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Crafting a winning customer experience formula can and should be your goal at all times!

 

Because it’s no secret that returning, enthusiastic customers keep your business alive. You’ve probably heard rumblings of the 80:20 rule, the generally accepted principle that says 80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers. Well, that 20% is made up of your faithful, enthusiastic fan base. The ones who’ve been with you through thick and thin because they love what you do for them. They love your product and your customer service. Dammit, they just love you!

 

Your most enthusiastic clients are a community of devotees, a reliable source of income, morale boosters, and your biggest brand advocates all in one. They’re more likely to make repeat purchases and are often willing to invest in your higher-tier products or services. Their presence reduces your marketing cost over time as well. Your enthusiastic customers have lifetime value!

 

And it’s important to remember that keeping your most enthusiastic customers top of mind requires a very different approach to the one you would take when hunting down new clients. An approach filled with nuance and attention to individual need and detail, rather than the blanket sellability that comes with the typical marketing tact required to hook new business. 

 

So let’s explore ways to make sure your enthusiastic customers stay that way….

 

• Get Personal

Your returning customers, your cheerleaders, deserve and likely expect a little more personalized attention than a new client would. Sending customized emails, offers, and recommendations based on your past interactions and jobs will remind them why they got into business with you in the first place. 

 

There’s a very good reason that businesses are putting customer service, in all its facets, at the top of their “must do” list. Because it works, and it’s five times more expensive to acquire a new customer than to keep a current one happy. 

 

• Exclusive Perks

Let your most enthusiastic customers know just how special they are to you through unique offers, discounts and other rewards that fit their needs. The fact is, their existence and returning business is saving you money in the long run, as you don’t have to blow your marketing budget to keep them, nor do they require the exploratory, getting to know you phase. 

 

Additionally, their positive word-of-mouth can significantly impact your business’s reputation and lead to new customer acquisition.

 

• Engage Online

Directly reaching out to your most enthusiastic customers on social media platforms lets them know you’re available and helps them feel seen. Sharing their content and responding to their posts also helps create a sense of community surrounding your brand, and theirs!

 

Reminding your returning clients that you’ve got their backs for all to see is encouraging for everyone. And who doesn’t love feeling encouraged, supported and included?

 

• Act on Feedback

Customer feedback, especially when it comes from your best returning clients, is not something to be taken lightly. It’ll help you identify areas of improvement and keep you aligned with the needs that matter most to them. 

 

And constantly soliciting feedback will show your enthusiastic clients that you not only care about their opinions, but are actively listening. Great customer service is an ever-changing process, especially for a growing brand, and your openness to feedback will mean a great deal to your best clients. 

 

• Real Problem Solving

Identifying real-world issues facing your clients, and discovering ways to solve them, reminds your returning customers that you’re thinking about them. 

 

As an online branding agency in Dubai, we’ve encountered many companies just starting out who are unsure how to create a strong brand identity. This is a problem we were born to solve, and our ability to excel in this area has brought us many of our best returning clients. 

 

Once you’ve identified who your truly enthusiastic clients are, focusing your company on the goal of solving their problems becomes an amazing way to keep them coming back for years to come. 

 

However you wish to do it, keeping your most valuable clients coming back is one of the core building blocks in strengthening your successful brand. Celebrate their successes. Build relationships. Be consistently your best self for your best customers because their advocacy, loyalty and feedback can significantly expand the success of your business. 

Can your brand be successful and save the world at the same time?

 

Our blue marble is in a precarious place, and people are more aware of it now than ever before. Your brand can (and should) be a reflection of that concern and desire for action. 

 

But how?

 

Well, if you’re an online only company, you’ve already got a leg up over the brick and mortar competition. However, there are always ways to help your planet and push for something better. 

 

Let’s start with some definitions: Your digital carbon footprint.

 

The internet requires vast amounts of energy, despite its everywhere/nowhere qualities, specifically from creating infrastructure (both hardware and digital), powering and cooling massive local servers, and storing your data. Despite its name, “The Cloud” is not invisible, nor is it lighter than air. In fact, it could account for 15-20% of electricity demand in some countries by 2030.

 

And, while you may think that working, and doing business, on your computer has nothing to do with greenhouse gas emissions, the fact remains: you get your energy from somewhere. And that demand for energy to drive faster computing, cloud sharing and endlessly streamed videos is ever-increasing globally. And, as your company grows, so does your digital carbon footprint.  

