Hi Reader 👋,

This week's newsletter is a bit different than previous ones. I'm starting a series of "mini" case studies examining startup products through a strategic design lens. Each study is completed within a 16-hour constraint - covering strategic analysis, research, and high-fidelity design mockups. Through these studies, I hope to demonstrate bridging user needs with business objectives to deliver actionable insights for early-stage products.

This week's case study explores Lunchclub, a once-promising networking platform that reached a $100M valuation before facing significant growth challenges. Through strategic analysis, I uncover how specific design decisions could either revitalize the platform or guide it toward a strategic exit. Here's the key insight: Sometimes the best zero-to-one move is optimizing what already exists.

In this analysis, I evaluated Lunchclub's platform through hands-on user journey testing and competitive analysis. The findings revealed fundamental issues in user control, technical stability, and professional credibility. The solution framework prioritizes user empowerment through features like user-driven matching and flexible meeting management, supported by a modern UI overhaul. By connecting these design improvements to clear business metrics, the study presents a data-driven path toward either sustainable growth or strategic exit.

To read the full case study, select the button below.

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Design Library

curated resources for continuous learning

As a designer navigating a shifting political and social landscape, I believe it's essential to stay informed and critically engaged. While these books are rooted in graphic design, their themes of power, identity, and systemic impact extend far beyond the creative field, offering valuable insights into the broader cultural and political environment. These are the next books I will be reading:

​The Politics of Design: A (Not So) Global Design Manual for Visual Communication​
This book challenges designers to consider the cultural, social, and political implications of their work, highlighting how design choices influence perceptions across diverse global contexts.

​The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Expression & Reflection
A comprehensive collection of essays, interviews, and projects that amplifies the voices and experiences of Black designers, offering insights into identity, creativity, and systemic challenges within the design industry.

​Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers​
​This guide reimagines the field of graphic design through a lens of inclusion, presenting an empowering and intersectional perspective with practical advice and inspiration for designers of all identities.

​CAPS LOCK: How Capitalism Took Hold of Graphic Design, and How to Escape from It​
This critical examination explores the intersection of capitalism and graphic design, questioning its impact on the industry and offering thought-provoking strategies for creating more ethical and independent practices.

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Stay safe, think critically, and see you next week.
Kristi

fwd design co

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