In fact, you’ve probably already utilised artificial intelligence today.

It might have been when Spotify created your “perfect for this mood” playlist, when Grab predicted your fare, or when Netflix decided which show to tempt you with next. All of these are examples of AI quietly working in the background, shaping the products and services you use without ever announcing itself. AI is becoming an invisible layer in everyday experiences, and that has huge implications for how brands create value, build trust, and stand out.​

What AI really changes

From a customer’s point of view, the impact of AI is not about algorithms, but about how they experience products and services. At its core, AI is about systems that learn from data to make predictions and decisions, and that changes how products and services behave over time.​

In that regard, four big shifts matter for brands:

1. From static to adaptive

Traditional products behave the same way for everyone. With AI, services can learn from each interaction and adjust accordingly. Think of a content app that learns what you prefer to read, or a fitness app that adapts your routine based on your progress rather than following a fixed plan.​

2. From mass to “one”

Marketing has always talked about segmentation, but AI makes it possible to tailor offers, content, and even pricing to individuals at scale. Retailers can curate product selections that feel hand‑picked and relevant to you. Done well, this feels like a brand finally “gets you”.​

3. From reactive to proactive

Many services wait for a customer request: “I have this problem; please help.” AI allows services to anticipate needs and act earlier. A financial app might flag that your spending pattern looks risky before it becomes a problem, or a telco could suggest a more suitable plan before you hit your data cap. This shift from “call us when something breaks” to “we’re looking out for you” can be a powerful expression of a brand’s promise.​

4. From linear journeys to fluid experiences

Customer journeys used to follow neat, linear steps: awareness, consideration, purchase, use, support. AI weaves search, chat, recommendations, and automation into a more fluid experience. You might ask a chatbot a question, be shown curated content, get a personalised offer, and complete a purchase without ever seeing a traditional webpage.​

The new brand challenge: invisible tech, visible trust

As AI capabilities become widely available, technology itself becomes less of a differentiator. Many brands can plug into similar models and tools; what becomes truly differentiating is how a brand uses AI to express its unique brand promise, values, and personality. 

This creates two core tensions that brand leaders need to manage:

1. Automation vs. human touch

Automating routine queries or processes can free humans to focus on complex, sensitive situations, which is one of the great benefits of AI. That said, in sectors like healthcare, finance, and hospitality, there are moments where human contact is not just preferred but essential. Brands need to decide what should always remain human, what can be “AI first, human in the loop,” and what can be fully automated. Those choices say a lot about what a brand values.​

2. Speed vs. stewardship

There is intense pressure to “move fast” on AI for efficiency and competitive reasons. At the same time, regulators and society are increasingly concerned with fairness, bias, transparency, and safety. Leaders must balance experimentation with governance: setting clear guardrails, reviewing high‑impact use cases, and defining where the brand will not go, even if the technology allows it.​

A useful guideline to follow is having  “AI‑on‑brand”: ensuring that every AI‑enabled interaction behaves in a way that is consistent with the brand’s promise, tone, and ethics. If your brand stands for reassurance and clarity, your AI should not be cryptic or pushy; if your brand stands for empowerment, your AI should give options, not orders.​

Creating “on‑brand AI”

Rather than treating AI as a technology project, it helps to see it as a new material for experience design. The following are some ways you can consider using to guide teams in designing AI features that are both effective and on‑brand.

1. Start from human frictions

Instead of asking, “Where can we use AI?”, start with “Where are customers currently confused, anxious, or frustrated?” Map the journey and identify specific friction points – long waits, complex forms, confusing choices, or information overload.​

Only then ask, “Could AI genuinely reduce this friction or make this moment feel more personal?” Examples include using AI to simplify form‑filling, triage support requests more intelligently, or summarise complex information in plain language. When AI is anchored in a real human problem, adoption and satisfaction tend to be much higher.​

2. Align your “AI personality” with your brand

Most brands already have a personality defined in their guidelines. The missing step is translating that personality into how AI behaves: tone of voice, how proactive it should be, how much it should explain, and how cautious or experimental it can be.​

A healthcare brand, for instance, might have an AI that is calm, clear, and conservative in its advice, continuously highlighting limitations and encouraging professional consultation when needed. A youth lifestyle brand might have an AI that uses informal language, suggests bold options, and embraces more experimentation while still respecting boundaries around safety and consent.​

3. Make the invisible visible

Many AI decisions are invisible, which can make customers uneasy. Brands can counter this by adopting simple transparency practices: short explanations like “We’re suggesting this because you liked…” or “We predicted this based on your recent activity,” plus clear options to adjust or turn off personalisation.​

At the crux of this is about giving people enough information to feel informed and in control. Simple privacy settings, reminders of what data is being used, and accessible explanations for important decisions can turn a black‑box experience into one that feels more collaborative and trustworthy.​

4. Measure what matters to humans

AI projects are often evaluated using technical metrics like accuracy, latency, or cost savings. To understand whether AI is supporting or undermining the brand, teams should measure human‑centred outcomes such as: perceived helpfulness, ease, comfort, trust, and preference for the AI‑enabled experience versus the old one.​

The key is to treat AI not just as a back‑office efficiency lever, but as a core part of the brand experience to be designed, tested, and refined.​

What leaders can do now

For leaders in marketing, product, and customer experience, AI can feel overwhelming, but the first steps can be focused and practical.

1. Audit where AI already touches your customers

Many organisations already use AI in fraud detection, recommendations, search, or support routing, but these elements are rarely viewed through a brand lens. Map current uses and ask: “Is this interaction on‑brand? How might it feel from a customer’s point of view?”​

2. Create an “AI experience charter”

Develop a simple, one‑page agreement that defines how your brand will and will not use AI when it comes to customers’ interactions with your products and services. This can cover principles like transparency, consent, tone, escalation to humans, and areas that are off‑limits, giving product and marketing teams a clear reference.​

3. Run one focused, low‑risk pilot

Instead of trying to “transform everything,” choose one friction point where AI could make a clear difference and run a contained pilot. Involve real customers early, test different designs, and measure both performance and sentiment, then share the learnings to build confidence and capability.​

As AI becomes a common ingredient in products and services, the real competitive edge will not be the model you choose, but the kind of human experience you design around it. Brands that treat AI as a medium for expressing their promise will be the products and services that people choose, trust, and recommend.​

References:

• Morgan Stanley on AI trends and enterprise focus: https://www.morganstanley.com/insights/articles/ai-trends-reasoning-frontier-models-2025-tmt
• General “AI in industries / CX” material: https://sada.com/blog/5-tech-predictions-for-2025-how-google-cloud-and-ai-will-transform-key-industries-2/
• McKinsey “State of AI in 2025” for adoption, transformation, and governance themes: https://kanerika.com/blogs/the-state-of-ai-mckinsey-report/
• Automate Service Without Losing the Human Touch: https://deliberatedirections.com/automate-service-without-losing-the-human-touch/
• AI Won’t Just Cut Costs, It Will Reinvent the Customer Experience: https://www.bain.com/insights/ai-wont-just-cut-costs-it-will-reinvent-the-customer-experience/

The post Issue 54: Q4 2025 appeared first on Tangible.

1. The QR Code Comeback

Person scanning qr code at the cafeteria, Freepik, Stock Image

From Niche to Necessity

Remember when QR codes were just quirky little squares? Now, they’re everywhere! You might have spotted one five minutes ago—on a table or a public wall. Thanks to the pandemic, these codes have gone from novelty to necessity, making tasks like menu browsing and payments a breeze.

First, what is a QR code?

Short for Quick Response code, the QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that evolved from the old-school single-direction barcodes with a super-efficient design that reads horizontally, vertically, and at any angle. This allows them to pack in way more information.

Designing for Adoption

Apple releases iOS 11 – new Control Centre, and integrating QR scanner. | https://www.formbot.com/how-to-scan-qr-code-with-iphone.php

Apple integrating QR Code Scanner in the new iOS 11 | apple.com

While QR codes were ahead of the curve, it required a separate app to scan them which can be quite a hassle. But then came Apple’s iOS 11, which integrated QR scanning directly into the iPhone camera. This game-changing design made scanning QR codes accessible to all. Fast forward to 2020, they then became essential for contactless interactions.

