Issue #07

Hi there,

As always, I sincerely hope you’re doing great and staying safe. As we navigate Q2 and reflect on how the landscape has altered since last year, we look at how design can be used to transform culture.  

To quote the ancient philosopher Lao Tzu:

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

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Undoubtedly there is change in the air, and as we mused the ‘new, new normal’ last month we pondered opportunities amongst turbulence. We may define team culture as the accumulation of individual—aligned—habits, so the question now is how to protect the strengths of office culture whilst harnessing the unique advantages to a workforce able to WFH aptly.  

Technophobia could cripple productivity, but thankfully new tools are designed to function intuitively and act as a lifeline to scattered teams.  Now, more than ever, we believe it’s important to share resources and knowledge to support businesses and support strong work cultures. To support your team it’s great to find a balance between social interaction and deep work assisted with accountability.  

Productivity.

Productivity apps such as Miro and Bloo are useful, as is scheduling weekly catch-ups with team members. Encouraging more ‘water cooler’ moments virtually like team-building workshops will also help virtual teams feel connected and part of a tight-knit organisation.  

Methodology.

We’re happy to announce the launch of our Methods section on our website. This collection of design methodologies can help tackle problems with high-level thinking, and upskill your team for the future.  

Communication.

At Mäd, we’ve recently been working on various glossaries of terminologies to help clients, and departments communicate and understand one another better.

• UX / UI Glossary. A collection of definitions to shed light on the language of effective UX design.
• Advertising and Marketing Glossary.  A useful A-Z guide to various Advertising and Marketing terminologies. Communicate and understand MarComms with ease.

We also explored a concept ideal for both teaching and learning opportunities:

• The Feynman Method. Feynman was ‘No Ordinary Genius’, and his method of learning by teaching still continues to create impact and have relevance to the latest industry findings.  

Further Insights.

We have also strengthened our insights section with new thoughts, guides, and bolstered previous content with deeper thinking.

• Start with Why. Finding your Why defines purpose, motivates teams, inspires customers, generates a loyal fanbase, and ultimately builds awesome brands.
• SEO Best Practices. Beautiful websites deserve traffic. Search Engine Optimization allows you to compete in a crowded online market and stand out on the first page of results among thousands of potential competitors.
• ROI of UX. Metrics matter. Believing and trusting in quality work is qualified by calculating the impact of the output—and with regards to UX, there are many ways to monitor your ROI.
• Brand Books. Understanding what a brand book is, why it’s important, and how to craft an effective one, can lead your brand to industry success.
• The Brand Pyramid. The traditional pyramid is separated into 5 different tiers, each tapping into different aspects of the brand and its identity.
• AI Team Members. In this ‘meta’ insight, we tasked AI with writing a long-form insight on how bots can fit in with our content team.
• First Time Users. We discuss how using the SUCCESS framework can help your product enjoy longevity and growth through enjoyable onboarding and initial experiences for first-time users.

To end, I’d like to recommend some books. We’ve been adding to the Mäd library and some of the additions include Zag by Marty Neumeier, a fresh view on brand strategy, and Making Sense by Sam Harris—a fascinating collection of conversations on consciousness, morality, and the future of humanity.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. If there is anything that Mäd can do to help you and your business, do not hesitate to reach out.

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Until next time,

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Manny