A Digital Strategy Podcast

Takeaways Associations have unique digital needs due to their member-driven nature. Building in public can lead to valuable feedback. Monolithic systems are tightly coupled and may limit flexibility. Modular systems allow for more customization and scalability. Portals are essential for member engagement and retention. Requirements gathering is crucial for effective technology solutions. Mapping o...

Takeaways Buyers often mistrust vendors due to past negative experiences. A comprehensive brief is essential for effective agency selection. Understanding your needs is crucial before searching for an agency. Evaluating an agency's process can de-risk your investment. Outdated portfolios can indicate a lack of current expertise. Cultural fit is important for a successful partnership. Asking for re...

Takeaways The more plugins you use, the higher the cybersecurity risk. WordPress remains a dominant CMS but has its challenges. Webflow is emerging as a leading web experience platform. Open source CMS can lead to maintenance overhead. Site builders are suitable for small businesses but may not scale well. Headless CMS is ideal for complex, multi-platform content delivery. Enterprise CMS offers go...

Takeaways Explore different types of CMS: traditional, headless, and enterprise. Understand the pros and cons of each CMS type. Learn what to look for and avoid in a CMS. Discover the scalability of different CMS platforms. Gain insights into CMS suitability for various business needs. Symon Oliver shares his expertise on CMS. Marcello Gortana discusses CMS categories. The importance of choosing t...

Takeaways Clients often feel restricted by rigid website layouts. Content management can become a frustrating experience. A lack of flexibility in design can lead to client disengagement. Mental barriers can prevent clients from updating their sites. User experience is heavily influenced by website design. Clients may lock themselves into systems that don't meet their needs. The process of uploadi...

Takeaways Complexity arises from various factors including technology, people, and governance. The more people involved in a project, the more complex it can become due to internal politics. Discovery is crucial for understanding project scope and requirements. Budget and time constraints are key considerations in project feasibility. Clarity in project goals and deliverables is essential for succ...

Takeaways Bad support is a primary reason for vendor switching. Good support should be proactive and value-driven. Traditional support models often prioritize agency profit over client needs. A shift in mindset is needed from support to partnership. Value-driven retainers focus on measurable improvements, not just maintenance. Knowledge transfer is essential for client self-sufficiency. Red flags...

Takeaways User experience (UX) design is often misunderstood and conflated with web design. Web design focuses on aesthetics and marketing, while UX design emphasizes functionality and user engagement. The evolution of design roles has led to a complex landscape where UX, UI, and web design intersect. Websites should be treated as products to ensure long-term engagement and optimization. Continuou...

Takeaways Start with problems, not solutions. Define the objectives and outcomes clearly. Setting a realistic budget early is crucial. Involve decision makers early in the process. A strong brief is the cheapest way to de-risk a project. Vague features can lead to project failure. Understand your commitment during project phases. Budget transparency helps everyone self-qualify. Frame the problems,...

Takeaways Nvidia's deal with OpenAI signifies a major investment in AI technology. The race to AGI is leading companies to make risky bets without guaranteed returns. Different thinkers in AI include pioneers, pragmatists, and purists, each with unique perspectives. The design community is grappling with the implications of AI on their work. The 'Seven Deadly AI Sins' highlight critical issues in...

Topics & Timestamps: (00:00) Post-vacation chaos & travel with kids (01:32) Toronto's ultra-walking trend and "suffer-fest" culture (04:02) Why 95% of enterprise AI projects fail (and why that stat is flawed) (05:02) OpenAI's Forward Deployed Engineer: new name, old consulting playbook (10:42) How design thinking lost its strategic seat — from systems to pixel pushing (14:10) Grassroots vs. enterp...

Topics & Timestamps: (00:00) Back from Italy: airports, toddlers, and the upside down world (02:27) Travel with kids vs solo travel: why lounges aren’t built for families (04:54) AI fatigue? Posting, conferences, and marketing workflows (07:30) CMA events, data science, and educating on automation/AI (09:35) RGD stat: AI may cut 30% of agency margins (and why positioning matters) (13:41) When AI b...

