Frequently Asked Questions

+ Where do you work?

ITG meets you where you or your consumers are. We are skilled at identifying creative and immersive facilities in any city, bringing people together for an exciting and efficient process. Take your team out of state for a distraction-free engagement, or, ITG can come to you and facilitate a session closer to home. No matter the category, be ready to dive in and get inspired by your surroundings.

+ How does your process differ from focus groups?

It is easy to see the participation of consumers in ITG's designs and think focus groups, but with ITG, you get so much more! Creative Consumers® associates work directly with you for a defining co-creation process. In ideation, consumers generate hundreds of possibilities around what could be, as opposed to reacting to what is already there (like in focus groups). By going face-to-face with your consumers, you can ground each new idea in a consumer need or desire, setting your ideas apart from the start.

+ How long does a project typically last?

ITG's engagements vary depending on your needs. But it is safe to say that speed is important in our creative process. All our designs are rapid, focused and efficient, getting you actionable output in a matter of days. For example, in a 2-day design, Day 1 is spent diverging and generating possiblities, while Day 2 will get you to 8-12 professionally written concept outlines by EOD.

+ Which Facilitators are specialized in my market/category?

Each ITG Facilitator is an expert in the creative process—not any specific category. Because we focus on the process, we don't partake in contributing new ideas, but rather design creative processes, excursions and environments that will help inspire you and the Creative Consumers® associates. Every Facilitator will guide you to amazing output, whether they are passionate about the category or completely unfamiliar.

+ Should we do this project online or in person?

Both have their perks! In-person engagements are great for getting your team involved and passionate about the ideas coming out of the session. ITG finds a stimulating space and facilitates an energetic session that keeps you focused, interested and excited. Make no mistake, we work hard. But we play hard, too.

Online engagements keep the same great processes and minds involved, but from the comfort of your own home. This is great if your team is spread throughout the country and budget is an issue. Just remember: when you click "Join Meeting" with ITG, you aren't entering the average Zoom call. We bring the creative spirit home with kinetic excursions and mind-stretching activities, whether you are co-creating with consumers or developing new positioning language.

+ How many people from my team can participate?

While the ideal group size is around 8, we can work comfortably with teams up to 20. We'll work with you to find the right balance for your project.

+ How do you find Creative Consumers® associates?

ITG developed and maintains a series of proprietary screening tests to assess individual creativity and articulation. And that is just Step 1. If they pass the creativity tests, each prospective Creative Consumers® associate is brought in for a multi-day training—that also acts as another screening process.

+ Can I be a Creative Consumers® associate?

Yes! Maybe. We are constantly adding consumers to our panel and host multiple trainings each year. If you think you would be a good fit, feel free to reach to us.

+ In general, how long does it take from getting the project go-ahead to project start?

Because we manage our own panel of Creative Consumers® associates, recruiting can happen in a matter of days. Assuming we have availability among our Facilitators and Creative Consumers® associates, we can go from project green light to project start date in a matter of 1 week.

+ How long does it take to get a project report?

Once you leave an ITG project, we deliver the typical project report within 5 business days.

+ Who should I invite from my team?

We recommend a cross-functional team that includes Insights, Marketing, Product Development and any other key stakeholders. Diverse perspectives can really add a lot. Don't be afraid to invite Cory from Finance!