Archive for April, 2008

Apr 30, 2008

David Armano

Published by
David Armano

Topics
Compelling Experiences and Organizational Implications
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Experience Matters Turns 100. What Have We Learned?

So, we’ve reached a bit of a milestone here at Experience Matters by reaching 100 posts. And what have we learned? Well, quite frankly a lot. Choosing to participate in the information exchange and conversations happening in the online space is not an easy decision to make. The vision for this blog was always about providing value, and as it turns out, having a vision is critical in the creation and maintenance of a blog. Here are a few things we’ve learned since our first post:

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Apr 25, 2008

Dave Robertson

Published by
Dave Robertson

Topics
Brand Experience and Customer Insight
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Canadians blame themselves. Again.

So, how do you identify a Canadian in a bar room brawl? He’s the guy who apologizes when you punch him in the face.

In other news, Canadians are now blaming themselves for the state of the environment. According to a survey of 10,000 people conducted by Harris/Decima Research, 76% of people believe the environment will be a dominant issue for years to come and that 74% say that “the current focus is not going far enough”. 82% believe that individuals and industry share the responsibility for protecting the environment equally.

Should it come as a surprise? Maybe. Despite our national obsession with self-blame, similar surveys from the last “Green Wave” in the late 80’s apparently said Canadians thought it was the responsibility of industry to address environmental issues.

So we may be entering a time when individual consumers will start scrutinizing their consumption more closely (again). And before you ask me what this has to do with digital (again) …

… herein lays the opportunity.

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Apr 23, 2008

Tyler

Published by
Tyler Hellard

Topics
Tools & Technologies
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Stop Being a Hater and Learn to Love Twitter

In under two years, Twitter has gone from curious startup to one of the most talked about services on the web. Twitter’s ubiquity online has people abandoning their blogs for its simplicity and others deleting their Twitter accounts for the sake of their blogs and general productivity.

Despite this popularity there are still people who are either confused by or contemptuous towards Twitter. For the confused, there are dozens of places that can explain the basics, the best of which are Twitter in Plain English and Clive Thompson’s assessment of Twitter as a Social Sixth Sense. But what about all the haters?

I fell in love with Twitter at SXSW 2007. In the confines of the conference it was great. In Austin I could organize an impromptu lunch gathering with other SXSW attendees at a restaurant that came highly recommended by people who went there for lunch the previous day, all with a well-timed “thinking about grabbing some food” on Twitter. Once I returned to Calgary I made fewer and fewer updates, sometimes going a couple days between posts. Then it occurred to me: Twitter wasn’t offering me any value. I was following people I didn’t care about and had followers who didn’t care about me. We were “friends” in name alone. So I purged my list and set some new rules to get more out of my experience.

6 Steps to better twittering, tweeting or whatever …

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Apr 22, 2008

David Armano

Published by
David Armano

Topics
Customer Insight
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The Social Experience: A Relationship Renaissance?


Cross posted on Advertising Age

Several weeks ago, approximately 90 people got together in New York City to socialize, network and discuss the future of marketing communications. By the time the weekend was over, many would have established strong bonds that will likely last years. Some will do business together. Others will have made investments that will pay over time. All of them left feeling a sense of “belonging.” And most of them had never met in person prior to the weekend. Sound familiar?

We’re All “Internet Dating” Now
Well, not so much in the romantic sense, but if you’ve ever known someone who has tried dating over the internet they will describe a phenomenon where you spend a considerable amount of time getting to know another person virtually. Even though you’ve never met them before, you feel intimately connected to them through your interactions and communications online. Then one day you actually meet them in person. The “F2FD-Day” (Face to Face Date Day). And you have a million thoughts racing through your mind. Will they be as you envisioned them? Will the relationship be as rewarding as it was online? Will it be better? Or will you be disappointed?

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Apr 18, 2008

Scott Weisbrod

Published by
Scott Weisbrod

Topics
Brand Experience, Compelling Experiences and Emerging Technology
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Weekly Points of Interest 2008-04-18

Quick Hits

Sites of the Week

Apr 18, 2008

Cory Brunsel

Published by
Cory Brunsel

Topics
Emerging Technology, Global Implications and Tools & Technologies
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Scan Me!!!

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What is this?

This is an EZ code – which is one of the many types of 2D barcodes currently available to mobile users. The EZ code format was designed by ScanBuy and mobile solution provider. This EZ code contains a link to a special article on the topic.

What do I do?

First of all you’ll need a mobile device, equipped with camera that supports this activity. Next you’ll fall into one of 3 categories:

1) You may be lucky enough to already own a new device that comes with a built-in barcode reader, such as the Nokia N95 series. In this case you should be able to go ahead and run that application on the device and scan the above EZ code.

2) You have a device with no software application to scan the EZ code. In this case you’ll need to install the application on your mobile device. Here there are a few options to consider:

3) The last scenario is unfortunate, but does happen too often at this point. Your device is unsupported and you will not be able the test out 2D barcode scanning – sorry.

Just want to read the post? If you’re unable to successfully execute the steps above or you’re simply time compressed,  see the post here.

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Apr 16, 2008

David Armano

Published by
David Armano

Topics
Methods of Work and Tools & Technologies
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Are Methods The New Waterfall?

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This is one of those posts. I really don’t know if I’m “right”, “wrong”, or somewhere in the middle but I’m writing it on instinct. It was over four years ago when I received my coveted box of IDEO Method Cards. I devoured them. I instantly fell in love with them. They’re so smart—they’re almost sexy.

And now I wonder if that’s an issue.
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Apr 16, 2008

Dave Robertson

Published by
Dave Robertson

Topics
Compelling Experiences, Customer Insight, Global Implications and Methods of Work
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And I forgot my camera …

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Image: Paco Olvera Monterd

Amazing how refreshing a change of scenery is, isn’t it? I spent a good part of last week in Mexico City on business, and the warmth of the people, the refreshing business culture and the great food made it a memorable journey. It’s been a long time since I traveled outside of the United States and Canada and the trip brought back pleasant memories of traveling in the North Pacific, China and Southeast Asia too many years ago. It was also a firm, but friendly reminder of the assumptions that we can make about customers and research.

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Apr 15, 2008

Scott Weisbrod

Published by
Scott Weisbrod

Topics
Evolving Talent Needs
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3 Tips For Getting Your Foot In The Agency Door

[Originally posted on Experience Planner]

I was inspired to write this post after a chat between Jeremy, an information architecture intern on my team, Dave Robertson, our VP of Insight & Planning at Critical Mass and myself. Jeremy is graduating from Capilano College’s Interactive Design program next week (I’ll be there to cheer you on, buddy… can’t wait to hear your “overheard at CM” one-liners) and the three of us had a chat about the job search process and how to get your foot in the agency door. (more…)

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Apr 14, 2008

Matthew Milan

Published by
Matthew Milan

Topics
Global Implications
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Is Information Architecture worth saving?

Yesterday at the Information Architecture Summit in Miami, I delivered a presentation called “The Information Architect and the Fighter Pilot“. As part of this presentation, I looked at how the theories of John Boyd, a brilliant military strategist, could help us think more deeply about the practice and discipline of information architecture.

Part of my presentation dealt with my perspective that Information Architecture is an incomplete discipline; Information Architects are great at creating structure, but aren’t adept in the act of “unstructuring” things. In my opinion, most IA’s aren’t up to speed when it comes to designing web environments that have emergent properties.

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