COVID-19 Vaccination requirements. | https://www.imc-healthcare.com/verification-of-overseas-covid-19-vaccination/

How it Works: The mechanics behind QR Codes

1. 1. Data encoding: Allows for a much higher data capacity compared to traditional barcodes, including text, URLs, and other data types.
      

      Source: Huang, J., & Chen, J. (2017). “Data Encoding and Efficiency in QR Code Technology.”International Journal of Information Technology 

   2. High-speed readability: QR codes are designed for fast readability, enabling quick access to the embedded data.
      

      Source: Lee, Y. K., & Kim, S. (2018). “Understanding the Readability of QR Codes.” Academia.edu.
      

   3. Error correction: QR codes can still be read correctly even if they are partially damaged, thanks to built-in error correction algorithms.
      

      Source: Zhang, H., & Wu, C. (2012). “Error Correction in QR Codes: A Practical Approach.” ScienceDirect.
      

   4. Immediate interaction: Scanning a QR code instantly directs users to a website, app, or digital content without the need for manual input, reducing friction in the user journey.
      

      Source: Johnson, M. (2019). “User Experience and the Impact of QR Code Interactions.” Journal of Mobile Technology.

Why it Works: The Psychology behind it

QR Codes tap into nuances of perceived convenience, security and value in psychology:

1. 1. Perceived Legitimacy: QR codes are often associated with reputable brands and institutions, which enhances user trust in the content they are accessing.
      

      Source: Smith, A., & Patel, R. (2020). “Building Trust Through QR Codes: A User Experience Perspective.” Academia.edu.

   2. Contactless Safety: In a post-pandemic world, QR codes offer a hygienic, contactless way to access information and services, aligning with increased health and safety concerns.
      

      Source: Lee, J. (2021). “The Role of QR Codes in Enhancing Safety During and After the Pandemic.” Health and Safety Journal

   3. Instant Gratification: QR codes provide immediate access to information or services, catering to the modern user’s desire for quick and easy interactions.
      

      Source: Chen, L. (2019). “Instant Gratification and Technology: The Role of QR Codes.” ScienceDirect.

   4. Interactive Experience: The act of scanning a QR code creates an interactive experience, making users feel more involved and engaged with the content or brand.
      

      Source: Kim, H., & Lee, M. (2022). “Enhancing User Engagement through Interactive QR Code Experiences.” International Journal of Interactive Marketing.

Transformative Impact: The Indispensable Role of QR Codes During the Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, QR codes quickly became essential in adapting to new safety protocols. Their versatility allowed for seamless integration into various aspects of daily life, making them a staple for contactless interactions.

Revolutionising Dining Experiences

Free PDF QR Code generator mock up, Convert PDFs to QR Codes & Track PDF Downloads. | https://www.uniqode.com/qr-code-generator/for-pdf

COVID-19 led to heightened concerns about physical contact, posing a challenge for restaurateurs. Many customers hesitated to use physical menus, prompting a swift shift to online alternatives. QR codes emerged as the ideal solution for contactless dining, allowing customers to simply scan the QR codes at their table to access menus on their smartphones.

This transition not only minimised physical contact but also enabled restaurants to update menus in real-time without reprinting. As a result, dining became safer and more efficient.

Lady ordering food using new QR codes in hawker stalls in Singapore during COVID-19 Pandemic heightened alert, 2020 | Image from Straits Times

Additionally, QR codes revolutionised contactless payments, particularly in hawker stalls in Singapore that have limited banking access, allowing customers to complete transactions quickly and securely while enhancing financial inclusion.

Singapore’s Smart Pandemic Solution: The TraceTogether App

Factsheet – Enhancements to the TraceTogether Application | MDDI

In Singapore, the TraceTogether app became vital in managing COVID-19. Using Bluetooth technology in conjunction with QR code capabilities, it logged encounters between users thus allowing health authorities to swiftly identify potential exposures. The app improved safety and streamlined contact tracing by incorporating QR codes for venue check-ins. This initiative highlighted Singapore’s innovative response to the pandemic, showcasing the crucial role of thoughtful design in public health.

QR Code Usage Statistics 2024: Latest Facts and Insights | https://www.qrcode-tiger.com/qr-code-statistics-2022-q1

QR Codes on Graves: Preserve Memories in 7 Meaningful Ways | https://www.qrcode-tiger.com/qr-codes-on-graves

Other Examples of QR Code Usage Today

• Advertising: Connecting consumers to a brand’s website or discounts
  
• E-payments: Particularly in China, thanks to WeChat
• WiFi Access: Joining networks without entering passwords
• Museums: Providing more information about exhibits
• Gravestones: Some companies have added QR codes to gravestones to share more about the deceased

2. Swiping as Second Nature

The Tinder Effect

Swipe right memes, Giphy.com

Imagine a world where finding a date felt more like a game than a chore. Enter Tinder, the app that turned dating into a digital playground. The genius behind Tinder lies in its simple yet addictive swipe gesture. Swipe right if you like someone, swipe left if you don’t. This slight, accessible, intuitive motion changed how we interact with our phones forever.

Swiper, No Swiping!

Everand: Learn these iPhones gestures to tap and swipe like a pro | https://www.everand.com/article/533153174/Learn-These-I-Phone-Gestures-To-Tap-And-Swipe-Like-A-Pro

The magic of the swipe is in its simplicity. With a flick of the thumb, you’re either opening the door to potential romance or sending someone packing. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s incredibly satisfying. Why? Because it feels natural. Our brains love quick decisions and instant rewards, and swiping delivers just that.

How it Works: The Magic Behind the Swipe

1. Touch Start: Your finger lands on the screen, saying, “Hey there!” The device eagerly notes where you started this interaction (like remembering where you parked your car).
   

   Source: Schmidt, C. (2020). “Understanding Touch Interactions in Mobile Devices.” Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.

2. Touch Move – The Dance: As you glide your finger across the screen, the device is like, “I see you moving!” It tracks every move, following your finger like a puppy on a leash.
   

   Source: Johnson, L., & Martinez, R. (2021). “The Dynamics of Touch: Tracking Movements on Screens.” International Journal of Mobile Computing.

3. Thresholds and animations: Predefined thresholds for distance and speed ensure only deliberate swipes trigger actions. Smooth animations followed provide visual feedback, enhancing the user experience.
   

   Source: Chen, A., & Lee, J. (2019). “The Role of Feedback and Animation in User Interaction Design.” Human Factors and Ergonomics.

4.  Function Execution: Depending on the direction and context, specific functions are executed (e.g., dismissing a notification, navigating between pages, liking or disliking a profile).
   

   Source: Chen, A., & Lee, J. (2019). “The Role of Feedback and Animation in User Interaction Design.” Human Factors and Ergonomics.

Why it Works: The Psychology of Swiping

1. Ease of Use: Before swiping, dating apps were cumbersome. You had to fill out forms, answer questions, and browse through pages of profiles. Swiping made it all so much simpler. Now, all you need is your thumb and a bit of hope.
   

   Source: Davis, S. (2021). “Streamlining User Experience: The Evolution of Dating Apps.” Mobile User Experience Review.

2. Gamification: Tinder transformed dating into a game. Each swipe comes with the thrill of the unknown – will it be a match or will it be a miss? It’s like playing a slot machine; each right swipe could hit the jackpot. This keeps users hooked, swiping away for the successive big win.
   

   Source: Anderson, T. (2020). “The Gamification of Online Dating: Engaging Users through Play.” Journal of Digital Culture.

3. Immediate Feedback: Every swipe gives instant feedback. A match lights up your screen, sending a rush of excitement. This instant gratification keeps users engaged and eager to keep swiping.
   

   Source: Thompson, R. (2019). “Instant Gratification: The Psychology Behind Immediate Feedback in Apps.” Cognitive Psychology Journal.

4. Social Validation: Swiping taps into our need for social approval. Getting a match feels like a mini-validation boost. It’s a simple way to feel seen and appreciated in the vast world of online dating.
   

   Source: Carter, M. (2021). “The Psychology of Social Validation in Digital Platforms.” Social Psychology Quarterly.

Why Is Swiping So Satisfying?

