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The Significance of Cultural and Social Factors in Experience Design
Written by: Patrick Kesler
In an increasingly interconnected world, experience design has evolved from a mere aesthetic endeavor to a complex discipline that demands a deep understanding of cultural and social factors.
Purpose. Post boxes and people.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Do you like to travel? I love it. And, I’ve had the good fortune of working in many countries – Australia, Italy, Singapore, New Zealand, Mexico and Portugal, to name a few. Seeing simple things that are different from my life back home stirs my creativity – things as simple as a post box.
A culture that “gives a sh#t.” And caffeinates us, too.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Do you supercharge each morning with a great cup o’ joe? When I’m not on the road, my day starts with a latte at my favorite Charlotte coffee spot, Not Just Coffee. Their name is appropriate on so many levels, as you’ll soon see.
The “Me First” culture. Where have you seen it?
Written by: Tim McCleary
Raise your hand if you’ve noticed this: There’s a long, stick-like item that projects from the left side of the steering column in every vehicle. It’s a really simple device. It’s easy to use. It’s required by law. And, it’s designed to keep us safer on the road.
Procrastination. Is it a barrier to hitting your target?
Written by: Tim McCleary
When I walked into our local Target store on Sunday night, it was abuzz with activity. It felt like the holiday season, and yet it was only the end of August. It was the night before back-to-school.
A taste for change. Relevance is everything.
Written by: Tim McCleary
I’m painfully aware of the fact that it’s summer here in the U.S., based on the record-breaking heatwave we’ve experienced. Given this, it’s a good time for a lighter read – lighter fare, if you will.
Facing a BIG change? It’s time to shift from diagonal thinking.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Sometimes, change simply feels overwhelming. And sometimes, it seems that no amount of reading or theory on how to handle change provides solace. (Yes, I see the irony here.)
From bored to floored! Four ideas to design a GREAT team off-site.
Written by: Tim McCleary
I was sitting in a ballroom of a New York City hotel. The room was filled to capacity with more than 100 employees seated in teams of six. The room went dark. An over-sized projection screen lit up with a high octane video, punctuated with music and sound effects that put us in the center of the action of six customers’ lives.
Do you like to be teased? The answer may surprise you.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Being teased for something we said or did as a kid was never a lot of fun. But, having our brains teased as an adult is something we’re actually built to seek-out.
Top three trends in predictive analytics in 2019
Written by: Urban Emu
You've heard about the Internet of Things (IoT). Yet, less talked about is the power of predictive analytics and how it can drive user experience (UX) across multiple channels. In 2019, we'll see the rise of technological complexity. The right user experience can simplify that complexity.
Start playing games: Four gamification strategies to boost engagement
Written by: Urban Emu
Looking for ways to get customers to spend more time with your brand? No matter what your business model, gamification can boost engagement. Once you know a few basic principles, you’ll get your audience more active on your website, social media, and more.
A look forward at personalized digital design trends
Written by: Urban Emu
Given that we live in a world in which finding ways to cater to customers is vital to the success of your business, UX design is a forward-thinking way to attract and maintain your customers. Let's take a look at how UX design is helping to pave the way for other innovative digital products.
Double diamond design process
Written by: Daria Vander May
When it comes to product development, there is an important distinction you need to make: either design the “right” product, or design products right. In a day and age where consumers have nearly limitless access to goods on the market, it falls on the user experience designer to design something that will stand out.
What’s your story? The power of authenticity.
Written by: Tim McCleary
It’s early morning. You walk into a hotel conference room to join a group of employees who have gathered for an off-site. After a brief welcome, you’re first up on the agenda. Your goal is to help the team members be authentic with each other – and that requires them to be vulnerable.
Playground rules. Everything you need to know about change.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Let’s rewind to your childhood for a moment. Do you remember the playground rules? Things like patiently standing in line, taking turns and playing nicely? At their core, these rules were simply a list of positive habits. Habits are a human being’s super power.
One Smart Move: Hire a UX Team
Written by: Urban Emu
Does it work for the user? That’s the most important question a designer asks. Your business can’t achieve its goals if people struggle to use the product.
No Year’s Resolutions! Change your habits, instead.
Written by: Tim McCleary
With a digital swipe of the calendar page, here we are at the start of a brand new year, full of possibilities. New Year’s resolutions are a great way to plan and activate change. Right? Spoiler alert: They don’t work.
Measure of success? The Cole Haan moment.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Shifting an organization’s culture is significantly more difficult than the challenges I faced in my first job. But, it still requires a means by which to gauge progress. So, what’s your measure of success? What’s your Cole Haan Moment?
I’m stressed! But, maybe that’s a good thing.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Does change – or even the mere thought of change, ignite feelings of stress in you? Change used to be seen as an event that could be mapped in a straight line. But, that was the mid-90s. Fast forward to today. Change is significantly more complicated.
It’s all in your head.
Written by: Tim McCleary
Sometimes we bump into inspiration, like I did with the book stand at the San Jose, California, airport last month. Sometimes we literally trip over it, as was the case with the spray-painted message I saw last week on a sidewalk in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Change like a hurricane.
Written by: Tim McCleary
It’s a nice day today here in Charlotte, North Carolina. As I write this, the sun is beaming into our office and the sky is filled with white, fluffy clouds. In stark contrast, a massive hurricane lurks off the coast of our state.
You’re being a nudge! But, it’s working.
Written by: Tim McCleary
There it was, a message screaming from my morning French vanilla latte – each and every day. But, was I listening? More importantly, was I acting on the nudge? The marketing team at Starbucks has mastered this technique.
The out-of-office experiment. Can an email reply shift culture?
Written by: Tim McCleary
We’ve all done it. As we prepare to leave for vacation, we set our out-of-office reply. It’s a way of letting people know that we may be slow to respond while taking a break. However, this particular one had the power to shift the internal work culture.
Two perspectives. Boost change success with these shifts.
Written by: Tim McCleary
How often has this happened to you? You’re explaining something to another person and you feel you’re being crystal clear. However, the person you’re communicating with isn’t seeing it the way you are. Two views of the same thing, yet different.
Want to accelerate change? Ride the brake.
Written by: Tim McCleary
So, it happened again this week. It’s likely happened to you, too — several times. I was driving down a busy road, approaching an intersection. I glanced up and saw the light had turned yellow. My foot instinctively pushed a little harder against accelerator to make it through the light.
Imagine this…
Written by: Tim McCleary
I’d like you to imagine something for a minute. I’d ask you to close your eyes for the full effect, but then you couldn’t read the following text.
Contact Us
Urban Emu is an experience agency with a fast growing team of experience designers, facilitators, strategists, researchers, UX/UI designers, and software engineers that create innovative experiences to improve and transform businesses.
We love to hear about ideas big or small. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us regarding your project.
Email: hello@urbanemu.com
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