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Building a green home, it's exciting, but also kind of terrifying.

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Yeah, definitely.

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It's a huge undertaking.

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You're literally building your future brick by brick.

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But what if, and stay with me here.

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What if you could navigate the wild world of German real estate, especially

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in those early stages, as easily as like using your favorite app.

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Okay.

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Now that would be game changing.

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Well, that's exactly where we're headed in today's deep dive.

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We're about to explore Usine GMBH.

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Ah, Usine GMBH.

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They're based in Berlin, right?

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That's right.

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An interactive design agency, really making waves in the design world,

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especially in the finance sector.

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And often the finance sector can be, well, a little overwhelming, to put it mildly.

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We've got three pages from their website we're going to take a look at today.

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Yeah.

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And one that immediately caught my eye, this project called Mine Project.

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Which for our listeners means my project.

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Exactly.

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It's a perfect example of how they put the user right at the center of their design.

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And it was actually created for a company called CreaLodge X,

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just to give you that context.

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Right.

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And think of Mine Project as this digital sidekick.

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They're with you every step of the way to make the entire real estate

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journey way smoother and maybe even, dare I say, enjoyable.

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Sign me up for enjoyable.

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So what is it about Mine Project that makes it so unique?

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So what's really cool about Mine Project is how seamlessly it blends

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in the financial planning aspect.

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You're not just like picking out bathroom tiles, you know, you're getting real time

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budget updates, even exploring loan options all within the same platform.

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OK, so it's like that reality check you need, but it doesn't feel like a downer.

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It's actually integrated into the fun stuff.

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So can I like virtually design my dream kitchen in this thing?

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Oh, absolutely.

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Yeah.

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The website talks about how My Project has these visual planning tools built right in.

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Imagine you're mapping out your kitchen, you swap out those countertops

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for something fancier, boom, you see instantly how that impacts your budget.

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No more frantic calculator tapping.

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Exactly.

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It's all about giving the user you the power to play around

47
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with different options and stay organized.

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Love it.

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So that's pretty cool.

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But I'm guessing there's more to my project than just that, right?

51
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Oh, there's more, way more.

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Like they have a whole task management system built in.

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So yeah, say goodbye to those sticky notes scattered everywhere.

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But honestly, my favorite part, their project diary feature.

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Please tell me it's not just uploading construction selfies.

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Not at all.

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It's about documenting those milestones, sharing the progress with your family and friends.

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And get this, at the end, you can even compile it all into a physical photo book.

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Wait, a real hold it in your hands photo book in this digital age?

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That's genius.

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Right, it's like they understand that building a home is more than just,

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you know, bricks and mortar.

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It's about memories.

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Absolutely.

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You sign GmbH is onto something here, but I'm curious, this mind project,

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it seems really well thought out.

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Does it reflect how they approach design in general?

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It totally does.

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And that's where their services page comes in.

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They have this three pronged approach and it's super interesting.

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Okay, break it down for us.

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So it all starts with strategy and concept, which makes sense, right?

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Yeah.

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Understanding the client's goals, but more importantly, the user's needs.

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Because at the end of the day, the user is the one who's going to be interacting with

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whatever they design.

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Exactly.

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So they're really thinking about the user experience, like if you're someone who's

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totally overwhelmed by the idea of building a house, how can we make this easier for you?

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So it's more than just making it look pretty.

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It's about creating an experience that actually helps people.

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Right.

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And that's where the second part comes in, UX and UI design.

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And just a reminder for our listeners, that's user experience and user interface.

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Yes.

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Thank you.

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It's about crafting those interfaces that are, yes, visually appealing, but also a joy to use.

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They have to be intuitive.

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Okay. So how do they actually make that happen, this seamless blend of design and technology?

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Well, let's go back to my project for a second.

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They could have easily created something that was, you know, clunky and confusing.

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Right.

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But instead, they designed a system that guides you through each step of the process.

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They took something that could be overwhelming and made it almost like,

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I don't know, like playing a game.

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They gamified home building.

