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A Semiotic Flash Analysis of a Australian Premium Private Retailer’s Label

For an Australian Retailer Cosight performed a short semiotic analysis. We focused on their premium private label.

We assessed the retailers premium-label-expressions and competition and handed some pointers to ensure the premium label can stay future fit, because premium and luxury codes are shifting and new forms are emerging.

The client now has a clear understanding of the quality of it’s premium label compared to competition. They have an action plan for further development and some best practices. The document is a presentation to create buy-in for strategic semiotics in the marketing organization.

 

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An Extensive Study on the Future Context of Automobiles

For a French Car-manufacturer we delivered and carried-out a co-creative process to study the future ecology of cars.
We designed a 3-tier process: First the knowledge and wisdom of the company was unlocked to the fullest extent possible. Secondly we did a study by interviewing global expert & consumer IDI’s, desk-research and a quantitative analysis. With these inputs we painted a picture of the future mobility context. We studied the impact and implications of topics like: urbanization, soci0-demographic shifts, legislation & regulation, consumer trends, disruptive tech and other. Finally we prioritized all of these topics and produced a report, a presentation and a video to make the very rich content insightful for different targets.

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Trend workshop in Switzerland for Pharma R&D

For a global FMCG in Personal Care we designed a workshop for their pharma R&D-unit. We discussed and presented the how and why think about the future. We introduced the scientists with the most relevant trends on ecology, nature and sustainability, tech, health, humanity & meaning, convenience. An interactive workshop were facts & figures were alternated with inspiring examples & video’s and group work. For attendees it was a start of a more customer centric way of working. “One of the best pressure cooker on trends that I ever had”

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Trend presentation for European beverage company

For a large European beverage company we presented the most relevant global trends and developments as part of their yearly management meeting in Brussels. Topics like health, digital, nature, convenience, individuality where presented and discussed. A highly appreciated presentation.

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A focus study and workshop on the Ethics-trend

For a Japanese Personal Care FMCG we distilled the findings on Ethics from our last Cutting Edgers Trend Report. We enriched and analyzed these insights into a report on the present and future of Ethics and it’s growing importance in daily life of global Early Adaptors and societies.

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A two-day immersion with future thinkers and do-ers

For a global automotive player we organized and facilitated a a two day immersion with various global thinkers and do-ers. On different locations in Amsterdam we connected our Cutting Edge Report on live “talking heads” that are living the future already: A real life Cutting Edgers Report. After the dialogues, discussions and debates we finalized with the client group to disseminate the implications and learning for the brand(s) and the company that we captured in a key-learning report.

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Kick-Off for international bank

For an international bank we presented an anthology of relevant global trends that our cutting edgers show as a way of coping this VUCA-world. It was a kick-off of a transformation program with the aim of changing daily practices and create a growth mindset.

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A one-day future deep-dive for young digital leaders

For a start-up company we facilitated a one-day intensive on the most relevant future trends. We shared and discussed topics with a group of 8 enthusiast participants that had this intensive as a part of a larger leadership program.

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A Semio-historic study into the DNA of a Homecare brand

For an international homecare brand we researched the semiotic development of the logo, packaging and labelling. From the constancies we found we designed a DNA based on the brand expressions (packaging, print and TVC’s) of the last 50 years. Resulting in a clear directional tool for brand management and development. The result included also recommendations for the brand evolution.

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A One Day Intensive about history and future of the Cutting Edges Detector 2018

A One Day Workshop for a Global Automotive Player

For a Global Automotive Player we designed a Cutting Edges Detector Workshop transferring our knowledge about “where the trend are coming from and when they emerged”.  The aim is to understand the lines and movements from the past till now to better talk about the possible futures. 15 participants | Germany

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Design and Facilitating Congress for Social Welfare Foundation

Starting a collective dialogue about the future

Co-Designing and facilitating this yearly congress about the future of the foundation and the welfare work. Aim was to co-create with all workers on the themes and priorities supported by a keynote about trends in collaboration with No Rocket Science  | 90 participants | The Netherlands.

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A One Day Intensive on Hedonism

A One Day Intensive on Meaning for a Global Personal Care Brand

hedonismA one day intensive to clarify and transfer Cosights findings from the Cutting Edges Trend Detector 2018 for 3 brands.

