The Sensory Ethnography Lab at Harvard University

The Sensory Ethnography Lab (SEL) is an experimental laboratory at Harvard University that promotes innovative combinations of aesthetics and ethnography. Aesthetics is a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art and a branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of beauty and artistic taste. Ethnography is the … Read more

Innovation Through Empathy Maps

If there is such a thing as a  Design Thinking geek – I’m it. My new favorite Design Thinking technique is Empathy Maps. Empathy Maps are a tool to help synthesize your observations to discover insights about your target audience. Empathy Maps are to Design Thinking what  SWOT Analysis is to business. They are simple … Read more

Designing a Consumer Product Packaging Experience

“We know that consumer purchase decisions are often made quickly and subconsciously, but there are opportunities where it’s possible to influence a consumer’s perception of a brand. People often make buying decisions by using all five of their senses and once product designers discover what each of these sensory influencers are, they can develop packaging … Read more

The Role of Information Technology in the Digital Customer Experience Revolution

Information Technology (IT) refers to anything related to computing technology, such as your computer network, hardware and software that connect you to the Internet, and the people that work with these technologies. Many organizations have an IT person or department depending on their needs. As we are at the intersection of the Information Age and … Read more

Data to Delight in the Age of the Customer

We are in the Experience Economy that Pine and Gilmore predicted – a customer-centric marketplace that Forrester calls the Age of the Customer where: “A customer obsessed company focuses its strategy, its energy, and its budget on processes that enhance knowledge of an engagement with customers, and prioritizes these over maintaining traditional competitive barriers.” We … Read more

SDL Innovate 2014 Keynote Session – The Customer Experience Revolution

Jeofrey and I shared our aggregate views of what makes the best customer experience companies better, different, more profitable and sustainable at the SDL Innovate 2014 in San Francisco. We shared that these “Experience Makers” dominate their industries and change customers’ lives. We shared insights about leadership, best practices and decision making, based on the interviews … Read more

The Customer Experience Revolution – The Trailer

It has been an exciting year for Jeof and I and The Customer Experience Revolution this month. We had a great time as Closing Keynotes at SDL Innovate 2014 in San Francisco, the book went into a third printing, and Brigantine Media just released this trailer.

Experience Innovation – Going beyond Product and Service and Re-Imagining the Customer Journey

In FastCo.Design’s Move over Product Design, UX is the Future, Rick Wise, CEO LIppicott, shares: “Today’s enlightened leaders are achieving success by crafting the entire customer experience – shaping, innovating, branding, and measuring it. They are mastering a new discipline we refer to as experience innovation by going beyond the discrete product or service to … Read more

Considering New Technologies in Designing the Mobile Experience

A phenomenal amount of innovation is happening at the forefront of mobile engagement. From wrist bands to smart pills, we are seeing the use of mobile technologies to collect new kinds of data, crunch it in the cloud, and then employ a mix of engagement tactics on mobile devices creating new interactions — new “mobile … Read more

Why there is so much Bad Design?

I am a firm believer in the Human-Centered Design Process. So, why are there so many bad designs? Here’s why: There was never a Designer involved The Designer was brought in on the project too late There wasn’t a person(s) to implement the design The implementer(s) of the design do not have the right skills … Read more

And One More Thing… Realizing a Vision of Innovation through Customer Experience

“And one more thing…” is a phrase Steve Jobs famously used in making announcements of products towards the end of his presentations. Steve Jobs also said “We’re gambling on our vision, and we would rather do that than make ‘me too’ products. Let some other companies do that. For us, it’s always the next dream.” … Read more