Connected
370 King Street West M5V1J9 Toronto, ON, Canada

Great product ideas are incredibly valuable, when they turn into great products. Prioritizing is an important step in the exploration process of ideas, and in this article our best-in-class Product Manager Amy Weinrieb walks you through the prioritization that begins the long road from idea to product. #prototyping #productmanagement #productdevelopment https://www.connected.io//how-to-prioritize-ideas-for-pro/

One of our best-in-class engineers, Bilal Hussain created an in-depth guide for Product Thinkers who are seeking to avoid technical debt. #softwareengineer #productdevelopment #technicaldebt #productthinking https://www.connected.io//a-thought-on-avoiding-technical/

A group of our best-in-class product practitioners share their answers to the question: Is it time to ditch the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)? #productdevelopment #productthinking https://www.connected.io//product-thinkers-discussion-is-/

The third article in our series on How to Build Fast, comes from best-in-class Software Engineer Shannon Klett. In this latest piece, Shannon dives into how engineers can help their teams launch quickly. #softwareengineer #productdevelopment #buildbetter https://www.connected.io//how-to-build-fast-part-3-engine/

Where in-person interactions have a millennia of human history behind them, the rules for fully remote communities are still in their infancy. So a team of our talented Product Thinkers, headed up by Katie Hill and Kama Kaczmarczyk, have put together a guide for those looking to build rapport with clients, teammates, and interviewees. #remotework #productthinking #teamcollaboration #productdevelopment #workfromhome https://www.connected.io//a-quick-guide-to-building-rappo/

In the second article in his series on software estimation, Director of Engineering, Practice, Paul Sobocinski walks us through the four reasons why engineers should utilize the practice. #productdevelopment #softwareengineer https://www.connected.io//software-estimation-on-a-produc/

Connected is hiring! We're on the lookout for ambitious product builders in engineering, product management, and design. If you are passionate about driving product & client impact and enjoy working on innovative new products & ideas, take a look at our open roles: https://buff.ly/2O2gd4X Roles include: - Java Spring Engineer - React Native Engineer... - Senior Ruby on Rails Engineer - Senior iOS Engineer - Senior Software Engineer - Product Manager - Senior Product Designer - Contract #hiring #techjobs #torontojobs #lifeatconnected #buildbetterproducts #javaspring #reactnative #rubyonrails #ios #productmanagement #productdesign

Our very own Marketing Graphic Designer, Katie Luke, continues her series on the importance of branding and how she applies these ideas to our brand. #branding #marketing https://www.connected.io//if-apple-were-an-orange-why-bra/

Grocery shopping has undergone an identity shift in the past six months, as the world awakened to the hard work of its employees, the fragility of supply chains, and the importance of the Shopper experience. With this in mind, Connected put together a best-in-class product team composed of a Product Manager, Amy Weinrieb; a Product Designer, Hala Khoursheed; and a Software Engineer, Eren Livingstone; to create a series of product concepts designed to add joy to the experience of grocery shopping. #productdevelopment #conceptdesign https://www.connected.io//case-study-connecteds-in-house-/

Get to know Alex Christodoulou, Engagement Lead, in his own words as he answers questions under the Connector spotlight. https://www.connected.io//connector-spotlight-alex-christ/

We truly believe that great products can support and delight people navigate their complex lives; however, we aren’t blind to the negative impact that they can have. With all the talk about Netflix’s new documentary The Social Dilemma, we thought it was the perfect time to share an extract from The Current State of Digital Distraction, written by our Content Marketing Manager, Dominic Smith back in January. #digitaloverload #productdevelopment https://www.connected.io//how-digital-overload-affects-us/

Its a question we hear over and over again: Whats the difference between working at an agency vs. working in house. Fortunately many of our best-in-class PMs have experienced life on both sides and in this article Mann Hing Khor walks us through the differences and debunks myths. #productmanagement #productdevelopment https://www.connected.io//product-agency-vs-in-house-what/

An excerpt from our much-loved Smart Home, this article lays out the four central rules for designing the right smart home products for your users. #smarthome #productbuilding #productdevelopment https://www.connected.io//four-rules-for-designing-smart-/

Following on from Software Engineer, Shannon Kletts first piece on how to build fast, Product Manager, Samantha Pramanick gives her perspective on how PMs guide rapid product building. #productdevelopment #productmanagement https://www.connected.io//how-to-build-fast-part-2-produc/

From the spark of an idea to a working platform in a matter of weeks! A team of our best-in-class product thinkers and builders created a 360 audio platform aimed at reducing Zoom fatigue and increasing collaboration in the new WFH model. Read how Nenad Kozul, Ryan McLeod, Rajiv Silva, and Eren Livingstone worked together to bring the platform to life. #productdevelopment #softwareengineer https://www.connected.io//case-study-connecteds-in-house-/

Rallying a team around clear principles is the best way of creating alignment and delivering impact. In this piece, Paul Sobocinski, gives his view on the three key principles needed for effective software estimation. #productdevelopment #softwareengineer https://www.connected.io//software-estimation-on-a-produc/

It’s a question we hear over and over again: What’s the difference between working at an agency vs. working in house. Fortunately many of our best-in-class PM’s have experienced life on both sides and in this article Mann Hing Khor walks us through the differences and debunks myths. #productmanagement #productdevelopment https://www.connected.io//product-agency-vs-in-house-what/

The next four quarters of new product discovery and delivery will be centered around Return-Tech and the attempt to define the 'new normal.' So our CEO, Mike Stern, created 12 theses to help guide product development and innovation efforts in the short-, medium-, and long-term future.

Following on from Software Engineer, Shannon Klett’s first piece on how to build fast, Product Manager, Samantha Pramanick gives her perspective on how PMs guide rapid product building. #productdevelopment #productmanagement https://www.connected.io//how-to-build-fast-part-2-produc/

Our internal R&D team, Connected Labs, recently set to work creating a new blended approach to building conversational agents that are more social and flexible, while still retaining functional utility and purpose. Read our best-in-class Product Designer, Tim Bettridge's perspective on the project and how this work could transform how we interact with these agents.

From idea to high-fidelity prototypes in just two and a half weeks! A cross-disciplinary team of our product thinkers and builders built out three concepts for a COVID-19 symptom tracker in rapid time. Read Project Manager, Samantha Pramanicks words on how she, Ryan Jeon (RJ), Nenad Kozul, and Alejandro Zielinsky ideated and executed at such pace.#productdevelopment #returntech https://www.connected.io//case-study-connecteds-in-house-/

Get to know Amina Saigol, Connecteds Product Strategist, in her own words as she answers questions under the Connector spotlight. https://www.connected.io//connector-spotlight-amina-saigol/

Continuing her series on Ethics in the Product Development Process, Lisanne Binhammer, Senior Product Designer, takes a deeper look at the practical steps product builders can take to ethically improve UX and UI. #productdevelopment #ethics #productdesign https://www.connected.io//asking-when-ethics-in-the-produ/

With our focus on designing Return-Tech products that define the new normal, our Senior Product Designer Lisanne Binhammer dove headfirst into researching the disruption that has occurred for teachers and parents across the world. After interviewing a number of both parties, she put pen to paper to share her best-in-class insights for companies looking to build the next generation of EdTech products. #returntech #productdevelopment

Every Connector knows about Demos. Its our opportunity to share our work, experiences, and challenges to enable us to build better together. Here, we provide a guide for how others can embrace a Demos ritual and find fun ways to increase institutional IQ.

COVID-19 has accelerated conversations that have been brewing over the past five yearsremote work, a reliance on software-powered tools, online learning, the strain on healthcare systems, low-touch retail experiences, and more. In our latest report, we apply Product Thinking and product foresight to identify the shifts that the current crisis has caused and define a new product category that will impact every industry both now and in the future: Return-Tech. Download Connect...ed's Return-Tech Report to learn more about how product thinkers and builders need to adapt to build better products. https://get.connected.io/connected-return-tech-report/ Contributors: Jesse Abramson, David Das, Katie Hill, Kama Kaczmarczyk, Amina Saigol, Dominic Smith, Mike Stern Designed by: Katie Luke #returntech #productdevelopment #productdesign #buildbetterproducts