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Semiotic Market Exploration for Personal Care brand

A extensive study based on four different input sources

For a Personal Care Brand we conducted a in-depth study based on a semiotic flash analysis of the brand, a detailed semiotic market exploration, Expert IDI’s and a Meta-analysis of 15 brand studies. Resulting in a foundation for a brand book incorporated with first design direction of logo, packaging and labeling | 3 months.

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Presentation on Why and What to Think of the Future

A trendtalk as part of an extensive Digital Impact Training

A 2 hour trend-session about why and what to think about the future. The “outside-in”  element of an 8 day Digital Impact Training for an international trading and service organization with a focus on mobility. 25 participants | The Netherlands

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A One Day Intensive on Meaning

A One Day Intensive focused on the subject Meaning for a Global Personal Care Company

meaningBroadening the dialogue from sustainability to meaning as a broader discourse that has to be taken into account for brands and companies. In a one day intensive we presented the elements of meaningful mankind like: sustainability, humanness, ethics, spirituality and relation to nature. After presentation the brands started to discuss and formulate the implications for their consumers and their brands. Finally the solutions that different personal and home care brands could deliver where investigated. 5 brands | 20 participants | Switzerland

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Cutting Edgers Detector One Day Intensive

A one day workshop for a Global Personal Care Company

trendmap A one day introduction workshop of the fresh Cutting Edges Detector 2018 for a multi-brand global company in personal care. This workshop is part of the package an subscription to the CED program.  50 participants | Switserland

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Two day talent program for a Big Four Company

MC for an Intensive Talent Program about the Future

Designing, Facilitating and Presenting the two day European Talent Program focused on the future of yourself and your company for one of the Big Four Company’s. 80 participants | The Netherlands

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Creative brainstorm participant in several workshops

Supporting the Marketing & Sales Team of a large European Energy Company

Supporting the Marketing & Sales team of a large European Energy Company for a few days to enrich and focus their thinking about new distribution channels.

The Netherlands

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Cutting Edgers Detector 2018 Workshop for Japanese Personal Care Company

A one day intensive for knowledge transfer of the fully freshly published Cutting Edges Detector.

A one day workshop for the European and Japanese Team to transfer our knowledge of the fresh findings of the Cutting Edges Detector 2018. Company in Personal Care and Hair Care. 12 participants. Germany.

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Keynote Speaker on Annual HR Congres

An engaging keynote speech of the future of work

30 minute keynote with a Q&A about the future of work. Key elements:

1. Need for Awareness of Identity (Who am I and what do I need to learn to create my next career)

2. Need for an Increased Collaboration Capacity (hybrid teams will work temporarily on disposable knowledge projects)

3. Need for comprehension of your company’s ecology (Sense, Express, Reflect & Determine the position of your company and make sense of the contextual changes of your company.  “We are affected by our environment for at least 50%”)

The Netherlands | 120 participants

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Study on Distribution Channels for Energy Company

Short exploration on global current and future distribution channels

Short exploration on the possible distribution channels of sales for Energy Company. The Netherlands.

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Kick-Off presentation about the future of education

One-hour kick-off presentation for the yearly congress for a large Dutch educational consultancy. 80 participants. Netherlands.

Keywords: need for limits | comprehend | mastery of technology | trust & truth | local & small-scale | refl-action | collective | meaning (who am I as a human)

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Two day innovation workshop for Oral Care Brand

Facilitating & Designing a two-day workshop for Oral Care brand.

Filling the innovation pipeline and increase engagement with whole global team and stakeholders. 25 Participants. Switserland.

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Semiotic Study for a Global Home Care Brand

A semio-sociological expertise to re-define brand DNA and equity

The aim was to ensure the key brand essentials while developing them towards today’s expressions and targets (Business). To create an expression of the brand equity in sync with time and targets (Market). Define paths of development being in sync with today’s time through the analysis of the name, the history of packaging & advertisement of the brand (Research). 2 months | Switzerland & France

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Lectures on Future Thinking for an Art Academy

A Series of Lectures on Future Thinking to increase awareness

For the Lifestyle Transformation Design-Unit of an Art Academy we designed a series of lectures for two classes to increase and experience the importance of thinking about future and current patterns and movements in society.

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Organizational Development of a Service & Expertise Firm

A development project for a company based on the Cutting Edges Detector.