Topics & Timestamps: (00:00) Intro music review - Suno AI generated tennis yacht rock (01:10) AI music revolution: The million-dollar AI musician deal and why music is dead (03:23) Google Zero: Financial Times on the race to zero organic traffic (06:51) Ethereum's 2026 UX roadmap: 19 minutes → 15 seconds transaction time (09:34) MIT Study: 95% failure rate for enterprise AI (it's not what you thin...

In this episode, Symon and Marcello dive into the messy intersections of AI, algorithms, and work culture: The rise (and fatigue) of formulaic LinkedIn posts How AI is shaping content, and why quality often gets buried under quantity AWS' take on why replacing junior devs with AI is "the dumbest idea" Anxiety around AI detectors, writing styles, and online discourse Layoffs, risk, and the snake-oi...

Free Accessibility Audit Here!! https://www.designtennis.com/microsites/is-your-website-truly-accessible-find-out-now Don’t let accessibility issues put your business at risk. Discover how marketers can audit their websites, identify compliance gaps, and apply actionable fixes to meet AODA and ADA requirements. Learn more at: https://www.designtennis.com/microsites/is-your-website-truly-accessible...

What exactly is design?  Design is a broad and multi-faceted field that spans various industries and disciplines. From graphic design to industrial design, from fashion design to web design, the concept of design is ever-present in our daily lives. But what exactly is design, and how does it impact our world?  Co-founders Symon and Marcello of Tennis Inc, a user experience design firm, explore wha...

We are back after a long hiatus with a new format discussing the role of digital and design in society, entrepreneurship, and businesses. In this episode, we dive deep into Brand Economics with Mark Radha a self-proclaimed "finance geek" and brand strategist who combines behavioral science and econometrics to formulate a data-backed strategy called Brand Economics which Mark has leveraged with tie...

This week we wrap up our series with Nick Hobson, Ph. D. Chief Behavioral Scientist at The Behaviorist. In this episode, we talk with Nick about the origin of behavioural insights teams in government; and how the pandemic has pushed behavioural science back into the “lab of real-life.” This is our final episode in the series, and we are going to begin exploring some new themes moving forward. It h...

In this episode, we speak with Emma Quin, Executive Director of The Textile Museum of Canada about re-opening and how organizations like Museums will have to evolve and adapt as they reopen in waves. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

We have 3 episodes left in our survive and thrive series before we end the series and archive it as a moment in time that we all experienced together. In this episode, we speak with Shane Saunderson co-founder of AI startup Babbly and currently researching human-robotic interactions during his PhD. We had a super interesting conversation about the evolution of robotics spurred by what we are curre...

In our most recent episode we speak with Tatiana Soldatova, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Syllable, an architecture and interior design company. We talked about how the interior design industry has been affected and how physical distancing may change how we think about designing workspaces. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Insta...

Thrilled to have spoken with Robert Bolton from the foresight studio, From Later. Our meandering conversation explores hybrid media events, a surprising surge for bike shops, and the future of commercial spaces. This week is a big mental download. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

This week we interviewed Martin Williams, Co-founder of a food innovation company called Recipe For Tmrw. We explore how at times like these, simply having a great product is not enough if your operational strategies are weak, and customers can’t access or engage. We also talk about the future of supply chains, and the pitfalls of Just in Time (JIT) manufacturing during a global pandemic. Links Yo...

This week we interviewed Mark Garner, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director at Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA). Great conversation about how social distancing is reshaping the way we think about conventional retail and how organizations like BIA's are going to need to evolve and support businesses of the future. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sur...

This week we interviewed Steve Pons, Managing Director and Jen Roney, Senior Manager Brand and Creative Strategy at Staples Promotional Products. We touched on consumer behaviour, demand vacuums, and the shifting demand of skills required to manage remote teams. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter