Fourth Dimension Inc.
111 Peter Street M5V 2H1 Toronto, ON, Canada

With the holiday season fast approaching, we are all reminded that this year is not business as usual. For marketers, it will mean a different approach to messaging and ad spending. Brad Adgate's Forbes article provides a useful break down of predicted ad spending and insight into customer content perception. He outlines how e-commerce will be the driving focus of spending and traffic for potentially lower advertising budgets this year. He also notes that as homes will look different this year with limited ability to travel and gather, reflecting these changes in content messaging is key. Tonality too, is important, and should be approached with nostalgia, humour and sentimentality; taking pressure off of your audience can improve overall brand perception. To read the full article, click the link below. https://bit.ly/39hfTNI

As online business continues to increase, it is important to take the time to support our communities in transitioning into the digital marketplace, and to remember that not all small businesses are able to connect with marketing agencies to assist them. Other barriers, such as language, also make it a challenge for small shops to move online. It is wonderful to see organizations like the Chinatown Business Improvement Area (BIA) and local students empowering their community ...by getting involved to help with these challenges. If you are looking to move your small business online but aren’t sure where to start, this CBC article outlines the steps taken by the BIA. Setting up a Google My Business profile online, taking 360 photos, utilizing e-commerce platforms like Shopify, and connecting to government grants are all excellent places to start. We will get through this together! https://www.cbc.ca//toronto-businesses-getting-digital-hel

2020 saw significant changes in how consumers use, think, and feel about digital technology. Designers must consider these changes and adapt their approach to improving the overall user experience. Builtin magazine has provided a comprehensive overview of the digital design trends to watch in 2021. Here are our takeaways: - Increased time online is leading users to move away from perfectionism and towards embracing individualism. - Interfaces will continue to become persona...lized as users appreciate being valued and understood. - Remote workers will be the primary focus of infrastructure upgrades. - Home theatres and cars will incorporate digitally enhanced reality, including AR/VR and 3D design. - Users will be nostalgic for designs that incorporate past experiences, such as books or vinyl inserts. - Health and fitness apps will incorporate humour and fun to lift spirits. - Users will be encouraged to pause and think about online activity by strategically added friction to user interfaces. - Brands messaging will have an increased emphasis on corporate values. - Soft colours and outdoor themes will be used to demonstrate hope for the future. https://builtin.com/design-ux-/digital-design-trends-2021

With 2020 drawing to a close, we at 4D want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a challenging year, for us all. We would like to express our thanks to our amazing clients, who supported and worked with us to push through the changing business landscape while moving their digital business forward. And we pause to remember that this was also a year of loss for many around the world and commend the strength of those who kept working on the front-line to save lives durin...g the pandemic. We join the world in turning towards a better and brighter 2021, with all the promise, hope, and new opportunities it brings. Thank you! #newyear #newyearseve #bye2020 #goodbye2020 #newyear2021 #bestwishes #stayhome #thankyoufrontliners #digitalagency #torontolife #torontoagency

At 4D, we have had the privilege of working with charitable organizations to improve their digital reach to their donors and the people they serve. COVID-19 has seen a large push into the digital sphere, one that can leave many charities and non-profits struggling to meet the challenges that come with digital adoption. IT World Canada has published an article that provides helpful tips and resources that charities and non-profits need to consider when beginning to make the move to digital innovation. Click to read the full article! https://www.itworldcanada.com//how-to-make-your-non/438891

Everyday users interact with digital interfaces that have patterns that help them anticipate what steps they must take to accomplish tasks and navigate through the interface. When designing, it is key to utilize these patterns to create successful user experiences. Mariana Vargas's article in Medium provides an excellent example of the consequences of designing without patterns. Click the link below to read the full article! https://bit.ly/3qQWKZE

2020 saw many aspects of everyday life transition to the digital sphere but what does this mean for older adults who may not be as tech savvy? Andre Bierzynski's article in BuiltIn highlights the importance of considering older users when designing. Here are our takeaways: - Include older users for user testing - Make buttons and links easily clickable, especially on mobile - Simplify interfaces down to core functions and use the same language as users - Minimize consequen...ces of user error, let them know it's not their fault and direct them on how to complete desired actions Read the full article here! https://bit.ly/3g5ag6G