IBA Study Trip – Method

Method

Method is a global design firm with offices in San Francisco, whom we visited. It was established in 1999. Opening its first office in San Francisco, then expanding to New York and London. Later in 2011 it was acquired by GlobalLogic which is a Digital Product Engineering Services company.

Method as a firm, has some deep and meaningful philosophy. About design and how it should be communicated. For them design cannot be an afterthought at the end of a project, it must be there from the beginning. They also use design to solve problems. Aligning the customers’ needs with the business intent. They look deeply into their clients’ brand strategy. Even their business design, not just only the experience and product strategy.

They spend time researching the company. Looking at the Why, What and How. “Why”, helps Method understand their customers company and its way of thinking. The “What”, making the design with quality and craftsmanship. “How”, understanding the clients’ restrictions and parameters. So, that they can deliver a design that can be used.

They have worked for large companies like Google and Nissan. Recently partnered up with EVRY a large IT company in Scandinavia. They have built a Strategic Design Lab, in Stockholm. This idea is to apply design to the business strategy with technology, to maximize benefits for their clients.

I was relieved and reassured to discover such a firm like Method. Uses the tools and procedures that we have been taught, at IBA Kolding.  They taking Business Research seriously.  Explaining to their customers the need and importance for it. Also, using the tools, such as SOLTAC – Situation Analysis, in the marketing process, for finding marketing objectives and strategy.

This again was a highly interesting and motivating visit, and talk by the employees of Method at their San Francisco office’s.