These 9 cool tricks unleash the power of Amazon’s Alexa assistant

Good morning! The Macintosh. The Walkman. The Oculus Rift. These are some of the most lauded inventio [Compass] Good morning! The Macintosh. The Walkman. The Oculus Rift. These are some of the most lauded inventions of the past 30 years, which made Apple, Sony, and Oculus household names. But the truth is that all of these devices were conceptualized, at least in part, by Frog, a design consultancy that Fortune 500 companies tap when they need a burst of innovation. It’s a pretty sweet arrangement for the companies, to hire design consultants to help invent the future. However, it also means that Frog and its design peers in the industry ostensibly live paycheck to paycheck. The business model behind the design consultancy hasn’t traditionally let a Frog get a piece of the Next Big Thing, which is why dozens of design consultancies have closed or been acquired in the past decade or so. Today, that’s changing, because Frog has pioneered a landmark arrangement with the early stage VC firm Tuesday Capital (known for investments in Uber, Redfin, and Square), which lets Frog continue consulting as it always has, but also, own a piece of and a say over Tuesday Capital’s portfolio. [Read my exclusive]( on how the deal came together, and what it might mean for the future of the design industry. —[Mark Wilson]( [Frog debuts a radical new business model. Can it save independent design?]( [Frog debuts a radical new business model. Can it save independent design?]( The business of design has never been as profitable as the businesses that design enables. In partnering with the VC firm Tuesday Capital, Frog wants to change that. [fastcompany.com]( [These 9 cool tricks unleash the power of Amazon’s Alexa assistant]( [These 9 cool tricks unleash the power of Amazon’s Alexa assistant]( Better-sounding music, smart home control, insights into your commute, whisper mode, and more. [fastcompany.com]( [Scientists analyzed 1,700 cities and determined how to design safe streets]( [Scientists analyzed 1,700 cities and determined how to design safe streets]( Science proves the obvious: When fewer people drive, fewer people are killed by cars. [fastcompany.com]( [Snapchat introduces new interventions for mental health]( [Snapchat introduces new interventions for mental health]( If you’re facing depression, anxiety, or anorexia, Snapchat wants to be there to help. [fastcompany.com]( [Even when weed is legal, employees face risks]( [Even when weed is legal, employees face risks]( State laws may permit use of medical or recreational marijuana, but your employer may see it differently. [fastcompany.com]( [A professor claims ‘Paw Patrol’ is capitalist propaganda, and parental rage and hilarity ensue]( [A professor claims ‘Paw Patrol’ is capitalist propaganda, and parental rage and hilarity ensue]( No job is too big, no pup is too small, no political metaphor too weird. [fastcompany.com]( [Ring isn’t self-aware enough to handle its privacy controversies]( [Ring isn’t self-aware enough to handle its privacy controversies]( The Amazon-owned doorbell camera company still argues that people upset with its relationships with police departments just don’t understand. [fastcompany.com]( ['Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again' doesn't consider workers]( ['Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again' doesn't consider workers]( What work might look like under a classical architecture mandate. [fastcompany.com]( [Brandless, the pioneering Amazon alternative, shuts down]( [Brandless, the pioneering Amazon alternative, shuts down]( Brandless reimagined how we buy everyday goods. Now it’s folding. [fastcompany.com]( Download the Fast Company Magazine app: Available for [iOS]( and [Android]( devices Did you enjoy this issue? [Fast Company] You can [update your details here](. If you don’t want to receive Compass anymore, [unsubscribe here]( If you were forwarded Compass and like it, [subscribe here]( [View this newsletter online]( Powered by [Revue]( 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007-2195