The service design inspiration 009: Minimalism, the influence of personal brands
Personal growth and productivity are some of the words which are surfacing a lot as everyone is starting to get conscious about their lifestyle. Minimalism has made a lot of ripples in recent years too, though simple & minimal living was the only way to go in the “good” old times. Today, the excess availability of things and information can be triggers for reconsideration. There are many personalities who have developed their own reputation by their actions in this space. This credibility has helped them also come up with some interesting offerings and services.
Hello, we are two enthusiastic service designers who love to dive into the world of products and services. We are here to share with you our service design explorations and inspirations which we think could be helpful for all of us to develop and innovate.
Let’s go and take a look at some interesting services that talk about minimal life and changing habits!
Too busy to read it all?
You will find our big takeaway just below the case studies! Go and take a look!
Konmari
Tidying up as a way to create joy
What problem are they solving?
As goods become cheaper, people start owning more and more, until they feel limited from the things they own. Mari Kondo creates a system to do a once in a lifetime reorganisation of what you own.
Who is it for?
People who are suffocated by the amount of things they own.
People who want to help others to change their lifestyle.
2 things we liked!
- With a book, a personal course and a Netflix show, credibility is built on what people can easily verify.
- Possibility to become a consultant with specialized courses from Mari.
We wish…
the selection of items for sale was more coherent with the decluttering idea of only what sparks joy in you. As right now the shop indicates you to buy various things, that might be a clutter for many.
Service Design Inspiration.
A single person’s skills, philosophy and methodology can become a tool for others to use, if structured and documented properly; the gems from any environment can teach others.
Bullet Journal
Mindfulness practice in the form of day to day note taking
What problem are they solving?
Tasks can get complex and abundant in both personal and working life. Keeping track and aiming to improve creates the need to get organised. The Bullet Journal is a system that helps to go to the essence of tasks and aims to simplify your workflow.
Who is it for?
People who want to get organised analogically.
2 things we liked!
- The free availability of the whole methodology on the website
- The rise of the physical Bullet Journal after the requests from the fans and the community over time.
We wish…
the Bullet Journal went beyond the notebooks and companion App, giving people content that allows them to take better advantage of the system
Service Design Inspiration.
Generously making good resources available, so that people could try and test the value of the solution in their everyday lives, added to the brand identity of the Bullet Journal, allowing them to create product offerings for their grown community.
Slow growth Academy
Courses that turn small steps into giant leaps by the filmmaker/Youtuber Matt D’Avella.
What problem are they solving?
While the world is witnessing rise in the online courses on personal development, Matt who has established a personal brand with his Videos and Films (The Minimalism) on the topic, started an online academy to host courses. He is making his methods available to all in a more structured and engaging way, creating a great learning experience.
Who is it for?
For the people who want to take courses like building simple habits from a credible source.
For Matt’s followers to have a more connected experience.
2 things we liked!
- The guarantee of good visual material from the creator
- The continuity in the experience from his Youtube videos to these courses
We wish…
to see more offerings from Matt :/
Service Design Inspiration.
This boils down to the experience. Matt has established a certain premium quality in his work and by this course he has just made it more action oriented, keeping the experience still upto the mark. It shows how a personal brand credibility can transform into an offering.
Clutterfree
A step by step journey to change your living environment
What problem are they solving?
Homes can easily become storage units. It is difficult to make hard decisions of owning less, or throwing away objects you spent money on. Clutterfree is an app that gives you a step by step journey to achieve your minimalism goals.
Who is it for?
People who want to create a minimal living environment.
2 things we liked!
- Focus on the educational aspects, with awareness and personal growth as priorities.
- The personalised journey while focusing on the home environment.
We wish…
the service followed the Freemium model instead of the 14-days trial one. As even with limited functionalities, over time it would be possible to make positive change in people, adding to the brand awareness.
Service Design Inspiration.
Clutterfree stresses the possibility of increasing the effect of a service if personalisation is confined to a very specific goal, making a unique experience for the users while keeping results consistent.
The minimalists
A duo creating a resource ecosystem around minimalism.
What problem are they solving?
The duo who jumped out of corporate life in search of a more meaningful lifestyle has been exploring and practising minimalism for a long time now. They have created an ecosystem of resources by their podcasts, blogs, videos, films, books and seminars; becoming a go to space for many to begin their minimalism journey.
Who is it for?
For anyone who wants to explore minimalism in any format.
2 things we liked!
- The association of the phenomenon (minimalism) with the duo creating strong brand
- Availability of resources in diverse media
We wish…
The materials published by Minimalists were long lasting for all the phases as they feel good for starters & very repetitive otherwise.
Service Design Inspiration.
Personal stories hold power, especially when your experience and actions talk more about the effect. The stories of Joshua and Ryan have been inspiring for many. Allowing them to feed free resources consistently just with the supports like their Patreons.
Our big takeaway
Learning something and talking about it can be a great resource. Once you are good at it, you become a pro on the topic, and if you happen to be one of the first ones to share this journey on any platform, you become the credible source for the domain. We have seen many personal brands influencing various spaces following such a narrative.
Personal brands create very strong followings and can generate over time services and offers that go beyond the single person’s effort. By using their own story and by documenting their journey, people can inspire others to create change in their habits and outlook on life.
Minimalism has become a trend, people getting interested in it created an opportunity for different perspectives on the topic to emerge. This is not a classic case of problem solving, but people adapting to the new needs of the changing ecosystems.
About Authors
Sebastiano Gobbo
Service Designer, problem solver and work-shopper, enthusiastic about reading and travelling.
Follow him: Linkedin, Personal Website, Instagram.
Suyog Sunil Risbud aka The fun Indian guy
A creative entrepreneur. Service designer, musician, filmmaker, podcaster & Founder
Follow him: Linkedin, Youtube, Instagram, Spotify, Personal Website
