“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” ―Peter Drucker

September marks the first edition of our Monthly Mantra series, wherein the company focuses on a particular concept and applies it to the everyday grind. In addition to our internal learning, we aim to share our findings with the community, with a side of wallpaper goodness.

This month, PRPL’s mantra is “Strategy First.” Our mission with this simple phrase is to put the horse before the cart. Whether building a website from scratch or just booking a meeting, there must be a plan in place and an ultimate objective. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Here’s a potpourri of resources our strategists are currently reading:

Articles

Epic list of Content Strategy Resources by by Jonathon Colman
How to Develop Your Digital Strategy by Macala Wright
Focusing Design with Design Strategy by Andrew Maier
Responsive Design is Not About Screen Sizes Any More by Gorka Molero
Connected UX by Aaron Walter

Books

Content Strategy for the Web by Kristina Halvorson
Seductive Interaction Design: Creating Playful, Fun, and Effective User Experiences (Voices That Matter) by Stephen P. Anderson
Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team by Alina Wheeler
Handbook of Usability Testing: Howto Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests by Jeffrey Rubin
Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services by Kim Goodwin
Users, Not Customers: Who Really Determines the Success of Your Business by Aaron Shapiro
Converge: Transforming Business at the Intersection of Marketing and Technology by Bob W. Lord

Blogs

A List Apart
Smashing Magazine
UX Booth
Boxes and Arrows

Other Presentations/Resources

Google’s Planning Tools
Business Strategy Development: Key Concepts and Frameworks
What is Digital Strategy?
Consumer Journey Models
Society of Digital Agencies (SoDA) 2011 Digital Marketing Outlook
The World in 2030 by Dr. Michio Kaku
Mapping the Journey — Experience beyond the screen

Enjoy the literature and learning what it means to put Strategy First!

Monthly Mantra: Strategy First

Typographical Renaissance