Ever thought about the ingenious business and design strategies that turned an everyday gadget into an adventurer's (and content creator's) best friend?

Our latest Business Design Teardown dives into the thrilling business and design strategies behind the iconic action camera brand GoPro, revealing the creative and strategic decisions that shaped GoPro's journey to becoming a market leader. 

Join Alen, Franz, and Tom as they explore the trails and navigate the rapids of GoPro's fascinating journey. They'll zoom in on...

• How a founder's passion for surfing and desire to capture his adventures identified a gap in the market for him to explore
• The role of prototyping and rapid iteration that led to GoPro's innovation breakthroughs
• Why user-generated content was a critical marketing flywheel driving GoPro's early successes
• How arrogance and a focus on iteration over innovation may have stifled GoPro's journey to the top of the action camera mountain...

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a design lover, or someone who loves a good adventure tale, this episode has twists and turns that will elevate your perspective on GoPro's fascinating story.

When you want to learn about the intersection of business and design, you can turn to d.MBA Business Design Teardowns.

But for everything else? It has to be Wikipedia.

In this podcast episode, we're tearing down one of the most significant sources of knowledge on the internet and uncovering how it isn't just a website—it's a worldwide wonder.

We'll delve into why Wikipedia is a fascinating case study for designers, discovering the clever design and organizational strategies that make it user-friendly, universally engaging, and completely ubiquitous.

Join Alen, Franz, and Tom as they explore…

• The critical shift from scholar-led to community-led content creation that revolutionized Wikipedia's output and productivity
• Why a commitment to form over function has led to a design language which prioritises readability, accessibility, and performance
• The thousands of stakeholders - and novel-length conversations! - that Wikipedia's design team has to manage when shipping updates
• How Wikipedia manages to stay informative and reliable without resorting to paid advertising

So tune in to hear how design and strategy converge to keep this information titan thriving. 

You'll never look at Wikipedia the same way again…

Marvel Studios isn't just about capes, hammers, and infinity stones. It's an unparalleled tapestry of storytelling, business acumen, and creative brilliance. But how did a comic book company evolve into a cinematic juggernaut?

In our latest Business Design Teardown, we delve deep into the very core of Marvel Studios' business strategy.

Have you ever wondered why the narrative of this multi-billion dollar franchise is so intricately woven? Or how creative and character choices have impacted the financial success of a cinematic universe? A world of business decisions goes into every scene.

In this episode, Alen, Franz, and Tom discuss...

• The hero's journey that enabled Marvel's creative leaders to unlock their unique angle on superhero storytelling
• How IP and distribution reinvention were critical elements in setting Marvel Studios up for success
• Why viewing habit trends and new technologies could start another wave of dominance for Marvel and its vast cast of superheroes! 

Join us as we decode the Marvel magic and uncover why every designer should read the pages from the Marvel Comics playbook.

Designers.... assemble!

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Steve Vassallo is a general partner at Foundation Capital (VC firm that invested in Pocket, Netflix, Uber etc.). Prior to that, he worked as a lead designer at IDEO where he worked on a famous Cisco's 7900 series VoIP phone. He recently published a book "The Way to Design", which helps designers become entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs adopt best design practices. You can read the book for free online.

In the episode we talked about:

• why will the 21st century be the decade of design,
• why empathy has become a buzzword and what empathy really is,
• common struggles of designers who want to become entrepreneurs.

Sudy Majd is a customer experience research lead at Candid Co. In the fifth episode, I spoke with Bobby, a colleague of Sudy, and we talked a lot about the way they do user research at Candid Co so it only made sense to dive deeper into these topics with Sudy. She has a PhD specialized in consumer behavior and behavioral economics. 

In the episode we spoke about:

• doing proactive user research that anticipates rather than reacts to business challenges,
• how to mix qualitative and quantitative research methods,
• and how to find the right profiles for your research questions. 

Show notes:

• 1:50 What did Sudy do before joining Candid Co?
• 6:20 How does academia work translate into Sudy's work at Candid Co?
• 8:20 An example of behavioral economic applied to Candid Co
• 11:00 How to proactively create briefs for user research
• 15:10 Research methods that Sudy uses in her work
• 19:50 What is a suitable sample size for quantitative and qualitative research
• 22:05 How to phrase questions for interviews and questionnaires
• 26:50 How to find the right profiles for user research?
• 35:30 How to bundle different research questions in one study
• 37:20 How does Sudy synthesise learnings? 
• 39:30 What are the common mistakes that beginners make? 
• 42:10 Who is part of the research team at Candid Co?
• 43:20 What one thing about design that surprised Sudy in a positive and one in a negative way? 

