We put our money where our mouth is 🤩
We don’t just preach, we practice. Over months of research, when we discovered that customer errors result in heartache, inefficiencies, and bloat for landfills, we rolled up our sleeves to find a solution. We are so proud to have founded Found Loop – an innovative startup that helps reunite lost items easily and quickly. We didn’t stop there, the changing climate has led us to kick-off another project: No Fossils.
We challenge assumptions 🤓
It often takes courage to, but one must always ask the question “Why”! And ask it in abundance. While seeking a solution to a problem, all of us assume some stuff to be true. Are these assumptions actually true? If we don’t ask the right questions, we can never frame the problem in the most relevant way. The way that will point us in the direction of the correct solution. Challenging assumptions is what we do internally and with our clients to find novel solutions for obscure and ambiguous problems.
We keep care at the heart of our practice 🤗
Care is an integral part of our culture. Care for whoever we work with, care for the planet, and care for those who’s world and experiences we may be changing. We co-design in the spirit of keeping the needs of the people we’re designing for front and centre at all stages of the experience design journey. We love to watch people use our solutions, and make changes where necessary. We enjoy spending hours immersing in their stories and learning their perspectives to understand their context so that we can care the right way.
Decades of international experience in design in all its forms.
Our team has been responsible for robust solutions in UX, CX, and brand research, strategy and design for various businesses, including Fortune 500s and VC funded/ bootstrapped startups.
In 2020, however, we embarked on this journey together of helping businesses co-create authentic and awe-inspiring customer experiences. We are Awethentic Experience Design, based in Brisbane, Australia.
Syma Ahmed
Founder
I see design as a means to change the world for the better. Often times, there are problems right around us begging to be solved in innovative ways and that is where my zone of genius is. The work I do is evidence based and I like to walk the talk in my research and consulting.
I’m recognised as a Certified Practising Marketer by the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI), simply put you are in good hands if I am working on your marketing and brand research and strategy. My relentless curiosity and appetite for learning have resulted in several graduation ceremonies (I look fab in that gown and the hat 🎓). My qualifications include:
- MSc in Marketing Management from University of Surrey (UK)
- Masters in Tourism, Hotel and Event Management from University of Queensland
- and an MBA.
I am also certified in positive mental health (USyd) and design thinking (Ideo). I love sharing insights on human experience and have been a guest speaker at University of Queensland and University of Sydney, and at conferences and events including Insead.
When I am not working, I find flow when I’m cooking a delicious chicken curry and spend time in nature.
Ilse Maritz
Consultant
I am a passionate people person with a mission to fine tune, streamline and truly understand employee life cycles. Building my career the goal was always to be a General Manager of a lodge or resort, but I quickly realised, it was ALL about the employees to me.
My knowledge and insight into this complexity we call “The Human Factor” is based on my experiences working in some of the most stunning locations in the USA, South Africa and around Australia. I completed a bachelors degree with honours in Hospitality Management and later and MBA in Hotel & Tourism Management, a cert IV in training and assessment and grad cert, with a deep interest, in psychology. Roles held from waitress, housekeeper, barista, duty manager, assistant manager, to front office manager and HR manager, from city locations to remote locations – my experiences provide a varied perspective and understanding.
A passionate presenter and influential mentor and coach, my journey now is supporting workplaces in navigating the people piece, or rather the employee experience.