After finishing a recent project, Software Engineer, Shannon Klett, reflected on how COVID-19 has accelerated our understanding of the importance of building fast in order to create genuine impact. In this first article in our #HowToBuildFast series, Shannon explores the tactics that create a team culture geared towards building fast. https://www.connected.io//how-to-build-fast-part-1-team-c/ #softwaredevelopment #productdevelopment #buildbetterproducts

We're very proud to announce that the Globe and Mail has chosen Connected as one of the Top Small and Medium Employers in Canada for the fourth year in a row #sme #topemployer https://www.canadastop100.com/sme/

As we enter Pride Month, a month dedicated to celebrating and promoting diversity and inclusion of a historically oppressed group, we must also acknowledge the current fights happening across North America and the world for equality and stand with the black community. We are all Connected. #blacklivesmatter #pride

Many Connectors are balancing their full-time jobs with a new role: at-home teachers. This has led to the emergence of a new favourite product for our Global Managing Director, Tammy Chiasson: Prodigy Game. Learn more about Prodigy's impact: https://www.connected.io/post/product-i-love-prodigy/

It goes without saying that UX is a crucial part of the development process. Amanda Varney from Xenial explores why a lack of connection with a #UX team and not collaborating with users can cause you more expense in the long run: https://buff.ly/3gbhw0K via ProductCraft by Pendo

This year's #VictoriaDay may feel quite different from years' past, but we hope you and your families enjoy the day, taking time to relax and decompress.

Homes are personal and often multi-generational environments, meaning that products designed for them have a great burden of #inclusivity. Senior Product Designer, Lisanne Binhammer, walks us through the design factors for #smarthome products and challenges builders to apply them to their product building process, no matter the sector. https://www.connected.io//what-smart-home-products-can-te/

The How, the Who, and the What of product development have all been re-evaluated over the past six weeks. Senior Product Designer, Lisanne Binhammer, has put into words how we, at Connected, have been thinking about work in this new normal: https://www.connected.io//product-building-in-this-pandem/ #productdevelopment #productstrategy #productdesign

With all of us living a completely different day-to-day life than we could have ever foreseen a couple months ago, products have become the crutch we lean on to provide a manageable work-from-home setup. Check out which products our Connectors need to get through the day, whether its to connect with loved ones or stay focused #productneed #wfhlife #buildbetterproducts

Great leaders inspire when they speak. At Connected, a fortunate group of eight Connectors attended #DevTOs International Womens Day Talks last month and they listened, and learned from some of the most influential female leaders in Torontos tech space. To share this experience, Sobia Fazal and Angela Dietz wrote a piece on what they heard and the crucial insights theyve brought back into their day-to-day lives: https://www.connected.io//six-inspiring-women-in-tech-fro/ #womenintech #womeninengineering

Design Researchers make the difference between a well-built product and a product that serves human-centered needs. Connecteds own Kama Kaczmarczyk walks us through her thoughts on what makes a great design researcher and why it matters to have the right people on the job. https://www.connected.io//the-importance-of-design-resear/ #designresearch #humancentereddesign

Prototyping has often been viewed in simple binary terms of low-fidelity and high-fidelity. Connected Solutions Engineer, Kevin Bralten, argues that prototyping should be three dimensional in order to expand the Product Builders toolkit. Learn more: https://www.connected.io/p/how-do-you-describe-a-prototype/ #prototyping #productdevelopment #softwaredevelopment #productdesign

Businesses grow through product, but actually getting products built is a huge task in large businesses that find themselves working in silos. Having worked with dozens of clients over the years, Connecteds Managing Director, Joel Zien, offers a meaningful insight into how to get different business units working together more effectively. https://www.connected.io//four-ways-to-increase-product-c/ #productdevelopment #productstrategy #productdesign #collaboration

Get to know Tammy Chiasson, Connected's Global Managing Director, in her own words as she answers questions under the Connector spotlight:

We dont always get to share the amazing projects that our teams work on, so we love to highlight the talents of our Connectors whenever we can. Check out our design guilds @Dribbble account to see some side projects theyre working on and get your fix of design inspiration: