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Behavioral Design, Business Design, Future Foresight, Strategy

Designing Futures; Defining Strategies

By on

September 21, 2024

- Behavioral Design, Business Design, Future Foresight, Strategy

ERGO: Designing Futures by Putting People at the Center

At ERGO, everything starts with one simple idea: innovation has to begin with people. Since day one, we’ve believed that understanding human values, culture, and experience is key to designing solutions that truly make a difference. Our mission is straightforward—help organizations not just keep up with a rapidly changing world, but lead the change. Today, ERGO stands at the forefront of human-centered innovation, working with businesses to tackle complexity, anticipate what’s coming next, and create solutions that benefit both business and society.

Let’s take a moment to dig into ERGO’s journey, where we are today, and the future we’re actively building. But more importantly, let’s talk about what makes ERGO different and why our focus on human experience is key to driving the kind of innovation the world needs right now.

ERGO’s Mission: Innovation with People in Mind

ERGO’s mission is simple, but it’s the foundation of everything we do: to advance human experience through foresight, innovation, and design. That sounds like a lofty goal, but at the end of the day, it boils down to understanding what people need—not just today, but five, ten years from now.

We work with organizations to help them see around the corner, to anticipate change before it happens. And we do that by bringing a mix of strategic foresight and human-centered thinking into the process. The goal? Build solutions that just solve immediate problems and create real, lasting value for people and society. And if we’re doing our jobs right, this leads to sustainable growth, not just for businesses, but for communities and individuals, too.

How ERGO Tackles Today’s Challenges: A Unique Approach

The challenges organizations face today are far too complex for outdated solutions. That’s why we’ve developed an approach that blends empathy-driven research, systems thinking, and strategic foresight to help us develop insight-driven solutions that are deeply informed by the complexities of real life.

Our strength lies in combining behavioral design with market insights, ensuring that the solutions we create are deeply aligned with user behavior and market demands. This approach makes our solutions adaptable over time, allowing them to scale and evolve as markets change.

What does that look like in practice? We start by looking deeply at human behavior. We don’t just rely on trends or data points; we dig into the real motivations and needs of people. Then we zoom out and look at the bigger picture—how does this fit into the broader system? Where do culture, environment, and technology intersect with human behavior? Once we achieve that deep understanding, we design solutions that tackle the immediate challenge while staying adaptable to future shifts.

We’ve used this process to help organizations rethink everything from how they structure their teams to how they design products, systems or experiences that resonate with users in meaningful ways.

ERGO’s Vision: Designing for Tomorrow, Today

Our vision is clear: we want to help organizations embrace a future-forward mindset. The world is changing fast, and the organizations that will thrive are the ones that don’t just react to change but lead it. But here’s the thing—leading change isn’t about being the loudest or the flashiest. It’s about understanding where people are headed, and what they’ll need when they get there.

That’s why empathy is at the heart of everything we do. When you understand people, you can design solutions that don’t just feel relevant—they feel right. And this goes beyond just making things easier or more efficient. It’s about creating real impact. It’s about asking, “How can we improve people’s lives with this innovation?”

Take sustainability, for example. It’s not enough to design a product that’s green; it’s about thinking through the entire lifecycle. How does this product fit into a circular economy? How does it impact not just the user, but the community and the environment? Those are the kinds of questions we ask. And those are the kinds of solutions we deliver.

With a growing portfolio of projects that spans industries like education, finance, hospitality, FMCG and sustainability, ERGO is helping to create futures that are resilient, impactful, and always grounded in human values. The road ahead is full of opportunities, and we’re excited to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible—one transformative project at a time.

The Future: A Continuous Evolution

What excites us most about the future is that we don’t have all the answers yet—and that’s a good thing. Every new project gives us the chance to refine what we do, expand our capabilities, and inspire fresh ways of thinking about innovation. It means we’re always learning, always evolving. Our focus on human values, combined with our dedication to forward-thinking design, ensures that we’ll continue to be a catalyst for meaningful change.

As we move forward, ERGO’s work will continue to be rooted in empathy, foresight, and a deep understanding of human behavior. We’ll keep designing solutions that don’t just keep up with change—they anticipate it. And we’ll keep focusing on sustainability, because we believe that any solution worth creating has to make sense for the planet, too.

But more than anything, we’re excited about the future because we know that people are at the center of it. Whether it’s rethinking how companies approach digital transformation or helping a community design a more sustainable future, our work is always about improving human experiences.

ERGO’s Role in Shaping What’s Next

So, what does that mean for you? If you’re an organization looking to not just survive but thrive in a complex, ever-evolving world, ERGO is here to help you design the future. Whether you’re thinking of creating customer-centered experiences, scaling high impact solutions, fostering innovation in your teams, or designing new business models that are built for the future, we bring the experience, empathy, and forward-thinking strategies to make it happen.

At ERGO, we’re not chasing trends. We’re leading with purpose—making sure that everything we design is user centered and future relevant. Because at the end of the day, innovation isn’t just about what’s new—it’s about what’s meaningful. And when you keep people at the heart of the process, you create something that truly lasts.

Get in Touch to explore how ERGO can help you lead the way.