Bobby Ghoshal is a co-host of a famous podcast High Resolution and a co-founder of a startup Candid Co. He has more than 15 years of experience in the design world and is a big proponent of bringing design closer to business. 

In this episode we spoke about:

• how to do user research that is rooted in business problems
• how to measure and present results of your design work, 
• and how to hire and train a design team to become more business-savvy.

Show notes:

• 3:55 How did Bobby get into design? 
• 7:45 How 11-year old Bobby sold his art to parents
• 11:20 How Bobby's early sales experience translated into design
• 13:30  How to recognize if a designer is business-savvy?
• 16:40 How to train a designer to become more business-savvy?
• 21:30 How Bobby and his team does user research that is rooted in business challenges?
• 36:45 How does design team at Candid Co track and present results of design work?
• 41:15 Bobby's advice for designers who are just starting
• 46:25 What is one thing Bobby changed his mind about design after recording High Resolution?

Marc Hemeon has a truly impressive CV. He has lead design at YouTube, Google Ventures, Oakley, Digg, Design Inc, Fflick and lately Ease Central. He has been designing since 1996 and is a true veteran in the design community. 

In this episode we spoke about:

• the distinction between art and design,
• how ugly design can beat beautiful design,
• how to explain the value of your work to non-designers by finding the metrics they care about. 

Show notes:

• 2:10 How did Marc get into design in 1996?
• 4:50 How to sell design services?
• 10:20 How to show the value of your work by finding the metrics that organisation cares for
• 16:30 How Marc presents his designs to get buy-in from stakeholders
• 21:30 Asking for information and feedback from stakeholders?
• 25:30 Finding the balance between user goals and business goals (defining your design ethics)
• 29:40 Examples of balancing user and business goals
• 36:05 Marc's biggest design mistake (aka YouTube player disaster)
• 39:00 Design Inc's story (and what clients want from designers)
• 42:40 "Career exercise" that each designer has to do
• 50:00 Why Design Inc did not succeed
• 56:00 Marc explains why "design is not art"
• 1:02:30 Success = 80% Sell, 20% Design
• 1:08:35 What advice would Marc give to young designers?
• 1:12:20 What is one thing about design Marc has changed his mind about? 

Joel Califa is a senior product designer at GitHub. He recently wrote a very interesting and popular blog post Subverted Design, which describes what happens if designers forget that their first responsibility is still the user. You can read the full article on Joel's blog. 

In this episode we spoke about:

• examples of subverted design and how you can fight against it
• why putting users first is designers role even if other departments want us to become business-focused,
• and why you should still learn about business. 

More info on www.beyondusers.com

Joe Gerber is a business designer and a managing director of IDEO CoLAB. After studying biology, taking an MBA, and working as a product manager, he joined IDEO as the first business designer in the New York office. 

In the episode we spoke about:

• how to systematically test your design so that it achieves users and business goals,
• the role of vocabulary in bridging different design disciplines, 
• how do you use design approach to reduce risks in highly risky business situations, 
• and Joe's favourite business design questions that you can use in your project.

Trent Huon is a business design director at IDEO Munich. After finishing his MBA, he first worked as a management consultant.

As he never went through official design training, he had to learn design on the job when he joined IDEO. We talk about his transformation into designer and about the relevance of business in design.

Some of the topics we covered in this episode are:

• how to show non-designers the value of design,
• why spending some time thinking about business is super valuable and,
• how you can start thinking about the business side of design even if you know nothing about it.

If you want to learn more about business, visit beyondusers.com where you can take a 5-day email course - A mini MBA for designers. In these emails, I present five business concepts that are relevant for designers. 

From the academic corridors of Sweden to the bustling coffee shops and supermarket chillers of major cities worldwide; one company has seamlessly merged innovation with a global market strategy to dominate the plant-based beverage scene. That's right, in this latest Business Design Teardown, we’re diving deep into the world of Oatly. 

Join Alen, Franz, and Tom as they chart the journey of how this Swedish sensation not only pioneered the oat milk industry but also set new standards for sustainable business practices worldwide.

From their groundbreaking enzyme technology birthed in Lund University to their masterful entrance into international markets, Oatly has consistently made bold, strategic moves that have positioned them as leaders in the plant-based revolution. 

In this episode we explore…

• Oatly’s audacious decision to put brave brand leaders at the center of their business
• How building buzz with baristas was at the center of their US go-to-market approach
• The marketing campaigns that put them on the map, from lawsuits to that Super Bowl ad
• Why brand bravery might not be enough for Oatly to survive an increasingly competitive market…

This Teardown tale of oats, strategy, and sustainability promises to be a treat! So grab your favorite plant-infused beverage, and let's embark on the Oatly odyssey.

