Design thinking: Think big to generate value for your business

Design thinking: Think big to generate value for your business

Design thinking is an iterative process that utilizes a set of design techniques to generate, develop, and test new ideas in order to create products and services that are technologically possible and financially viable.

It is based on the generation of empathy, by understanding the problems, needs and desires of users, as well as teamwork, since it values the contribution of various collaborators who participate in the process. It also promotes the playful side, that is, enjoying the process itself and fostering the ease required for the process to be effective.

Why should you apply design thinking in your business?

More and more Business to Business (B2B) companies recognize the value of design thinking, and we are frequently asked by current and prospective clients how to incorporate this technique into their internal processes in order to better understand their clients’ needs and enhance sales.

According to some research, team members that utilize design thinking outperform those that use other innovative approaches, particularly in terms of relevance and viability, since it places the human being in the eye of the hurricane, which is critical for any business.

There are several techniques for design thinking. One of them, perhaps the most used, is SCAMPER, an acronym for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Propose other uses, Eliminate and Reorganize. The Customer Journey also stands out, although it is not a creative technique, it appeals to the journey made by the consumer in the purchase cycle, which allows information about their habits to be obtained. . Lastly, there is the Mind Map, a visual technique that manages to stimulate neuronal connections, giving rise to innovative and surprising ideas. 

5 stages of design thinking:

1. Empathize: It is about understanding the problem that the client needs to solve. This phase usually begins with a user or consumer research.

2. Define: It consists of identifying and defining the needs and challenges that we face.

3. Generate ideas: Thinking outside the box is crucial at this stage, in order to seek alternative ways of looking at the problem and identify innovative solutions.

4. Make prototypes: We begin by determining the best solution for each challenge. We must build or design very primitive versions of the final solution.

5. Perform tests: The evaluators thoroughly test and review the proposed sketches or solutions. It will revert to previous stages if necessary to make modifications and improvements.

In what other processes does it help to implement design thinking?

1. It allows for the improvement and growth of other stages of the sales strategy. Because it encourages innovation and creativity and results in more relevant value propositions for customers.

2. The current digital dynamic encourages feedback and insight discovery. It is now feasible to communicate directly with customers through technical means, such as forms, email marketing campaigns, and social media.

3. Encourage teamwork. Involving individuals from all positions in the development of solutions boosts motivation.

4. Optimize costs. It allows low-cost implementations before making decisions and making larger investments.

As you can see from this blog, the design thinking process may assist you in developing successful solutions for your projects. And, as a communication and digital marketing agency, Isource Marketing is here to support you. Do not hesitate to contact us by clicking here: https://isource.agency/#contact

MORE ENTRIES

What Digital Advertising Will Bring in 2025: Trends and Tools You Need to Know

Marketing in the Quantum Era: What to Expect and How to Prepare for the Future

The Secrets of LinkedIn’s Algorithm: Foolproof Tricks for Your Strategy

Beyond Cookies: Innovating Digital Marketing Measurements with AI

Complete Guide to a Customer Experience-Based GTM Strategy

Intelligent Creativity: How AI Influences UX/UI Design

Step into Evolution: Enhance Your CRM with AI

Is BANT Still Relevant in 2024? Alternative Frameworks

If your business wants to attract millennials, read this article. You may be surprised!

If your business wants to attract millennials, read this article. You may be surprised!

The millennial generation (born between 1981 and 1996) is the first to come of age in the new century and is expected to be a key economic force in the decades ahead. According to Gallup, it is the largest labor force in the United States, representing 73 million people. To the surprise of many baby boomers, it is predicted that by 2025, millennials will make up 75 percent of the global workforce. Shocking right?

Millennials are the first generation to be born in the digital age. This generation is well recognized for rejecting traditional lifestyles such as marriage and having a traditional family. In comparison to past generations, they tend to emancipate from occupations more rapidly. Millennials are communicators, multitaskers, nonconformists who value their free time and want to live in a better environment, and their consumption patterns are heavily impacted by technology. The great majority of them, without a doubt, own a smartphone, through which they carry out a substantial portion of their activities, such as playing, shopping, learning, working, and interacting with the world.

