This post is a little different from what I usually write about, but it is something I loved and thought was worth sharing. Recently, I have noticed more brands using regular, real-life, traceable people in their advertising. It is a shift that feels important and long overdue. The first brand that caught my eye doing… Continue reading Moving away from stereotypes in advertising for a more inclusive future
Blog
Surveys: participants will give up if you ask them too much or if you ask questions they find intrusive
I, like most, am more likely to fill in a survey if there’s a prize at the end or if I really want to let a company know what I think, positive or negative. I started to fill in a survey recently and was struck by the number of seemingly irrelevant questions being asked of… Continue reading Surveys: participants will give up if you ask them too much or if you ask questions they find intrusive
Making it easier for people to ‘do good’ whilst staying at a hotel
During a recent trip, I noticed that my hotel offered guests the opportunity to contribute to charity without lifting a finger and, more importantly, without the hotel having to do anything either. Instead of having their room cleaned, guests could opt-out of this service and money (I assume the labour and tool costs associated) would… Continue reading Making it easier for people to ‘do good’ whilst staying at a hotel
How retail stores are taking steps to foster positive social impact which might not have an immediate benefit to their bottom line
There are many ways consumers and clothes retailers can do better for society. Fast fashion and its detrimental impact on our ecology is its own topic, but today I want to talk about a poster I saw in a changing room to bring awareness to signs of breast cancer. Poster in a changing room For… Continue reading How retail stores are taking steps to foster positive social impact which might not have an immediate benefit to their bottom line
Design for inclusivity – an example from the redesign of ‘Talk to Frank’
I recently attended a meetup hosted by IDEO about designing for inclusivity. Amongst the talks was a case study of the “Talk to Frank” website redesign. Talk to Frank is a drugs awareness service that gives honest information. Background of talk to frank Talk to Frank is a government-run service that gives the public useful… Continue reading Design for inclusivity – an example from the redesign of ‘Talk to Frank’
Redefining banking for freelancers and the gig-economy
I recently heard about Oxygen, a new challenger bank in the US. Oxygen is designed for freelancers and gig-economy workers who lack a predictable salary, which results in the inability to gain credit. As a freelancer, you might have weeks or months working on a project without getting paid – but you know the next… Continue reading Redefining banking for freelancers and the gig-economy
The future of bank branches? Inspiration from South America, where some branches have co-working spaces and cafes
I saw a Santander bank branch in Santiago, Chile that doubled up as a co-working space and cafe. I know that banks in the UK have been searching for ways to make their branch networks useful for their local community as more customers move to do most of their banking online. The things branches were… Continue reading The future of bank branches? Inspiration from South America, where some branches have co-working spaces and cafes
What’s the dishwasher doing? An example of design for the user experience in a physical space
Think of all the times you’ve accidentally opened a dishwasher partway through its cycle… unlike washing machines or other appliances where you can easily see if it’s on or not, with dishwashers, it’s pretty often – “pull the door and hope for the best” – especially if it’s in a built-in kitchen. A colleague and… Continue reading What’s the dishwasher doing? An example of design for the user experience in a physical space
The user experience of providing allergy information in restaurants
When we talk about service design, we often think about big systems or major journeys. But some of the most meaningful improvements happen in the small details. A recent restaurant visit reminded me of this. I noticed a simple change in how allergy information was shared with customers, and it showed how thoughtful design can… Continue reading The user experience of providing allergy information in restaurants
Using facial recognition for in-store payments? A video showing innovation in payment from China
Alipay in China has developed facial recognition technology that allows people to pay in-store without needing cards or other devices. Instead, the user scans their face at the kiosk and enters their mobile number. The developers say they have an accuracy rate of 99.8%. At the forefront of mobile and payment technology, China paves the… Continue reading Using facial recognition for in-store payments? A video showing innovation in payment from China