As we wrapped up this year’s Open T-Day, the direction for THINGS was unmistakable. This is a moment of evolution, where our commitment to human-centered design intersects with groundbreaking technologies, creating product experiences that are both valuable and transformative.
Here’s how we’re steering this journey forward, aligning with 2024’s most important trends and our clients’ ambitions.
Designing for Real Human Impact
At THINGS, we believe that exceptional products start with a deep understanding of people. In 2024, we’re committed to developing products that not only solve user needs but do so intuitively and seamlessly, embodying our ethos of simplicity in every interaction. Every product we create is built with two goals in mind: to generate real value for users and to empower our clients with assets that drive efficiency or revenue growth. We believe that when a product speaks to the user’s sense of purpose, its value becomes self-evident.
Our journey in 2023 set the stage. We completed major projects across service innovation, healthcare, smart home technology, and beyond. Projects like Twinkly, which underwent a complete digital experience redesign, and the scale-up of Post Op, our surgical recovery support platform, showcase the breadth of our work—designed to empower and elevate the user’s experience while supporting business growth.
2024>5: A Focus on AI, Ethical Design, and Immersive Experiences
In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, innovation demands a proactive approach to emerging technologies. We are focusing on several key areas to enhance user engagement and well-being:
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration:
AI is central to our strategy, with half of our products now incorporating AI to enhance personalization and support preventative care, moving beyond reactive solutions. This shift transforms user engagement, especially as voice and conversational interfaces become more prevalent, setting a new standard in interaction. Aurelio is one of our key assets in this journey—a design tool forged specifically to simplify AI adoption. Developed with DOXA, Aurelio embodies our commitment to innovation and simplification, making AI more accessible and impactful, particularly for SMEs. This approach allows us to provide clients with powerful, intuitive tools that drive both efficiency and growth.
• Immersive Experiences: We are leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to create immersive experiences that bridge the digital and physical worlds. These technologies are entering the mainstream, particularly in fields like healthcare, where virtual reality is making significant strides.
• Ethical and Emotionally Intelligent Design: We prioritise ethical considerations and emotional intelligence in our design processes, ensuring that our products resonate deeply with users and promote well-being. By focusing on ethical design principles and emotionally intelligent UX, we craft products that not only function well but also enhance users’ well-being.
One of our greatest strengths is our partnership approach. We work side-by-side with clients, ensuring they gain not just a product but a long-term asset that evolves with their business. In 2023, we made significant strides by establishing strategic partnerships, which allow us to build scalable, impactful products in healthcare, urban regeneration, and smart home technology. Collaborations with VCs and startup hubs allow us to tap into fresh perspectives, driving innovation while staying grounded in practicality.
Notably, projects like GreenInCities, aimed at urban greening and sustainability, reflect our commitment to products with both environmental and social impact. In numbers, we saw a 10% growth in turnover by Q3 2024 compared to last year, a clear indicator that our approach resonates with the market and our clients’ vision for success.
Our Vision for the Horizon
Looking ahead, we’re excited about the future possibilities, including expanding our presence internationally to meet growing demands. As we refine our capabilities in areas like Human-Robot Interaction and pursue cutting-edge ventures in AI, we’re setting the foundation for THINGS to remain a leader in impactful design.
The THINGS vision is ambitious, but it’s rooted in the core belief that great design happens when we listen closely, innovate boldly, and partner deeply. This Open T-Day was a celebration of our past achievements and a launching pad for everything to come.
We are eager to walk this journey with our clients, teams, and partners as we create the next wave of meaningful, intelligent product experiences 🚀meaningful, intelligent product experiences.
