How to revive funeral rites through the creative use of experience design

The most exciting thing about experience design is its potential to improve everyday life. Beyond setting click paths, designing pretty pages, and ensuring flow, the job of an experience designer is to take a step back, look at the world, and figure out how rising digital behavior can better it by enhancing, enabling and easing pre-existing human behaviour.

To illustrate this point at the recent Adobe Creative Jam in Montreal, I talked about Fragment, a start-up project that aims to transform one of the most difficult moments in life: its end.

Reviving funeral rites in 3 crucial stages

1. Involving the community

2. Creating engaged remembrance

3. Assisting in the mourning process

Using UX for lasting, life-changing results.

University of North Georgia students devised a complete advertising plan for four lucky nonprofit organizations as part of the graphic design for advertising class. Nonprofits were The Bridge Foundation, Buckhead Christian Ministry, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF), and PAWS Atlanta

University of North Georgia students devised a complete advertising plan for four lucky nonprofit organizations as part of the graphic design for advertising class. Nonprofits were The Bridge Foundation, Buckhead Christian Ministry, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF), and PAWS Atlanta.

Marketing with little or no budget. Reaching a younger generation that gets its information through social media. Finding creative ways for people to volunteer their time or donate their money for a worthy cause. These are a few issues nonprofit organizations deal with on a regular basis.

And so four Georgia nonprofits received some assistance this fall when University of North Georgia (UNG) students selected them as clients for their graphic design for advertising class.

University of North Georgia students in the graphic design for advertising class taught by Mark Taylor, a part-time adjunct faculty member for visual arts at UNG, devised an entire advertising campaign for four nonprofit organizations. The campaign included designing a logo and direct mailer, generating a magazine or newspaper ad and an outdoor billboard, crafting a 15-second radio ad, and producing a 15-second television storyboard concept.

This is a long post we’re linking to at Telepathy, but more than a worthwhile read. Brad provides great detail and it’s easy on the eyes with his writing style.

In summary, it is an awesome reference guide! You don’t have to read this in order, feel free to bounce around and discover what might help you at the moment. So before you start scrolling, here’s a taste of what we’ll cover:

Defining Product Vision
Research and Validation
Understanding Design Systems
Rapid Ideation
Understanding Users and Relationships
Preparing to Design
Design and Build

Credit where it’s Due:

Brad Soroka (sah-row-kah) is a former Design Manager at Telepathy. Practicing design thinking, agile, and lean methodologies, he solves complex problems for startup, technology, and enterprise companies. A minimalist to the core, he is always working to remove friction — in design and in life — to make space for peace, calm, ease of use, and delight.

CEO James Quincey told investors this week it was because Diet Coke has tapped into the millennial market with targeted marketing and “flavor innovation” such as Ginger Lime, Twisted Mango and Feisty Cherry. Quincey also cited the fact that earlier this year, Diet Coke came out in a new “sleek can” that presents a “more modern, more engaging package.”

The packaging changes were encouraged in part by rising metal costs that encouraged the company to “bring some innovation into the packaging” and adapt to changes, Quincey said.

Coca-Cola Gets Lift From a Perennial Laggard: Diet Coke

A rebound in demand for diet cola lifted Coca-Cola Co.’s core soda business in the latest quarter, as consumers turned back to the zero-calorie drinks they once spurned.

Last Rites get a Rise with New UX Experiences

Four Non Profits Get a Helping Hand from the University of North Georgia

The Complete Guide to the UX Product Design Process by Brad Soroka

Repackaging & Zesty Flavoring Brings New Fizz to Diet-Coke