 

But there are ways to mitigate it, and even benefit financially from cutting back in smart, environmentally conscious places. 

 

Here’s a few….

• Reduce Data Storage

If you haven’t needed it in more than a year, chances are you will never need it again. So delete those old files! There is little room for sentimentality on today’s internet, and your company should always be looking toward the future. 

• Green Storage

If your company is responsible for a large amount of data storage, it would benefit you, and your world, to look into green data storage centers. Green data storage is designed to minimize carbon footprints, while not diminishing computing power. They accomplish this by reducing space requirements and decreasing water use, among many other ways. 

• Closing Tabs

On a personal level, minimizing the amount of background work your computer does is a great way to use less while doing your job. Any open tabs that require constant animation or streaming amount to an unnecessary use of energy. Similarly, if you’re not using your computer for a long period of time, consider switching it off.

• If It Ain’t Broke….

We all have a strong desire for the newest and best computing hardware and software, but an upgrade may not always be absolutely necessary. Maintaining your IT equipment for as long as possible, and having it repaired when needed, rather than replacing it, does more good than you’d immediately think. Well treated IT equipment can last 3 years or more. 

 

While the above short list sounds good in theory, you’re likely to have one logical, important followup question: 

 

How does this benefit my business?

• Cost Saving

While you may not see evidence of this immediately, curbing your digital carbon footprint will result in lower energy and operational costs. Trimming the fat in areas where you can will reflect positively on your monthly operating costs and allow you to spend the extra funds in areas that help your business grow. 

• Regulation

Whether you approve or not (we hope you do,) many countries and regions are adopting stricter regulations regarding climate action and adherence to emissions standards. If your business gets out ahead of this, you won’t have to worry about fines and penalties.

• Morale

Your employees are more likely to support you, and feel proud to work with you, if they know you are willing to put the interests of your planet ahead of your company. By taking steps to reduce your digital carbon footprint, you will also be impressing the importance of your actions upon your employees, and inspiring their continued respect and allegiance. 

• Going Global

Companies that demonstrate continued commitment to sustainability and reducing their digital carbon footprint will potentially be seen as more prepared for success on a global scale, especially in regions with more stringent regulations. 

 

Reducing your company’s digital carbon footprint is incredibly important, not just for your planet but for your future. As you reduce your footprint, you are not only taking responsibility for the effects you’re having on your planet, but for the future generations that will be here after we’ve had our fun in the sun. 

 

They deserve a better world, and your business can and should do its part to give it to them. 

 

Our brave new world is filled with pixels and connectivity. 

 

It didn’t used to be this way, in fact it wasn’t for almost all of human history. We can’t safely assume ancient humans just threw rocks at each other to attract mates. 

 

Furthermore, ask any Gen X’er what their childhood was like, and you’ll get a walking Buzzfeed article about dial-up internet, cigarette lighters in cars and phones stuck to walls that charged by the minute.

 

And now we’re taking meetings with every attendee sitting in a different country! What a strange and wonderful time to be alive. And all the better for us.

 

Because, in the realm of online design firms, where creativity knows no borders and innovation travels through the virtual corridors, the landscape of collaboration in the digital age is astounding.

 

Here are some ways in which you can benefit from an online multicultural/natural/lingual company.

• The Global Playground

You no longer have to limit your staff to a 30km radius of a big brick building. You can literally hire anyone from anywhere based solely on their merits. The same goes for clients, with many design firms (including us) working with brands from all over the world. The only connecting factor is a shared language, and the rest is pure creative solutions without the constraint of geographical boundaries. It’s thrilling!

• New Tools

It wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago, but digital technology has become advanced enough to facilitate successful, in-the-moment communication between coworkers, clients and companies no matter where they happen to be located. With tools like Zoom and Google, distance is simply no longer an issue. These days, the only thing missing from the successful completion of a touch project is a bottle of champagne and slaps on the back.

• Advanced Sharing

Instantaneously sharing important documents and files at the touch of a button might as well have been the waving of a magic wand in years past. Easily sending large files and jobs from one location to another has become so commonplace that we don’t even think of the wonder of it anymore. But the mere fact that you can get deliverables to your clients in an instant is an incredible time saver, not to mention a way to trim the fat from your business. 

• Virtual Brainstorming

Need to make some time for a brainstorming sesh? All you have to do is make sure your staff is awake, available and ready to throw out some ideas. The days of sitting around a boardroom table are on the way out. The days of a quick login to an online meeting are where it’s at. The digital brainstorming room is where minds meet from afar. You don’t have to be in the same room to nurture concepts into revolutionary design concepts anymore. 

• Time Zones

Embracing time zone diversity among your staff and clients means the potential for 24/7 progress. Once one side of the world finishes their work, another can take over with next steps. While you sleep, your designers might be awake and working on their tasks at hand. While they sleep, content creation could be in full swing. Productivity that never stops. 

• Globally Speaking

When you have a staff from all over, you can also produce work that has the potential to speak to anyone. As each person weighs in on the ability of each product to best communicate a universal message. Creating design work that best resonates with its intended audience becomes much easier when your staff hails from everywhere. 

• Home Office Home

With the rapid rise and ease and success of remote work, the need for a brick and mortar office building is waning equally as fast. Firms no longer feel the need to define themselves by the offices they occupy. The home office, and ways to attract and communicate with clients has become the website and social media. This is the new place of congregation. The new home. 

 

In the digital age, collaboration knows no bounds, and online design firms are rewriting the rules of creativity. As technology unites clients and designers across continents, the power of shared visions, real-time interactions, and virtual realities is revolutionizing the design industry. What matters now is the skill of your staff at delivering great products and services.

 

We hope you’re enjoying the future as your favorite Dubai-based design firm is.

Your goal is their hearts and minds (and wallets.) 

 

You want them to take one look at all your cool stuff and say, “Yum yum gimme some!” You want to turn looking into buying in short order with your brilliantly kickass web designs. You want conversions.

 

So, let’s face facts….

 

Your product may be great. Your service might even be a god-level brilliant gift for all of humanity. You’ve discovered time travel and ancient aliens! 

 

But, if your website stinks, then nobody’s ever gonna know about it, let alone input information or purchase your services. 

 

So, aside from the no-brainer: hiring your favorite online design firm in Dubai to take on the task of building your amazing website and getting you those conversions you’re lusting after, here are some ways you can start down that path yourself….

 

• Begin your journey as any painter does: in front of a blank canvas. What is your color palette? Do they coordinate? What is your font of choice? Is it fashionable and legible? Scour the internet for your favorite designs and colors and fonts. Learn the art of harmonizing these elements to create a symphony that resonates with your audience. Web design is an art of commerce, and there’s always a sweet spot.

 

You’ve just gotta find it (or get us to do it for you.) 

 

• You already know what UX is, even if you don’t think you do. A great online user experience is intuitive and fun. It’s what makes a good website great, and you can always intuitively tell when one works and one doesn’t.  But a great website requires mapping, plotting and scheming. It requires the ability to seemingly effortlessly guide the eye, hand and heart to a desired location. Great UX design isn’t just visual, it’s emotional and logical too.

 

Trust us. We do this for a living.

 

• Next, you’re gonna want a great call to action (or CTA) to get those fingers clicking and conversions converting! It can be as simple as Domino’s Pizza’s “Delivery or carryout” or as flowery and profound as Slack’s “Now is your moment to build a better tomorrow,” but its intent should always be the same: to inspire movement in the reader. Craft CTAs that compel, entice, and lead visitors to take that coveted leap into the realm of conversion. You’ll be glad you did. 

 

• Next, you’re gonna want a short, sweet headline. The best ones are deceptively simple, so furious editing and workshopping is a must here, because the goal of your headline is to sit atop your site and define you in a few great words. Your headline is the hook that keeps them scrolling, so overthink it, but don’t make it look like you were overthinking it. 

 

Y’know?

 

• If your website looks great on a laptop, it needs to look equally great on an iphone. Cross-platform peak performance is essential, especially nowadays when so much business is conducted on tiny little screens on the way to or from something, or in that spare moment between those somethings. Many consumer-level site builders (like Wix and Web.com) give you the option of seeing your build on mobile. Take advantage of that!

 

• Make it fast! The chance of a potential client or conversion decreases by 32% if your website loading time gots from one to three seconds. Google said that! They know! Visitors to your site, like most people, have a rapidly shortening attention span. And, just like life itself, they’re here for a good time, not a long time. So make sure your server is speedy and your site is performance optimized.

 

Not sure how to do that? La Mesa knows!

 

• People tend to trust other people, for better or worse, so collecting and posting some glowing reviews from past customers can go a long way toward future conversions. Show off a bit! You know you do good work, but your potential customers may not… yet. 

 

• Last but not least, be open to change! Once your website is set up, successful and creating conversions, the job doesn’t just stop. Great web design requires constant attention and upkeep. Trends shift. Markets change. Client bases fluctuate. So staying on top of these shifts is as important as creating your website was when you started. A great website, like a painting, is never truly finished. But, in your case, going back to the museum to tinker with it is a good idea.

 

Remember that designing a website with the power to create conversions is an ongoing process. An adventure, if you will. Getting the conversions you crave requires time, patience, research and a bit of trial and error… or a partnership with the best design firm in Dubai.

 

It’s a jungle out there! By “out there” we mean online, and by “jungle” we mean a messy, cluttered, ever-expanding  universe where everybody wants to stand out and nobody knows what they’re doing!

 

Well, we know what we’re doing! As a marketing and design firm based in Dubai, La Mesa’s #1 goal is to make your brand shine and stand out and be seen by as many people as possible. 

 

A strong online brand identity can make or break a company. With it, you can target customer groups directly, reach a wider audience in a shorter amount of time, and improve your customer experience so that clients are more likely to remain engaged and loyal. 

 

Crafting a compelling brand identity online is about creating a cohesive and memorable experience for your audience. But it’s also not easy, and it’s not the same for every brand. 

 

So let’s use this blog to delve into effective strategies to help you build a robust brand identity online that resonates with your target audience.

• The Logo (again)

We’re always talking about logos for a reason: They’re your most defining, recognizable brand characteristic, and the thing that will stick in customers’ minds, until they experience your stellar service. Creating a great logo (one that simply and clearly communicates your mission, defines your brand, and has the visual appeal to attract the eye), will go a long way toward helping your brand stand out. 

• The Website

A great website is one that is visually appealing, easy to navigate and able to help your brand conduct online business. Customers should be able to easily navigate to your contact information, and all pertinent information about your company without having to jump through hoops. When in doubt, the simpler the better. An uncluttered, well-appointed website will help your brand stand out online. Design and functionality are the building blogs for a great website UX.

• The Message

Your brand’s message should be consistent across platforms. Your story should be compelling and attract interest. You might not think you have much of a story but, rest assured, you do. Celebrate milestones, your early successes, and even the struggles required to get to where you are now. It’s all part of your message, and your reason for existing. Do you have a social awareness or environmental mission? Flaunt it!

• The Guidelines

There are presentation guidelines for every brand, and yours should be no different. Do you have certain ways your logo should be displayed? A suggested color scheme? Font? Image requirements? These are all part of your brand guidelines, and are what help you remain consistent across platforms. Consistency is key.

• The Authentic Social Media Experience

When it comes to a majority of social media, a humanizing element attracts more attention. That’s why even big brands approach apps like Instagram with a sense of fun and humor. Tweets may be written by committee, but they don’t have to sound that way. Engage with your audience authentically, responding to comments and messages promptly. Use social media to showcase your brand’s personality, share valuable content, and interact directly with your followers.

• The SEO

While a great deal of online brand identity hinges on the creative approach, SEO (search engine optimization) is all technical. Having great content is one thing, but ensuring that great content can be found on Google is something else. Something that requires the right embedded keywords. Finding these keywords can be tricky. A little AI support is a starting point, but you’ll get your best results by consulting with an online marketing firm. 

• The Content

You create value online through quality content. People will want to search for you if you’re providing material (blogs, posts, shares) that strengthen your brand and knowledge for your target market. In doing so, you’ll become a trusted source of information for your customers – one they’ll want to revisit regularly.

 

However you and your magical design firm of choice choose to approach your online branding approach, there’s no doubt that you must have one. 

 

Building a strong brand identity online requires a combination of strategic planning, creative execution, and consistent engagement. By defining your brand’s values, crafting a distinctive visual identity, and authentically engaging with your audience, you can create a compelling online presence that resonates with your target customers and sets you apart in the digital realm. 

 

The future of commerce is already here, and it’s in the clicks.

With August well on its way, and 2023 quickly passing, we thought it’d be a great time to take a look at what’s trending in the world of design, what we like, and what you should know.

 

As with any trend, you’re presented with two choices: jump on for the ride or keep doing what you’re doing. Jumping on a trend can be a tricky proposition for an established company, but it can also be a great way for up-and-comers to gain some real traction in their field. Whoever you are, deciding if you should ride a trend is a potentially complicated subject, and one we address here.

 

But we’re not here today to talk about if you should, we’re interested in what it’s all about. 

 

So, with further ado, here are 9 design trends to watch as 2023 rounds the bases….

• Distorted Fonts

How do you spice up the regular and expected? Why, with distortion of course! 2023 has seen a rise in font bending, squashing and stretching that adds an element of chaos to otherwise staid and boring arrangements of letters. Distortion is a fun way for designers to glitch up their text without actually having to glitch. You can bring elements of fun and the unexpected to your branding with just a bit of distortion. Just make sure it still appears intentional. 

• Overstimulated Branding

Inspire the senses with color, flash, and general craziness you wouldn’t normally think to use. Basically, this is the kitchen sink of branding: using every option in your arsenal to get the attention of your viewers. If you want your brand to appear young and energetic, overstimulated branding is your ticket. This kind of branding, when used right, is an absolute feast for the eyes. Used incorrectly, and you’ve got a garish, ugly mess on your hands. Think it through!

• Minimalism

Doing a lot with a little requires savvy editing and bold choices. Paring your branding down to its simplest elements shows an understanding of your message and mission. Using one or two colors and a large, singular font will communicate your brand’s purpose of doing more with less. This approach is especially effective for brands who stress the importance of living a simple lifestyle. 

• Return of the Serif

Two hundred plus years and running, serif fonts are making a big comeback in 2023, and adding a touch of timeless class along the way. Modernism can’t be en vogue forever when the classy serif is ready to whisper away from the ends of your letters. And this year has seen a big return.

• Sarcasm and Humor

Unsurprisingly, brands not taking themselves too seriously has been big in 2023. After seemingly endless years of pandemic madness, as well as intense predictions of an impending global economic collapse, people aren’t taking themselves too seriously. It’s either that or pull your hair out. As a reaction, brands are using humor to break the ice and remain relatable during these times of hardship. When it comes to creating unforgettable experiences, laughter is always the best medicine. 

• Mascots

Believe it or not, 2023 is the year of the return of the mascot. Giving your brand a persona through a created character is a fantastic way to give your company more personality and add a layer or relatable warmth. Sure, a mascot isn’t right for all brands, but those that can might do well to look into the possibilities. 

• Grunge

The 90’s are back and, with them, one of the most iconic facets of the era. The brutal immediacy of grunge is great for a messy, powerful presentation. Plus, grunge incorporates facets of punk and counterculture that can give your brand an edgy sense of risk and danger. Use of hand-drawn images and rough-hewn textures have returned with a vengeance in 2023, and it smells like teen spirit to us!

• Mission First

Putting your social or environmental goals front and center is huge this year, with companies incorporating mission statements directly into their main branding and marketing campaigns. Brands are realizing that simply saying you want to make an impact and actually making an impact can hinge on how clear your message is. So, if you’ve got something important to say, the time is right for mission-first branding.

• AI Design

You knew this was coming and, love it or hate it, it’s unavoidable. Artificial Intelligence is the thought on everyone’s mind this year. With AI design tools, designers have been able to create branding they could only imagine in years past, and AI assistance is improving exponentially, even as you read this! Questions about its legality and originality persist, but AI isn’t going anywhere, so you should make sure you know what it’s all about. If you have any questions, your favorite online branding agency in Dubai is just a click away. 

 

Design and marketing trends are always changing and evolving. Sometimes classic eras make dramatic returns, and sometimes the future comes rushing in to change everything. No matter what’s trending, it’s important to stay on top of it. A partnership with a leading design firm is the best way to accomplish that. Creating the perfect design and branding for your company, while incorporating current and up-and-coming trends, is literally our job. It’s what we do best, so you can show the world your best!

 

How would you feel about your logo design skipping over logic and going straight for memorable?

 

Abstract art is a far more recent development in creativity than classical styles, especially in the west. Unlike traditional approaches to visual art which are strongly rooted in their connection to tangible things like rules of perspective and form, abstract art chooses to escape convention of imagery and pretty much do whatever the hell it wants. Abstract art actively pushes back on age-old formal conventions and attempts to inspire the emotional core of your mind. 

 

Take the massive, glorious works of Mark Rothko as your case-in-point. Their sole purpose is to elicit an emotional response from the viewer and, if you’ve ever seen one in person, you know just how successful they are in making you feel something. 

 

If you’re in the right mood, this total separation from assumption is the fun of it all.

 

What’s more, the abstract approach is trending in logo design, and it’s something you should look into! 

 

Companies are allowing their logos to drift into the unpredictable and embrace the unconventional, and the results are speaking for themselves. 

 

Abstract design can convey a uniqueness and class that simply can’t be conveyed utilizing traditional iconography and typography. Case in point: Gucci. One of the most well-known brands in the world for elegance and sophistication, their abstract design is at once recognizable as theirs, and visually appealing enough to hold your attention long enough to make an impression. 

 

Abstract logos intentionally lack a specific, recognizable shape or image, and this creative choice to create a visual that feels new and exciting is the whole point. Your abstract logo is wholly and completely you!

If you’re in tech, you probably see this logo and mumble, “oh shit, what now?” And that instant recognizability is the beauty of Slack’s simple logo evolution. They intentionally simplified their original logo, while retaining its unique personality and sense of shared experience and work. 

 

And, if we could just toot our own horn for a moment….

 

The World Class Scholars logo (one of ours) is an expression of the togetherness that great education should inspire. It speaks to the shared experience of quality global learning, and it’s pretty to boot!

 

Abstract logo design requires a large amount of artistry and ingenuity, as well as a keen eye for message and an understanding of a company’s mission. 

 

To create a truly unique, eye-catching abstract logo design, it’s important to adhere to these rules….

• Understand The Brand And Research Research Research

Before approaching the design phase, you’ve gotta know what the brand is all about, and where they want to go. Knowing the core essence of a brand will give you the information required to create a unique visual identity for it. Studying trends and popular color schemes will also help you craft a logo that sticks the landing.

• Simplify

Abstract logos rely heavily on simplicity to convey a powerful message. Finding the right simplification for your logo requires extensive sketching and experimentation. You’ll know when you get close, and feedback will get you there. 

• Think Versatile

The best abstract logos work with any background color or shade. A great logo isn’t limited to rigid sets of rules when it comes to presentation, and is able to work in just about any iteration. Test your logo design out in various applications to see its readability across platforms. 

• Don’t Overcomplicate 

When designing an abstract logo, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of trying to cram as much information into a small space as possible, which lends itself to design work that can feel cluttered or, worse, ugly. Avoiding clutter that might dilute the message is key here.

• Is Your Logo Yours?

They say there’s nothing new under the sun, and the same can be said regarding logos. Intellectual property is a stick business and one you’d better do your homework on. The last thing your brand new logo needs is a brand new lawsuit because you didn’t notice how similar it is to an already existing brand design. 

 

There’s never been a better time to get in on abstract logo design. It’s trendy, creative and can yield results that are uniquely you. If you’re a designer, this is a craft to hone. It’s more artistic than many of the other facets of your job, and more rewarding as well. If you’re a company looking to create a singularly unique logo, then maybe it’s time to reach out to your favorite branding agency in Dubai and start pushing the limits of your potential.

 

 

 

Don’t be ageist! Here’s why….

 

Generational variety in your design firm staff can give you an edge.

 

In today’s diverse workforce, why not harness the power of age variety? Your employees may range in age from baby boomers to millennials to Gen Z, and you’re all the better for it. Taking advantage of a range of age, experience and perspective among your staff can enhance creativity, problem-solving and improve productivity.

 

So let’s take a look at how your design firm can benefit from generational diversity….

• Collaborate and Communicate

How we interact with each other and communicate can vary greatly from generation to generation. Where Gen X might prefer face-to-face interaction, millennials and Gen Z tend to lean into digital platforms to communicate. But each generation brings unique abilities and understandings to the table, and finding middle ground to foster collaboration can lead to unique, innovative design solutions. Getting your crew together, communicating and collaborating can yield a powerful variety of perspectives. 

• Knowledge and Mentorship

Sharing knowledge and experiences is a great way to nurture growth in younger talents. When you pair your younger, less experienced designers with more seasoned ones, you can create a symbiotic relationship that pushes older designers toward innovation and younger ones toward a clearer understanding of best practices and solutions when it comes to new jobs and challenges.

• Adaptability

Each season brings new design evolutions and trends, and each generation approaches these changes in different ways. Diverse, multi-generational perspectives can yield a more balanced approach to changes, where your older employees are more familiar with adaptation and the younger ones are more prepared to position themselves as trendsetters in the field. 

