If facts don’t change minds, what does?
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🚫 Brands should avoid this popular term. It’s turning off customers
Think most people are bought into AI? Think again. Recent research for our own clients has revealed similar outcomes as this study: There's a sharp divide between AI enthusiasts and skeptics. While regular users see the value of AI, a larger group hesitates due to fear and privacy concerns.
Bridging this trust gap is key – brands need to be transparent, highlight real benefits, and protect user data if they want to win over the hesitant majority.
– Conor Gallagher , Lead Insights Analyst at Designit
🧠 Facts don’t change minds – and there’s data to prove it
Facts don't change minds – because they can't. Contrary to what we might expect, our brains don't 'update' and adjust our beliefs according to new information. The reality is much messier.
Our beliefs are not isolated nodes, rather they exist in connected webs of values and experiences. To change someone's mind is to first acknowledge that facts, values, and life experiences are assembled within our personal ecosystems.
While this might sound daunting, it shouldn't put you off having tough conversations backed up by credible and persuasive data. Just know that the 'mind change' part happens when you understand and interact with people's belief systems and effectively convey how your data plays out across these different landscapes for your counterpart, rather than expecting to hit a 'checkmate' moment with one piece of information.
– Pardis Shafafi , Global Responsible Business Lead at Designit
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👀 Five key signs that Reddit is getting ready to launch its own search ads business
As users turn increasingly to Reddit for advice and information, the platform's move into search ads feels inevitable – and it could be a real game-changer. With Google dominating 92% of the search market, there's plenty of opportunity for Reddit to carve out its own niche.
By leveraging its unique, community-driven content and advanced contextual keyword targeting, Reddit has the potential to shake up the search ads landscape in a big way.
– Jacquie Bailey , Director of Analytics at Designit
🏃 ‘Muffin mania’: Hundreds line up to try the viral Olympic Village chocolate muffins in New York City
The surprise star of the Paris Olympics is not an Olympian at all – it's a chocolate muffin, thanks to Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen, affectionately dubbed 'the muffin man.' After his TikTok videos showcasing his love for the muffins went viral, a savvy producer launched a pop-up in New York to capitalise on its popularity. New Yorkers have been flocking to the shop to taste the Olympic Village’s famous treat, with sales reportedly reaching up to 4,000 muffins per day.
It’s the viral sensation of the summer, but there’s a broader narrative here. This year, TikTok offered us a fresh, unfiltered view of the Olympics, driven by Gen Z’s appetite for authentic, bite-sized content. It feels like a step change in how global moments are covered, with TikTok leading the way in shaping the narrative around big events. As the platform continues to influence trends, it's clear that viral hits like these muffins are just the beginning of how we engage with and experience world events.
– Zoe Bishop, Chief Marketing Officer at Designit
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In the meantime, check out some of our top stories: Design the future: An interview with Anita Gorgin, Global Marketing Strategy Manager at Lufthansa Group || What retailers can learn from Walmart's investment in employee experience || A future shaped by accessibility-first design || Design the future: An interview with Anna Bracht, Brand Strategist at Lufthansa Group || The hidden mindset shaping Gen Z’s approach to work – and how employers can adapt || The foundations of accessible design || Inclusive vs. accessible design and why you should know the difference
Anthropologist | Researcher | Design & Ethics
2moWith thanks to Trisevgeni Papakonstantinou and The Alan Turing Institute for the enlightening and important research featured in this edition of (re)frame.