Tinder swiping meme | giphy.com

Ellen Glover from Built In notes that “swiping is an innate gesture,” even seen in babies. UX design often caters to thumb navigation, making swiping feel natural, reminiscent of flipping through magazines or browsing racks. When used in a game-like context, like Tinder, swiping taps into a variable reward schedule, akin to a slot machine, where curiosity builds, and dopamine is released with each match.

What Makes ‘Swipe Right’ Such a Compelling UX Feature? | https://builtin.com/articles/tinder-swipe-design

Swiping into the Future

Tinder’s swipe didn’t just change dating; it changed how we interact with our devices. The swipe gesture is now a fundamental part of user interface design, proving that sometimes, the most straightforward ideas have the most significant impact. From browsing social media feeds to navigating through photo galleries, the swipe gesture has become ubiquitous in many apps. So next time you swipe right, remember – you’re not just making a choice but part of a digital revolution.

For more insights on the transformative power of the swipe gesture, check out Built In’s article.

3. The (Subtle) Power of Micro-Interactions

The magic of micro-interactions: How small details can make a big impact | https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/magic-micro-interactions-how-small-details-can-make-big-joe-johnston/

Tiny Details, Big Impact

Micro-interactions are the delightful little design elements—think fun animations and friendly feedback loops—that keep us coming back for more. They add a sprinkle of joy to our digital experiences. For instance, that satisfying ‘like’ animation on social media? It’s not just for show; it confirms your action and makes you feel good about it! As UX Magazine puts it, “these small details can significantly enhance user satisfaction.”

How it Works: The Magic of Micro-Interactions

Micro-interactions are the little design gems that make apps more enjoyable! Here’s how they work:

1. Instant Feedback: Whenever you click a button or like a post, micro-interactions provide immediate feedback—think animations, sounds, or colour changes—that say, “Yep, we got that!”
   

   Source: Norman, D. A. (2013). “The Design of Everyday Things.” Basic Books

2. Guiding the Way: They help you navigate processes smoothly. For example, playful animations can show progress when filling out a form, making the journey straightforward and fun.
   

   Source: Ahlstrom, L. (2020). “The Role of Micro-Interactions in User Experience Design.” UX Magazine.

3. Boosting Engagement: With delightful elements—like confetti after achieving a goal—micro-interactions make you feel special and connected to the app.
   

   Source: Kuniavsky, M. (2010). “Smart Things: Ubiquitous Computing User Experience Design.” Morgan Kaufmann.

Why it Works: The Psychology behind it

Micro-interactions tap into some clever psychology:

1. Rewarding Feelings: When you see a cheerful animation, your brain releases dopamine, giving you a little high that makes you want to keep using the app.
   

   Source: Hamari, J., Koivisto, J., & Sarsa, H. (2014). “Does Gamification Work? A Literature Review of Empirical Studies on Gamification.” 2014 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

2. Easy Peasy: Simple interactions reduce mental effort. Clear feedback boosts your confidence, making the experience feel effortless.
   

   Source: Sweller, J. (1988). “Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on Learning.” Cognitive Science.

3. Building Habits: Fun micro-interactions encourage you to repeat actions, like logging workouts or sharing moments, turning them into habits.
   

   Source: Fogg, B. J. (2009). “A Behavior Model for Persuasive Design.” Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Persuasive Technology.

4. Feeling Connected: Notifications for likes and comments foster community, keeping you engaged and returning for more.
   

   Source: Burke, M., Marlow, C., & Lento, T. (2009). “Social Network Activity and Social Well-Being.” Proceedings of the 2009 International Conference on Weblogs and Social Media.

Habit Forming Design

Micro-interactions are like little nudges that help us build habits. They’re carefully crafted to make our experiences smoother and more engaging. Take gaming apps, for example. Every time you complete a quest and get that extraordinary reward notification, it’s designed to keep you hooked. According to the Interaction Design Foundation, these feedback loops create a cycle that encourages players to return for more fun. It’s all about making you feel like a winner!

Your Micro-Interaction Cheerleaders

In the vibrant world of social media, micro-interactions are the little touches that make every scroll feel special, enhancing engagement and keeping users coming back for more. 

Instagram:

Instagram Update Annoys Users With ‘Romantic’ Flying Hearts In Ending DM Conversations | https://screenrant.com/instagram-hearts-update-users-annoyed-reaction/

Instagram shines with delightful features like the playful heart animation that pops up when users like a post, adding a burst of joy to the experience. At the same time, the smooth swipe animation for viewing Stories makes navigation seamless. 

TikTok:

UISources, Learning Tiktok, Tap to shoot, add filters, add music, add effects | https://www.uisources.com/explainer/tiktok-onboarding-coachmarks

UISources, Learning Tiktok, Tap to shoot, add filters, add music, add effects | https://www.uisources.com/explainer/tiktok-onboarding-coachmarks

TikTok excels in using micro-interactions with its engaging “like” animations and the satisfying feedback when users scroll through videos, complete with playful sounds that heighten the experience.

4. Designing for Seamless Experiences

Whole range of Apple Products for WDC 2024 | https://medium.com/predict/forget-macbook-pro-go-with-better-apple-product-d864e18b4742

Consistency is Key

Consistency in design across platforms is essential for creating intuitive and user-friendly technology. A prime example is Apple’s ecosystem, which offers a seamless experience across devices. From iPhones to iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple maintains a unified design language, ensuring consistent features like notifications, settings, and app interfaces. This consistency allows users to switch between devices effortlessly, enhancing productivity and creating a sense of familiarity.

How it Works: The subconscious idea of “Seamless Experiences” 

1. Unified Design Language: Apple employs a consistent visual and functional design across all devices, allowing for smooth transitions and familiar interactions.
   

   Source: Redding, C. (2019). “The Importance of Consistent Design in User Experience.” UX Design Journal.

2. Integrated Ecosystem: Apple’s products work together harmoniously, enabling features like Handoff, which allows users to start a task on one device and continue on another.
   

   Source: Elman, S. (2020). “The Role of Ecosystem Design in User Engagement.” Journal of Product Design

3. Invisible Transactions: Apple Pay simplifies the payment process with NFC technology, allowing users to make transactions with a single tap, thus minimising friction during the purchasing experience.
   

   Source: Green, J. (2018). “Seamless Payment Systems: Enhancing User Experience.” International Journal of Financial Services.

Why it Works: The psychology behind it 

1. Familiarity and Comfort: Consistent design elements create a sense of familiarity, reducing cognitive load and making users feel more comfortable navigating the interface
   

   Source: Norman, D. A. (2013). “The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition.” Basic Books.

2. Flow State: The seamless integration and invisible design encourage a state of flow, where users become fully immersed in the task, enhancing satisfaction and engagement.
   

   Source: Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.” Harper & Row.

3. Efficiency and Speed: Minimising the number of steps in interactions (like transactions) aligns with the principle of least effort, which states that users prefer processes that require the least cognitive and physical effort.
   

   Source: McKinsey, A. (2015). “The Effortless Experience: Conquering the New Battleground for Customer Loyalty.” Harvard Business Review Press.

Elaborating on what it means to have “Invisible Design”

How to use Apple wallet, apple.com

Apple’s design philosophy often embraces “invisible design,” where the best features go unnoticed because they feel natural. Take Apple Pay, for instance: making purchases with a simple tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch feels effortless. The smooth transition from browsing to payment lets users focus on shopping rather than the mechanics of the transaction.

How to use Apple wallet, apple.com

When you buy an Apple product, the receipt and product instructions automatically appear in your Apple Wallet. Not only that, you can store your credit cards, digital car keys, transit cards, boarding passes and even your drivers’ licence. This integration keeps essential information organised and accessible, enhancing the user experience.

Purposeful Design

Designing for seamless experiences means prioritising consistency and embracing invisible design, all while leveraging minimalist aesthetics. Apple’s ecosystem showcases how a unified design approach can elevate user interaction, making technology intuitive and effortless. 

5. Niche Innovations in UX/UI Design

In 2023 and 2024, technology continues to evolve, integrating deeper into our daily lives and enhancing our interactions through innovative UX/UI design.

