Design Innovation - The Fender Stratocaster

Leo Fender's innovation in designing the electric guitar with a bolt-on neck made of two separate pieces of wood, rather than the traditional single piece, allowed easy replacement and adjustment of the neck through a truss rod. Despite little market research to guide his design, Fender's innovation succeeded due to its combination of form and function, eventually leading to classic guitar designs that have remained unchanged for over sixty years. Successful product design requires a dispassionate approach, willingness to let go of redundancies, and effective marketing efforts.