Made it stand out
Simon
Helping global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Architect Simon Court create community at the first virtual Out & Equal Workplace Summit.
Client: · Simon Court is a global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion architect building inclusive strategies for a new workforce era. As the Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and as the Founder of SIMON, Simon Court seeks to create change at the intersection of data-driven design thinking, strategic storytelling, and people-to-people connection.
Challenge: · How might Simon deliver an interactive virtual experience to attendees of the first-ever virtual Out & Equal Workplace Summit that replicates the adventure of meeting in-person while inspiring attendees to use design thinking to build a global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program remotely.
What we did: · We started our collaboration with Simon by throwing a bucket of ice on the strategic design and thought process. Why? As people, we love to jump into strategy! We get it. It's a fast-paced world, and we want to create solutions—now. But, moving too quickly is one of the greatest culprits for leaving your own brand and reputation out of the design process. So we started by posing three central questions to Simon:
What is the worst-case scenario of what we are creating and for whom?
What is the best-case scenario of what we are creating and for whom?
Who might we be excluding?
This exercise allowed our thinking process to be inclusive by default and gave greater visibility to underrepresented and misrepresented communities. The first step in our design process was empathizing with the end-user and falling in love with the challenge. We accomplished this through a series of sprints and focus groups to answer critical questions on design, prototyping, and delivery of the session. This process gave space for supporting collateral and brand positioning for Simon's recently launched consultancy, SIMON. The ideation of branded takeaway material further positioned Simon as a brand -- and a trusted ally, authority, and subject matter expert in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space.
Results · In partnership with Simon, Kōwhai crafted, facilitated, and moderated a virtual 90-minute interactive session centered around a fireside chat and two interactive breakouts. We chose a fireside chat for its informal-yet-structured approach allowing greater mobility to lean into human connection and storytelling. Our concept prioritized community building and understanding the DEI space's inherent design thinking process by exploring practical, real-world applications.
Interactive breakouts allowed attendees of diverse perspectives and backgrounds to intersect in groups to ideate and validate solutions to their own complex real-world scenarios. This cross-pollination of ideas allowed the session's closing Q+A to become a safe-space for incubating crowdsourced solutions to complex challenges and seeded conversations that continue beyond the Summit.
WOW! You had me glued to my computer today taking lots of notes. I printed off your handout and it's posted on my desk. What a fantastic session. I am now looking more into design thinking for DEI. You sold me, seriously, I was very stirred and inspired by the session!
Curtis Baker Shanghai Disney Resort
BeSpoke Language
Helping a UAE based language institute discover new ways to distill their digital product offer by leveraging existing resources in new ways.
Client · BeSpoke is a UAE language institute start-up. We worked with the director and founder to create customer journeys to generate ideas, uncover insights, and transform product offerings.
Challenge · How could BeSpoke, a start-up language institute, distill their offerings to compete effectively in the digitally saturated English For Specific Purpose learning space?
What we did · We began by working with BeSpoke to define the project scope and ensure we were innovating in areas with maximum commercial potential. Given the effects of COVID-19 on small business and enterprise, we knew BeSpoke needed a sharp and clear emphasis on digital services and a strong point of difference.
Next, we ran a complete a detailed as-is assessment of BeSpokes pre-launch website and digital strategy, identifying improvement areas, new opportunities and capability gaps.
We ran two 45 minute sessions creating a 48-hour sprint for ourselves identifying opportunities by creatively combining BeSpoke’s existing network of resources and digital presence, we were able to create launch communications materials, sharpen service offerings, and create a company persona to align presence and company tone and values.
These opportunities were filtered through a rapid validating, pitching and voting process with BeSpoke. The best propositions were developed as business models drawing on BeSpoke’s knowledge of the market and capability realities.
Kōwhai’s work informed key decisions on BeSpoke’s launch strategy.
Results · The process enabled focused service offerings to be presented to BeSpoke. After a complete digital review and diagnostic, we were able to incorporate language and feedback from real learners; and define BeSpoke’s target and growth audience.
"With a clear passion for my ideas and business goals, Jonathan and Ryan were able to help me re-imagine aspects of my work and articulate my value add in pursuit of growth opportunities. After working with Kōwhai, I was able to launch my company BeSpoke Language with confidence and a clear vision for the future."
Paniz Hawkins Founder of BeSpoke
Asico Photo
Helping internationally renowned photographer Joy Asico find her place in front of the lens as Asico Photo finds new opportunities during COVID-19.
Client · Joy Asico is Asico Photo, an event and celebrity portraiture photography firm in Washington, DC. Joy has photographed them all, from Obama to Madonna, Bill Gates and T.Swift. Point of difference—good listener.
Challenge · How could Asico, an event photographer reliant on in-person interactions, expand her business model to find revenue opportunities and passive-income streams from content already created?
What we did · We began by having a cup of tea over Zoom with Joy. We wanted to dig into what inspired her to become a photographer and to define the full scope of the project. Photography is cutthroat, and you need to be instantly recognizable, wherever customers may find you. So we started with Brand Blueprint.
We ran a research and design sprint to define Asico photo's organizational persona and to understand capabilities for implementing creative solutions.
We saw three changes that would have immediate impact:
Third-party microstock website integration—we developed a business development strategy to diversify Asico photo to include new passive income streams from stock images via key third-party microstock websites (iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Getty Images via Flickr).
Digital refresh—Asico’s digital footprint is beautiful but we saw opportunity to create a store that really stands out. Migrate to a simple eCommerce compatible platform, run a full copy and design refresh and relaunch with an integrated presence building strategy and eCommerce capability.
Digital presence—leverage Asico’s business network though a focused digital campaign across LinkedIn and Instagram focusing on brand sponsorship and partnership opportunities. Utilize platform to contribute think pieces on networking circles like LinkedIn -8 Killer LinkedIn Photo Tips To Get You Noticed.
Results · Joy had everything she needed to include a small eCommerce shop alongside her events photography company. We curated a consistent brand experience and provided design thinking to create new opportunities and get more eyes on Asico Photo.
“Over the years, I’ve worked with Jonathan and Ryan on everything from brand design, video, photography, copy, online and print. Projects are always approached with enthusiasm, care and a focus to deliver on-time and within the agreed budget.”
Joy Asico Founder of Asico Photo
Environmental Film Festival Benefit
Helping the world's premier Environmental Film Festival show gratitude to donors and attract new patrons to one of the country’s premier environmental events.
Client · The Environmental Film Festival in Washington, DC is the largest environmental film festival in the world. The festival presents more than 100 films to an audience of over 30,000 annually.
Challenge · How could the Festival curate an environmentally focused experience for key donors and energized younger supporters to recognize the NGO's milestone 25th birthday and annual gala enthusiastically.
What we did · From small beginnings as the first festival of its kind, we built on the pioneering spirit of the Environmental Film Festival and partnered with New Zealand to present an experience that transported guests 8,644 mi deep into the Waipoua Forest of New Zealand's Northland Region. We added context and texture through the use of stencils and design to create dynamic lighting illusions like the shadow of Tāne Mahuta, the biggest kauri tree alive.
Grace Guggenheim, daughter of the late multi-Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Charles Guggenheim, created an anecdotal and eloquent film about founders Flo and Roger Stone which inspired the story of journey and the importance of strengthening environmental engagement. The visual experience promoted how the festival deploys its values through education initiatives that reach millions of people in communities across the nation and around the world.
Results · Millennial donors are less concerned with what is being served at dinner and more about your organization’s impact. Because of this, we went with our non-traditional approach to build an experience [not a gala] to attract digital noise from younger generations resulting in .