thought leadership
Welcome to our blog …a space designed for Fifteen4 news, advice, commentary, storytelling, and well, how our entire team of leaders think. Here is where we keep all the content that gives you a clearer picture of who we are, what we do, how we think [about the industry we love] and the many ways to tell a brand story, without resorting to buzzwords like “data-driven paradigm shift” or “brand story.”
Why Simple Websites Win (and Complicated Ones Make Users Cry)
In a world overflowing with content, choices, and distractions, simplicity in web design isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. A cluttered website is like a noisy restaurant: overwhelming, disorienting, and an instant reason to leave. On the other hand, an intuitive,...
Why Simple Websites Win (and Complicated Ones Make Users Cry)
In a world overflowing with content, choices, and distractions, simplicity in web design isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. A cluttered website is like a noisy restaurant: overwhelming, disorienting, and an instant reason to leave. On the other hand, an intuitive,...
The Design of Experience: The Snail Mail Saga
Welcome to the Design of Experience: conversations about the ideas that make us feel a tribal devotion to the things we love. This one’s about: Sales pitch knife fights, Wes Anderson slander, and the long awaited return of Creepy Joe. What is the true power of...
Why We Start With “Why”
You’ve got a business. It’s a good business! Maybe you’re an organ-tuning company. Or a ride-sharing app that caters exclusively to dogs. Or a service that retrieves people’s credit cards that they leave behind at bars. The truth is, when you’re trying to build your...
The Design of Experience: Who Doesn’t Love a Good Jingle?
Welcome to the Design of Experience: conversations about the ideas that make us feel a tribal devotion to the things we love. This one’s about: Anthropomorphism and hot dogs. The psychology of sounds. Grating voices. The joy of the jingle. Why have jingles fallen out...
Fifteen4 Raises Funds to Create Two Girls in the Game Scholarships
It was the kind of night that will live on in our hearts for a long time. On Friday, October 4th, Fifteen4 sent a team of chefs to City Seeds to participate in Cook-Off for a Cause: Battle of the Agencies. The event was planned as an Iron Chef-style competition,...
Creative Journeys are Rarely Linear
In August, I received an email from Dr. Mas Biswas of Loyola University Maryland asking if I would be interested in speaking to his Capstone Class, which is focused on web and graphic design. To be honest, I didn’t know what a capstone class was, but after a quick...
Stop Faking It. (They find out anyway.)
Matt DeVille, VP of Digital, takes a critical look at fake authenticity, transparency, greenwashing, and wokewashing. Brands fake authenticity all the time. Frankly, it’s offputting. So why do they do it? Simple: “Authenticity” and “Transparency” have become very...
explore by topic
thought leadership
Thoughts, opinions, education...things that will make your professional life better.
1
podcast
Every episode of the branding world's greatest podcast: The Design of Experience.
2
news
The latest happenings within and around the agency.
3
culture
Employee and office musings. Usually humorous, always feel-good.