Design Innovation

Ant Group Record-Breaking IPO

What Ant Group’s IPO Could Mean for Retail Banks

It is no longer a surprise that Fintech firms are shaking up the financial service industry. The most recent example is Ant Group, who has been making news for a potential record-breaking IPO, which some analysts believe could surpass $35 billion USD. Though the offering is currently on hold as the company responds to changing […]

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Industrial-Bank retail

Industrial Bank

https://www.sld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IndustBank.mp4 The Art of Balance Adding human connection to the equation. CLIENT Industrial Bank PROJECT Branch Omnichannel Design RELATED SERVICE Retail Design Service Design Brand Strategy Innovation Digital Signage THINK In the move towards digital banking the emotional connection with customers is often neglected. Industrial Bank, a Fortune Global 500 company and the first Chinese

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George Wang Headshot

What Artificial Intelligence Means for Retail Design

One of the buzziest and most debated tech terms of the last 5 to 10 years is artificial intelligence. To start off with, what does the term artificial intelligence actually mean? If you just Google “define artificial intelligence,” you’ll discover that even computer scientists and engineers don’t entirely agree on what to call everything that

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Illustration of women talking at a bank

How Banks Can Appeal to Both Rational and Irrational Customers

We recently highlighted the relationship between behavioral finance, a banks’ brand strategy, and how prospect theory changes our perception of experience design. Now we will continue to explore the topic of brand strategy based on customers’ behavior patterns. Are Your Customers Rational or Irrational? Probably Both. Traditional business analysis assumes that consumers and other market

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Cybelle Jones headshot

How Experiential Design Can Help Tell Your Brand Story

Any branded environment tells a story and a big part of that story is visual. Today, we’re talking to Cybelle Jones, CEO of SEGD, a not-for-profit professional organization for designers from all over the world who focus on shaping content-rich experiential spaces. Trained as an architect, she’s worked on many projects that involve historical and

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Behavioural Theory Illustration

Using Behavioral Theory to Improve Bank Customer Experience

Commercial banks operate in a buyer’s market. Since products and services of commercial banks are highly homogenous, banks find themselves trapped in a semi-perfect competition market, where they might be forced to play the price war, leading to dwindling profit margins. All banks hope to break free from this trap through differentiation and in offering

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Using mixed reality to play sports

How Mixed Reality Can Elevate Your Packaging Design

It’s no secret that the role of packaging has evolved from being strictly focused on practicality to now having a central role in a brand’s identity. These days, packaging serves as an effective marketing tool – especially with augmented and mixed reality innovations – and gives brands an opportunity to use their packaging to creating

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Illustration of two faces looking away from each other

The Two Customer Personas of COVID-19

COVID-19 has significantly impacted almost all major industries, including foodservice, banking, retail and CPG by slowing down some aspects of day to day operations while accelerating others; for example technology adoption. These disruptions have also affected consumer perceptions about the future and therefore are changing their shopping preferences. Our recent studies clearly identified that consumers are

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illustration of people shopping in a retail store during covid 19

COVID-19: Retail’s New Reality

The retail industry is one that has been significantly impacted by technology with the growth of online-only retail platforms, the rising cost of labor and the growth of alternative payment platforms such as mobile wallets. Ironically, in spite of this disruption, our retail consumer study conducted in May clearly identifies that retail stores remain a

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Nick Hallas headshot

Exploring the How and Why of Biometric Security

In the financial industry, security is paramount. As the world moves online and technology becomes more sophisticated, so do hackers and scams, that’s why sites like Cyber Crucible can help you to be protected. The advantages of leveraging technology have just skyrocketed with the impact of COVID-19, but preventing systems breaches can make the difference

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Illustration of people in line at grocery store

Short-Term Strategies for CPG Brands Amidst COVID-19

The past few months have been a whirlwind of ups and downs for CPG brands as the COVID-19 crisis presents new challenges and opportunities. From manufacturing and processing plant contagion to panic buying and empty shelves, CPG brands are under pressure and as part of the food supply chain, that pressure isn’t going to let

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Illustration of man on his computer at home

COVID-19: How Foodservice Brands Can Remain Relevant

To help foodservice operators better understand how to handle COVID-19, SLD has conducted consumer and industry studies to determine how consumer needs, behaviors, and loyalty have been impacted by the current pandemic. The results of these studies, as well as tactical strategies for foodservice brands, are shared in the webinar below. Watch as Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President

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Animation of a man delivering food

Strategies for Foodservice Brands Amidst COVID-19

The foodservice industry has not lived through a global crisis of such magnitude since World War II. Arguably even the greatest wars have not matched the impact of COVID-19 on the foodservice industry. Built on strong social values of sharing time together, during other kinds of crises the foodservice industry has offered a meaningful way

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Illustrated drawing of people socially distancing at a bank

COVID-19: Retail Banking’s New Reality

The retail banking industry is one that has been significantly impacted by technology with the growth of Fintech alternative banking platforms, the shift of consumers away from branches towards digital channels and the rise of alternative payment platforms such as mobile wallets. Ironically, in spite of this disruption, our Future Readiness study conducted in January

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Top 30 Design Agency Listing

SLD Named Top Design Agency

SLD is proud to have made Agency Spotter’s Top 30 Design Agencies Report, placing third in a selection process that evaluated over 3,000 design agencies from around the world. With a focus on credentials, expertise in design, client feedback and project work, Agency Spotter’s report looked at all types of design agencies, including those that

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Man and woman sitting on bench shopping bags

How to Strategically Design Purchase Drivers

Purchase behaviors are often recurring in nature and performed in specific places. Over time repetitive buying behaviors are less driven by goals and intentions leading us to develop purchase habits. When habits have been formed, environmental cues can activate practiced responses in the absence of conscious decision-making. Purchase decisions can also be influenced by elements better

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