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008: The Experience Design Visionary Behind the Apple Store Concept w/ Eight Inc.’s Tim Kobe
What do Apple Stores, Tokyo’s Nissan Crossing, a car dealership with no salespeople and the Notre Dame Cathedral have in common? Today’s guest on the TechBurst Asia podcast.
You may not know him by name, but you will undoubtedly know his work. Today I’m pleased to be joined by a design industry legend and visionary, Eight Inc.’s Founder & CEO, Tim Kobe.
Show notes:
01:30 What was it like when you first discussed the Apple Store concept with Apple’s Steve Jobs back in 1998?
04:40 When the first Apple store launched in 2001, it wasn’t a guaranteed success. We were in the middle of the dotcom bust - this was a new paradigm for retail - and Bloomberg went so far as to write an article titled “Sorry Steve, Here’s Why Apple Stores Won’t Work”.
07:30 How did you maintain your belief in the Apple Store concept - even when the industry doubted whether the stores could succeed?
09:00 How Apple Stores were built with sustainability in mind - “if” one ever closes, it can be broken down and recycled. “If”.
11:00 How well are we doing with regards to sustainability in Asia?
16:20 Some of Tim’s other work…
Nissan Crossing in Ginza, Tokyo
Xioami’s flagship store in Shenzhen, China
Lincoln’s car dealerships in China - with no salespeople
25:30 The industry’s move away from "Return on Investment" and towards "Return on Experience"
27:00 What is the role of design and human experience with regards to technology products, like a smartphone, a wearable, or random widget?
30:00 Tim had shared a video with me from Lee Clow, the creative genius behind Apple’s iconic commercials, including the “1984” Super Bowl commercial. The video is titled “Disrupt Manifesto” - and its message is don’t do the right thing, but don’t do the wrong thing - do the BRAVE thing. Who does Tim think is doing the “brave thing” today?
32:30 What career advice would Tim give to young tech entrepreneurs?
35:20 What is the most unique project you have been asked to work on?
36:45 Where does Tim go to find inspiration?
38:00 Tim and his team’s submission for the Notre Dame Cathedral design competition
40:30 Tim’s new book, Eight Inc.: Return on Experience, is about the importance of the design and business relationship - and why you need to design your business around the human outcome. It is available for pre-order on Amazon now.
See Tim presenting his work and approach at Property Guru’s Asia Real Estate Summit on 21 November 2019 in Bangkok.
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By Charles Reed Anderson
5
11 ratings
What do Apple Stores, Tokyo’s Nissan Crossing, a car dealership with no salespeople and the Notre Dame Cathedral have in common? Today’s guest on the TechBurst Asia podcast.
You may not know him by name, but you will undoubtedly know his work. Today I’m pleased to be joined by a design industry legend and visionary, Eight Inc.’s Founder & CEO, Tim Kobe.
Show notes:
01:30 What was it like when you first discussed the Apple Store concept with Apple’s Steve Jobs back in 1998?
04:40 When the first Apple store launched in 2001, it wasn’t a guaranteed success. We were in the middle of the dotcom bust - this was a new paradigm for retail - and Bloomberg went so far as to write an article titled “Sorry Steve, Here’s Why Apple Stores Won’t Work”.
07:30 How did you maintain your belief in the Apple Store concept - even when the industry doubted whether the stores could succeed?
09:00 How Apple Stores were built with sustainability in mind - “if” one ever closes, it can be broken down and recycled. “If”.
11:00 How well are we doing with regards to sustainability in Asia?
16:20 Some of Tim’s other work…
Nissan Crossing in Ginza, Tokyo
Xioami’s flagship store in Shenzhen, China
Lincoln’s car dealerships in China - with no salespeople
25:30 The industry’s move away from "Return on Investment" and towards "Return on Experience"
27:00 What is the role of design and human experience with regards to technology products, like a smartphone, a wearable, or random widget?
30:00 Tim had shared a video with me from Lee Clow, the creative genius behind Apple’s iconic commercials, including the “1984” Super Bowl commercial. The video is titled “Disrupt Manifesto” - and its message is don’t do the right thing, but don’t do the wrong thing - do the BRAVE thing. Who does Tim think is doing the “brave thing” today?
32:30 What career advice would Tim give to young tech entrepreneurs?
35:20 What is the most unique project you have been asked to work on?
36:45 Where does Tim go to find inspiration?
38:00 Tim and his team’s submission for the Notre Dame Cathedral design competition
40:30 Tim’s new book, Eight Inc.: Return on Experience, is about the importance of the design and business relationship - and why you need to design your business around the human outcome. It is available for pre-order on Amazon now.
See Tim presenting his work and approach at Property Guru’s Asia Real Estate Summit on 21 November 2019 in Bangkok.