Ethnography is a human-centred research approach, rather than a specific methodology. It covers a variety of different qualitative methods, such as participatory observation, semi-structured interviews and video diaries, which can be combined as needed to bring insights to the surface.
Ethnography aims to get under the skin of human behaviour, to better understand the world and the dynamics of the cultures and societies we live in. The focus of the research can be anything from current cultural tendencies, to changing values, attitudes and norms, or concrete human behaviour and its motivations within different situations and contexts.
In ethnographic research, approach and attitude are everything. With the right methods and a healthy dose of curiosity one can uncover new insights and develop new opportunities for almost any given topic.
Ethnographic methods are well suited to inform the design and innovation processes to ensure that the outcomes resonate with people, both today and in the future.
Our offering includes:
- Research design (strategy, information extraction and outcomes)
- Ethnographic field research (using Sense to Solve trained ethnographers)
- Brand, category, social and cultural immersion
- Traditional and sensory brand audits
- Data analysis
- Sensemaking & reporting
- Field trips (mentoring and hand-holding teams in the field)
- Visual memory (photography & video)
The Sense to Solve team includes experienced individuals with a broad range of strategic skills. Not only is this helpful when facilitating, it also enables us to offer our clients strategic development solutions in the following key areas (for both new and existing businesses):
- Business strategy (including business models)
- Innovation strategy (disruptive and/or incremental)
- Product development strategies
- Brand leadership strategies
- Marketing & communications strategies
- People strategies
All Sense to Solve strategic initiatives are undertaken in consultation with clients (preferably at an EXCO level). They tend to include collaborative workshops, ethnographic and/or other forms of research and analysis, in addition to, the development of final strategy documents.
Sense to Solve offers Applied Design Thinking solutions. This is ideal for companies that want to use the Design Thinking mindsets, principles and processes, but do not have the internal capacity to drive and manage the process. On this basis, Sense to Solve will act as an extension of your team to carry out key functions.
Our Applied Design Thinking solutions include:
- Ethnography and/or immersion
- Stakeholder analysis
- Business and market analysis
- Identification of jobs-to-be-done
- Needs analysis
- Identification of causal problems
- Development of insights
- Ideation
- Prototyping
- Testing
- Development and application of behavioural insights
- Last mile strategy
- Development of Business Models (including platform business models and ecosystems of value)
- Planning for execution
The brand is the face of the business strategy. Strong brands add real value to people’s lives and thereby, have the ability to connect emotionally.
A concise brand identity system is at the heart of every leading brand. To facilitate the development of this vital brand building tool, Sense to Solve works co-creatively with you and key members of your team. Not only do you know your business better than we do, but in order to be truly successful we must develop a brand that your team will be inspired to live and breathe every day.
Our comprehensive brand leadership offerings include:
On this basis Sense to Solve offers comprehensive brand development solutions including:
- Internal and external brand research and analysis
- Sensory brand audits
- Brand leadership workshops
- Brand naming strategies
- Brand positioning strategies
- Development of brand identity systems
- Development of brand architecture and brand portfolio strategies
- Brand design
- Brand tool kit development
- Communication strategies
- Internal and external brand engagement programmes