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We are designers, makers and consultants in the age of Digital Transformation.

Intervall explores complex problems and uncharted solutions. We are experts of the digital domain and help our clients benefit from the Digital Transformation. In our work, we combine methods from Design and Computational Thinking. Our motivation: to shape our future digital society.

Data visualization of resistance measurements
Data visualization of resistance measurements

Digital. System. Trust.

We are digital.

Digitalization enables connecting objects across different domains. In doing so products and services are transferred from the analog world to the digital one. They obtain a digital representation and thereby loose of their physical limitations: in the digital space objects can be freely multiplied, moved, changed and connected. New creative freedom arises which would have been conceptually unthinkable or technically impossible before.

We think systemically.

In the context of digitalization, products should be considered in a systemic way – meaning, in the context of their already existing and potential connections. As a result, the advantages of the digital space can be fully exploited and create value added. The digitalization is therefore essentially a systemization. It is about bringing together previously independent components (things, properties, processes, rules, ...) from different domains and letting them interact within new systems – to create novel solutions to old and new challenges.

We build trust.

The increasing level of interconnection between analog and digital objects also results in an increasing level of complexity of the associated systems. Users of digital products and services can no longer understand the underlying mechanisms. They have to trust in the respective product and service providers, which surprisingly many people do already today. In the future, it will be about maintaining that level of customer confidence through transparent and secure product and service design.

Innovation
Consulting
Product
Vision
Advanced
Analytics
Product
Development
Strategic level
Operative level
Company perspective
Customer perspective
Our work across four different areas.

Building upon many years of experience, we advise clients on a strategic level and create innovative solutions and product visions for internal and external projects. On an operational level, we create real value added by applying advanced analytics to business processes as well as promoting small and mid-size product developments through a strong partner network.

We support clients from concepts to implementation of tailored solutions across these four different areas and their combinations.

We are experts of the digital domain and help our clients benefit from the Digital Transformation.

Visual representation of a data collection
Macro shot of a bonded micro electronics chip
Components for hardware prototyping
Map section of an Open Street Map Overpass API call
Section of formulas of mathematical functions
Section of formulas of mathematical functions
Data Visualization of twittter messages
Section of a user interface design
Section of a user experience design
iPhone app for a use case regarding autonomous driving
Section of a code of functional programming
Open Street Map Overpass API; Hardware Prototyping; Micro Electronics; Collecting Data; User Interface Design; Data Visualization; Mathematical Functions; User Experience Design; Concept & design for mobile apps; Functional Programming.

We have learned that methods from design and computational thinking complement each other: the classical design process benefits from the stringency of data-driven computational thinking and can be used to improve networked and complex systems. And it is Design that adds a human dimension to the process of computational thinking. The interplay of both – design and computational thinking – constitutes our approach to shape a digital world.

Computation.
Design.

Art and science provide two different perspectives on the »Conditio humana« - on what it means to be human. The tension between them is constructive and reflects an open dialogue between rational thought and emotion, between head and gut. Similarly, design and computational thinking offer different perspectives and tools.

In our work we combine methods of design and computational thinking:

The design process guides us by creativity and mutual inspiration. In order to understand problems and questions, we use methods from user–centered design. We talk to people, observe human behavior and evaluate findings based on our experience.

Through computational thinking we gain new insights. Quantitative research, data analysis and structured deep dives into the respective domains help us understand fundamental coherences and complex systems. We verify our hypotheses with the help of algorithms, models and simulations.

Lastly, we give a face to these new ideas and concepts. Every solution is different: Presentations, prototypes, apps, ... as well as podcasts and events. Through clear communication and great storytelling visions become tangible.

Design

Computational

[1] Collect & Understand

User Research

Empathy

Collect data

Analyze data

[2] Conceptualize & Design

Creativity

Brainstorming

Human-Centered

Stringency & Structure

Algorithms & Machine Learning

Models & Simulations

[3] Shape & Develop

Final design

Storytelling

Implementation

Prototyping

Emotion

Simplicity

Aesthetics

Ratio

Speed

Automation

Each project is unique and requires different methods and tools.
“Computational Thinking will be remembered as probably the most important intellectual achievement of the 21st century.”

— Stephen Wolfram
in conversation with Howard Gardner, November 6th, 2017

Pure Data patch as an example of computational thinking
Stringent and structured work using computational thinking.
Creative workshop situation as an example of design thinking
The design process is all about creativity.

Man is a
machine. Man
is not a
machine.

The world can be understood in a mechanistic manner, as a sequence of cause-effect chains, as a result of constant execution of a routine. In this image, the human body is a chemical-biological machine, and the mind is an information processing engine emerged from it. In accordance with that, modern psychology argues that neuronal computations make up human perception and thus the state of consciousness. Consequently, cognition and consciousness can be interpreted as a kind of »computation« (computational theory of mind [1]).

In general, computation can be discussed detached from the respective physical implementation. One speaks of Turing-complete machines which are computationally universal [2]. CPUs are the common example. However, the implementation of human consciousness is linked to exactly one »biological computer«, namely the associated human brain and its neurons (biological computing [3]).

Humans and their minds are certainly far from understanding this »biological computer«, if that's even possible at all. Emerson M. Pugh put it in a quote this way: “If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn’t.”

This fact is also reflected in the structure of our sciences. Psychology, sociology and ethnology can not be reduced to biology, chemistry and physics in a reductionist sense. The natural sciences are separated from the social sciences by multiple boundaries of emergence [4].

The resulting gap between the scientific disciplines invites us to consider diverse questions from their respective peripheries. Coming from one side, we can take the human perspective, conduct behavioral research, analyze needs, or do ethnological studies. Coming from the other side, we can explore fundamental scientific contexts, set up experiments and conduct series of measurements. These are two different perspectives on the world.

Here we see parallels to our idea of design and computational thinking described above, which also represents two perspectives for approaching various challenges. Design advocates the human side and puts the user at the center, while computational thinking is thinking like a machine and puts data at its heart. Two complementary approaches merge: intuition, creativity, emotionality, empathy and art on the one hand – stringency, analytics, rationality, precision, science on the other.

This comparison has limits and by no means intends to deny the stringency of the social sciences, just as it does not want to neglect the importance of intuition in the natural sciences. Rather, it is meant as a metaphor and inspiration for the reader, and may be understood – especially in case of disagreement – as an invitation to engage in conversation.

Intervall is hiring.

Striving for excellence within an ongoing learning process is at the heart of Intervall. We question the status quo to re-think how things might be in the future. Interdisciplinary exchange is the basis for an individual, personal development and the constant reconsideration of our own approaches.

We are looking for excellent people from different domains. Software developers, data scientists, architects, craftsmen, storytellers and designers reinvent themselves at Intervall.

joinus@intervall.io

A place where
experts meet.

Intervall will always be a place where experts meet in an inviting environment — where ideas will be exchanged and developed in rational deliberation — and a place, where challenging projects are pushed forward with strong pace.

More about our office

Intervall Büro
Jonas Heuer & Daniel Kaercher
Jonas Heuer & Daniel Kaercher

Jonas Friedemann Heuer
Founder & Managing Director
Designer

heuer@intervall.io
LinkedIn

Dr. Daniel Fabian Kärcher
Founder & Managing Director
Physicist

kaercher@intervall.io
LinkedIn