Born in Japan yet embraced globally, Muji challenges the consumerist tide with its 'no-brand' philosophy. From their iconic pens to the soft glow of their aroma diffusers, Muji has reshaped how we perceive functionality and design. In this episode, we'll explore the minimalist marvel that is Muji - its roots, its rise, and how it carves tranquillity in everyday life.

Heralded as the epitome of simplicity, Muji isn't just about simple aesthetics; it's a masterclass in brand strategy, thoughtful global expansion, and sustainable business practices.

So how does a company champion a 'no-brand' philosophy and still achieve global recognition and loyalty? How have they navigated the treacherous waters of international retail? And what lies beneath their sleek product designs in terms of production, supply chain management, and profit margins?

In this latest Teardown, we will also discuss…

• How Muji has taken their home product philosophy into some unexpected areas… like campsites and cars!
• Why a commitment to user-centered design remains a hallmark of the Muji mindset
• The challenges Muji continues to face taking a brand rooted in Japanese culture into Western markets
• A critical KPI for retail: inventory turnover rate, and how Muji performs compared to some other brands you might know…

So grab your Muji gel pen and notepad as we unpack the business genius behind those unbranded, beloved products. If you've ever bought a Muji product or contemplated its strategic international footprint, this episode is for you.

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You may not think about it often, but it's everywhere—on billboards, in your emails, on your favorite websites, and perhaps even your company's logo.

Yes, we're talking about fonts and, more specifically, Helvetica.

Our latest Business Design Teardown explores the iconic typeface used by businesses worldwide for over half a century. Created in 1957, this Swiss-born font has become one of the world's most used and recognized fonts. Today, we'll explore the intricate details that have propelled Helvetica to its iconic status. But that's not all.

We'll also pull back the curtain on Monotype, the powerhouse font foundry behind Helvetica, and many fonts that define our visual landscape.

How did Monotype come to wield such influence in the world of commercial fonts? And how do they monetize typefaces, an asset that most of us use daily but seldom think about? 

Together, we'll explore the combination of aesthetics and commerce that's turned simple lines and curves into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, including…

• How Helvetica was successfully rebranded to appeal to a wider English-speaking market

• Monotype's most crucial strategic move; from typesetting hardware to font distribution

• Why big businesses are constantly developing Helvetica clones (hint: it's usually to cut licensing costs!)

• Threats and opportunities for the typeface industry, including AI font generation and virtual reality

If you enjoyed this dive into the world of Helvetica, join our new Teardown Slack (invite is on www.d.mba/slack) channel and let us know your favourite brands using this iconic font.

Ahh, the unmistakable scent of a new Business Teardown! This one has notes of brand elegance and a touch of sophisticated aesthetics… but does it have the sweet smell of business success? 

Excuse our indulgence in some beauty-based puns; this week, we're taking our first look at a skincare brand that has long been admired for its design, customer experience, and attention to detail - Aesop.

With its unique amber bottles, stunningly designed stores, and a deep-rooted commitment to botanical science, Aesop's strategy goes beyond just selling skincare products. It's about selling an experience, a philosophy, and a lifestyle.

The brand has carved out a niche in the competitive skincare market by merging a keen sense of design with quality formulations. In this episode, we'll explore how Aesop's distinctive branding, commitment to sustainability, and authentic storytelling have made it a beacon in luxury skincare. 

But is this high-end brand all looks and no business substance? Or does Aesop deserve its fabled status?

In this latest dMBA teardown, Alen, Franz, and Tom discuss….

• Why Aesop's investment in spa-like store experiences has been a strategic masterstroke

• How a deep commitment to saying 'no' has helped Aesop own its place in a competitive market

• The reasons its recent acquisition was a complete no-brainer for new owner L'Oreal

• How China (and its booming luxury market) could unlock enormous growth for Aesop

So relax, unwind, and indulge in another episode of the Business Teardown.

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When you think of truly iconic design, what comes to mind?

In tech, perhaps it’s the iPhone.

In typography, Helvetica claims legendary status.

In the furniture world, one piece has a hold over designers like no other; the Eames Lounge Chair.

If the name doesn't ring a bell, its form is instantly recognizable. From appearances in Frasier, Iron Man, Beyonce videos, and Bond films, the Eames silhouette has become a cultural icon, unchanged since its inception in 1956. The brainchild of design legends Charles and Ray Eames, the Lounge Chair has become a case study in great design and business...

So in today's Teardown, we're not just unpicking what makes the Lounge Chair a great product, but the business of the company behind it - Herman Miller.