A design and facilitation of a organisational development program with management and employees. Workshops and interviews with Management, A QUINN-Assessment and a day with all employees to think and talk about the future of the organization | The Netherlands

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Brand Positioning Study for a Global Outdoor Gear Brand

Second Co-Creation Workshop with the team

A one day workshop to load the Brand values and define the guard rails as a starting point for global group work | 12 participants | Germany & USA.

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Semiotic Study for a Global Oral Care Brand

A semiotic study to further maximize impact from communication

Aim: Assess the meaning and role of the communication assets in the Brands range – with a focus on two levels of meaning. 6 weeks | Switzerland

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Workshop for a Global Software Company

For a marketing team of a Global Software Company we organized a one day workshop to talk, experience and learn about collaboration and futures. 15 participants | The Netherlands
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Interview in German “Handelsblatt”

An interview on societal shifts and patterns

The German Handelsblatt is the most important German-speaking business and financial newspaper. For a series of articles they interviewed the founder of Cosight: Prof. Dr. Christine de Panafieu. The interview is on societal change and patterns. And can be read by clicking here.

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Foresight and insights of Health Care Providers for German Pharma Company

Gain first global qualitative insights around the Health Care Providers' journey into different brands

For a global Multi-Vitamin brand we conducted a study on the optimization of their customer / reseller journey. We combined a series of In-depth Interviews (IDI) with a mystery shopping approach to determine the role and attractors of the brand and Multi-vitamins for Health Care providers.

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Kick-off of brand positioning study for a Global Outdoor Gear Brand

Starting workshop for a Global Brand Positioning Research Project

Kick-Off of a research project. The aim: To create a unique future brand positioning that will be used as foundation to shape the growth strategy and the corresponding innovation portfolio. 2 months | Germany & USA

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Co-creation Workshops for a Japanese Hair Care and Cosmetics brand

A One Day Collaboration in Co-Creation Workshop

Attending and supporting the Japanese & European Team with the Socio-Cultural CED knowledge to create Beauty Trends 2017. 2 separate days | Germany.

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A Semiotic Study for a Global Home Care Brand

Reach a deep understanding of the brand's DNA and brand ownables, that is to say distinctive icons, through the analysis of its name, its history of packaging & advertisement.

A study to strengthen and evolve the equity towards a unique positioning as necessity in order to drive growth given the fact of very little means to drive presence.

Gain a better understanding of the brand equity by developing a clear brand asset, based on the historically used codes on the one hand and emerging socio-cultural trends on the other hand.

The unique brand asset is to be developed by the use of a coherent, appealing and iconographic language, to be spread throughout all touchpoints in order to get physical and mental visibility & impact.

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Innovation Workshop for Japanese Haircare and Cosmetics Company

A One Day Collaboration in Innovation Workshop

Attending and supporting the Japanese & European Team with the Socio-Cultural CED knowledge to create Innovation Platforms. 1 day | Germany.

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Workshop for Luxury Yacht Company

A One Day Workshop on Collaboration and Futures for a Luxury Yacht Company

For a Dutch Luxury Yacht Company we organized a day workshop for a team of the latest and biggest luxury yacht the company ever build. The workshop was to talk, experience and learn about collaboration and futures. 15 participants | The Netherlands

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Trend Talk for the Dutch Water Board

A Two Hour Session about the Large Global Movements

For a regional Water Board of Dutch Government we held a 2 hour presentation to engage people into the global socio-cultural movements (CED). The aim was a kick-off to create a necessity for change and adaptation in the organization. 35 participants | The Netherlands

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Foresight and insights of Senior Consumers for German Pharma Company

A Study on Senior Consumers of Multi-Vitamins

The aim was to assess two different creative concepts across 3 touch points (digital, video, TVC) and to assess the consistency of the concepts with the brand and other elements. 1 month | France & Chili

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A portfolio optimization process for a global personal care brand

An indepth study for a refreshed, distinct and optimized portfolio

For a personal care brand we wrote a report on the optimization of their brand portfolio. We combined our research, our former semio-socio-cultural study and our CED-trends to give an answers to the questions what could and should be the most promising range architecture for this brand. The insights were shared and used as a foundation for an active workshop that took the results a step further.

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Presentation for Consultancy firm

A 2 hour interactive presentation for a large consultancy firm on the "what, how and why of thinking about future contexts"

In this short introduction we explained what the need of future based strategies is.
With a lot of examples and some exercises the attendees became aware that they should and could make a difference to their clients by thinking about the different futures.The short intervention was highly appreciated and gave food for thought.