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Business Design, Strategy, Sustainability

The Role of Business Model Innovation in Combating Climate Change

By on

August 29, 2024

- Business Design, Strategy, Sustainability

Rethinking Business Models for a Sustainable Future

Rethinking Business Models for a Sustainable Future

Addressing climate change requires more than just fine-tuning operations—it calls for a complete overhaul of how businesses operate. Business model innovation is key for organizations looking to cut their carbon footprint while staying competitive. By reimagining how they create, deliver, and capture value, companies can make sustainability a core part of their operations, not just an afterthought.

Why Business Model Innovation Is Essential

Business model innovation is becoming a must-have in the fight against climate change. Traditional models, often focused on short-term gains, struggle to meet the rising demand for sustainability. As regulations tighten and consumers shift toward more eco-friendly options, companies need to adapt or risk falling behind. In fact, a 2023 Nielsen report found that 73% of global consumers are willing to change their habits to reduce their environmental impact.

But this isn’t just about compliance—it’s about seizing new opportunities. Innovating your business model doesn’t just give you a competitive edge; it’s crucial for long-term survival. By weaving sustainability into your core operations, you can unlock new revenue streams, cut costs through greater efficiency, and boost your brand’s reputation.

The Power of Consumer Demand

Today’s consumers are more informed than ever, and they care about the environmental impact of what they buy. A 2022 survey by IBM showed that nearly 6 in 10 consumers consider sustainability when making a purchase. This shift is pushing companies to rethink their business models to focus on sustainability. Businesses that rise to meet this demand stand to benefit from new markets, stronger customer loyalty, and a clear competitive advantage.

Economic Opportunities and Cost Savings

A sustainable business model isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for your bottom line. Models like the circular economy reduce material costs by reusing resources, while energy-efficient processes can cut utility expenses. Plus, sustainability often leads to new revenue streams. For example, offering products-as-a-service creates ongoing income while minimizing the environmental impact of production and disposal.

Building Resilience and Managing Risk

Climate change poses real risks—supply chain disruptions, resource shortages, and rising operational costs, to name a few. Business model innovation helps companies become more resilient by diversifying revenue streams, optimizing resources, and reducing reliance on finite materials. When sustainability becomes a core strategy, businesses are better equipped to navigate an uncertain future and maintain long-term stability.

Creating Value with Sustainable Practices

Sustainability starts with how a company designs its products and services. Brands like Patagonia have embraced circular models by offering repair services and recycling programs to extend product life and reduce waste. This approach not only lessens environmental impact but also attracts customers who prioritize eco-friendly products.

Similarly, Unilever has proven that sustainability and growth can go hand in hand. Since launching its Sustainable Living initiative in 2010, Unilever’s brands like Dove and Hellmann’s have been designed with sustainability at their core. By 2018, the company’s Sustainable Living Brands were growing 69% faster than the rest of its portfolio.

Delivering Value through New Business Models

Sustainability isn’t just about what you make—it’s also about how you deliver it. Subscription models and the sharing economy are great examples of how innovative delivery methods can reduce resource consumption. Take Rent the Runway, for instance, which offers a clothing rental service that cuts down on the waste created by fast fashion.

Another example is Starbucks, which sources coffee sustainably through its C.A.F.E. Practices program,. Or Amazon, which has worked to reduce packaging waste through its Frustration-Free Packaging initiative, minimizing the environmental impact of shipping millions of products globally. Embedding sustainability into your business model doesn’t just help combat climate change—it also resonates with consumers who want to support responsible companies.

Capturing Value with Sustainable Revenue Models

Capturing value sustainably often involves rethinking revenue streams. Subscription models, for instance, extend product life cycles and reduce waste. Adobe, for example, transitioned to a subscription-based service for its software, cutting the need for physical packaging and distribution.

IKEA is another great example with its Furniture as a Service model, where customers can lease furniture instead of buying it outright. This reduces waste and shifts the company’s revenue from one-time sales to ongoing income from leasing. IKEA’s secondhand marketplace, “IKEA Preowned,” further promotes sustainability by allowing customers to buy and sell used furniture, tapping into the growing demand for secondhand goods.

Leading the Way Toward a Sustainable Future

Business model innovation isn’t just about adapting to change—it’s about leading it. By rethinking how you create, deliver, and capture value, you can turn the challenges of climate change into opportunities for growth. This approach ensures your business is not only resilient and profitable but also a positive force for the environment.

Let’s Build a Sustainable Future Together

At ERGO, we’re ready to help you transform your business model for the demands of today and the opportunities of tomorrow. Our expertise in sustainable innovation can guide you in reducing your carbon footprint, streamlining your operations, and tapping into new markets. Together, we’ll develop a strategy that drives success and makes a lasting impact on the planet.

Ready to lead the way? Get in Touch to start building a sustainable future for your business.

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Business Design, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Exploring Sustainable Solutions for Food Packaging

By on

May 26, 2023

- Business Design, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Rethinking Food Packaging: How ERGO and GIZ Are Tackling Plastic Pollution in Egypt

Last week, ERGO teamed up with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), Lab of Tomorrow and Youthinkgreen Egypt to lead an innovation sprint that took aim at one of our planet’s biggest challenges: plastic pollution. Together, we focused on reimagining food packaging with sustainable solutions that could reshape how Egypt tackles waste and reduce our environmental impact. 

