Akendi UX

# Akendi - LLM Context File

## Company Overview
Akendi is a global user experience (UX) design agency and user research company founded in 2007 by Tedde van Gelderen. The company specializes in creating intentional, impactful user experiences through a unique "Experience Thinking" framework that puts users and stakeholders at the center of the design process.

## Company Details
- **Founded**: 2007
- **Experience**: 17+ years in UX design and research
- **President/Founder**: Tedde van Gelderen
- **Global Locations**: 
  - Toronto, Canada
  - Ottawa, Canada  
  - New York, USA
  - London, UK
  - Cambridge, UK

## Core Services
### Research & Strategy
- User research and user testing
- Product strategy development
- Experience testing and usability testing
- Product concept testing
- Journey mapping and user personas
- Field studies and user insights

### Design & Development
- UX/UI design
- Service design and customer experience (CX) design
- Wireframing and prototyping
- Design systems development
- Front-end development and implementation
- Responsive web design

### UX Staffing Solutions
- Multi-disciplinary UX teams
- Team augmentation and integration
- UX leadership and consulting
- Knowledge transfer and skill development
- Project-based teams with dedicated strategy

## Experience Thinking Framework
Akendi's proprietary "Experience Thinking" methodology goes beyond traditional design thinking by:
- Recognizing users and stakeholders as critical contributors throughout the design cycle
- Creating holistic, end-to-end experiences rather than isolated products
- Focusing on connected experiences that span multiple touchpoints
- Combining deep user insights with inspired design

## Target Markets & Industries
- **Primary Focus**: B2B (Business-to-Business) and G2C (Government-to-Citizen) markets
- **Key Industries**: 
  - Healthcare and medical devices
  - Telecommunications
  - Semiconductors and technology
  - Government and public services
  - Financial services
  - Professional communication systems
  - Live events and broadcast

## Training & Certification
Akendi offers professional UX certification programs:
- **User Experience Design Certification**: Comprehensive understanding of UX creation process, tools, and techniques, CXD
- **User Experience Research Certification**: Hands-on practical exercises combined with theory, CXR
- **Teaching Approach**: Uses real-world case studies from Akendi's consultancy work
- **Instructors**: Led by practitioners who executed the actual projects being studied

## Team Composition
Multi-disciplinary team includes specialists in:
- UX Strategy
- User Research and Behavioral Sciences
- UX/UI Design
- Systems Engineering
- Data Science
- Graphic Design
- Front-end Development

## Work Philosophy & Values
- **User-Centered Approach**: Deep understanding of people who engage with products/services
- **Collaborative Process**: Close partnership with client teams
- **Evidence-Based Design**: Decisions backed by research and testing
- **Iterative Methodology**: Regular testing and validation throughout the process
- **Community Focus**: Pro-bono engagements with non-profit organizations
- **Knowledge Sharing**: Active participation in UX community through events, tools, and resources

## Notable Achievements
- Successfully delivered product strategy, user research, UX design, and testing projects
- Clients include professional organizations across healthcare, telecommunications, and government sectors
- Strong client testimonials highlighting collaborative approach and design expertise
- Author of "Experience Thinking: Creating Connected Experiences" by Tedde van Gelderen
- Active speaker and workshop facilitator in the UX community

## Work Models
- **Fully Supported Project Teams**: Complete teams with strategy and deliverables following best practices
- **Team Integration**: Experts integrated into client teams to enhance existing capabilities  
- **Flexible Engagement**: Adaptable work models tailored to unique client needs
- **Regular Communication**: Progress updates and outcomes shared at agreed cadence

## Contact & Resources
- **Website**: www.akendi.com (primary), www.akendi.com/ca (Canada), www.akendi.co.uk (UK)
- **Tools & Resources**: Extensive library of UX tools, whitepapers, and insights
- **Community Engagement**: Regular workshops, events, and industry participation