• Diverse Audience Tailoring

A staff that varies in ages will have a better ability to cater your work directly to clients. By employing people from different generational backgrounds, you’ll be able to create more inclusive, user-centric solutions that have the power to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. Your diversity is your strength. 

• Happier Employees

An inclusive, accommodating workplace is more innately inviting, and can lead to higher employee engagement and improved retention rates. When employees see that their varying backgrounds and perspectives are valued they, in turn, feel more motivated to contribute their own unique brands of creativity. Additionally, if it’s known that your work culture embraces diversity, you’ll have a leg up in attracting top talent. 

 

When your design firm incorporates employees from multiple generations, you’ll find yourself with an invaluable asset. Hiring people who can offer multiple perspectives and skill sets promotes mentorship and ease of adaptability. Generational diversity at your firm can lead to mentorship, better solutions and greater success in all areas of your business. 

 

Embracing generational diversity creates a positive, inclusive workplace where creativity thrives and talents flourish. Potential employees will appreciate your multi-generational talent pool. Current employees will thrive on the power of varying perspectives and skill sets. 

 

And your firm will lead the way into a brighter future. La Mesa is living proof that multi-generational hiring works. 

 

There’s nothing like a crunch at a design firm. An all-hands-on-deck time when the entire team is hard at work trying to meet deadlines that are, frankly, nuts. It’s a time of tension. You can tell because your lower back has been screaming at you for days, no matter how expensive and ergonomic your chair might be. 

 

We wrote last week about how to cope with inevitable lulls.

 

Well, the lull’s over and your firm is deep, deep in the weeds! These are the times you look forward to and dread in equal parts. As deadlines loom, pressure mounts, and creativity is put to the test, stress can take its toll on both individuals and teams. 

 

So here’s a blog about dealing with the inevitable tension that comes with being a busy human with an active brain at a design firm working overtime.

 

Let’s cope with the stress!

Stretch

Mental tension manifests itself in many physical ways. From stiff necks and joints and stomach aches brought on by stress eating, or forgetting to eat entirely. 

 

As much as you feel like a brain in a jar at the moment, it’s important not to neglect your body. Stand up and stretch often to increase blood flow and pop a few joints back into place. You know you’re doing good work here, but no work is so important that you must feel compelled to sacrifice your physical well-being in the process. 

 

Stand up, reach for the ceiling, grab your toes, run around the house. However you shake out the cobwebs, physical activity has the power to rejuvenate and pull focus. 

 

After all, it’s not really stretching – it’s self-care. 

Break It Up

When you’re staring at the next big job, don’t view it as a singular, daunting mountain you have to climb. Instead, view the mountain as a series of hills and boulders. Mentally break the larger task into smaller ones and take it apart piece by piece. By doing so, you’ll also be lowering your level of stress with regard to the project at hand. 

 

It may seem like a silly approach, but it just about always works. Allowing your mind to focus on individual tasks contributing to a whole also allows you to relax and approach your crunch period with more clarity of vision.

 

This is especially helpful if you don’t perform as well under pressure. 

Reward Yourself

Allowing yourself little breaks for completing tasks will give you something to strive for and look forward to. A time to breathe and refocus your energies at opportune moments will break up potential monotony and get you back to work with renewed energy. 

 

A cup of coffee or tea and a moment of fresh air will give your busy, tired mind time to relax and prepare to conquer the next task. 

 

And practicing healthy time-management will serve as a reminder that you are in control of your work day, in spite of the crunch you find yourself in. 

Reach Out

We know this one can be hard, but open communication with your team is necessary. Nobody likes to admit when they need help, but sometimes, well, we do! Keeping your team close, even if you’re remote, is of paramount importance when it comes to accomplishing daunting tasks. 

 

And reaching out for help or advice isn’t a sign of weakness. Quite the opposite. Knowing your limitations and expressing a willingness to approach challenges collectively is what a team is supposed to do! 

 

Prioritizing and delegating tasks to the right people will ease the crunch for your firm as a whole.

Keep Tabs On You

Finally, understanding your emotions, and where they’re coming from, can be a deciding factor in whether you sink or swim during a crunch. 

 

Impostor Syndrome is an acute feeling that you don’t belong in your current role, despite all evidence to the contrary. You’re great at your job, there’s a reason they put you there, yet you still feel like you’re faking it! 