Why We Need to Act Now

Plastic is suffocating the planet. With every product wrapped in single-use packaging, the waste is piling up. But it doesn’t have to be this way. This innovation sprint explored real-world solutions that could change the way we package, consume, and think about food. From reducing emissions to improving recyclability, the ideas we explored aren’t just about fixing a broken system—they’re about building a more sustainable future.

Breakthrough Ideas from the Sprint

1. Plant-Based Bioplastics

One of the most promising concepts was the use of plant-based bioplastics, made from renewable resources like corn, sugarcane, and even algae. These biodegradable materials offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. While they’re pricier for now, new EU regulations banning non-biodegradable plastics make them a smart move for Egypt’s food export market. The best part? These materials break down naturally, leaving no harmful residues. A true step forward in the fight against plastic waste. 

2. Reusable Packaging

Another innovation focused on bringing back the practice of reusable packaging. Imagine buying your favorite food in containers that you return, refill, and reuse. This model taps into Egypt’s own history, where people in rural areas have long brought their own bags and containers to buy groceries. This circular approach not only cuts down on single-use plastics but also reshapes how we think about waste and consumption.

3. Boosting the Recycling Market

A third venture aimed to strengthen Egypt’s recycling ecosystem. They’re building a platform to connect plastic waste suppliers and buyers, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality recycled materials. By training the informal sector in better sorting and processing methods, this initiative not only reduces plastic waste but also improves the livelihoods of waste collectors, creating social and environmental impact.

Turning Ideas into Action

The solutions uncovered during this sprint are a reminder of what’s possible when passionate people come together to solve big problems. We owe a huge thanks to GIZ and Lab of Tomorrow for their commitment to sustainability and collaboration. These ideas are more than just concepts—they’re actionable steps that could lead to real change in how we approach food packaging.

At ERGO, we believe the future of packaging is sustainable, and we’ll continue to support ventures that challenge the status quo. Together, we can make sustainable packaging the standard, not the exception.

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Sustainability

Pioneering Sustainable Innovation for a Better Future

By on

April 22, 2023

- Sustainability

Earth Day invites us to reflect on our collective impact on the planet and consider how we can contribute to a more sustainable future. As we face global challenges like climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, the need for innovation has never been greater. By expanding our focus to humanity-centered design, we can create solutions that benefit both people and the planet, addressing the complex interplay between human well-being and environmental health.

Innovating for a Sustainable Future

Innovation is the key to reducing our environmental impact and building a sustainable future. By working at the crossroads of design, technology, and human behavior, we develop systems that promote sustainability while meeting the needs of society. For example, circular design principles help us minimize waste by creating closed-loop systems where materials are reused rather than discarded. This approach not only benefits the environment but also creates new business opportunities and revenue streams, demonstrating that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

Humanity-Centered Sustainability

Achieving sustainability requires a fundamental shift in mindset—one that prioritizes the well-being of both humans and the environment. Humanity-centered design extends the focus beyond just human needs, ensuring that our solutions are both socially equitable and environmentally responsible. By understanding the interconnectedness of human and environmental health, we can design products and systems that make sustainable living accessible, attractive, and convenient for everyone. Whether it’s eco-friendly packaging, energy-efficient appliances, or sustainable transportation options, humanity-centered design ensures that the solutions we create are as desirable as they are effective.

Taking Action for a Sustainable Future

Earth Day serves as a call to action for individuals and organizations alike. Whether you’re setting sustainability goals, adopting energy-efficient practices, or educating others about the importance of environmental stewardship, every step counts. By embracing humanity-centered design and innovative thinking, we can create a lasting positive impact on our planet.

Call to Action

Businesses and organizations have a pivotal role to play in this transformation. Now is the time to integrate sustainability into your core strategies, design for the future, and lead by example. Join us in building a world where sustainable practices are at the heart of innovation, ensuring a thriving future for both people and the planet.

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Business Design

Flattening the Curve with Empathy and Collective Consciousness

By on

April 25, 2020

- Business Design

While all focus is directed towards flattening the COVID-19 curve, a global unemployment pandemic is taking shape in the shadow of the deadly virus. The unemployment curve has been exponentially growing much faster than the viral spread. And if business leaders turn a blind eye, we could be facing a Global Economic Depression.

For the past two months, humanity has faced its toughest enemy in a hundred years—a deadly virus that confined half of the world population to their homes and halted most human activities. As of April 25, 2020, over 2.8 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and approximately 200,000 have lost their lives to the virus. More than 3.9 billion people, or half the world population, are under government-induced lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus and give healthcare systems a chance to cope and respond to the pandemic. For up-to-date figures, check the WHO.

A Looming Threat of Global Depression

Data from around the world shows that the pandemic is not just the worst healthcare threat humanity has faced in a century; COVID-19 could also be one of the cruelest destroyers of jobs in human history. Fear and lockdowns have dramatically slowed the economy. To protect their cash flow and bottom line, many businesses have laid off employees as the global crisis continues. CNN reported that a record-breaking 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the past five weeks.