From the Eames Lounge Chair to the Aeron tech office staple, Herman Miller products have found their way into our homes and offices and earned a place in prestigious museums like the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

But this episode isn't just about chairs. Today, we're diving deep into the business side of Herman Miller.

• What strategies have propelled them to the forefront of the high-end furniture industry?

• Why has design collaboration been critical to the enduring desirability of their products?

• How has their commitment to design, innovation, and sustainability shaped their business model?

• And in this new age of remote work, how is Herman Miller evolving, and what does it mean for the future of office spaces?

So get cozy (or better yet, settle into your favorite chair) and let's unfold the business story of Herman Miller.

The Tour de France isn't just a test of physical endurance; it's a spectacle fueling a vast economic ecosystem. From the massive investments poured into team sponsorships to the bustling local economies along the race route, the Tour de France leaves no stone unturned when exploring potential income streams.

In this Business Design Teardown, we'll examine the financial gears that keep the Tour de France rolling. We'll dive into the lucrative world of sponsorships, uncovering how corporate giants strategically align themselves with teams and riders to gain exposure and promote their brands.

We'll explore the unique factors that contribute to the Tour's success and the strategic masterstrokes that have helped made it the world's most-viewed sporting event. 

So zip up your lycra, clip into your pedals, and Join Alen, Franz, and Tom as they discuss: 

• The surprising business-focused origin story of the Tour (it was created to sell more newspapers!)
• Genius strategic maneuvers that opened up lucrative income streams for Tour organizers
• Why every city wants the economic boost of a visit from The Tour (and not just in France!)
• How climate change could be the biggest threat to the Tour's existing dominance

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When is a real estate business not a real estate business? When it declares its mission to "elevate the world's consciousness", brands itself a tech company, and promises to blur the line between work and life through beautifully designed spaces.

Yes, we're talking about WeWork in the latest Business Design Teardown.

With its lofty promises to deliver not just a desk, but a dynamic, community-driven environment, WeWork swept the globe at an unprecedented speed. This meteoric rise was fuelled by eye-watering investments, inflated valuations, and a well-documented fall from grace.

In this episode, Alen, Franz, and Tom grab their hot desks, refill their complimentary coffee, and cast a critical eye on…

• How WeWork’s business model disrupted traditional commercial real estate
• The economics of co-working: is it a business worth being in?
• How WeWork's new leadership steadied the ship toward sustainability
• Why the Sunk Cost Fallacy could be the only reason WeWork is still in business!

So settle into your hot desk, put those headphones on, and prepare for a deep dive into the wild story of WeWork.

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How do you know you’ve made an enormous impact in the world of business design? When you have a popular expression coined about you!

Warby Parker set new standards for customer experience in the eyewear industry, and “The Warby Parker of…” has become shorthand to describe direct-to-consumer businesses that challenge traditional retail norms.

The Warby Parker template is now commonplace in everything from luggage to mattresses, and from strollers to clothing.

But how did they do it? With low pricing, high-end design, and a breakthrough try-at-home offering. You could say they executed a perfect business vision! 🤓

But are Warby Parker still seeing 20:20 in 2023, or do they need a fresh prescription of business innovation to remain one of the kings of DTC? In this d.MBA Business Teardown we focus our lens on…

• Who controls the global eyeglasses market, and how Warby Parker took on this monopoly -
• How Warby Parker cut out the middleman to offer high-end design at low cost
• Why a shift from online-only to retail investment has supercharged Warby Parker sales
• The threats and opportunities for Warby Parker in its journey to profitability

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Can you hear that? It’s the sweet sound of another business teardown, this time focused on a company that’s all about great listening experiences…. Sonos!

From slick unboxing and setup to seamless connectivity, Sonos have designed a product experience that is the envy of the hardware world. But is it the envy of the business world, too?

In this episode Alen, Franz and Tom take a deep dive into the strategy, brand, and financials behind one of the design world’s most admired brands. We discuss:

- How a brave bet on WiFi connectivity set the scene for Sono’s future success

- Why mass adoption of streaming was key to Sonos’s growth strategy

- How Sonos can continue to fight its corner in the notoriously tough hardware market

- Headphones, content, or business model innovation… where are the opportunities in Sonos’s future?

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Ready for a business adventure?

For our latest Teardown, we're exploring the terrain of a brand that has revolutionized business and ethical standards. Yes, we're unearthing the tale of Patagonia, a brand that's more than just outdoor apparel. It's a testament to sustainability, innovation, and an unwavering love for the great outdoors.

