IBM Interactive Experience Expanding Global Network with First Studio in Middle East
Dubai, UAE – 17 Feb 2016: IBM has announced the launch of IBM Studio – Dubai, a new center of experience design and digital expertise to help clients transform. The Studio extends the footprint of IBM Interactive Experience, blending experience design with the full spectrum of business transformation capabilities, from industry and strategy consulting through systems integration. The IBM Studio – Dubai was inaugurated by His Excellency Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai.
“Today’s most successful companies have design embedded in their DNA,” said His Excellency Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai. “Dubai is one of the most creative and vibrant cities in the world, with a leading digital economy. We believe that good quality design improves people’s lives and creates value for businesses. We support and encourage companies such as IBM that recognise and value the importance of design, bringing it into the heart of what they do.”
IBM designers working on MobileFirst technologies for clients (Image credit: IBM)
Located in the Dubai Design District, the studio will serve as a hub for IBM Design in the Middle East and will host local teams from IBM Interactive Experience (IBMiX), the world’s largest digital agency according to Advertising Age. IBMiX clients from all industries, such as automotive, financial services, government, healthcare, telecommunications and retail, will be able to work side-by-side with IBM consultants and experience design experts to analyze business challenges and develop solutions grounded in more personalized, individualized digital experiences.
IBMiX’s global client roster includes Nationwide, Jaguar Land Rover, Citibank and the Atlanta Stadium, home to the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. IBMiX, recently announced its intent to acquire Ecx.io, a design agency based out of Dusseldorf, Germany, Resource/Ammirati, a US-based digital marketing and creative agency, and Aperto, a digital agency with headquarters in Berlin.
H.E. Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai at the IBM Studio – Dubai launch creating art made with IBM Cloud (Image credit: IBM)
IBM’s studio in Dubai will join the growing network of more than 20 IBM Studios in locations including Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Groningen, Melbourne, Mexico City, Hursley, London, New York, Dallas, Sao Paolo, Madrid and Shanghai.
“Creating customer experiences for Dubai citizens, business customers and our own employees that are meaningful and consistent across digital and physical channels is at the top of our business agenda.” said Eng. Mohammed AlZaffin, IT Director, Dubai Municipality. “We have partnered with IBM to help us deliver these experiences with solutions that are designed for the users and meet their needs.”
“Digital transformation in healthcare is extremely difficult, and designing the citizen-centric model to serve users is even more difficult. We co-created with IBM to design and build innovative mobile apps to deliver rich citizen-centric experiences. The success and recognition we’ve achieved thus far with Tifli and Hayati is helping to position Dubai Health Authority as innovative leaders in the healthcare sector,” said Amani Al Jassmi, Director of Information Technology at the Dubai Health Authority.
IBM Design applies the principles of IBM Design Thinking, which takes a rapid prototyping approach to user-centric product development, as well as IBM Design Language, a framework to inspire bold and engaging experiences. IBM Studio – Dubai is a further investment in IBM’s worldwide design capability, creating spaces globally where product development, experience design, consulting, brand experience and marketing coexist to maximize collaboration and value for IBM clients.
“Design is a constant exploration of both creation and value. At IBM, we believe that businesses need to do more than just make great products, but also craft experiences that delight users and can shape the future,” notes Amr Refaat, General Manager, IBM Middle East and Pakistan. “IBM Studio – Dubai will bring exceptional digital experiences to this increasingly digital city, and we look forward to transforming how our clients engage with the world at large.”
For more information about IBM Studios, please visit https://www.ibm.com/design/studio.shtml
*Source: IBM