Dash to the finish

And the groups are!

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Sorting continues

Almost done with the open card sort.

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Card Sorting at MindTree Bangalore

Danny held a session on Information Architecture for the benefit of the juntaa. This session also had a card sorting exercise. We thought we try our live-reporting skills on the net. So here are the picture. Its just been 5 minutes into the activity! More coming...

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Tafiti’s Way To Go!

This has been contributed by Tanu Miriam George, an employee of MindTree.

I would like to share a super cool website that I recently discovered. I received this link in a forwarded email and loved it the moment I opened it.

Here is your access to it!

Tafiti, meaning "do research" in Swahili, is an experimental search front-end from Microsoft that is designed to help people use the Web for research projects that span multiple search sessions by helping visualize, store, and share research results. Tafiti uses both Microsoft Silverlight and Live Search to explore the intersection of richer experiences on the Web and the increasing specialization of search.

What Makes It Different From Our Google Search Engine?
The visual feel and the interaction is what pulls people towards this website. It’s not like a conventional site where you have just one text box that is well placed so that’s the first thing one sees and a ‘SEARCH’ button very near to it. The site is capable of so much more.

The search results come up in the same window. There is also a filter that is available (like ‘search within results’ in Google).

Another super cool feature is the ‘shelf’ where you can keep all the articles that you may need most frequently. This functionality also helps you customize the site for yourself which is by far an added advantage.

What next for Tafiti?
Still in its beta stage, Tafiti is yet to grow and make its mark. But with these advancements made, this website has a bright future for itself. With clever marketing strategies and advertisements, Tafiti will gain a stronger hold.

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Championing the LUV of Design

This has been contributed by Swarupa Manjunatha, an employee of MindTree.

Netdiver Digital Culture Magazine. Yup! That’s it. A one stop shop for all you designers out there.

The website aims to stimulate creativity among all designers by publishing their content for over more than 10 years. It has a range of websites uploaded by individuals as well as organizations.

With news, events and editorials published regularly this website ensures that their target audience is well informed.

So what’s unique about it?
Everything. This website has hit its target audience right. With news, tools, illustrations, portfolios, competitions—yes, you have it all in there. Sometimes, we run around googling and hunting. That ends here. Visit this website and see how you can effectively progress in your daily work.

Most importantly, it keeps you updated about the news and happenings in the design industry worldwide. To keep you posted and in tune with the competition out there, this is it!

Something better on your mind?
In my opinion, Netdiver allows learners as well as professionals to gauge and contribute to the industry here. If you have something better in mind, send us the link. We would love to see what you have to share.

Your access to the website

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The Pret Cake Box

I was reading the label on the Pret Cake Box the other day - it's a simple paper box with flowery prints. On the side it reads

"Sorry about the ghastly paper wrapper. When you bake a cake at home, you take it out of he oven and cool it on a wire rack. Then you east a large slice (as a reward) and keep the rest in a flowery cake tun, like your Grandma used to!

Think of this nasty wrapper as the cake tin. It's the only way we can keep the cake moist and delicious. As is often the case, the beauty is on the inside"

There is a strip of greaseproof paper on top of the icing - it says, "Please peel off - greaseproof paper doesn't taste very nice!"

Look at it from a Customer Experience perspective.

1. I was smiling even before I took the first bite. Infact, I was smiling when I was paying. There was a sticker on the cashier's till that said, "We need to charge a VAT when you eat in. Nightmare". A good Customer Experience begins even before your customer has 'used' your product.
2. The person who designed it thought about the joy & fun of eating a cake. They could have very well used "Please peel off before you eat", which would have made me frown (What do they think, I am dumb!).
3. The VAT Sticker, The copy on the Cake package helped me relate with the product.
4. The copy on the cake subtly reminded me of postive and happy memories. It's a very intelligent use of words to make your mind be receptive and positive.

Much of these flow from the kind of company they are trying to build. Take a look at the Franchising page

"Franchising – sorry we don’t. Please don’t call us and ask for a franchise because we don’t; we really don’t. We don’t franchise. The fact is, we don’t like to franchise, so we don’t."

Or the About our Company page

We turn over roughly 150 million pounds a year and would like to make 9% profit but haven’t yet. One day we will.

The Experience is consistent on the website as well. It portrays an image of a open and honest company. A company that has your interest in mind and is not in the fray to make a quick buck.

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