1. Nest Thermostat

Google’s Nest announces new smart thermostat with simpler design, lower price | https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/12/21511951/google-nest-smart-thermostat-new-design-lower-price-specs-features

Energy Optimisation

The Nest Thermostat uses machine learning to optimise energy management based on user behaviour, making home control seamless and efficient. Users can easily adjust settings through an intuitive interface while the AI handles the heavy lifting in the background.

Explore Nest’s impact

2. Amazon’s Echo Spot

Amazon launches the all-new Echo Spot in celebration of Prime Day | https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/all-new-echo-spot

Machine Learning in Voice Control

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo are revolutionising how we interact with technology. Through natural language processing, these devices allow users to control smart home gadgets with simple voice commands. Whether you’re asking Alexa to play your favourite song or turn off the lights, the user experience is designed to be effortless and intuitive.

Discover voice control capabilities

3. Spotify’s AI DJ

Spotify’s AI DJ Brings a Personalized Listening Experience to Fans in Spain | https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-07-17/spanish-ai-dj-livi-voice/

AI Personalisation

Platforms like Spotify utilise AI to analyse user preferences and deliver personalised content recommendations. By understanding what users like, these platforms enhance engagement and loyalty, ensuring that users always find something that interests them.

See how AI personalises your experience

In Conclusion, 

As we’ve explored, UX and UI design do more than just enhance aesthetics—they fundamentally alter our interactions with technology and reshape our daily habits. From making QR codes a part of our everyday lives to transforming swipes into intuitive gestures, the impact of thoughtful design is profound and often invisible. These innovations empower us to navigate our digital and physical worlds more effortlessly and meaningfully.

What design change has subtly shifted your daily habits? We’d love to hear your experiences! If you want to enhance your brand or digital experience, don’t hesitate to reach out! Let’s create something exceptional together. Your journey towards innovative design starts here!

The post Issue 49: Q3 2024 appeared first on Tangible.

Spotlight on Copse Studio
Several Southeast Asian brands have won my loyalty, and one of them is Copse Studio. This Thai contemporary brand specialises in apparel, with a primary focus on footwear and leather goods. Amid the frenzy of short-form content and social media marketing on platforms like TikTok, where fast fashion and over-consumerism prevail, Copse Studio distinguishes itself by creating handcrafted, classic pieces that transcend fleeting trends. Each product is inspired by culture, travel, and utility, resulting in essential items for everyday life.

None of their products seem out of place, with every product meticulously designed with attention to detail. Take their two shirt designs, for instance – it showcases their unwavering dedication, from the choice of material to the precision of the embroidery. This focus on essential items embodies their philosophy of creating timeless pieces suitable for any occasion.

A Common Origin Story
Copse Studio’s origins echo the humble beginnings of many luxury brands, like Gucci. Gucci started as a small workshop producing high-quality leather goods. Guccio envisioned combining the refined aesthetics he observed in high-end hotels with the craftsmanship of local artisans. Similarly, Copse Studio was born from a intention to merge quality Thai craftsmanship with modern, contemporary design.

Driven by a simple passion for leather fisherman shoes that were nearly impossible to find in Thailand, Copse Studio’s founders took matters into their own hands and decided to create their own. They enlisted the help of a friend’s father, who had expertise in shoe design. Launched in 2019, Copse Studio faced a rocky start amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many shoe factories to close. However, through perseverance and strategic partnerships, Copse Studio emerged strong and managed to navigate through the pandemic. As word spread about Copse contemporary style, they found a community of customers who shared their distinct taste in style.

Over time, Copse Studio’s dedication to craftsmanship and quality has distinguished them from typical shoe brands in Thailand. The founders, who also serve as designers, work hand-in-hand with shoemakers. The parallels between Gucci and Copse Studio are evident: both brands began with a strong emphasis on quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship, aiming to create products that were not only functional, but also stylish and built to last.

Hand-crafted sandals by Thai artisans at Copse Studio

Gucci grew steadily, prioritising quality and exclusivity, paving its ascent to global luxury status. Copse Studio follows a similar path. Beginning with a small community, Copse Studio has evolved into a niche brand, resonating with like-minded individuals who value classic and quality apparel. Their latest masterpiece, the Overlap Shoulder Bag, exemplifies their artistry – a handcrafted made-to-order piece composed from 90 individual leather pieces, meticulously assembled and interconnected using rings.

Copse Studio’s Overlap shoulder bag, crafted from 90 individual leather pieces

The Rise of Southeast Asian Brands
Southeast Asian fashion brands like Copse Studio are capturing attention with their unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, often rivalling Western counterparts but at more accessible prices. Drawing on a rich heritage of traditional crafts such as weaving, dyeing, and hand embroidery, these brands incorporate locally sourced materials into their modern designs. This fusion of the old and the new not only showcases the region’s cultural wealth but also gives these brands a distinctive edge.

As these brands continue to expand their reach through digital platforms, they are reshaping perceptions of Southeast Asia as a hub of craftsmanship and creativity. Their ability to deliver premium-quality products at accessible prices underscores their potential to disrupt and diversify the global fashion landscape, making luxury and artisanal craftsmanship more inclusive and desired.

Conclusion
In celebrating ‘Ideas, Perseverance, and Attention to Detail’, Copse Studio exemplifies these values through their commitment to quality and thoughtful design. As Southeast Asian brands continue to rise, they bring with them stories of resilience and creativity, proving that even the smallest, home-grown brands can make a significant impact on the global stage. Copse Studio is a testament to this potential, blending tradition and meticulous craftsmanship to create lasting fashion statements.

The post Issue 48: Q2 2024 appeared first on Tangible.

We want to celebrate people and brands that identify, articulate, and deliver their offers by seemingly leaving no stone unturned in the quest to create exceptional products, services, and experiences for their customers.

When we’re talking about Ideas, Perseverance and Attention to Detail, it may be the celebration of the engineering behind Dyson’s products or the craft that Disney puts into storytelling or a beautifully crafted logo that articulates the ambition of the business.

The key to building exceptional brands may be a combination of many circumstances but we would like to suggest it’s a blend of brilliant ideas, dogged perseverance, and an obsessive attention to detail (with a scoop of luck and timing). We can’t always explain it, but we know when brands have gone the extra mile to deliver.

Dyson – Ideas, Perseverance and Attention to Detail
The story of James Dyson is a daisy chain of brilliant ideas woven with the steel wire of perseverance. It’s interesting that both James Dyson and Phil Knight (Nike) were long-distance runners. James Dyson attributes his determination to his long-distance running.

Before the first bagless vacuum cleaner, while studying at the Royal College of Art (RCA), James Dyson helped design and build an amphibious high speed landing craft with the entrepreneur, Jeremy Fry. It was during this time that James learnt to design and engineer a product from the ground up. After graduating from RCA, James then helped with the sales of the ‘SeaTruck’ from Rotork Controls Ltd.

With the ‘SeaTruck’ success in his toolbox, James Dyson’s next idea came while renovating his farmhouse in the Cotswolds. He was having issues with traditional wheelbarrows, as they were unstable when fully loaded and put high pressure through the central tyre. His solution was the ‘Ballbarrow’, a single piece moulded plastic bucket and a ball for the front wheel. The success was immediate and ‘Ballbarrow’ quickly took half of the UK wheelbarrow market.

James Dyson clearly has a creative mind, but this is tempered with an engineer’s attention to detail and a long-distance runner’s perseverance, which has proved a formidable combination.

‘Dyson’ is synonymous with, the cyclonic vacuum cleaner and this was James Dyson’s next big idea. Its genesis originated in the late 1970’s after James Dyson saw a 30-foot-high conical centrifuge used in a sawmill to remove dust from the air. He believed the technology could be adapted for vacuum cleaners to improve their performance by removing the collection bags. At that time all household vacuum cleaners used collection bags which lost suction as the bags became clogged.

This is where perseverance comes in again as it took James five years and about 5,127 prototypes for the “G-Force” cleaner to be born in 1983. During this time, he was partly supported by his wife’s teacher’s salary. The next hurdle was manufacturing and distribution, as no one in the UK would handle his product (as Dyson disturbed the market for replacement dust bags). So, Dyson launched the G-Force in Japan through a manufacturing license agreement with a company called ‘Apex’. After this initial success Dyson realised that if he wanted to take his innovations to market, he needed to steer the ship. So, together with a bank loan and his life savings ‘Dyson Appliances Limited’ was founded in 1991. James then doubled down by setting up his own manufacturing company, ‘Dyson Ltd’ in 1993.

The 1990s was a story of growth for Dyson and particularly the Dual Cyclone model. Within two years, it was outselling Hoover and began capturing market share rapidly. Other models followed, which generally shrank in size and grew in desirability. Growth also brought the opportunity for Dyson to focus on his passions, ideas, innovation, and engineering. With the appointment of Martin McCourt as the Group CEO, James Dyson focused on growing the product offer. Let’s briefly summarise where his company cast its creative eye.

Washing Machines
With the insight that washing machines take 2 hours to deliver the results of 15 minutes of hand washing, Dyson ventured into washing machines. The result was the ContraRotator, which mimicked hand washing with its two drums rotating in opposite directions. Technically it was a great product, more energy efficient and could tackle larger loads. Unfortunately, at double the cost of competitors’, it failed to capture the market and become a commercial success.

Hand Dryers
Launched in 2006, Dyson’s Airblade Hand Dryer has helped Dyson grow within the commercial appliance sector. By challenging existing products, the Airblade uses Dyson’s digital motor to power a stream of air at rapid speed to dry the hands within 10-14 seconds. It is accredited as the first-ever hygienic hand dryer, using a HEPA filter to eliminate bacteria from the air, and in the process costs less to run than conventional hand dryers.

Bladeless Fans
As first glance the bladeless fan looks like another brilliant idea off the Dyson conveyer belt of brilliant ideas. Who wouldn’t want a fan that you can put your hands or head into? Actually, the concept for a bladeless fan was created by Toshiba in 1981 but it was beautifully designed and popularised by Dyson. The Air Multiplier was launched in 2009 and was included in Time’s 50 Best Inventions of that year.

Lighting
Jake Dyson, the son of James Dyson, is also working for the family business in the lighting sector. The opportunity in this sector is to address problems caused by poor lighting, such as eyestrain, headaches, and decreased productivity, all while enhancing the ambiance with optimal lighting. The lighting division started in 2004 and has moved from Halogen to LED light sources. While lighting may not have received the commercial success of other divisions, Jake says if there’s anything he learned from his father, it’s to “never give up”.

Hair Dryers
32 years after the G-Force, Dyson moved into hair care. In 2016 the Supersonic hairdryer launched to rave reviews, then came the Airwrap, an all-in-one styler and finally a straightener; the Corrale. With all these products the mission was clear, to create products for ‘every hair type, every style with less damage’. It took 10 years and £100 million but Dyson is now the category leader with over 6,000 engineers, scientists, and stylists working globally to drive their mission forward.

Another key focus area is the attention to detail from product design to the marketing and communications of Dyson products.

Dyson’s product designs can be compared with Apple’s, with their sleek and simple outer appearance that belies the sophisticated technology concealed within. The naming of their products captures both the category and technology incorporated within the product. Who knew what a neodymium magnet was before the cyclonic vacuum cleaner came along. Or that is spins at 104,000 times a minute, which is faster than a Formula 1 car (a great comparison).

From a marketing and communications point of view, when you see Dyson’s ads, websites, or retail outlets, it’s clear that the products (or the engineering behind the products) are the focus for the Dyson brand. It’s not about lifestyle, convenience, or value, it’s a celebration of the innovation, engineering excellence and attention to detail.

Looking back on James Dyson’s journey, it is hard not to be impressed by his achievements and hope his story can inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs driven by their internal curiosity to ask; ‘why not?’ And a determination to meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same.

Sources:
https://www.dyson.ie/james-dyson

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabbyshacknai/2022/06/11/inside-the-success-of-dyson-hair-and-its-decision-to-redesign-the-bestselling-airwrap-tool/?sh=42f723c43cc5

https://www.cascade.app/studies/dyson-strategy-study

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dyson

https://support.dyson.com.sg/fans

The post Issue 47: Q1 2024 appeared first on Tangible.

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) | Yuga Labs

Preface

In our culture today, where tech meets real life, we can make our random doodles in our notebook for 1 ETH ($1691 as of 28 June 2022) today. As we sit in the web3 culture today, the blockchain space is a burgeoning industry where even tech founders admit to being in the midst of a learning curve. Cryptocurrencies, utility tokens, security tokens, digital assets, new exciting investment asset classes and their sub-classifications are multiplying and evolving alongside cryptographic and blockchain technology. One booming market now is the non-fungible token space.

BEEPLE: Everydays, the 5000 images | Christie’s Auction House

Introduction

How much can a cluster of pixels be possibly worth? In today’s world, where anyone can just save an image from anywhere on the internet within seconds – a collection of pixels is probably worth nothing. However, in March 2021, a digital print called Everydays: The First 5000 Days sold for $69 million at Christie’s Auction House. It is not extraordinary to see an eight-figure art sale at Christie’s, but selling the work of art as a non-fungible token (NFT) is a first of its kind. To put it into perspective: Someone paid $69 million for a collage of 5000 digital images. How crazy is that?

Top: Crypto Punks, Wavelength by Kaleb Johnston, Famous Fox Federation, And Solana Monkey Business.

Bottom: Bored Ape Yacht Club, Getijde by Bart Simons, Doodles,
and The Currency by Damian Hirst | Medium.com, A Primer to NFTS

So, what is an NFT? 

Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs are digital assets with a unique identity kept and verified on a blockchain, a digital ledger that is encrypted and safe. Each NFT has a signature that allows anyone online to verify its authenticity, transaction details, time, and cost. Each NFT is non-fungible, meaning the NFT cannot be exchanged for another asset of similar value. For clarification, NFTs are neither a platform, a currency, or a marketplace. Common NFT assets can be images, videos, music, a soundtrack, collectibles or even shoes; anything that can be made digital can be an NFT. 

Understanding the difference between non-fungible and fungible assets will help you know NFTs better. Stocks, money, oil, gold, and cryptocurrency are fungible; they can be easily traded or exchanged for an equalised value – $1 for $1. Non-fungible assets are different; they have a unique code attached to them, and their properties are not transposable and cannot be replaced with a similar item.

This Changed Everything: Source Code for WWW x Tim Berners- Lee | Sotheby’s

How does NFT work?

Think of NFTs as a collector’s item but in a digital format. An artist or creator can create an NFT by converting images, music, art, and videos into crypto collections or digital assets and storing them onto the blockchain – and this process is minting. By minting an NFT, you convert tangible digital files into encrypted, unique non-fungible tokens for buyers to take an interest in. NFTs exist on blockchain technology, the recorded provenance of the digital asset makes it unique and safe to invest in, and you will never lose it with the technology attached. NFTs hold value because there is only one unique version of the asset that is made and cannot replicate, a 1:1 in layman’s terms.

With NFTs, everything is made digital. When you buy an NFT, you will not get the physical asset; you will get a digital file and exclusive ownership rights tagged to the investment.

Dictador x Richard Orlinski NFT, about $45,000 | Financial Times

What can be converted into an NFT?

Anything digitalised can be turned into an NFT, even a tweet! Twitter’s former co-founder Jack Dorsey sold his first tweet as an NFT for more than US$2.9 million. Anything can be converted to an NFT, from artwork, music and media, to trading cards, event tickets, in-game items on gaming platforms, memes, and even real-world items like collectible Nike shoes and rare spirits. 

Illustration by Mengxi Li  | The Verge

How to make NFTs? 

