by allison | May 22, 2013 | Blog
The 12 Trends That Will Rule Products In 2013
Think 2013 will spell the end of good old analog and human interaction? Eh, not so fast according to a group of agency experts.
Written by: Chris Butler
Near the end of 2012, a group of us at Ziba got together to review what we’d learned over the course of the year. Working with dozens of clients who serve customers around the world, we designers spend a lot of time observing people as they interact with technology, services, and experiences, noticing how they seek solutions to everyday problems and make decisions. In the process, certain patterns emerge so forcefully that they’re practically unavoidable.
Meeting over three sessions spread out over a week, 23 Zibites (designers, researchers, and creative directors) discussed the patterns we’d seen, and distilled them down to the 12 insights we thought were most current and useful, to us and to our clients. Each one is presented here, as a brief essay that suggests how it will affect business practices in 2013, and as an illustration created by one of Ziba’s designers.
Everyone is a specialist.
Constant communication and social media are pushing us to show off our passion and specialized knowledge, as a way of standing out in the storm of mundane information that fills the air. Mom posts photos of Victorian furniture on Pinterest, while Dad’s Facebooking his latest cooking project, and your cousin tweets about nothing but Korean pop stars. We’ve always had these secret pools of expertise, but now they’ve got an outlet, and an appreciative audience.
You’re a specialist, too. Trying to be everything to everyone is a losing proposition. As customers embrace their connoisseurship, they seek out brands that match it. The success stories of 2013 are companies unafraid of putting a stake in the ground, to boldly indicate where their expertise and passion lie–and where they don’t.
by allison | May 17, 2013 | Blog
Motivating workers is about more than salary
How do you motivate people in the workplace? What managerssay motivate workers and what really motivates them are two different things entirely.
Gallup did an exhaustive poll where they asked 1,000 people every single day for almost four years about their jobs. What emerged is that people feel worse about their workplace today than ever before, and that’s regardless of age and income, according to what I read in The New York Times. No surprise there.
Meanwhile, research out of Harvard found that managers think the way to show workers their appreciation is in their paycheck and with bonuses. But as anybody who has taken a management course will tell you, pay is only a dis-satisfier, it does not make people happy.
What really matters is making it possible for your employees to shine and to feel like they’re valued. And to tell them specifically why they’re valued.
I always laugh when managers get up at meetings and say, “Everybody on the team, you just did a great (fill in the blank)…” like they’re some kind of football coach! That’s not the way to motive workers. You need to recognize people individually for their dedication and initiative. That’s what creates the desire to do more.
I’ve always said companies that romance their workers end up with workers that romance their customers. Treat employees with dignity, give them responsibilities and trust them to make good decisions…and they’ll make you more money!
-Written by Clark Howard
http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/employment-military/motivating-workers-about-more-salary/nDnbj/?goback=%2Egde_155999_member_241096203
by allison | May 14, 2013 | Blog
The 12 Trends That Will Rule Products In 2013
Think 2013 will spell the end of good old analog and human interaction? Eh, not so fast according to a group of agency experts.
Written by: Chris Butler
Near the end of 2012, a group of us at Ziba got together to review what we’d learned over the course of the year. Working with dozens of clients who serve customers around the world, we designers spend a lot of time observing people as they interact with technology, services, and experiences, noticing how they seek solutions to everyday problems and make decisions. In the process, certain patterns emerge so forcefully that they’re practically unavoidable.
Meeting over three sessions spread out over a week, 23 Zibites (designers, researchers, and creative directors) discussed the patterns we’d seen, and distilled them down to the 12 insights we thought were most current and useful, to us and to our clients. Each one is presented here, as a brief essay that suggests how it will affect business practices in 2013, and as an illustration created by one of Ziba’s designers.
Gen Y is creating its own service economy.
An entire generation of young people has access to something unprecedented in history: a complete ecosystem of services provided by people their own age. When a startup run by three recent college grads can take on a century-old multinational, it transforms markets. Sometimes this means an age group split, like AirBnb vs. VRBO, or Etsy vs. eBay. And sometimes it means a Gen Y company like Facebook can leverage its enthusiastic peer group, and then grow to rule the world.
Take younger competitors seriously, and learn from them. Gen Y is defined by optimism, social engagement, and digital fluency, and these are attributes that can attract older customers as well. The key is to act as an enabler, not a controller: Give them a flexible platform and they’ll not only give you their business, they’ll bring Mom and Dad along too.
by allison | May 8, 2013 | Blog
The 12 Trends That Will Rule Products In 2013
Think 2013 will spell the end of good old analog and human interaction? Eh, not so fast according to a group of agency experts.
Written by: Chris Butler
Near the end of 2012, a group of us at Ziba got together to review what we’d learned over the course of the year. Working with dozens of clients who serve customers around the world, we designers spend a lot of time observing people as they interact with technology, services, and experiences, noticing how they seek solutions to everyday problems and make decisions. In the process, certain patterns emerge so forcefully that they’re practically unavoidable.
Meeting over three sessions spread out over a week, 23 Zibites (designers, researchers, and creative directors) discussed the patterns we’d seen, and distilled them down to the 12 insights we thought were most current and useful, to us and to our clients. Each one is presented here, as a brief essay that suggests how it will affect business practices in 2013, and as an illustration created by one of Ziba’s designers.
Human interaction has never been more precious.
There’s almost no transaction that can’t be automated today, from buying groceries to learning about health issues. And customers are starting to resist. With many technological obstacles out of the way, we have the luxury of being picky about automation. Sometimes we embrace it–when, say, we check our banking balance online–as a way of shifting mundane tasks off people’s shoulders. And sometimes, we long for a living, breathing person.
Look for places to act more human. The most successful brands understand when customers need to be listened to or expect the nuanced expertise that only a person can provide. 2013 reverses the trend toward automated everything, as humanity becomes the crucial differentiator between a beloved brand and a commodity.
by allison | Apr 29, 2013 | Blog
The 12 Trends That Will Rule Products In 2013
Think 2013 will spell the end of good old analog and human interaction? Eh, not so fast according to a group of agency experts.
Written by: Chris Butler
Near the end of 2012, a group of us at Ziba got together to review what we’d learned over the course of the year. Working with dozens of clients who serve customers around the world, we designers spend a lot of time observing people as they interact with technology, services, and experiences, noticing how they seek solutions to everyday problems and make decisions. In the process, certain patterns emerge so forcefully that they’re practically unavoidable.
Meeting over three sessions spread out over a week, 23 Zibites (designers, researchers, and creative directors) discussed the patterns we’d seen, and distilled them down to the 12 insights we thought were most current and useful, to us and to our clients. Each one is presented here, as a brief essay that suggests how it will affect business practices in 2013, and as an illustration created by one of Ziba’s designers.
Brand loyalty is how we escape decision fatigue.
Making choices is exhausting–mentally, emotionally, and even physically. With the proliferation of online services and globalizing markets, our options have multiplied rapidly, and it’s wearing us out. More than anything else, this is why we form brand loyalties. Once we believe that our values and choices align, we’re happy to leave choices to the brand that’s earned our trust, and shift some of the burden off our own shoulders.
Be trustworthy enough to take the load off. The brands that earn loyalty in 2013 are those that have earned it. By showing you’re aligned, and communicating in familiar language, you establish a trust that lets customers relax. “Go ahead,” you say, “we’ve got you covered.” If they can believe you, they’ll love you for it.
