Our work & services

Design Research

Things can exist without “the research.” But if we don’t study the world, we don’t always know how or what to create. Design research blends rigorous methods with empathic inquiry to unearth the greatest needs, insights, and opportunities at play. We weave understanding across individual, organizational, and societal levels to equip you with perspective and clarity.

  • research planning

  • qualitative interviews & focus groups

  • shadowing & observation

  • surveys & data analysis

  • secondary research

  • expert interviews

  • stakeholder interviews & workshops

  • recruitment & research coordination

  • research training & capacity building

Alapuzzha, India

UX & Service Design

All products, services, experiences have something in common — they are designed. Yet, they differ in how they are designed. In our design process, we keep people, planet, and equity at the center. We move through an iterative process of framing, sensemaking, ideation, prototyping and testing. We learn and refine each step of the way, in order to emerge at a place of deep confidence in the impact of what we create.

  • design sprints

  • design principles

  • qualitative & quantitative research

  • ideation

  • concept & journey mapping

  • prototyping

  • concept testing

  • usability testing

  • pilot & beta programs

Naivasha, Kenya

Product Strategy

Whether evolving your products and services or launching something new: it’s essential to address a series of product risks. Is the product valuable – addressing a real problem, with a real solution? Is it feasible – understanding the market, regulatory, technological constraints to come to life? Is it viable – something that can be launched and grown sustainably? We position these questions within your organization’s unique context in order to strengthen your product strategy and bring it to life.

  • product discovery & research

  • stakeholder interviews

  • business model validation

  • industry / landscape analysis

  • technical diligence

  • metrics definition

  • pitch development

  • facilitation & workshops

  • pilot & beta programs

Tlaquepaque, Mexico

Mixed Media Storytelling

If data changes minds, stories change hearts. Both are essential to build the case toward change. Too often, research from the field is delivered, celebrated, and then shelved: the findings remain findings, and the radius of knowledge stops with the people who received a one-time presentation or report. Yet with storytelling, we deepen and extend the life of research and build momentum toward the ultimate outcomes for impact. We draw upon a variety of mediums, from photography to documentary film, to bridge the empathy gap and honor the lived experiences of the people, places, and communities we are designing with and for. 

  • photography

  • film & documentary

  • audio & podcasting

  • illustration

  • customer stories

  • websites & micro-sites

  • immersive exhibits

Hà Giang, Vietnam

Facilitation & Coaching

We believe in the brilliance of each person’s lived and learned experience. A research and design process is not just about the production of knowledge or ideas — but about the act of collective sensemaking, alignment, and momentum toward a shared vision and strategy. Through facilitation, we host the intentional time and space to allow teams and communities to design together. Long-run change comes from community ownership and local design leadership. We strive to equip communities and organizations with the tools and research & design capacity to grow work over the long haul.

  • workshops

  • research & design trainings

  • research & design sprints

  • templates

  • coaching & consultation

Batad, Philippines

Learn more about us & the principles that guide our work.