The Anti-Customer Journey

How harassment can be an integral part of your business strategy

Some time back, I stumbled upon an article discussing adopting anti-personas in product or service strategy design , which I found intriguing. These anti-personas help anticipate potential misuse of products, safeguarding users and the business. But how can a company integrate that concept into its business? Recently, I dealt with 欧特克 's compliance team, sparking thoughts about the notion of an "Anti Customer Experience."

In this context, the anti-customer is perceived as someone potentially undermining the business, intentionally or unintentionally. Despite being a paying customer, I was wrongly labeled as a potential anti-customer, prompting intrusive emails from the compliance team. It all started as a benevolent offer to help me with the risks of illegal software. Over the next few weeks, the emails started to heat up until they demanded information and wanted to visit my office to inspect my computer.?

This ordeal prompted reflections on the Anti-Customer Journey, where businesses aim to convert by forcing individuals who fall into the anti-customer category into becoming paying customers, even at the cost of brand perception and erosion. For companies like Autodesk, harassment is an essential part of the business strategy. And it works as long as the anti-customer needs the software; there’s no option except paying and becoming a customer.?

Advertising

When You Can’t Advertise Your Store, Promote The One Next Door

In Canada, while cannabis is legal for use and sale, advertising it faces strict regulations under the Cannabis Act, which forbids showing products, people, paraphernalia, store interiors, or implying effects in advertisements. This makes publishing cannabis ads challenging, as platforms like Meta and Google, as well as out-of-home (OOH) and radio channels, often block such content. To navigate these restrictions, the Canadian cannabis chain Stok’d and its agency, Angry Butterfly, devised a clever strategy. They launched a campaign promoting the stores located adjacent to Stok’d, thereby circumventing the advertising limitations.

The Dirty Protest

The Dirty Protest is a unique online petition to combat the global issue of untreated sewage being discharged into the ocean, a problem long ignored by politicians. This innovative campaign utilizes printable ink from sewage to highlight the severity of sewage pollution, which poses significant threats to marine ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

Design

Typographic wizardry: PARTERRE’s serif-rich brand for Ziegler echoes the distillery’s history

The idea of legacy is synonymous with Ziegler, one of the most famous distilleries in Germany, perched on the banks of the Main River in Freudenberg . When the facility – which has been making the finest distillates since 1865 – began thinking about a brand refresh, they reached out to the Vienna-based creative consultancy PARTERRE .?

Featured this week

Olivier Caron

Olivier Caron, a Digital Artist and Director hailing from Nantes, France , stands out in the world of digital art due to his distinctive vision and unwavering dedication. After studying Cinema at Paris III University, he embarked on a career that initially focused on 2D art but evolved into a specialization in 3D, particularly in photorealism.

Erdem Y?ld?z

Erdem Y?ld?z, an accomplished illustrator based in Istanbul, Turkey , is known for his distinctive blend of traditional and digital art. His work shows intricate details and quirkiness; Erdem's portfolio boasts an impressive array of music posters, traditional Japanese illustrations infused with a modern twist, and album covers for various music groups.

整点彩蛋 SURPRISE

整点彩蛋 SURPRISE, hailing from Chongqing, China , is a visual design service provider that specializes in creating stunning and original design solutions. Their portfolio showcases various projects spanning various mediums, demonstrating their ability to deliver multi-dimensional design services.

Yadi Liu

Yadi Liu, an award-winning visual artist based in New York City , expresses her artistic passion through abstract illustration and provides creative solutions for her clients. Curvy shapes and vibrant colors mark her distinctive style, often created digitally. Inspired by cubism and expressionism, she strives to strike a harmonious balance between illustration and modern art.

Mirza P. Wardhana

Mirza P. Wardhana, a talented graphic designer and illustrator from Bandung, Indonesia , specializes in typography. His incredible work showcases a unique blend of experimental techniques and approaches, often incorporating collage and multimedia combinations. With a focus on music and typography, Mirza's projects stand out for their creativity and innovation.

Robert Hunter

London-based illustrator and animation director Robert Hunter delves into realms of folklore and lost civilizations with his distinctive nocturnal palette and intricate artwork. His work spans publishing, advertising, and film, embodying themes of the otherworldly and ethereal landscapes.

Simon Hjortek

Simon Hjortek, a Swedish photographer, filmmaker, and surrealist , intricately weaves the mundane with the surreal, creating imagery that captivates with its blend of beauty and the bizarre. His precise style, drawing inspiration from disturbing and beautiful elements, invites viewers into a dreamlike realm where imagination flourishes.

Playlist of the week

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