People worldwide are suffering similar consequences due to the global pandemic. The UN Labour body expects approximately 200 million jobs to be wiped out globally in the second quarter of 2020. If the virus continues to spread, the International Monetary Fund predicts that the cumulative loss to global GDP over 2020 and 2021 could reach 9 trillion dollars. This mass unemployment will lead to economic stagnation and could escalate the financial injury from a short-term recession to a global depression.

An Unequal Opportunity Virus

To put things in perspective, economists project that job losses due to COVID-19 could reach over 47 million in the US alone—a third of the U.S. working population. This figure dwarfs the 8.7 million jobs lost during the 2008-2009 Great Recession and exceeds the Great Depression of the 1930s by over 8%. While COVID-19 is an equal opportunity virus in terms of transmission, its economic consequences are not! In efforts to reduce labor costs, human resources departments strive to retain skillful talents—the revenue generators, those who are hard to find and usually earn in the top 20 percent—while letting go of low-wage earners who perform clerical and supporting tasks. To make the numbers work, companies often have to let go of, on average, four low-wage earners to retain one skilled, high-earning talent.

The Grief of Losing a Loved One

As layoffs occur, it is critical to ensure fairness and equity. Corporate decision-makers must understand that job loss disproportionately affects those without a financial cushion. For those who live paycheck to paycheck, the grief of losing their jobs equates to the grief of losing a loved one, especially amid economic stagnation and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, psychologists note. If employees believe the layoff decision could have been avoided, they may feel betrayed by their employer. This emotional experience could also cause survivor’s guilt among the retained workforce, potentially leading to a lapse in performance, motivation, and morale.

In recent weeks, many cases of public shaming have emerged on social media, targeting renowned business people who announced the layoff of hundreds of employees. Thousands of social media users are compiling lists of businesses they intend to boycott, even after the pandemic ends. Although business reputation should not be the top driver for decision-making during this pandemic, it is essential to understand that today’s actions will shape companies’ images and reputations in the eyes of customers and job candidates in the near future.

We are All in this Together

The collective nature of this pandemic is forging a sense of solidarity—a feeling that we are all in this together. People are staying home and risking their livelihood to flatten the curve and protect the more vulnerable, not out of fear of catching the virus, but out of a sense of social responsibility and care for humanity. The public expects businesses to respond in a similar manner.

Businesses must make some sacrifices and take risks to protect the most vulnerable in their workforce. Leaders cannot, and should not, make decisions solely to protect the bottom line, but to also protect the people behind the line. The unemployment curve is rising much faster than the virus curve. All indicators point toward a global unemployment pandemic. If companies do not take the necessary measures to flatten that curve, we could face a global depression in the coming months, and most businesses will not survive that storm.

Flattening the Unemployment Curve

Every business has a responsibility to flatten the unemployment curve. While minimizing costs is understandable, every business leader must ask: is reducing the workforce the only way to achieve cost reduction? The consequences of this decision on employees, business reputation, the local community, and the global economy are more serious than ever before. Executives should harness the collective creativity of people in their organization to find alternative ways to reduce costs. Each organization is unique, and cost optimization solutions should be tailored accordingly. For some, it might be the marketing budget, for others, operations, warehousing, or distribution. Perhaps old contracts need renegotiation with suppliers or other service providers. No matter where sacrifices are made, the best ideas will emerge from collective efforts that involve as many stakeholders and employees as possible.

The Search for Alternatives

If you exhaust all efforts, and trimming Human Resources becomes necessary, here are some ideas you might consider to lessen the financial and emotional burden on employees.

  • Reduce pay rates, benefits, or work hours instead of letting people go.
  • Encourage staff to take annual leave during the business’s most challenging times.
  • Schedule unpaid employee furloughs (leave without pay), while continuing employee benefits.
  • Plan furlough rotations. For example, instead of a three-month leave without pay, give staff a one-week-on, one-week-off schedule for six months. The cost would be the same, but it could lessen the financial burden on employees and sustain their morale.
  • Encourage top management and high-earning employees to yield a higher percentage of their salary to ease the impact on low-earning staff. Creating a marginal reduction rate can help reduce costs further while retaining employees and lessening their burden.

Staff need to feel that they still matter to the company and haven’t been abandoned. By including everyone in the decision-making process, business leaders can cultivate empathy throughout their organizations and encourage broader acceptance of cost-saving measures. It is crucial for employees to feel that the human cost-reduction process was fair and equitable.

Prepare your Employees for the New Job Market

If you must let people go, approach the decision with empathy. Ensure that those laid off have a soft landing and are well-equipped to navigate the unemployment curve.

  • Find volunteers within the organization who can offer career coaching, resume writing, and interview preparation workshops.
  • Provide internal training in different areas of business management or other areas of expertise you can offer.
  • Open up your business network: introduce your laid-off employees to people in your network who might be in a position to hire them.
  • Send off laid-off employees with strong recommendation letters, highlighting skills relevant to the new job market.

Employees laid off during the COVID-19 crisis will enter a drastically different job market with different skill expectations. Any resources or endorsements that enhance their competitiveness in the new job market will be greatly appreciated both within the organization and by the public.