Patagonia is an icon of ethical business and thoughtful design. It's a brand that has masterfully woven the threads of environmental activism with cutting-edge business strategies. In this episode, Alen, Franz, and Tom will unravel how Patagonia has managed to design not just clothes but also a culture of sustainability and product innovation that other brands are dying to replicate.

Join us as we explore...

• The relatable conflicts of Patagonia's founder, a craftsperson at heart who remains reluctant to call himself a businessman
• Why Yvon Chouinard committed early business self-sabotage in the interests of the environment he loved… and set the standard for the business's future decision-making.
• How Patagonia weaves philosophy into its culture, always prioritizing its most important stakeholder: our planet
• The role of activism in its brand ethos and the marketing side-effects that this fosters

So, lace up your hiking boots, and let's hit the trail together in this latest Business Design Teardown. It will be one wild ride through Patagonia's business peaks and design valleys.

One of the best ways to learn about business is to find a topic or product you love, and dive into the business side of it.

Whether it’s your favourite footwear brand, sports team, hotel chain or streaming provider, we all have businesses we’re fascinated by, care about, or affiliate ourselves with. 

And few disciplines make these connections with their favourite brands like designers!

So, in this new d.MBA podcast format, we’re tearing down some designer favourites. From finances to strategies, and from brand-building to competitive areas; we’ll shine a light on the factors that make these businesses work.

For this first episode we put luxury athleisure brand Lululemon under the microscope as Alen, Franz and Tom discuss...

• How Lululemon invented a whole new product category (and owned it!)

• Why timing and finding a niche are so critical to Lululemon’s success

• Challengers in the athleisure space… Who are the competition?

• Lululemon’s incredible growth, and how it outperforms more well known brands

• The threats to Lululemon’s long term success vs the ways it could continue to win

www.d.mba/minimba

AI has rapidly evolved from science-fiction fantasy into a tangible tool that is already impacting our lives and work.

But it’s just the beginning… Not just for end users, but for the businesses hoping to emerge victorious from this new industrial age. But who will come out on top in this race? And what are the business categories they’re competing in?

In this episode of the d.MBA podcast, Alen and Franz delve into the strategies and business models shaping the AI business landscape.

They discuss the emerging sectors in the AI industry, and the organisations best placed to win in each category, including…

• AI solution providers (like OpenAI)

• Data-rich organisations (like Google, Amazon… and governments)

• Hardware manufacturers (like the semiconductor industry)

Tune in to hear Alen and Franz’s predictions… Some of them might surprise you!

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Curious how to make your money work for you as a designer or creative?

Well, you've come to the right place! In this episode, Alen and his guest, Akshan Ish (a design manager at Spotify), have an insightful conversation about mastering the art of financial literacy.

Join them as they cover topics like:

• Personal finance stories and lessons

• Investing in emerging markets

• Navigating financial systems across borders

Alen and Akshan open up about their own journeys with money management, investing, and finding their way through different countries' financial systems. They stress the importance of education and awareness around personal finance, and how it can lead to long-term benefits for creatives.

Akshan, who's not just an expert in design but also has a keen eye for investments, shares his thoughts on investing in India and offers some valuable resources for learning about personal finance.

So, whether you're a designer, a creative, or just someone looking to brush up on financial literacy, this episode is a must-listen.

www.d.mba/minimba

Does the thought of negotiating make you break out in a cold sweat, fellow designer?

Join Alen and our special guest Jo as they explore the ins and outs of negotiation in various contexts, from job offers to client negotiations.

In this episode, Alen and Jo discuss:

• The power of empathy in understanding the other party's perspective and priorities

• Practical application of the framework using a job offer negotiation example

• Uncovering the intriguing similarities between negotiation and business design

Tune in and level up your negotiation game today!

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Are you a faced with a business-related question, but don’t know who to ask for help?

Facing challenges at work as you build your business confidence, and need some expert advice?

Well, the d.MBA’s very own Alen and Franz are here to help! 

Welcome to the d.MBA Mailbag, our new podcast format where Alen and Franz turn Agony Uncles as they tackle anonymous questions from the d.MBA community. 

In episode one our expert hosts offer sage advice on…

• How to influence business strategy as a design leader

• Ways to make business metrics more fun (no, really!)

• Methods to uncover business opportunities around your personal passions

• AI-proofing your career as a designer

Do you need Alen and Franz’s help? Submit an anonymous question by dropping us an email at hello@d.mba! 

Seen enough AI tool renderings of fantasy avatars, futuristic skyline designs, or unicorns playing tennis? Franz Blach certainly has.

As tools like Chat GPT, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion continue to capture our imaginations and headlines, they’ve also prompted an existential crisis in our industry. Could AI make us redundant?