Before making NFTs, some NFT jargon might help you ease your way into the NFT space. Some important ones are:

1. 1:1 Art: A unique NFT art piece that only exists in one edition
2. Altcoin: An Altcoin is an alternative digital currency to Bitcoin. The word Altcoin is a portmanteau of “alternative” and “coin” to form “altcoin”. It refers to a group of cryptocurrencies, ultimately all the cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin.
3. Airdrop: New NFTs or cryptocurrencies are automatically sent to your wallet for free.
4. Bearish: This term is used when traders, investors and community members expect a token or asset’s value to decline soon.
5. Bullish: The opposite of bearish. 
6. Discord: A social media platform akin to slack, built initially for gamers but has since evolved into a platform for all kinds of communities, especially for NFT projects.
7. Gas: Gas is the amount (in native cryptocurrency) required by the platform or marketplace for a user to perform transactions on the blockchain. For example, you must pay BTC gas fees when interacting with the Bitcoin network. 
8. Minting: The creation process of an NFT. 
9. Moon: A typical financial market term referring to the exponential growth of an asset value. E.g. BAYC is going to the moon, or ‘mooning’. 
10. Reveal: When minting a new generative project, your artwork will be created by the platform after the minting process. This means you’re purchasing a ‘blind box’ and won’t know what you will get until it’s time to reveal it. Depending on the creator’s choice, the NFT may be informed immediately or after a 24-48 hours delay when the collection sells out. 
11. Secondary (transaction): A secondary NFT transaction is when a collection of NFTs is already sold through its project website and is further traded among buyers.

You can find the more expansive glossary list here.

Step 1: Decide what it is you are minting.
While some of the most popular projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) feature cartoon avatars and profile picture projects, remember that the platform can help you turn any digital files you own into an NFT. Many musicians like Kings of Leon and 3LAU have launched NFT projects for their singles, music videos and even album art. The fine line is to make sure that the NFT is your creation or something you rightfully own.

Step 2: Decide on a marketplace.
Many marketplaces allow you to discover, buy and sell NFTs, but depending on your identity as an individual creator and artist or a regular trader who sees this as an asset class; some are better suited for respective identities. 

• OpenSea

Based on the Ethereum blockchain, OpenSea is the top choice of NFT creators and buyers. Signing up on OpenSea is free. Compared to other marketplaces, it boasts the most variety of digital assets available for browsing, buying and selling. It supports artists and creators with the easy minting process on OpenSea. Lastly, the marketplace supports more than 150 payment tokens.

What you’ll need to get started:
An ETH wallet (e.g. MetaMask, Coinbase or dozens of others)

Creator fees:
2.5% of your sale

Learn more:
Visit the OpenSea resource page.

—

• Rarible

Similar to OpenSea, Rarible utilises the Ethereum blockchain. Rarible is another large marketplace that can buy, sell and create all types of art, from videos to collectables and music on the platform. However, on Rarible, you have to use their own marketplace’s mainstay token Rarible (CRYPTO: RARI) to buy and sell on the market. The incredible feature for users on Rarible is that they can steal a “sneak peek” of your creation from everyone who comes to Rarible, limiting the complete project to purchasers only.

What you’ll need to get started:
An ETH wallet (e.g. MetaMask, Coinbase or dozens of others)

Creator fees:
Vary depending on the blockchain you use, but the option for free minting exists.

Learn more:
Read the Rarible FAQs

—

• Mintable

Mintable, the famous NFT marketplace backed by the shark billionaire Mark Cuban, is also a fabulous marketplace to start selling NFTs. Mintable allows creators to skip upfront fees when minting NFTs and rewards creators royalties whenever a collector resells their product on the secondary market. Compared to OpenSea, which has a flat rate of 2.5%, Mintable has creator fees ranging from 2.5% to 10%, depending on the type of transaction.

What you’ll need to get started:
An ETH wallet (e.g. MetaMask, Coinbase or dozens of others)

Creator fees:
2.5%, 5% or 10% depending on transaction type

Learn more:
To view the Mintable Resource page, you need to be a user of Mintable.

For further clarification, creator fees are not gas fees. Buyers pay gas fees (the transaction amount required to write data on a blockchain network) after the first sale of a specific NFT collection. Also, other fees may apply. 

Other platforms like Foundation and SuperRare are by invite only; only by invitation are you allowed to create NFTs on their platform.

—

Step 3: Set up a Crypto Wallet to get Cryptocurrency
It might seem like a misordered step, but it isn’t. 

Setting up a crypto wallet only after you have chosen your marketplace and blockchain is a better investment move as it is advisable to stick with one marketplace that allows you to have different altcoins to invest in. Altcoins are “alternative coins” for short, which are alternative coins other than Bitcoin, like Ethereum and Solana. Further, blockchains have additional gas fees, so it is advisable to research the market and cryptocurrency before setting up your crypto wallets.

Step 4: Join communities on Discord and Twitter
Do you still remember your Twitter password? To start making NFTs, you must recover your Twitter account and create an account on Discord. Discord works like Slack, an organisational channel that organises conversations into dedicated spaces called channels. Channels bring order and clarity, making them for a project, team or topic, and in these channels, you can share images and ideas and move work forward. Discord is a platform for gamers and crypto lovers, and Twitter allows you to chat with like-minded NFT collectors or even collectors interested in the same projects as you. You can enter various channels, though some tracks are by invite only. Most information regarding NFT news is communicated through Discord by the project’s founders. When you’re ready to sell your NFTs, you can expect your community to be your marketing resource and “hype central”. 

You don’t need to spend much money on sophisticated tactics to create successful NFT projects. Just trust your community. 

Step 5: Create your art, upload and mint
Creating art is easy and challenging at the same time. Before proceeding, you must decide if you’d like to do a 1:1 Art or a collection of NFTs. Remember, no prudent NFT creator would create a group without first knowing the longevity of the project and its goals. Doing copyright research is also essential, be diligent in pointing out key features of other top projects and then avoiding them. You are good to go as long as it is your creation and there’s nothing similar in the market. 

In marketplaces such as OpenSea and Rarible and minting website Polygon, the minting process is so easy:

• Open the collection you just created
• Click on Add Item
• Upload your NFT and name it.
• Fill in the properties, levels and other descriptors for the NFT.
• Click Create when finished.

Once you mint your NFT, it will appear on your profile. Blockchain data is public and accessible by anyone. Your NFT’s buying and selling history will be available to the public forever on this digital ledger, helping you and prospective buyers track its price. You might not want people to know how many transactions you make or how much money you have traded. Therefore, many users go by different monikers to hide their identities.

Step 6: Selling your NFTs
After minting, it is time to price your NFT. For starters, you might want to try 1 ETH ($1691 as of 28 June 2022) to keep it simple. The 1 ETH price will remain on your marketplace profile until a specific date or until someone takes it off the market.

Mach37, combining Web2 and Web3 | Medium.com

Why are NFTs so significant in the web3 era? 

Although the NFT space seems to be levelling in the bearish market in 2022, the growth of NFTs has changed the work of artists, content creators, graphic designers, illustrators, and authors. This revolutionary technology broke the internet, turning the art and fashion world upside down. At the end of 2021, the burgeoning market had a trading volume of approximately $23 billion. Cryptocurrency and NFTs are a mainstay in our web3 culture.

• NFTs open a gateway to creating more hybrid industries

Ten years ago, it would have been difficult to find a hybrid designer that could travel between art and science. But today, a designer can not only design graphics, and they can code the graphics, create 3D models using code and even code robots’ movements. A hybrid designer today believes in “innovation through synergy between creativity, science and technology to create value for society”.

Coding is no longer the sole proprietary of the engineering, technology, and financial technology sector; everyone has a chance to utilise coding. Today’s creatives can code their artworks to mint without any platforms and marketplaces and even create intelligent contracts through the Ethereum Blockchain without third-party platforms. This sight is one incredible example of how the art, design, and science industry coalesce, creating more hybrid initiatives that will stay in the future.

Read more here:  https://www.rca.ac.uk/research-innovation/research-centres/computer-science-research-centre/

https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/programme-finder/information-experience-design-ma/

• NFTs foster marketplace efficiency

NFTs enable markets to be more streamlined. Transforming a physical asset into a digital one and embedding it into the blockchain technology streamline complex processes, eliminate intermediaries, enhance supply chains and bolsters security. NFTs are a starting point, and it shows that there are applications beyond marketplaces. Take physical paper contracts between businesses. By converting them into distinct NFTs, we can significantly curb bottlenecks at physical places and streamline the process of checking and authenticating them. This change can save us so many person-hours when time is a form of money today.

