Ueno 2019: A year in review
You know, I always thought that growing older would make me think more about the past, but for me it’s the opposite.
I don’t really think about the past that much. Once it’s gone it’s gone. I’m much more interested in tomorrow than yesterday.
But our marketing department told me I had to write this piece, so I’m writing it.
And you are reading it, so we’ve got that going for us.
Anyway, that was the intro. Let’s get this thing started.
The work
Should we talk about the work first? I guess that’s appropriate.
This will go fast, so pay attention. And it’s in alphabetical order so nobody gets jealous.
We created a brand and a product for Allianz. We made a new site for Cisco.We created a new brand and experience for Cowboy Bikes. We made a new site for Cruise. We created a product for Discovery. We helped Eventbrite re-brand. We worked with Facebook on things like Stories and Messenger. We worked with Google to reimagine two of their core products, and on multiple other things. We helped Huawei re-think their IOT strategy. We designed a new site for the Icelandic Tourist Board. We created apps for the LA Phil and the Hollywood Bowl. We created a new brand for Lumosity. We worked with the New York Times on telling future-facing stories. We worked with Robinhood on helping people understand finance. We created a new product system with Splunk. We created a brand, product and site with Square. We worked on a thing with Strava. We started a major new product and strategy initiative with Twitter. We started working with Venmo on a cool thing. We helped Visa on another cool thing. And we helped Walmart create a new category in shopping.
We worked with about 40 other amazing clients but both you and I are much too busy, so let’s just end the list here.
What I will say though is that even after all these years, it’s the work that gets me excited. I just love being in a group of people all working together to solve a problem. It doesn’t really matter what the problem is.
I’m lucky enough to be able to work with some of the best clients in the world and I just want to say that I’m grateful.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
Ueno turns 5
Last year we turned five years old which prompted us to collaborate with international superstar Tory Satins.
I think the song that came out of it might be the best song ever made.
Until the disco version is released. Then that might become the best song ever made.
And then other stuff happened
It was actually a jam packed year.
We put on a conference in New York called Uenoland, I really liked that. We hired a lot of smart people, I also really like them. The whole company went on a retreat to Vancouver, I got to sing Old Town Road in karaoke with one of our interns — hi Adrien! The president of Iceland gave me an award and I called him the wrong name. We won Webbies and FWA’s and Awwwards and other awards. We moved to a new office in Iceland. According to Inc Magazine, we were one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S.
And so on.
There were sad bits too, but I’ve left them out.
Some of them were very sad.
It wasn’t all roses. Life doesn’t work that way.
But all in all it was mostly a good year. As far as I can remember I think I quite liked it.
But going back to where I started, I’m not sure we should spend too much time thinking about the past. It’s done.
I mean, we can learn from it and whatever but the exciting parts are happening now. Like right now.
And tomorrow could also be amazing. I think we should focus on that.
So, here’s to 2020.
Be kind to the people who need it, and treat yourself every now and then. Get an ice cream or something.
Life is short, and it goes fast. Make sure you find some moments here and there that make it worth living.
That’s what I’m going to do now that I’m done writing this. My kids are waiting.
See you soon.
Haraldur Thorleifsson is the founder and CEO of Ueno. But you knew that.
Want to work for — sorry, with Halli? Because Ueno is hiring.
Want to get mail from — sorry, with Halli? Because Ueno has a newsletter.
