ProductTank: Branding
We’re kicking off 2017 with a theme that goes under the radar for many product managers: branding.
Your product is an ultimate expression of your brand: from the colors and typography, to the wording and style of the copy. On January 26 we will give a stage to Naren Katakam (RingMD, ex-Microsoft) and Mario Van der Meulen (ex-frog). Read about their talks below.
Host: Google Asia Pacific, 70 Pasir Panjang Road, #03-71, Mapletree Business City, 117371
Speakers & Talks
#1 Mario Van der Meulen, formerly Creative Director at frog and Executive Creative Director at LPK
Talk: Why brands fail?
The Design Management Institute’s Design Value Index has proven that brands that elevate a strategic role of design are dominating the S&P market by a staggering 228%. And yet, we are undeniably confronted with a visual landscape of mediocrity. With research concluding that 96% of businesses fail within ten years, and 3 out of 4 brands are forgettable, why is design—and specifically brand design—so prone to failure?
About Mario
Mario Van der Meulen is a versatile, ambidextrous designer able to think strategically and execute tactically. A bit of a visionary, able to tell compelling stories. He understands how people, ideas and brands work, and more importantly, how they work together. His experience and expertise has been made on integrating a triumvirate of disciplines – research, strategy and design. Working seamlessly across each, he offers ideas the freedom and creativity to enhance brand values, business objectives and customer engagement.
#2 Naren Katakam, VP of Product & Design at RindMD
Talk: Connecting brand with product design
A lot has changed in the design world in the past 10 years: a clear pivotal shift from print to digital, from graphic design to UI design. However, technology is evolving faster than design. There’s a gap in learning and understanding design better. This presentation is a story of my journey and learnings on what it takes to redefine a brand, create a design system and build a product on top of it. It explores that gap and it might help design and product teams who are trusted with a similar task now or in future.
About Naren
Naren leads Product & Design at RingMD. With a focus on bridging the gap between user and machine interface through optimally honed design strategies, Naren has 10+ years of experience in product, design and brand development. In his previous work for Microsoft he contributed to the design, brand strategy and marketing. He helped launch multiple startups and several SME businesses. He is passionate about bringing well-defined user experiences to life, creating strong user-centric design environments. With a voracious appetite for striking design principles, ergonomic product features, marketing and communication tools and branding, Naren advocates the powerful impact of well-crafted simplicity.
Agenda
- 18:30 – Registration starts.
- 19:00 – Registration ends.
- 19:05 – 19:35 – First speaker: talk and Q&A (20 min + 10 min)
- 19:35 – 19:50 – Break!
- 19:50 – 20:20 – Second speaker: talk and Q&A (20 min + 10 min)
- 20:20 – 21:00 – Networking.
- 21:00 – Event ends.
Notes:
- The exact schedule is subject to change, but we’ll definitely start by 7pm.
- Registration closes at 01:00 on Thursday, January 26.
- Remember to bring your ID, just in case. 🙂
- IMPORTANT: Please, be on time. Registration will close at 7pm, and in case you’re late, you won’t be able to enter until the break (7:35pm).