Read more here: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/02/here-are-the-pros-and-cons-when-it-comes-to-non-fungible-tokens.html

• The bolstering security of Blockchain Technology backing NFTs

Within the NFT space, we can see what blockchain technology can do in minting, buying, and selling in a virtual area. As mentioned, blockchain is essential because businesses run on information; the more accurately received, the better. Blockchain is ideal for delivering that information because it provides immediacy and transparency for the data stored on that immutable ledger which only permissible network members can access.

With the application on NFTs, we can track its entire history of orders, payments, differing accounts and production. We can use the single view of transparency, which gives its customers greater confidence to use Blockchain-applied applications in the future.

Bryce Durbin, TechCrunch | TechCrunch

Seems like a dream to earn big bucks?
Beware of the pitfalls. 

With every new and exciting investment asset class, there are immense risks too. We see many success stories of earning the big dollars with cryptocurrency; people often forget the flip side of the coin that some people faced when Bitcoin crashed.

• NFTs are illiquid and speculative investments.

Since it is a new asset and marketplace, there is not a lot of historical data. In May 2022, Altcoin Solana crashed 85% in value due to a power outage and NFT spillover, which wiped out a lot of investors’ bank accounts. Can you afford the loss?

• NFTs are a volatile investment that sits in a decentralised space.

NFTs are termed “volatile” as with most art, digital or physical, their value is relative and based on someone else’s sentiment and the hype around it. Similar to the sneaker collectors world, there is a “cop or drop” hype, 1:1 and secondary market pricing. People flip in the secondary market at their sentimental price, unconcerned with any market research or statistical data as it swings with sentiments and is unpegged to any centralised currency.

That’s the unique nature of an NFT, which can be viewed as both a pro and a con. Further, altcoins sit in a decentralised space, where there are no government rules to how it is traded or how the market moves – everyone has a dip in the soup. 

Unless you are using altcoins pegged to the U.S dollar, it is a considerable risk to dabble in cryptocurrency. Unless you can afford the loss, it is not recommended to invest in cryptocurrency or NFTs.

• There is a high potential for fraud and scammers within the space.

Despite blockchain technology, it is possible for NFTs to be hacked and stolen, adding another significant risk to consider. NFTs thefts are increasingly common as the number of bad-faith actors shows up in hopes of a breadcrumb of this multi-million-dollar pie. OpenSea has seen more than $10 million in losses from NFT hacks and thefts, with BAYC apes worth millions getting stolen.

Also, anybody can compromise the security of social networking sites like Discord and Twitter with phishing attacks, with hackers posing as NFT project founders posting fake links concerning ongoing NFT projects. 

Plagiarism is also common in the digital space. DeviantArt has also seen artists’ collective being ripped off directly from their portfolios and onto OpenSea’s marketplace.

Read more here: https://mashable.com/article/bored-ape-yacht-club-hacked-again.

Big Brands getting into NFTs | Medium.com

Conclusion

Although big brands are jumping on the bandwagon to create NFTs and push the boundaries of their uses, NFTs remain in a highly speculative market that fluctuates wildly daily. With such a decentralised space, there is almost no kind of accountability. It will remain an unregulated unique digital asset with various technological applications in digital art, games, music, films and Internet memes. There is only moderate control and visibility in the space that remains in the private room. Unless it has merged fully with the Decentralised Finance space, If NFTs remain ungoverned, they will always hold it in a speculative market. 

Boom or bust? It is up to you to decide!

Ps: Happy investing! Tangible is not liable for any investment losses or speculative investment solutions.

The post Issue 40: Q2 2022 appeared first on Tangible.

When we look at the history of modest wear, the influence of faith often comes to mind as the main motivation for women to cover up. From the nuns’ habits to the black niqabs and abayas worn by Arab women, modesty in dressing can sometimes be viewed as frumpy, unfashionable, and at times even oppressive. Modest wear has traditionally been antithetical to the skin-baring trends of miniskirts and low-rise jeans. However, evident in more recent years, individual motivations and interpretations of modesty are wide-ranging. The increased visibility and awareness of movements on female empowerment have influenced others to choose more modest styles as an expression of their femininity which is not defined by the male gaze.

Having been underserved by the fashion industry, women with modest styles found their voice on online platforms and communities. Personalities such as Noor Tagouri and Dian Pelangi gained strong online followings for their brand of modest fashion that has led them to being leaders in their respective fields. Their rise to prominence charted the way for increased visibility of Muslim women in fashion, bringing the headscarf and layered styles into mainstream fashion’s consciousness.

With Reuters and Dinarstandard estimating that the modest fashion economy could grow to $368bn by 2021, global brands and fashion runways have since taken notice and are responding to the increasing demand for modes fashion. From Net-a-Porter’s modest clothing category, Mango’s Ramadan collections for the Middle Eastern market, to Nike Pro’s hijab, the influence of the veiled and modest woman in fashion has definitely been felt by the fashion industry in recent years. For many brands, their foray into modest fashion focuses on Middle Eastern and North American markets.

However, these attempts by global fashion brands have not been spared from critique. Alia Khan, founder of the Islamic Fashion And Design Council told Fast Company

“Brands have tended to miss the mark. They don’t understand that this audience is just as stylish and demanding of their fashion wardrobes as anybody else. What these women really want is the same miniskirt they saw on the runway, but slightly looser and longer.”

While global brands have taken notice of the modest fashion markets of the Middle East and North America, less attention has been paid to the large market of women in Southeast Asia. This has allowed for local brands to fill the gap and meet the demand led by younger consumers. Fashion e-commerce platforms such as Zalora and FashionValet, have found success in these markets by carrying local brands, highlighting the growing demand and consumption power of modest women in the region.

However, with a significant middle class emerging, and the corresponding increased spending power, larger companies are paying attention and making more intentional efforts to appeal to the younger, more tech-savvy demographic.

The post Issue 29: Q3 2019 appeared first on Tangible.

The ideals of male beauty have changed over the years. Today, personal vanity is socially encouraged. Men, especially in Asia, are paying a lot more attention and have a greater interest in their grooming habits. Popular subcultures such as the Korean Wave are strong factors in influencing this rising trend. Men have greater access to a wide variety of beauty and skincare products⁠—such as toners, exfoliating masks, BB creams, and lip tints. Some men even participate in the rigorous, hallmark Korean 10-step skincare routine. This skincare routine is regarded as a lifestyle choice and has become a global phenomenon, grounded in South Korea’s cultural obsession with healthy skin.

The emerging market of men’s beauty is attracting big global brands – such as Chanel and Tom Ford –  to invest in creating product specifically for men. For instance, China’s booming beauty market is expected to double by 2030. As men today are eager to express themselves and redefine the concept of masculinity, beauty companies are diving deeper and experimenting with the growing needs, or wants, of the new generation of men.

K-beauty and J-beauty 

In the first half of 2019, there were speculations that J-beauty was going to overtake K-beauty as the next champion of the beauty industry. Why is J-beauty only starting to resurface now when Japanese brands such as Shiseido have been around for years? Once known as the pioneer of the beauty industry, Japanese beauty brands have been overshadowed by K-beauty in recent years. One possible reason is that they are deemed less trendy than their Korean counterparts due to the massive influence of K-pop. Another reason is the price point; well-known Japanese brands are known to be more luxurious and less affordable. 

While J-beauty is presumed to keep a low profile in recent years, Japanese brands are actually busy dedicating their time to dermatological research & development. With the rise of consumer’s spending power in developing Asian countries, consumers are increasingly willing to splurge on J-beauty’s established luxurious brands (such as SKII, THREE, and Astalift) that are proven to be clinically effective.

While undoubtedly J-beauty is a strong player in the skincare and cosmetics’ industry, there is still room for K-beauty globally, ensuring K-beauty is unlikely to be ousted by J-beauty any time soon. Both beauty cultures target different audiences effectively; J-beauty targets mature consumers with higher spending power primarily through luxurious and clinically tested products, while K-beauty targets younger consumers mainly via affordable skincare and trendy cosmetics. All in all, the Asian beauty industry is definitely prospering and will continue to thrive.