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100 years of expressions of a personal care brand

A semio-socio-cultural study

For an old brand with a 100 year long heritage we worked for one summer on the deciphering of the brand expressions of this brand and it’s product ranges. This very large and complex study gave insight into the core and soul of the brand and the translation of these codes into contemporary designs of packaging, logo’s, advertising, range extensions. It resulted in a frame of reference for the current and future brand.

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Facilitating an NGO on their future reason of existence

A 1 day support of a teamdialogue

For this Dutch NGO we facilitated (in close association with Dekker & Van Velzen) a dialogue about the future of the NGO and builded on the team dynamics at the same time.

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The History & Future of Sustainability

A study into the rise and evolution of sustainablity in the western world

For a Japanese client we delivered a global report on the rise and evolution of sustainablity in the Western world. Cosight interviewed different experts in the USA, China and Europe and combined this knowledge with her own years of experience in this field. The result was a strategic presentation for the Japanese board of the past, present and future of sustainability and the implications for the business and company concerned.

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Supporting a relaunch of a seasoned personal care brand

A multi-national project aiming to modernize the brand with respect of its heritage

For a European personal care brand we developed a 5-step holistic and collaborative proces. We started with a co-creational kick-off meeting with the client and proceeded with consumer interviews to identify the levers and hurdles to identify the key mechanisms to regain leadership. We co-created a semio-sociological workshop with the brand team to synthesize most of the available brand knowledge of the client. This was followed by semio-socio cultural consumer groups in three countries. The whole process resulted in an understanding of the content, role and position of the future Brand-platform in line with socio-cultural change. A future-fit brand with respect for it’s long heritage, A translation of a strong and heritage brand into a modern and distinctive brand.

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2 days workshop on the future of beauty

A workshop for a Japanese company

In June Cosight welcomed 10 Japanese customers on their headquarters in Amsterdam for a 2 day workshop on the future of Beauty. Every day the workshop was located at a different and inspiring location to support the thinking and feeling about the implications of the Cutting Edges Detector for the brands and products of the company.

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2nd edition of Key Talent Program for an international Consultancy Firm

A 2 day program in Belgium for a Big Four firm

Cosight delivered knowledge on future trends and experiences by designing a program in collaboration with Dekker & Van Velzen for one of the Big Four.
The aim of this highly rated program was to facilitate interaction amongst key talents and encourage them to conceive relevant developments and implications for their company as well as themselves.

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A company CED-workshop

A workshop of our Cutting Edges Detector for 60 Marketeers and Customer Market Intelligence.

For a client that bought our CED(tm) we designed and delivered a compelling and inspirational workshop in “how-to-work-with-socio-cultural-trends”. The crowded workshop was an inspiring, learnful and fun introduction into Cosight’s trend-work. Attendees rated the presentation high and the exercises afterwards unleashed an innovational energy and a lot of new ideas for the brands of the company.

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PoS analysis France

A study into the distributors considerations and perception of an OTC brand

For a pharmaceutical company we did a field investigation on the perception of a certain Over The Counter (OTC) brand that was market leader for a long time.
As always we combined our knowledge of future consumer needs into the results.

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Customer Journey OTC South America

A synthesis of 15 consumer interviews

For a German client out of the Pharma-industry we did a short research in Chili. We interviewed 15 consumers among other things on their customer journey. The synthesis of the interviews gave insights on the market postioning and the reasons for leaving the brand. We delivered a report with diverse possibilities on maintaining and gaining market share.

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New Semio Explorer for FMCG company

Decoding a brand

For a satisfied customer we delivered Semio Explorer to decode another brand range. The report was presented in Europe and a second time through a teleconferencing with the HQ in the USA.
The client is convinced of the value of an intensive semiotic brandscan to maintain direction and consistency across all brand expressions. Cosight uses Semiotics – the science of signs – to access the brand core and to reveal the deep, hidden meaning of a brand’s communication, logo or packaging by analyzing all verbal, visual and sensorial codes of the brand.

