Human-Centered Innovation

Rebranding and evolving a brand identity to something new isn’t an easy task. Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz talk about their first meeting during the rebranding of the New England Research Institutes (NERI). They discuss their first encounter and how they learned to ask the hard questions that need to be asked during rebranding. They talk about how rebranding affects the people who sustain a company and what leaders need to understand about these sentiments. They then share their insights on how a human-centered approach can make the rebranding process easier and how it meshes with design. All of these are in the first of a two-part series.

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People need to find the "human" in human-centered research. They are so focused on the "doing" part of their hypothesis that they forget about the participant. Let them participate more. Listen to your audience to find out what barriers they may have. Join Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz as they talk about the human side of clinical trials. Learn how to bring things down to a study level of branding. Become more human-centric today!

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Building your brand identity can be a difficult task. Maybe it’s time to consider taking a human-centered approach towards your brand identity? Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz discuss their approach towards building brand identity and what you need to consider when taking the human-centered approach. They also discuss the need for organizational clarity, core values and culture, and their impact on brand identity.

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An approach to problem-solving that involves the human perspective in all steps of the process, human-centered innovation is steadily gaining traction in the work environment. But how do you achieve it? Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz both agree it’s through research and design. Picking up from the last episode’s discussion about the importance of research, Lisa and Kristine turn their conversation to their definition of research and dig into the concept a little more deeply. They also tackle the importance of design as part of the research process and how combining research and design lets you innovate in more impactful ways than you've ever imagined.

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Before pursuing a goal, you must first determine why you want to achieve it. The same goes with research and science; before you can appreciate the results, you must first know the importance of where you’re going. What is the purpose of what you're trying to achieve, and have you thought about your audience as you develop your path forward? Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz think talk these questions through as they embark on the final stages of their rebranding process. Listen in as the duo share their insights on the importance of making sure you understand your goal before you dive in.

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Having a brand is foundational for any business. But how many organizations make an effort to establish a brand structure? In this episode, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz define and break down brand structure, a.k.a. brand architecture, to explain how it impacts your business, especially for merger acquisitions. They discuss the three types: master brand structure, endorsed brand structure, and invisible brand structure. Listen in as they cite industry examples of how each type affects a company’s image to the public. Stay tuned!

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Whether it is your first or last acquisition, understanding all the layers affected is essential to a successful venture. Mergers and acquisitions are the most disruptive thing any organization can go through. It's important to build a trusting and transparent environment for everyone involved. Remember, you're not just bringing in another company, you're bringing in a whole new culture. Building that internal and external relationship across the company is very important. Join Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz as they talk all about mergers and acquisitions today!

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An acquisition is when one company purchases another one outright. In contrast, a merger is a combination of two firms that subsequently forms a new legal entity under the banner of one corporate name. These two changes can be challenging for both the leader and their team. How exactly does a company navigate this shift in management? Join our hosts, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz, as they tackle this topic in a whole new series. Lisa and Kristine take on a refreshing perspective on human-centered leadership and its impact on brand identity and organizational clarity. Tune in and learn more as they dive deep into managing the disruptive changes brought about by mergers and acquisitions.

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Research and design can come across as two very different fields of discipline. It can be a real challenge to reconcile them in such a way that good design is achieved without disrespecting the science behind research. This is one of the prominent themes that defined the period when Lisa Marceau started working with Kristine Merz. Continuing with the story of how their partnership started to form, they recall how Kristine came in as a real problem-solver, not just someone who executes on what her client wants her to do. What started out as a simple need for Lisa’s organization to bring in someone who can build a website for her organization turned into a branding initiative that would lead to years of fruitful collaboration. Join in and learn more about the makings of this partnership that would put human-centered innovation at the forefront of the space where research and design intersect.

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We often overlook the importance of research in shaping everything from what we eat, to how we interact, and of course how we approach health. For millennia, research has been the thread that has held the fabric of society—from successes and innovations, even to failures that inform us what does and doesn’t work. There is no more current example than the impact of research on the COVID-19 pandemic. Picking up from the last episode's discussion, Lisa Marceau and Kristine Merz dive deep into their work in research, how they are working together, and where it intersects with design. They also talk about the different types of research, looking into observational research, clinical trials, and, most importantly, how human-centered innovation connects the dots. Going further, Lisa and Kristine then discuss some of the steps involved in research, why they are important, and where failures can occur if human-centered perspectives are ignored.

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For more information about JKAM Investments, visit jkaminvestments.com