagnosis, he set his normal matter-of-fact self aside for a brief moment and allowed some philosophy to slip in. “Well, I’m almost seventy,” he said to me on the phone, “I’ve managed to get a lot of stuff done.”

At the time that struck me as a remarkably true statement. Such stuff he has gotten done! Laptops unfolded, museums commandeered, beauteous Danes wooed, two sons raised, IDEO’s ideated, innovations innovated, and optimism, positivity and creativity inspirated (I know, not a word, but it SHOULD be).

But when he said that, I don’t think I had any idea (I’m not sure he did either) of just HOW MUCH STUFF he’s gotten done. The outpouring of love and loss over the past week, the culmination of which is this amazing site and all the tributes herein, is the true mark of a man who got more stuff done than even he realized.

Thanks to all. We miss you, Dad.

Tolerating my Tofurkey.

The very early days – Moggridge Associates London 1977 – so many happy, rich memories. I am so lucky.

I feel very fortunate to have journeyed a little way with Bill and found him abundant with generosity and humanity. I will remember his kindness, wisdom, mastery of design and passion for scrabble.

Bill at the 4th Design Triennial. Such a friendly face.

I always thought of Bill as a combination of Gandalf and Jay-Z.

One story I want to share is of the time that we invited Bill to be the special guest for one a RISD dinner held in Washington DC. I asked Bill to give a little talk. Instead, he sang the talk. Yes. Literally. And with a very nice voice. There were twenty or so guests … all delighted to meet Bill and to hear his lecture. To hear the man sing the lecture … as if that were completely normal for anyone to experience … was priceless. We’re singing about you here, Bill! Rest in peace.