Demand for organic and eco-friendly beauty

The beauty industry is sadly notorious for its negative impact on the environment. Zero Waste discloses that every year, 120 billion units of packaging produced by the global beauty industry is not recyclable. Nonetheless, there has been a shift in the consumers’ mindsets. Consumers are increasingly health-conscious and well-informed about the importance of going green, which has consequently led to increased demand for more organic and eco-friendly products. 

According to Ecovia Intelligence, the Asian market for natural and organic cosmetics was valued at $652m in 2017. This value is expected to increase rapidly as the industry is in its infancy. Skincare companies in Asia are ramping up their efforts to enter this new market. Unfortunately, many companies in Asia are still ‘greenwashing’ their products due to the lack of stringent advertising guidelines.

A key target market of the industry are millennials. Millennials, also known as the Green Generation have a keen interest in sustainability. According to research conducted by Neilsen in 2015, millennials view sustainability as a shopping priority and are willing to pay extra for sustainable offerings. As such, there has been a rise in businesses taking positive measures to eliminate plastic packaging and limiting water usage. The journey towards a greener supply chain in the Asian beauty industry is still a long one. Companies should aim to be more transparent in their operations – sourcing of ingredients, packaging, and internal processes.

The post Issue 28: Q2 2019 appeared first on Tangible.

Out all of the companies in the top 10 of Interbrand’s 2018 Best Global Brands ranking, Samsung (#6) and Toyota (#7) were the only two brands from Asia. Both brands tackled the fundamental issue faced by numerous Asian brands in recent years –  clarifying the purpose that drives them.

Because of Asia’s highly diverse markets, it is crucial for brands to communicate a single unifying belief that employees and customers across demographics can rally around, one that goes beyond being first-in- market.

Both Samsung and Toyota’s brand purposes go beyond the usual “being the first” and “beating the competition” but focus on how their businesses contribute and have positive impacts on the world.  Stuart Green, former CEO of Interbrand Asia Pacific, notes “A meaningful purpose should center itself around doing something of direct benefit to customers, or the world at large.” Customers today are not just looking at brands, but the values that surround them.

2. Don’t go digital for the sake of digital

With the rise of buzzwords like “digital transformation” and new emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality, many Asian companies are racing towards such applications and attempting to integrate these processes into their businesses. Because it’s new, exciting and unknown, one doesn’t stop to question do we really need it? Do customers want it? Will it add value to what we are currently doing?

Brands should focus more on solving and improving customers’ problems than keeping up with the latest technology. If you first focus your attention on designing and improving services that add value to a customer’s experience and then work in the latest technology around it, you will create something long-lasting and not die as quickly as the trend.

Brands need to understand that their customers are unique, so we have to match them with services that answer their needs rather than assuming that this is what they want and need.

3. Local insights, global standards

Every market in Asia has its own unique cultural characteristics and way of conducting business. To succeed in Asia requires a deep understanding of local culture as well as delivering global levels of service and engagement. One great example is Go-Jek in Indonesia. Founders at Go-Jek understood the terrible traffic conditions in Jakarta and developed the motorcycle taxi service to improve the efficiency of how locals commute, work and play. From its early days of being an on-demand mode of transport, Go-Jek has evolved into a comprehensive service provider covering transportation, food, entertainment, postal and health services.

Go-Jek has since expanded to Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand and it will be interesting to see how they adapt their business model accordingly to suit customers from different countries.

4. Attract and keep talent

One key strategy that companies seem to overlook is the importance of attracting and retaining talent. The best brands are built from the inside out and without passionate employees, your brand purpose is meaningless. Much of today’s workforce consists of millennials, and the amount is continuing to rise. It’s crucial for brands to adjust to this generation in order to ensure growth.

Asian millennials, like their counterparts globally, are the most attracted to not just the biggest or richest organizations – but to the ones with a strong sense of purpose and share a similar set of values.

Adrian Ridner, CEO and co-founder of Study.com, comments “Millennials want to feel good about their work and make an impact on society at large. If a millennial feels that they are not personally connected to their company, they likely won’t stick around.”

Retaining employees is just as important as attracting them, so be sure to align your mission with your workers and create a platform for their voice.

The post Issue 27: Q1 2019 appeared first on Tangible.

James Dyson

James Dyson was born on May 2, 1947, in Norfolk, England. Sadly his father, Alec Dyson, who was a teacher, died of cancer when James was only nine. He attended Gresham’s School, a boarding school in Holt, Norfolk, from 1956 to 1965 where he excelled at long distance running, which he credits to his gritty determination. That same determination was what pushed him through the 15 years and 5,127 prototypes it took to launch his first vacuum cleaner. Dyson went on to study Art in London before moving on to furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art from 1966 to 1970, and finally to engineering. Following graduation, he had the good fortune of having an unconventional boss, Jeremy Fry, who put Dyson in charge of designing a high-speed landing craft in spite of the fact that Dyson had no prior experience in product design. Working alongside his boss, he learnt how to prototype and designed the Rotork Sea Truck, a flat-hulled, high-speed watercraft, similar to a small landing craft.

Read more: How I Did It: James Dyson

Antoni Gaudi

Gaudi was born in a small town an hour from Barcelona in 1852. His love for nature emerged out of a childhood wracked with rheumatoid arthritis. Gaudí’s mother took him for trips into the Tarragona countryside, as she believed that fresh air would help combat his illness. Amid the hills and trees, Gaudi’s eyes awoke to the elegance and harmony of nature.

Gaudi studied architecture in Barcelona where he worked at different jobs to support himself. The budding genius graduated in 1878, the same year, he met Eusebi Güell, a wealthy Barcelona businessman who proved to be a most generous supporter of Gaudi’s work. It was only after the death of his father that Gaudí devoted his time exclusively to the magnificent project that cemented his reputation as one of the most creative architects of the 20th Century, the Sagrada Familia.

Gaudi accepted no payments for the Sagrada Familia and never saw its completion, as he was killed by a tram in 1926. The Sagrada Familia is due for completion in 2026.

Read more: Antoni Gaudí Biography

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The post Issue 18: Q4 2016 appeared first on Tangible.

Amancio Ortega

The notoriously publicity-shy Amancio was born in Northern Spain in 1936. He founded Zara with his wife in 1975 (luckily he couldn’t register his first choice name: Zorba). Zara sells runway inspired fashion in such volumes that in 2015, he was reportedly the second richest man in the world (behind Bill Gates & ahead of Warren Buffet).

Amancio Ortega is the son of a railway worker, who at 14, began working for a shirtmaker, where he learned the art of apparel making. Little is known about his personal life but he is said to be a workaholic who once worked for a 25 year stretch without taking a holiday.

What Amancio created with Zara is remarkable. Lightning fast, catwalkinspired, affordable fashion, which threw away the fashion distribution rule book. Forget 4 seasons and 6 months lead time to get clothes from the runway to the store. Think 104 seasons and a 2-week window to get from fashion concept to store. To put this into context: 2 weeks after Madonna opened her tour in 2001, fans were wearing Zara knock-offs of her outfits at her concerts.

Read more: Amancio Ortega: From Zero to Zara

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Ingvar Kamprad

Ingvar Kamprad was born in the south of Sweden in 1926. At age five, the young Ingvar was selling matches for profit. By 10, he had a bike and moved onto selling Christmas decorations, fish & pencils. Today, his net worth is around $50 billion (that’s a lot of fish, pencils & Christmas cards).

In 1943, at the ripe age of 17, he founded IKEA (only selling furniture five years later). His big idea was ‘flatpacking’ but this only started when he had to cut the legs off some furniture to transport it. In 1956, he officially introduced this process innovation of ‘flatpacking’ so that the buyers could assemble it at home. The process saved overheads but made him very, very unpopular. Local manufacturers refused to work with him. His response: move his whole manufacturing operation to Poland… in the height of the Cold War! It had lots of timber, but wasn’t a great capitalist environment. He was labelled a traitor at home, but this didn’t seem to bother Ingvar.

Malcolm Gladwell attributes his comfort with unpopularity, together with the survival skills learnt as a dyslexic, as the key ingredients in his eventual success.

Read more: How IKEA founder’s bizarrely frugal habits and ‘disagreeable’ personality trait made him one of the richest self-made billionaires

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTWiQD3TLAw

The post Issue 16: Q2 2016 appeared first on Tangible.