Millennials actively influence purchasing decisions and consumer habits.

In this article, we will discuss how the Business to Business (B2B) sector can incorporate functional design elements into their digital marketing strategies to engage this target audience, given that millennials actively influence purchasing decisions and consumption habits. According to the organization B2B International, 73 percent of individuals who are employed already have an active role in the company’s acquisition of products or services.  

A challenging generation and a significant challenge for businesses

One of the aspects that millennials take into account the most is the experience with the brand. They are twice as likely to abandon a brand forever if they don’t like it and twice as likely to recommend it to others if they had a great experience. 

When it comes to advertising content, millennials are more skeptical than other generations. They look at advertising with caution, including content produced by influencers. However, they do trust content created by other users. Not to mention that their favorite place to consume it is on social networks. 

Taking these factors into account, businesses that want to target this generation must focus on the millennial customer experience, which includes listening to their viewpoint, recognizing weak areas, and working to solve them innovatively. It is a collaborative effort that requires integrated, flexible, viral, and credible marketing strategies. These strategies should focus on user experience (UX), which seeks to meet the satisfaction and needs of users in terms of information architecture, interaction, usability, prototyping, and visual design.

When it comes to advertising content, millennials are more skeptical than other generations.

As a result, we will share six digital visual design trends that, in our opinion, are the most powerful for a B2B organization to make millennials fall in love with the ever-demanding millennials:

1 Semi-flat design 

 

In addition to flat design, it combines shadows and gradients into the vector design, which adds depth without sacrificing the minimalist qualities.

2. 3D 

 

Without a doubt, 3D has been one of the most innovative tools in graphic design in recent years. With the rapid evolution of modeling software, there are more possibilities to create incredibly realistic-looking textures and shapes.

Below, you will find the redesign of one of our top clients: NETGEAR Insight’s website, which showcases the entire business product line as a single ecosystem managed from the Insight platform.

 

 

3. Gradients 

 

 

Instagram has been a pioneer in this movement for a few years. Creating a logo using gradients was unfathomable in the days of paper and print, but they are increasingly being included in the digital landscape. Today, this approach is frequently included in the branding of major corporations.

Another example: Security Assessment Online, which is a security level self-assessment landing page for companies, which aims to showcase the solutions that best fit the customer’s needs.

 

4. Cinemagraph

 

 

Created back in 2017, cinemagraphs combine static and moving images, which allows for more realism and provides a sensation that cannot be achieved with a simple image.

Another example of Cinemagraphs is from NETGEAR’s landing page with its partner MEGAPIXEL that shows how ProAV switches help deliver high-quality graphics on Full HD displays in high-end spaces.

 

5. Colors

 

Calm blues stand out, conveying peace and tranquility. In a chaotic world like ours, earth tones create a mental connection with the environment and generate pleasant emotions. Citrus hues are associated with freshness and optimism, while the contrast of black and white stands out more than the market’s oversaturated style of striking tones.

6. Retrofuturism

A popular style in 2021 that was created in the 1980s when many imagined various elements of the future and  was highly used, hence the name that references the future while still mentioning retro to acknowledge the past. It is recognized by the use of geometric forms and neon colors.

We hope you enjoyed this review of how companies must fully commit to the renewal of their products, services, brand image, marketing strategies, communication, and advertising content if they don’t want to lose the vote of the most influential generation: the millennials. The section on visuals discussed, when applied properly, will make your business plan successful within the demanding generation. At Isource Marketing, we have a highly qualified team of designers, illustrators, and creators ready to help you take your brand to the next level. Contact us now by clicking here: https://isource.agency/#contact 

MORE ENTRIES

What Digital Advertising Will Bring in 2025: Trends and Tools You Need to Know

Marketing in the Quantum Era: What to Expect and How to Prepare for the Future

The Secrets of LinkedIn’s Algorithm: Foolproof Tricks for Your Strategy

Beyond Cookies: Innovating Digital Marketing Measurements with AI

Complete Guide to a Customer Experience-Based GTM Strategy

Intelligent Creativity: How AI Influences UX/UI Design

Step into Evolution: Enhance Your CRM with AI

Is BANT Still Relevant in 2024? Alternative Frameworks