A Sense of Solidarity and Collective Consciousness

With all the pain and uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought to our world, it has also restored our faith in humanity. People worldwide are showing empathy and compassion towards their fellow humans. Millions of people are volunteering on the frontline of the response to keep others safe during this time of crisis. Factories have halted their operations to produce disinfectants and face masks. Others have pivoted their production facilities to produce ventilators and breathing devices to save the lives of coronavirus patients with serious lung infections. Thousands of businesses are donating resources, equipment, apparel, food, and money to support the healthcare system in the fight against the virus. Many governments have regained the long-lost trust and support of their citizens as countries around the world are on the brink of public health disaster and economic recession.

Flattening the Curve with Empathy and Compassion

For the first time in centuries, humanity feels connected. The collective nature of this pandemic is forging a sense of solidarity—a feeling that we are all in this together. Businesses should join in with empathy and compassion. If the unemployment pandemic continues, we will soon face a global economic depression that most businesses will not outlive. A steep unemployment curve will overburden the economy and drain government resources through unemployment benefits and bailout programs. A flatter curve means more disposable income in circulation, which benefits businesses and reduces demand for bailout programs. It also gives those affected a better chance to find new jobs, receive government aid, or find other support in their communities. A flatter curve gives the economy time to breathe and regenerate, which is crucial for the survival of any business.

Flattening the unemployment curve should now be on every company’s priority list. This is a fight for survival in a turbulent and uncertain global economy. But regardless of the circumstances at any organization, one thing is clear: leaders must manage employees in a way that upholds their dignity and builds their confidence to weather the storm.

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Business Design

Building a Culture of Innovation: Strategies for Fostering Creativity and Growth

By on

October 7, 2018

- Business Design

Rethinking Business Models for a Sustainable Future

The economic shifts of the past decade have dramatically transformed consumer markets. Products have become commodities, experiences are prioritized, and the shared economy has flourished. Companies like Uber and Airbnb seized these opportunities by fostering a culture of innovation that allowed them to thrive in a challenging economic environment.

Today, organizations recognize the importance of investing in innovation, but many struggle with how to do so effectively. According to McKinsey & Co., 94% of surveyed executives were dissatisfied with their company’s innovation performance. The key to overcoming this challenge lies in building the right culture. As Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Without a culture that supports innovation, even the best strategies can fail. However, fostering a culture of innovation doesn’t have to be costly—it requires the right mindset and approach. Here’s how you can cultivate an innovative culture within your organization.

Believe in Everyone’s Creative Potential

Creativity isn’t reserved for a select few; it’s a natural ability that everyone possesses. However, over time, societal norms and formal education can erode our creative confidence. To build a culture of innovation, leaders must restore this confidence by creating a safe space for creative risks. Encouraging experimentation without fear of rejection or failure is one of the most impactful investments a leader can make in a disruptive economy.

Embrace Ambiguity as an Opportunity

Innovation often thrives in ambiguity. The unknown can be daunting, but it’s also where the most groundbreaking ideas are born. Adopting a design mentality focused on human-centered discovery allows organizations to navigate ambiguity with confidence. By seeking a deep understanding of context, users, and nontraditional sources, companies can unearth hidden insights that serve as the foundation for innovation.

Build Diverse, Transdisciplinary Teams

Innovation flourishes when diverse perspectives come together. True creativity is not a solitary spark of inspiration but the result of cross-pollination between different domains. Imagine the impact when a sociologist, engineer, behavioral scientist, and economist collaborate on a business challenge. Each brings a unique lens, leading to innovative solutions that go beyond conventional thinking. It’s not about thinking outside the box—it’s about expanding the box to include a wide range of ideas and perspectives.

Approach Every Challenge with Fresh Eyes

Over-reliance on intuition can cloud judgment and lead to missed opportunities. Each business context and user group is unique, requiring a fresh perspective every time. By adopting a process of conscious discovery, uncluttered by preconceived notions or past experiences, organizations can uncover insights that are often unexpected but critical to innovation. Letting go of past assumptions allows for clearer, more effective decision-making.

Experimentation as a Catalyst for Success

Fear of failure often stifles innovation. To overcome this, organizations must foster a culture that values experimentation. By breaking down challenges into smaller, manageable parts and rapidly prototyping solutions, teams can gather valuable feedback and iterate quickly. Embracing failure as a learning opportunity allows ideas to evolve and improve, ultimately leading to stronger, more successful innovations.

Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill

Building the right team is foundational to building the right culture. Skills can be taught, but attitude is inherent. Look for individuals with a growth mindset, confidence in their abilities, and a willingness to take risks. Those who think big, embrace collaboration, and view challenges from multiple perspectives are the ones who will drive innovation forward. Hiring for these traits ensures that your team is equipped to contribute to a culture of continuous innovation.

Creating a culture of innovation is essential for an organization’s long-term success and competitive positioning. While most companies recognize the value of innovation, many struggle with execution. A culture that fosters creativity, embraces ambiguity, and encourages risk-taking doesn’t happen by accident—it’s cultivated with intention and purpose. Innovation starts with a mindset: stepping outside comfort zones, exploring the unknown, fostering connectedness, and believing in your team’s potential.

If you’re ready to build a culture of innovation within your organization, let’s start the conversation. At ERGO, we’re here to help you unlock your team’s creative potential and drive meaningful change.

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Strategy

The Power of a Design Mindset in Transforming Business Strategies

By on

April 21, 2018

- Strategy

Design is no longer just a finishing touch or a tool for aesthetics—today, it’s a strategic powerhouse that shapes the core of business success. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, design has moved from being a tool for creating visual appeal to a mindset that drives innovation and strategic decision-making. At the heart of this approach is a deep understanding of customer needs, behaviors, and emotions. By decoding what motivates people, companies can tackle complex challenges, build meaningful customer connections, and unlock new pathways to innovation.

What Makes Design-Driven Companies Stand Out

Companies like Apple, Nike, and Procter & Gamble have shown how adopting a design mindset can lead to remarkable outcomes. According to a 2015 study by the Design Management Institute, companies that lead with design outperformed the S&P 500 by an impressive 219%. Apple’s success, for example, didn’t just come from its technological advancements—it was rooted in a diligence and focus on user experience. The iPhone wasn’t just a phone; it was designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday life, addressing both functional needs and deeper emotional desires. This type of success isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a mindset shift—one where design principles shape business strategy. More organizations today are recognizing the value of this approach and looking to integrate design thinking into their operations to fuel innovation and gain a competitive edge.

Moving Beyond Data: The Deep Dive into Design Research

While traditional market research provides valuable data points about “how” customers behave, design research goes further by seeking to understand the “why” behind that behavior. This deeper understanding comes from methodologies like ethnographic research, empathy mapping, and rapid prototyping. Each of these tools provides a more nuanced look at customers’ lived experiences and unmet needs. Procter & Gamble, for instance, didn’t just rely on sales data to develop the Swiffer—it conducted ethnographic research, which involved observing real-life cleaning habits. This allowed them to identify pain points and design a product that directly addressed those needs.

Similarly, IBM used empathy mapping to better align its services with client needs, while Airbnb used rapid prototyping to quickly test and refine its platform, ensuring the best possible customer experience. These strategies are invaluable because they help businesses stay ahead of customer expectations. By understanding the drivers behind customer behavior, we can create products and services that resonate on a deeper level and are prepared for future market shifts.

Design as a Strategic Mindset

Adopting a design mindset is more than incorporating design thinking into product development—it’s about infusing creative problem-solving into every layer of the organization. A design mindset encourages holistic thinking, where businesses consider not only how their products function but how they make people feel and how they fit into customers’ broader lives. This shift in perspective creates more agile, responsive organizations that are better equipped to anticipate challenges and adapt to changing market dynamics.

Companies like IBM have embraced design thinking at scale, using it to develop solutions that are not just innovative but deeply aligned with customer needs. A design mindset also promotes a culture of experimentation. Rapid prototyping and iterative testing become standard practices, allowing teams to refine ideas quickly and get products to market faster. By focusing on empathy and understanding, companies can ensure that their solutions remain relevant and impactful, even in the face of disruption.

Driving Growth and Change Through Design

In a disruptive landscape, businesses need more than just operational efficiency—they need to innovate continuously. Embedding design into core business strategies creates a framework for ongoing growth and adaptability. This approach empowers companies to stay agile and continuously evolve alongside shifting market trends. But the benefits don’t stop there. A design-driven approach enhances customer loyalty by building deeper, more meaningful relationships. Companies can foster trust and connection when they create products and services that align with customers’ values and emotions, making it hard for competitors to replicate. This connection translates into lasting value for both the business and its customers. The power of design lies in its ability to bridge the gap between creativity and analysis. By combining the two, businesses can craft solutions that not only solve immediate problems but also address underlying customer needs, setting the stage for long-term success.

Looking Ahead

In a landscape where customer expectations are higher than ever and competition is intense, Design provides a critical advantage. By integrating design into the heart of your business strategy, you can drive innovation, solve complex problems, and create products and services that truly resonate with your customers. Are you ready to unlock the potential of a design mindset and transform your business? Let’s explore how customer-centred design can help you innovate, adapt, and succeed in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

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Design Thinking

From Insights to Innovation: Inside the Design Thinking Process

By on

January 20, 2018

- Design Thinking

In a world where the most challenges are complex and inherently human, design thinking becomes a survival skill.

At ERGO, we recognize that the path to innovation often lies in exploring the unknown and navigating through ambiguity. Our design thinking framework is crafted to help us move confidently through these ambiguous spaces, using each phase to build upon the insights and learnings of the previous one. This structured yet flexible approach allows us to uncover new possibilities and craft solutions that are innovative, grounded in user needs, and tailored to real-world contexts. At ERGO, our design thinking framework consists of four interconnected and iterative phases: Discovery, Inspiration, Design, and Growth.

Phase 1: Discovery

The Discovery phase lays the foundation for the entire process, inviting us to engage with challenges from a fresh, unbiased perspective. This phase is characterized by conscious discovery- intentionally setting aside preconceived notions, biases and past experiences to fully immerse ourselves in the problem space. By taking a systems approach and examining the challenge from multiple angles, we identify knowledge gaps and gather missing information, allowing us to explore the problem with clarity.

Some of the key tools and methods we use during Discovery include:

  • Challenge Mapping: Breaking down complex problems into their core components.
  • Stakeholder Mapping: Identifying the key players involved and their roles.
  • System Mapping: Visualizing the interconnected elements and relationships within a system to see how different factors influence one another.