 

It’s important to call those negative emotions what they are: total bullshit. 

 

If you’re finding yourself in a tougher than usual emotional place during crunch periods, take a step back and examine the underlying reasons. Most of the time, it’s just your insecurities talking.

 

Tough deadlines can be incredibly stressful, but they aren’t insurmountable and they definitely aren’t a reason to sacrifice your physical and emotional well-being.

 

Focus on what really matters, take care of yourself. Crunch times are difficult at the best of times, so developing stress management techniques is essential. 

 

The work will still be there when you get back, but it might not feel so bad this time. 

 

She’s been a powerful cultural mover and shaker for 64 years, only growing in popularity for each new generation of little girls. You know her, you love her, or you hate her…

 

And, after all this time, success, and world conquering, 2023 just might be the year of Barbie. 

 

And it’s all thanks to a blockbuster movie and one of the most clever, powerful marketing campaigns we’ve seen in a long time.

 

The Barbie movie itself already comes with its fair share of bonafides. From Margot Robbie in the title role, Ryan Gosling as her ever-constant boyfriend Ken, and even Will Ferrell as the CEO of Mattel, this cast is stacked. On top of that there’s Greta Gerwig, a writer/director with an already stellar track record for unique, entertaining films. 

 

Pair that level of pedigree with a stunning marketing machine and you’ve got yourself a cultural juggernaut!

 

So let’s pick it apart a bit and see how marketing genius  turned a movie into a phenomenon. 

 

For starters, everybody knows Barbie. No matter how you feel about her, she’s everywhere, and it’s been that way forever. Little Generation Alpha girls have her in their toy boxes, and their grandmothers remember playing with her too! People know Barbie. They know her dresses, her Dream House, her beach cruiser. They know her friends. They know her story. They’ve been following her subtle evolution for years.

 

With Hollywood’s current fixation with relying heavily on existing intellectual property, it’s almost surprising they took so long to get to Barbie.

 

But that’s not where the magic stops…

 

Barbie isn’t just for kids anymore. 

Feel like staying in a life size Barbie Dream House in Malibu? It’s listed on AirBNB, and just got a brand new makeover. 

 

On top of that, you can purchase official Barbie luggage, toiletries, XBox controllers and rollerblades. The marketing takeover, rumored to have cost upwards of $100 million USD, and extravagant production design, has even led to a global shortage of pink paint. This has amounted to more than 100 brand partnerships in any area that seems remotely fitting, from apparel to frozen yogurt. And it’s working!

 

We’re not kidding!

 

And adults are living for it. Maybe it’s the post-pandemic desire to finally share an experience with each other, but people are getting in on this in ways not seen in quite some time. 

 

And that includes a great example of counterprogramming. 

 

See, Barbie just so happens to be coming out on the exact same day as Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, Oppenheimer. His biopic of the brilliant, conflicted mastermind behind the creation of the atomic bomb is, in many ways, the diametric opposite of Barbie’s sunny, fanciful storytelling. And the studios seized upon this contrast, planted the seeds in social media, and watched the public take it and run with it. 

 

So much so that the event has been christened…

Fans are turning the dual release into a double feature event, and having fun with the differences between the two films on the way. A quick Instagram search lets you know you’ve stumbled upon the meme of the summer.

 

Barbie has yet another job: social media influencer. 

 

Elsewhere, when it comes to marketing the Barbie movie more is more. From autograph signings at malls and beachside resorts, to the return of iconic Barbie fashions, both life-size and plasticine, it’s a nonstop barrage of marketing magic and, for once, we all seem to be on the same page. Brand partnerships have turned out events like popups, cruises and events all over the world. 

 

In fact, more has been written about the marketing of Barbie than on the film itself! 

 

It seems that, if there is a way to market the Barbie movie, it’s been utilized, put out into the world, and promoted by news outlets looking for something big. 

 

The final trailer’s tagline says it all: “If you love Barbie, this movie is for you. If you hate Barbie, this movie is for you.”

 

Barbie is for everyone, and the filmmakers have endeavored to reach as large an audience as possible with a postmodern wink, while also staying true to the simple, childish joy of playing with dolls. It’ll be a tightrope walk to say the least, but one that millions of people all around the world are excited to see.

 

And that’s all thanks to pulling out the stops on every kind of marketing wizardry you can think of (and a bottomless budget to match.)