Like any tech enthusiast who has ever been a part of a bubble, I feel like I may have waited too long for this. But now, I think, the time has finally come. I’m selling off my leftover crypto-assets and moving on with life. Taking this opportunity to pen-down a few (mis-?) adventures over the past 5 years! This is part 1 of what is probably going to be a series of posts, so bear with me.
#Design4Impact — New paradigms in the design market
Last week when I joined an investment and consulting firm in the social sector, I saw corporate groups from the social sector paying huge sums to creative agencies in exchange for templatized designs and mediocre service. In my early days of volunteering for NGOs, I had witnessed how much the social sector struggles by its fundamental nature in terms of investment and capital. In my later days of freelancing, I had come to see how easy it is for “creative agencies” to leverage information-asymmetry to their advantage. The margins made by the agencies is appalling, to say the least, especially when the people behind most of these agencies are not even remotely familiar with design or creativity. In this article, I break down the problem of pricing in a market of asymmetry caused due to the skills involved and its impact on SMEs or other social sector organisations. I subsequently try to introduce a strategy that could possibly pave the way for cheaper “digital marketing” solutions for those who need it big time — the social sector.
Morning Runs in Doon
The encompassing hills of Doon are clad in pines, oaks, and deodars. They aren’t scenic alone, but also soul-stirring. One runs across them, following a trail- known or unknown- just to reach a place that is pacifying enough to calm you down after a run. Bonus- the said place is a stream, so you can listen to the water as well. The sound of water trickling down the mountainous terrain is captivating. On umpteen occasions, I’ve just sat there for minutes that turned into hours, contemplating my life, solving dilemmas, or listening to the music that the stone-beating trickles create.