This phase helps us untangle complexity, revealing new insights, trends, and design opportunities that would otherwise remain hidden.

Phase 2: Inspiration

In the Inspiration phase, our focus is on truly understanding the user—both their practical needs and deeper emotional drivers. By immersing ourselves in their environment, we gain firsthand insights into their experiences, and gain a clearer understanding of their perspective. We use a mixed methods approach to we uncover valuable insights into what shapes their behaviors and choices.

Key techniques in this phase include:

  • Ethnographic Research: Observing users in context to understand their needs, choices, pain points, and behaviors.
  • Empathy Mapping: Capturing what users think, feel, say, and do to paint a holistic picture of their tensions and motivations.
  • Contextual Immersion: Fully immersing in the user’s environment and experiences to gain a deeper understanding of their world and perspective.
  • Insight Finding: Identifying key patterns and observations that reveal deeper user needs and opportunities.
  • Point of View: Framing the challenge from the user’s perspective to guide meaningful solutions.

The insights we gather during Inspiration are not just about identifying obvious needs—they help us uncover underlying emotions and motivations. We then reframe these insights into design opportunities that go beyond surface-level solutions.

Phase 3: Design

The Design phase is where creativity and strategy come together. With the insights from the Inspiration phase in hand, we generate a broad range of solutions through ideation. This phase is all about exploring possibilities, testing ideas, and iterating quickly based on user testing.

The key methodologies we employ in this phase include:

  • Divergent Thinking: Encouraging wide-ranging ideas without judgment, allowing for exploration of all potential solutions.
  • Prototyping: Building tangible representations of ideas to test concepts early and often.
  • User Testing: Gathering real-world feedback from users to refine and improve prototypes.

The iterative Build-Measure-Learn cycle is critical here, allowing us to continuously fine-tune ideas until we arrive at a solution that’s both innovative and user-centered. The end goal is to create a prototype that resonates with users while aligning with business goals.

Phase 4: Growth

The Growth phase is all about turning tested prototypes into fully developed products or services. Here, we concentrate on scaling the solution and integrating it into a sustainable business model. The goal isn’t just to launch a new product or service—it’s to create a foundation for lasting success.

Key activities in this phase include:

  • Business Model Design: Mapping out how the solution will create, deliver, and capture value.
  • Market Analysis: Understanding the competitive landscape to identify opportunities for differentiation.
  • Customer Journey Mapping: Mapping out how users will interact with the solution post-launch, ensuring a seamless and valuable experience.
  • Growth Hacking: Focusing on rapid experimentation across marketing channels to find the most effective ways to grow the business.
  • Innovation Blueprinting: Creating a comprehensive plan that outlines the scope, roles, resources, and action steps required to bring the solution to market.

As we progress through the Growth phase, our attention moves beyond launch to ensuring the solution can thrive in a dynamic market. With scalability and adaptability built in, the innovation is prepared to evolve alongside customer needs and market shifts.

The Iterative Nature of Design Thinking

One of the most powerful aspects of design thinking is its iterative nature. It’s not a linear process; it’s cyclical and user-driven, which means we continually revisit each phase as new insights emerge. This flexibility allows us to adapt and refine solutions to meet evolving user needs and market dynamics. At every step, the user remains at the center of our process, ensuring that the innovations we deliver are both meaningful and future-relevant.

By embracing design thinking, organizations can break through conventional barriers, delivering user-centered innovations that solve today’s challenges while anticipating tomorrow’s needs.

Are you ready to unlock the power of design thinking in your organization?

Get in Touch to discover how this human-centered approach can lead to breakthrough innovation and long-lasting success.

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Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship

Empowering Entrepreneurs in Egypt’s Industrial Waste Management

By on

September 20, 2017

- Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship

ERGO Partners with Cairo University and Youthinkgreen-Egypt for Entrepreneurship and Industrial Waste Management

This year, ERGO partnered with Cairo University, Youthinkgreen-Egypt, and the <a href=”http://www.mti.gov.eg/Arabic/Pages/default.aspx” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry</span></a> to boost entrepreneurship in Egypt. Together, they explored untapped opportunities in industrial waste management. Over four months, ERGO worked with 100 entrepreneurs to create solutions for overlooked waste in Egypt’s industrial hubs. We’re excited to share the incredible work of the participants and the Youthinkgreen team, who made this program a success.

A Program with Purpose

The program started in April with 100 eager participants. Over seven days, they trained in design thinking, business modeling, and industrial waste management. After that, they faced a specific waste challenge, which they worked on for two weeks. They then pitched their solutions to a panel of judges. Fifty participants advanced, forming ten teams to tackle waste issues over the next four months.

Each team partnered with a local factory to find sustainable waste solutions. Throughout the program, they continued receiving training in entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and industrial waste management. This included workshops on prototyping, market research, business strategy, and financial planning. At the end, they presented their solutions to a panel of judges in front of over 250 people. Here are three standout projects.