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Kind of. And that takes some serious technical skills,

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which brings us to the third part of their approach, development.

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Because you can have the best blueprint in the world,

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but if you don't have skilled builders, it's meaningless.

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Exactly. And they emphasize how important it is to

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seamlessly blend that design with the technology.

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So my project really shows they can walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

104
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But their website, it mentions a lot of other clients beyond just real estate.

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What else have they worked on?

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Their portfolio page, it's like a treasure trove.

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They've done so much more than just real estate.

108
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Right. It's really impressive, actually.

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We're talking everything from a customer relationship management system,

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like a CRM for banks,

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to a website redesign for the bank for Social Wirtschaft,

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which is the bank for social economy.

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Yeah. And what's fascinating to me is how you can see their design philosophy,

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woven through all these different projects.

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Like a common thread.

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Exactly.

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Right.

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Take that CRM system, for example.

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They could have just slapped a fresh coat of paint on an old, glunky interface.

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Right. The easy way out.

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Right. But they didn't.

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They actually dug deep and reimagined the whole user experience,

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making it so much more intuitive for bank employees.

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So it's not just about aesthetics.

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It's about actually making it work better.

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Exactly. And it paid off, too.

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Their client actually reported that efficiency went up

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and even customer satisfaction improved.

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Wow, that's huge.

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It is. And it really proves their point.

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You know, when you prioritize the user, good things happen.

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Absolutely.

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Their portfolio really showcases how they can adapt

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to different sectors, different challenges.

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But out of all these projects, is there one that really stands out to you

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as a prime example of their unique approach?

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Ooh, that's a tough one. There are so many good ones.

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But one that I keep coming back to is their work

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on a virtual memorial and information site.

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Oh, wow. Tell me more.

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So it's called Gadenkort T4, and it's for victims of Nazi crimes.

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That's incredibly heavy subject matter.

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I can't imagine the level of sensitivity required to design something like that.

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It's about finding that balance, right?

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Between providing information and creating a space for reflection.

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Yeah.

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And I think they did an incredible job.

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It must have been challenging to create something

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that's both informative and emotionally resonant.

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Absolutely.

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And yet, they managed to pull it off.

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To take such a complex, sensitive topic and make it accessible in a digital space

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while still being respectful, that says a lot about their skills.

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She really does.

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You sign GmbH, they get it.

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Yeah.

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Design isn't just about making things pretty.

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It's about shaping how we experience the world.

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Even the most challenging parts of it.

160
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Exactly.

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It's really inspiring to see a company use their expertise in such a meaningful way.

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You know, it really makes you think about the potential of technology

163
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when it's used with that kind of intentionality.

164
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Right.

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It challenges that whole idea of technology being cold and impersonal.

166
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Totally.

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You sign GmbH, they're taking these things that can be so daunting.

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Building a home.

169
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Navigating the financial world.

170
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Even grappling with history.

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And they're finding ways to make those experiences not just doable, but actually meaningful.

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It's like they're cutting through all the noise, all the clutter,

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with this really thoughtful approach.

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It's refreshing, honestly.

175
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Definitely.

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It kind of makes you wonder, though, what if this approach,

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this focus on the human experience, what if it went beyond just these examples?

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Right.

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What if we thought about healthcare, education, even government services through that lens?

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Can you imagine if those systems were actually designed to be intuitive, even enjoyable to use?

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It's like you sign GmbH is showing us what's possible when we put people at the center.

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It's not just about making things easier.

183
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It's about making them better, more humane, you know?

184
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Absolutely.

185
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Well, that feels like the perfect note to end on.

186
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We've had a chance to really dive deep into the world of you sign GmbH,

187
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explore their approach to design, and I think we've all learned something valuable along the way.

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Definitely.

189
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It's inspiring stuff.

190
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It is.

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So next time you're using an app or navigating a website,

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take a moment to really think about how it makes you feel.

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Is it just functional or is it actually designed with you, the user, in mind?

194
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That's something to think about.

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It is. And on that note, we'll wrap things up.

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Thanks for joining us for another Deep Dive. We'll catch you next time.