We are doers.
Well-versed design and research experts with skills amassed from a wide range of industries, we are here to help your team find solutions that supercharge their passion for work while serving their customers. We do this through pragmatic collaboration and a host of methods we’ve applied to hundreds of projects for startups, agencies, and multinational corporations.
Why we do this
We care. Yes, we actually care.
We believe success comes from a passionate team focused on the right ideas. We love getting to know new people and new spaces, and want everyone to leave an engagement with us excited and energized.
People, planet, and good design come first.
This is our mission, and we are obsessed with it. It applies to solving all complex problems. Be those product, customer, or employee-focused problems, we are always eager to learn about your area of interest and do the best we can to solve it sustainably and humanely. We enjoy garnering a deep understanding of the “why”, and helping your group realize new potential so you can practically execute the best next steps.
Richard Jacques
With a background studying human behavior, Richard specializes in creating product experiences that people want, need, and love. With 20 years of experience at Microsoft, he led the design research team for Generative AI experiences, including Bing Chat. Drawing from roles in Engineering and Marketing, Richard brings a cross-functional, collaborative approach to delivering results that benefit both the business and the customer.
Thomas Duester
Thomas is a trained craftsman and design leader with a passion for product innovation, industrial design, and customer experience. Over the past two decades, he’s led design and innovation efforts worldwide for top brands like Philips, Huawei, and Amazon.
In 2018, he founded ‘formfuture’ to offer strategic design services and hands-on design support, empowering companies and their design teams to deliver compelling and successful user experiences.
Jason Kopec
Jason is a Design leader who has been building products in a variety of industries for over 20 years. He most recently grew and led the Product Design discipline at Fivetran, and has previously led product and research teams as well as many zero-to-one initiatives for companies like Redfin, Convoy, and Amazon. He has built brands and been a founding member of multiple agencies focused on brand, marketing, and product design
Claudia Schaefer
Claudia is a seasoned web administrator with over a decade of experience in web design, UX, and office management. Passionate about crafting seamless digital experiences, she blends design expertise with technical precision to ensure websites function beautifully. An integral part of formfuture since its early days, Claudia is known for her organizational skills and solution-oriented mindset, keeping everything behind the scenes running smoothly.
Why our process is different
We’ve been ICs and managers, and can bring a balanced approach of those skills. Our team enjoys getting our hands dirty and diving head-first into the work, but we of course can also aid in directing or managing a successful project.
We provide an end-to-end approach to customer experience that bundles a unique blend of research skills, digital and physical product creation, and the building of inclusive team culture. This can manifest in a few different ways, but how we engage with your group is part of the value we bring.
Our engagement process has four phases
1. Assessment
We begin by identifying the approach that best aligns with your needs. This can be a quick assessment or an in-depth exploration of your hypothesis, research, and strategy through multiple conversations with team members. From there, we collaborate with your group to develop and review an actionable plan.
2. Engagement & Facilitation
With the initial plan in place, we ensure all key stakeholders have contributed and are actively engaged in the chosen approach. This may include a session to align objectives, refine priorities, and solidify concepts.
3. Delivery
Regardless of the approach, we will produce artifacts and reports that clearly visualize and summarize recent outcomes. These deliverables, along with the exercises themselves, are the first part of a package designed to provide direction and lasting impact for your team and project.
4. Execution & Next Steps
From this point, we can collaborate with your team in various capacities — including developing operational and execution plans, advancing product concept creation, or supporting the transition from design to a market-ready, feasible product.