S8 E5: Market Research for Small Studios with Emmanuel Probst from Ipsos
Sep 12, 2023
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Emmanuel Probst, Global Lead of Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, discusses market research, brand transformation, and finding unique inspiration outside of social media. He highlights the skills and empathies independent designers offer clients that larger agencies can't. The podcast also explores the importance of celebrating the creative process and using AI in market research.
Small studios can offer a unique empathetic connection that larger agencies lack when understanding clients and their audiences.
As a small studio, leverage freely available data and AI tools to bring fresh insights and validation to client conversations, while infusing unique creativity and cultural understanding into branding projects.
Deep dives
The Power of Empathy and Personalization in Branding
As an independent brand designer or small studio, your unique selling point lies in your ability to empathize and understand your clients and their audiences on a personal level. While large agencies may have more resources, they often lack the intimate connection that you can provide. By prioritizing audience understanding and personalization, you can create brands that help individuals transform from who they are to who they want to become.
Leveraging Existing Data and AI for Brand Research
As a small studio, you have access to the same data and AI tools as larger agencies. You can leverage freely available data from reputable sources like Ipsos to bring fresh insights and validation to your conversations with clients. Additionally, AI tools can assist in summarizing content, creating punchlines, and optimizing SEO. While AI can automate repetitive tasks, it cannot replace the unique creativity, empathy, and cultural understanding that you bring to your branding projects.
Thinking Beyond the Obvious in Brand Design
In a crowded space with design ideas being readily available, it's essential to think beyond the obvious to stand out. Take inspiration from various sources, not just Pinterest, and look to diverse fields for ideas. Embrace the practice of remixing ideas, understanding that many successful brands and artists have built their success by borrowing and remixing existing knowledge. Your unique value lies in your ability to infuse your own perspective, aesthetic, and taste into your designs, creating something new and intriguing.
Focusing on Solution-Need Fit for Brand Success
Shift your focus from product-market fit to solution-need fit. Understand what problems your clients solve, how they want to be perceived, and who their target market is. Rather than getting caught up in market competition, prioritize understanding the audience and their needs. Build brands that offer solutions to their desires, helping them achieve their personal projects and transform into who they want to become. Make the brand a supporting role in this transformation, emphasizing the audience's journey and aspirations.
In today’s episode I chat with Emmanuel Probst, Global Lead of Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, a global market research company. We dive into all things market research and brand transformation. Emmanuel gives insights into the skills and empathies independent designers can offer clients that larger agencies can’t, as well as ways to find unique inspiration outside of social media. There are so many incredible topics discussed in this episode and I can’t wait for you to hear it!