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FLASH-report on Cutting Edgers

A flash report published in cooperation with Motivaction

Having studied and monitored socio-cultural change since 2000 within the framework of the Cutting Edges Detector-Program (CED), Cosight has delivered yet another edition of this extensive program on socio-cultural shifts and developments. In close cooperation with Motivaction Cosight published a FLASH-report on these Cutting Edges. It aims to give a glimpse of these forward-looking and change-making collectives as elaborated in the CED 2015.
Download .pdf here

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Future Dialogue with Senior Executive

A coaching serie mirrored by Cutting Edgers Trends

Future Dialogue is a serie of one-to-one coaching sessions based on the Cutting Edge Detector(tm). This impactful and solid conversation is centered on today and tomorrows world. Insights into the changing world acts as a catalyst to grasp the urgency for professional and personal change and development. With the insights of the CED(tm) the hope and fears of the coachee are examined to ascertain a realistic 2.0 version. Cosight works together with the participant to define and achieve realistic, ambitious and future-fit goals.

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Management Team Coaching

Accompanying a management team to redefine the vision and goals of the company

After a bounced merger, the management team needed guidance on redefining their vision and mission. Part of the project was to regain team spirit and trust. From this solid basis we build a shared vison for the company based upon Cosights’ knowledge about societal change.

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Future Mapping-project on mobility

An integral investigation on the future of mobility in a global context

A 6 month all encompassing investigation matching data, expert interviews, focus groups and CED-trends together with a series of interactive clients workshops. This is what Cosight calls Future mapping. It is used as a path for Foresight building in a VUCA-world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) being more agile compared to scenario-building. All of data, insights, visuals and verbatims are condensed into a series of intelligible mega-concepts on mobility. This type of investigation is the 3rd topic we carried out for this automotive client.

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Ethnographic Immersion in China

A customer ethnography in China for automotive company

An indepth immersion into the daily life of chinese consumers with focus on mobility and brand perception. The interviews were held in and around the participants home. The client was in need of sensing and understanding the shifts in Chinese society by participating to the home interviews. The report, the monography’s as well as the video are a rich source of to enable the team in their innovation program.

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Cosight New Headquarter Amsterdam

Cosight settles its headquarter in one of Europe's leading innovation hub's

After 15 years in Paris we have decided to relocate our HQ to Amsterdam, in a dynamic and energizing hub where innovation and the future come together.
We share our office with the like-minded M2 company experts in innovation and building brands. They share our philosophy of turning future visions into concrete ideas, making this move a logical step for Cosight. If you’re ever in the neighbourhood, stop by for a cup of coffee and good conversation @ B. Amsterdam, Johan Huizingalaan 763, Amsterdam.

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Future Leadership in a VUCA-world

A 2 day workshop in Abu Dhabi for middle managers

Requested by an international client, Cosight collaborated with “Awareness in Business” to design and execute a 2 day seminar on personal leadership and effectiveness in a VUCA-world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous).

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Key Talent Program

A 2 day program for a Big Four company in Belgium

Cosight delivered knowledge on future trends and experiences by designing a program in collaboration with Dekker & Van Velzen for one of the Big Four.
The aim of this highly rated program was to facilitate interaction amongst key talents and encourage them to conceive relevant developments and implications for their company as well as themselves.

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Future Fit Course

An appropriation course on the CED-program for a Japanese personal care company

The company works since years with Cosight’s Cutting Edges Detector(TM)-program to be aware of societal changes at an early stage. The course contains a presentation on indepth insight on selected cutting edge trends and collaborative work on the relevance and implications for the clients’ personal care business. Thus making the company frequently future fit and empowered to act in sync with societal change.

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Semio Explorer for FMCG company

An indepth semiological scan into all expressions of a brand

Cosight delivered a semiotic expert diagnosis for a FMCG brand by analyzing all its historical and current brand expressions (packaging, commercials, advertising). The aim is to identify the explicit messages and to unveil the implicit meaning. The results were synchronized with future fields based on Cosights´ Cutting Edges Detector CED(tm). Thus enabling the client to make clearer choices on brand essentials and futures paths based on the semiotic diagnosis and recommendations. Semio Explorer is a guiding tool for brand strategy and development.

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Karsten van der Donk becomes partner

A Dutch partner for Paris based Cosight

Having played an integral role at Cosight since 2009, Karsten van der Donk (1970) becomes fulltime partner. Founder Christine de Panafieu: “I am happy that we can proceed this succesful and complementary collaboration on a next level and incorporating the leadership knowledge into the product offer for our clients”.
Karsten´s background as an Art Historian, his thorough knowledge on group dynamics and his experience in various start-ups are a perfect fit for Cosight’s portfolio. Additionally, he speaks fluently English, German and of course Dutch.