Franz doesn’t think so. Strategic decisions still need our expertise, and the wicked problems AI can help us solve are orders of magnitude more ambitious than those tennis playing unicorns.

In this interview Alen sits down with Creative Director at Pinterest Franz Blach to discuss the biggest opportunities for AI in the design industry, and the surprising business models that could emerge as these technologies mature. The conversation explores: 

• How designers can prepare for the AI revolution

• The ambitious, wicked problems AI can help us tackle

• How attribution business models can make AI profitable and equitable

• Why we should embrace the opportunity for creative chaos!

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Jim Barksdale, a former CEO of Netscape, once famously proclaimed there are “only two ways to make money in business: one is to bundle; the other is unbundle.”

Bundling is the business of rolling up products or services into packages, usually at a lower cost than buying them individually. Think meal deals, all-inclusive holidays, and software suite subscriptions that throw in all manner of bonus products for “free”.

Who can resist great deals like these?

Well, sometimes bundling comes at a cost. Both customers and regulators might take issue with a strategy that on the surface offers great value, but can have major drawbacks for choice, competition, and quality.

In this episode we unpick both bundling and unbundling, as Alen and Franz discuss:

• The benefits and drawbacks of each strategy for businesses and customers

• Famous examples of bundling and unbundling we can learn from

• How much impact design has in unbundled vs bundled scenarios

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For our latest episode we put our new business school quiz to the test, with our unsuspecting producer Tom Prior in the hot-seat.

When it comes to understanding business terminology and concepts, it can regularly feel like our knowledge is under the spotlight. 

• What does that business terminology mean?

• Should I know what that stakeholder was referring to?

• I’ve heard that acronym before… what the hell is ROI?

In these situations we might want to phone a friend or ask the audience. But what if you could go into your next stakeholder meeting and have the confidence of a bit more business knowledge?

Well, to get your started we’ve put together 7 questions for designers who want to start their journey towards business confidence.

Want to play along with Alen, Franz and Tom? Head to the multiple-choice quiz now and see how you get on!

Sept 15th, 2022.

The day Adobe announced its intention to acquire Figma for an eyewatering $20Bn was also a day of mourning for much of the design community. Our industry’s main tool was falling into the hands of a brand many have grown increasingly skeptical of.

Sad times.

But at a company retreat in rural Spain, the team at Penpot was rejoicing. Their nimble, open-source design tool is an alternative to the monopoly. An innovative upstart in the face of a seemingly greedy, toxic brand.

But how does an open-source tool with a tiny market share face up to the might of Adobe?

In this interview with Penpot's CEO Pablo Ruiz-Múzquiz, we uncover:

• How Penpot’s developer-inclusive product strategy can be an engine of growth

• Why a “Tax the controller” subscription model can make open source a profitable business model

• Using the ‘value created vs value captured’ ratio to create a compelling pricing proposition

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Discounting and Tesla are two words you never hear together.

Elon Musk famously wrote in an email to Tesla staff that “There can never – and I mean never – be a discount on a new car coming out of the factory in pristine condition… The acid test is that if you cannot explain to any customer who paid full price why other another customer didn’t without being embarrassed, then it is not right.”

So Tesla’s recent decision to deeply discount across its product range has many scratching their heads. Why is Tesla doing this now? What could it indicate about the state of the business? Will it have a long-term effect on their brand and position in the market?

These are questions we dive into as part of the latest Business Design Jam. In this episode we cover:

• Why a business like Tesla might choose to discount

• The pros and cons of discounting

• 5 considerations before choosing to cut prices

• Why price is so intrinsically linked to UX

• How designers can add value to the pricing process - it’s not all maths!

Prepare to immerse yourself in a tale of innovation and color that revolutionized design and branding. Our latest Business Design Teardown paints the vibrant journey of Pantone, the brand that turned the art of color consistency into a global industry.

Join us as we explore the canvas of challenges and innovations Pantone navigated to become the global authority on color. We'll brush up on how Pantone didn't just stop at solving a problem; they became trendsetters, influencing design and fashion and setting tones that reflect cultural moods and movements.

It's a story of strategic brilliance as much as it is about the beauty of color. So tune in as Alen, Franz, and Tom uncover...

• How faded camera film boxes brought to light the critical need for color consistency
• Why Pantone's strategic decision to sell early in the value chain to ink manufacturers set the stage for a color revolution.
• Pantone's journey from standardization to 'Colour of The Year' trend-setting
• The reasons Pantone's Colour Matching System has dominated for decades, and the threats to its future...

So, enjoy the spectrum of strategic stories about Pantone, the brand that painted its way into our lives and lexicons. From standardizing hues to dictating trends, this episode promises to add a splash of color to your day!

In this episode of the d.MBA podcast, we explore the exciting and rapidly-evolving field of artificial intelligence and its potential impacts on the design community and the future of business. We discuss:

• The latest advances in AI technology and how it is transforming the way we design products, services, and experiences.

• We also delve into the potential risks and opportunities that AI presents for businesses and designers, and offer insights on how to navigate this rapidly-changing landscape.

Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of AI and its implications for the future of design and business.

The episode’s description was written by an AI chatbot ChatGPT. Impressive, right?

How can we best align the goals of employees and owners?

It’s an age-old problem of a principal-agent relationship. But there is a promising trend that could really align incentives between employees and owners. It’s by making employees owners!

We decided to invite two d.MBA alumni, Sandra Fernandez and Chris How to share how employee ownership works in their companies.

We talked about:

• what even are employee-owned companies,

• what are the benefits and drawbacks for employees and companies,

• and the advice Sandra and Chris would give to others who are in the position to suggest or adopt the employee ownership program.

www.d.mba

In the latest Designer in Nature Talking Business, we are hosting Elisabeth Graf, a service designer, innovation coach, and facilitator. And a d.MBA alumna!

Lilly shared how she got into design and learned about the importance of a business concept called opportunity costs. Along the way, we also discussed how she negotiated her salary and got a 50% raise only 3 months after being hired, and why her most hated business buzzword is MVP.

According to the Oxford dictionary, a moat is “a deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle, fort, or town, typically filled with water and intended as a defence against attack”.

Ok, basically some kind of defense around the castle. So, how does this concept translate to business? And design work?

Martyn Reding, chief design officer at Upzelo and former head of design at Virgin Atlantic, shared how he learned about economic moats and how he uses the concept in designing digital products.

Let’s take a moment of silence. Adobe is acquiring Figma. Judging by Adobe’s previous acquisitions this is surely the end of Figma’s best days, right? But Adobe is promising to keep Figma independent! Should we believe Adobe?

But let’s also celebrate. The founder of Patagonia is giving away his company to fight the climate crisis. He is setting a beautiful example of how companies can shift their main stakeholder from stockholders to the society and planet. But it also sets a dangerous precedent that other billionaires could exploit.

In this episode, we cover:

• why is Adobe really acquiring Figma,

• is Adobe likely to keep Figma independent,

• and how Patagonia’s news is a beautiful and dangerous precedent for other billionaires.

www.d.mba/mini-mba

Most of us have already tried to offset the carbon footprint of our consumption. Maybe you’ve paid to offset your flight, a parcel delivery, or even production of a product you bought. And it made you feel good, right?

Well, this episode will make you feel a bit worse. Sorry. But if you are ready to take the red pill listen in and we’ll share:

• how governments try to force certain industries and companies into decreasing pollution,

• why do some companies voluntarily offset their carbon footprint,

• and why, unfortunately, neither of these two paths is currently effective.

When you hire a designer to help you on a project, you don't expect them to say: "What if we don't focus on users here?". 

Franz shared his story of working on a client project that benefitted from designing for suppliers, not customers. To make his point for focusing on suppliers he used a tool called a value chain.

Tune in to Designers in Nature Talking Business, our new podcast format where designers (in nature) share their stories of how they learned or used their favorite business tools. And learn what is a value chain and how you can use it too!

Recently, you may have heard that money is getting more expensive. But how can the money be more expensive? Money is, well, just money.

To clarify this business lingo, Alen and Franz break down the current business environment and share what sets the price of money.

We talked about:

• what cheap and expensive capital even means,

• why is money now getting more expensive,

• and what implications this has on the business world.

It’s usually a bad sign when currencies take over news. It was no different this July 13th when the news broke that one euro is worth exactly one dollar for the first time in twenty years.

The US dollar has been gaining strength against other currencies over the last six months due to various reasons, which we cover in detail in this episode.

But the question is: Who benefits from a strong dollar. A strong dollar is good for US companies, right?

Well… It is not that simple. Listen in to learn

• what are the most common factors why currencies fluctuate,

• who benefits from a strong US dollar,

• and which companies and individuals will be harmed by it?

Working as a freelancer comes with opportunities and challenges. One of these challenges is how you position yourself to get the clients you love working with. And secondly, how do you price your services so you can survive and thrive.

We invited two d.MBA alumni and design freelancers (well, they prefer the term contractors - more about that in the show), Tom Prior and James Bickerton to share their experience.

We talked about:

• how James charges $7,500 for a 90-minute workshop

• when being a specialist makes more sense than being a generalist

• and how the future of freelance work could be equity pay.

