Discover without preconception
When you’re focused on the day to day, it’s easy to lose sight of the opportunities. We help organisations to look outwards for a better understanding of their customer; to look forwards at trends affecting their sector; and to look inwards at the expertise and values that drives innovation and rallies teams.
From primary research and audience surveys, to competitor and trend audits, we build a picture of the context in which your brand operates, and create customer portraits of the people you need to address. Workshops, interviews and consultation with your team brings everyone on the journey, builds consensus, and ensures buy-in from day one.
Some clients have called it corporate therapy. We call it discovering without preconception.
CASE STUDIES
The Thinking Traveller
For twenty years, The Thinking Traveller has made villa holidays more thoughtful. But as the villa search market grew, the brand became lost in a sea of holiday clichés. We partnered on a rebrand that started by looking for the company’s heart. Through interviews, workshops, customer surveys, analysis and insight, we uncovered the things that made them special…
“Without have been fabulous throughout: dedicated, challenging, insightful, really creative – a partner.”
— Elena Fotiadi, Head of Brand and Partnerships, The Thinking Traveller
Modern recipe
Sodexo wanted to reimagine corporate catering: from boring canteens, to vibrant assets for collaboration and attraction. Our solution – Modern Recipe – has reshaped the sector. Catering brands typically focus on the corporate client. But we began with the end customer. Surveys and trend research helped us build an accurate picture of the customer – their pain points, profile and preferences. The results, including a 45% increase in utilisation and 13% increase in average transaction value, speak to the value of this insight.
“Without have been amazing. We couldn’t have done this thinking on our own… It’s been amazing for our business.”
— Transformation Director, Modern Recipe
“Global services company Sodexo and design agency Without are celebrating double success at the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards for Modern Recipe, taking home both a gold, and the Grand Prix. ”
— Design Business Association
Kitcheneers
School food is in crisis. The importance of food to growth and development has never been clearer, but when it comes to feeding the next generation, our state schools lag behind. To create a category-defying approach to school food, we started by understanding what today’s students really wanted. The insight would inform everything from recipe creation to reducing food waste, and go on to win a DBA Design Effectiveness Award.
“Without instantly recognised the scale and severity of the challenge, and their work has been critical in bringing the brand to life. We’re excited for the difference this work will make across the country.”
— James Mundy, Marketing Director for Schools & Universities UK, Sodexo
OUR APPROACH