Spotlight on Innovation

G-Fit

G-Fit, a sports recovery drink, made from excess whey from cheese manufacturing to help athletes tackle performance challenges. It replenishes electrolytes, carbohydrates, and amino acids lost during exercise. Packed with nutrients, this isotonic beverage boosts hydration, reduces fatigue, and aids muscle recovery—all in a single, convenient drink.

Lanatus

Lanatus is a protein bar made from powders extracted from melon rinds and cantaloupe seeds. It offers a healthy blend of fast- and slow-digesting proteins, with fewer carbs and fats than other products on the market. Lanatus stands out for its high protein content and affordability, providing a lean muscle-building snack that competes with imported alternatives.

VWaste

VWaste transforms orange waste into high-quality orange peel powder, which is exported to Europe for pectin production. Pectin is widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries, from gelling jams to stabilizing fruit juices. VWaste’s eco-friendly model helps reduce the carbon footprint of agro-industrial waste in Egypt, while creating an additional revenue stream for the juicing industry.

More Exciting Projects

Other teams developed impressive solutions, like producing biodiesel from cooking oil, gluten-free flour from mango seed kernels, and pomegranate-based products such as tea and powder. The judges evaluated these projects based on product-market fit, innovation, financial viability, scalability, technical feasibility, and the strength of the pitch. All team made significant strides, both personally and professionally, over the course of the program.

Innovation as a Path Forward

At ERGO, we believe innovation is key to solving society’s toughest challenges. That’s why we collaborate with organizations to design innovation bootcamps and hackathons to bring high impact, humanity-centered solutions to life. Interested in learning more? Want to learn more about what we do? Reach out, and let’s start a conversation.

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Strategy

Advancing Human Experience Through Design and Innovation

By on

January 4, 2017

- Strategy

ERGO: Redefining Innovation with a Human-Centered Approach

Founded in 2016, ERGO was built on the belief that true innovation starts with people. We are a strategy and innovation consulting firm dedicated to restoring customer-centricity and enhancing human experience through thoughtful design and innovation. Everything we do revolves around understanding people, their needs, and the environments they interact with, helping businesses shape solutions that make a real impact.

Who We Are

At ERGO, we’re a diverse team of designers, engineers, social scientists, and behavioral researchers. We work where future foresight, design, and human behavior meet, uncovering opportunities that others may miss. Our mission is simple: to help our clients create user-centered experiences, services, and products that lead to sustainable growth. We don’t just look at the trends shaping today’s world—we dig deeper to uncover the hidden disruptions that can unlock the future for our clients.

Our Design Philosophy

Our design approach is rooted in understanding how people think, behave, and interact with the world around them. By combining user experience, behavior research, and design psychology, we get to the heart of what shapes user behavior. We help businesses develop a more personal and scientific understanding of their customers, so they can design solutions that feel intuitive and natural. When you bring user-centricity back into focus, you minimize risk and raise your chances of designing something truly meaningful.

What We Bring to the Table

At ERGO, we don’t believe in guessing what people want. We put in the work to understand context and dig deep into user behavior. By focusing on human-centered design principles, we help organizations create value that truly resonates. To us, customer-centricity isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of innovation. We make it our mission to deliver real, measurable value through deep user insights and breakthrough strategies designed for sustainable growth.

How We Find User Insights

We believe deep user insights are the foundation of meaningful innovation. That’s why we put a huge emphasis on well-designed user research. By combining Ethnographic Observation, Stakeholder Engagement, and In-Context Immersion, we get close to the people we’re designing for—observing their behavior in real-world settings and identifying the hidden needs and motivations that often go unnoticed. Using advanced research synthesis tools, we connect the dots, uncover patterns, and extract insights that serve as the foundation for the design process.

Turning Insights into Innovation

Understanding users is just the beginning. We take those insights and translate them into customer-centered products, services, and experiences that offer real value. From the early stages of prototyping, we get solutions into the hands of users, gathering feedback quickly and iterating fast. This constant cycle of testing and refining helps us design innovative solutions that meet the needs of today, and create lasting impact. Whether it’s through new products or transformative services, we help businesses stand out by creating positive deviance in their industries.

A Strategy Built Around People

Innovation isn’t just about designing cool products—it’s about designing systems, processes, and even cultures that foster innovation across an entire organization. Without a clear strategy, it’s easy for different parts of a business to head in conflicting directions. That’s where ERGO comes in. We work closely with our clients to design innovation blueprints that align with their overall business goals. Our human-centered strategies ensure that innovation efforts are streamlined, creating value that’s consistent, sustainable, and in line with the company’s broader vision.

Let’s Connect

Interested in learning more about how we apply design thinking to solve real-world challenges? Read about our Design Thinking Process.

And to stay in the loop with our latest projects and insights, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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CONTACT US

8 Al Sheikh Al Marsafy

Zamalek, Cairo 11211 - Egypt

Phone: +201227380314

E-Mail: hello@ergo-x.design

 

Designing with Purpose: How Context Shapes Success

At ERGO, we prioritize a profound understanding of context and user behavior to design solutions that truly resonate. Our approach begins with thorough research into user needs, challenges, and environments, allowing us to gather critical insights that drive our design process. We contextualize these insights within the broader landscape to conceptualize breakthrough, human-centered solutions. This approach minimizes risk, ensuring that our strategies and products are both impactful and deeply aligned with real-world user experiences.