Research for the Future Signals Report began with a trip to the NYC Pride March, a world-renowned event going back to 1970. What was originally a gay pride parade has now become a celebration where not only the LGBTQ+ community but also Black Lives Matter, women's rights, bodily autonomy, and many other social minorities assert their rights. The participants in the parade and the enthusiastic observers on the sidewalks showed us that DEI includes not only gender, age, and sexual orientation but also race, ethnicity, physical ability, and other crucial aspects of individuality.

Case Studies and Interviews with Professionals

As part of our desktop research, we explored products and services specifically tailored to the needs of diverse consumers worldwide, with a focus on North America. In addition, we interviewed enlightened leaders who are creating products and services that are driving major social impact by addressing the diversity of gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and physical ability, all of which are intrinsic aspects of individuality. In particular, we asked them about the potential social issues that lie ahead and about the thinking they put into offering new experiences through design.

After researching advanced case studies, we had the opportunity to interview actual users of products in New York. During these interviews, we met face-to-face with interviewees and asked them about their personalities and values.

Input and inspiration from our field research at NYC Pride, desktop research, and extensive online and face-to-face interviews with professionals and consumers were compiled into seven key takeaways.

Experience Designer, Project Director

Motosuke joined Takram in 2019 and launched the New York branch after working for a design firm and a major media company in Japan. He has released and grown numerous services and products as Product Manager and Head of UX. Typical examples include an AI chatbot that converses in natural language with 20 million users, and a shift calendar app that is the most used in Japan. His awards include the Good Design Award Best 100, Silver Prize at the TIAA, and Bronze Prize at the ADFEST.

Motosuke Fukuda

Creative Strategist

Creative strategist who listens to the voices of the market and attracts inspiration. After working in market research and alliance work in the non-advertising domain for the WPP Group, a foreign-affiliated advertising company, she started her own start-up company in the United States. She joined Takram NY in 2022 and has been involved in a wide range of projects including branding, future research, and overseas expansion support for companies. She enjoys creating places that bring people together through her specialty, dumplings (she has wrapped more than 5,000 dumplings).

Naomi Ito

Business Designer

A business designer who feeds on experiences in cities and nature to expand the possibilities of society. He specializes in working from design research to concept-making and commercialization in a single integrated process. In his previous role, he worked at an innovation consulting firm, contributing to developing new businesses, products, and services, as well as crafting future scenarios and visions for prominent Japanese companies. At the University of Tokyo, he was engaged in research activities in innovation education as a specially-appointed researcher. In 2021, he joined Takram NY, where he is involved in design research, development of new products and services, and branding projects. He enjoys rock climbing. He holds a graduate degree in Intelligent Mechanical Engineering from the University of Electro-Communications.

Hayato Shin

R&D, concept dev and visualisation of futures and not-for-market products and ideas for external audience

Futures

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become top business priorities in North America, transforming key corporate functions such as organizational design, product innovation, and user engagement. In collaboration with Panasonic's design R&D division, Flux, we have taken a deep dive into this fast-growing field through desktop research and insightful interviews with professionals and consumers. The result is our Future Signals Report, a comprehensive analysis of how companies, by respecting diversity and inclusion, can empower all individuals to lead fulfilling lives.

Future Signals Report

Experience-Driven Field Research

Case Studies and Interviews with Professionals

Dialogue with New Yorkers

Seven Key Insights into the Zeitgeist

Project Information

Team

Future Signals Report

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.css-16wsddp.en.en-ja{font-size:108%;vertical-align:-0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.en.en-zh{font-size:108%;vertical-align:0.005em;}.css-16wsddp.zh{-webkit-font-smoothing:subpixel-antialiased;}Case Studies and Interviews with Professionals

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Project Information

Team

Experience-Driven Field Research

Case Studies and Interviews with Professionals

Dialogue with New Yorkers

Seven Key Insights into the Zeitgeist