Get ready to crack open a can of intrigue with our latest Business Design Teardown, where we're diving headfirst into the chilling waters of Liquid Death's business and creativity genius.

We're peeling back the heavy-metal label to reveal the secrets behind their killer branding that's taken the beverage industry by storm. From the mountainous origins of their water to the razor-sharp humor of their marketing campaigns, we'll explore how Liquid Death has managed to make hydration feel like an act of defiance.

Join Alen, Franz, and Tom as they explore how this brand turned the simple act of drinking water into a rebellious statement as we explore...

• How sneaky energy drink marketing at festivals first planted the seed of an idea for Liquid Death's founder
• Why using a fake advert to measure demand was a breakthrough move designers can learn from
• The playbook that Liquid Death used to shake up a stale product category with edgy branding and marketing
• Why Liquid Death's 'Murder Your Thirst' tagline means more than hydration; it's an environmental call to action

So, if you're thirsting for a business story that's as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot day, tune in. This episode promises to murder your boredom and resurrect your love for innovative branding and design.

Stay hydrated. It's going to be a killer episode.

There is a saying in business that if a company is trying to prove that it is a monopoly, then it is not one. But if a company is trying to prove that it is not a monopoly, it may very well be.

Holding a monopoly gives a company an unfair advantage, which is good for the company but usually bad for consumers and society as less (or no competition) leads to less (or no) innovation.

Lately, Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Apple are all facing legal actions to hinder their monopolistic position. So, in this Business Design Jam, we talked about:

• what exactly is a monopoly,

• how common business practices may lead to a monopoly,

• and what impact market-dominating positions have on customers and society.

www.d.mba

Surely, most of us would agree that a 4-day work week is a good idea, right? Early research shows no drop in productivity, and a big increase in employee well-being. So, why hasn’t it been more widely adopted?

At the d.MBA, we’ve been running a 4-day work week for the last four years. So, we thought we would comment on some common concerns about the setup and share our perspective.

Tune in to learn the most common arguments against the 4-day work week, and learn from our story how you could propose an experiment in your team or company.

The prices of tech companies have fallen dramatically. Facebook, Netflix, Google, Apple, and Amazon are all down between 20 and 80% since their record highs. Yikes.

Everyone is freaking out. But why? How does a market crash affect companies and us working for them? How does this affect designers?

In this Business Design Jam, we talked about:

• the recent (mini?) market crash in the tech sector,

• why Netflix’s stock price is down almost 80%,

• and what Netflix can (and plans to) do about it.

To read more about the profit tree, which was mentioned in the episode, check out this guide.

Have you ever hired a freelancer and paid them per hour?

And did you have the feeling that they are extending their scope of work so they could charge you more?

Then, you have already experienced misaligned incentives, which are one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for companies. They can hurt relationships within companies and damage partnerships with outside collaborators.

In our latest podcast episode, we explore how incentives affect the work of designers and why we are in a unique position to help companies better align incentives.

Business design is already pretty common among design agencies but not so much in product companies. So, we were excited to talk to Andrew Whelan, a Business Design Director at the D-Ford London Lab, where he leads a diverse and multi-skilled team tackling some of the biggest business model opportunities in the auto and mobility industry. We covered:

• what the role of business designers at D-Ford entails,

• Andrew’s favorite business design tools,

• and how to make the case for the business design discipline.

Last week, we launched new school certificates. Using a combination of generative art and blockchain, we created several hundred unique certificates so that each student can receive a piece of art that is wall-worthy and trustworthy. To learn more about the project check out the blog post with visual materials. In this podcast episode, I spoke with Emil from design studio Ljudje, which helped us bring these beautiful certificates to life. We covered:

• How the certificates were designed and generated,

• how they are minted (you can see the current collection on OpenSea),

• and how many certificates were created and minted.

https://d.mba/blog/school-certificates-for-the-digital-age

In this Business Design Jam, we talked about NFTs (Non-fungible tokens) and what new business models they will enable. Franz Emprechtinger and Alen Faljic covered:

• digital art and recurring revenues,

• fractionalization, distributed ownership, and crowdfunding,

• community and network effects,

• and internet native cooperations - DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations).

www.d.mba

Aarron Walter is Director of Product on the COVID Response team at Resolve to Save Lives. Previously, he was VP of Content at InVision, and founded the UX practice at Mailchimp where he helped grow the product from a few thousand users to more than 10 million. He's the author of a number of books, the latest of which is a second edition of Designing for Emotion.

In this episode, we talked about:

• the business case for emotional design,

• how healthy personal finance lead to better job performance,

• and Aarron learnings from his recently launched podcast Reconsidering.