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Anticipate what's coming and know how to plan.

We take what is complex and ambiguous and make it clear and simple. Foresight analysis and deep human research, turning endless data and open possibilities into findings you can implement.

Based in Toronto
Available across Canada
and remote
Problems we've solved
We had no idea that shift was comingThe forecast said one thing, our customers did anotherWe couldn't tell which trends actually applied to usOur five-year plan rested on assumptions nobody testedWe knew the numbers, never the reasons behind themEveryone had a theory, nobody had evidence We had no idea that shift was comingThe forecast said one thing, our customers did anotherWe couldn't tell which trends actually applied to usOur five-year plan rested on assumptions nobody testedWe knew the numbers, never the reasons behind themEveryone had a theory, nobody had evidence

Change now moves faster than most companies can react

The landscape keeps shifting
72%

of CEOs say it is increasingly difficult to work out which disruptive forces to prioritise. The signals are not scarce. Knowing which ones matter to you is.

Source / AlixPartners Disruption Index, 2026
Customers see it differently
8% vs 80%

Only 8% of customers rate brand service as excellent, while 80% of brands believe theirs is. Most companies are planning against a picture of the customer that is out of date.

Source / Bain & Company, the delivery gap
The real problem stays hidden
85%

of executives say their organisation is bad at diagnosing problems, and 87% believe that flaw is costing them. Effort goes into the wrong question.

Source / Harvard Business Review, problem diagnosis research
And planning ahead pays

Firms that are genuinely prepared for the future see 33% higher profitability and 200% higher market capitalisation growth than their peers.

Source / Rohrbeck & Etingue Kum, Corporate Foresight and its Impact on Firm Performance, seven-year study of 70 European firms

Three ways we help, built to work together

The data is endless and the possibilities are open. We narrow both into a clear view of what is coming and what people will actually do about it.

Foresight
Analysis

A clear read on where your market is heading, and which parts of your plan depend on things going well.

  • Horizon scanning and signal collection
  • Trend impact and uncertainty mapping
  • Scenario development and backcasting
  • Systems and causal loop analysis
  • Stakeholder power and interest mapping

Deep Empathy
Research

What people genuinely need, what gets in their way, and what would make them choose you again. In their own words.

  • Semi-structured and contextual interviews
  • In-person field and behavioural observation
  • Thematic coding and affinity mapping
  • Journey mapping and service blueprinting
  • Archetype and segment development

Workshop Facilitation
& Engagement

You already know the problem and roughly what you want to run. We come in and make it happen.

  • Workshop design and facilitation
  • Co-design and participatory sessions
  • Stakeholder and team engagement
  • Methodology build and research planning
  • Synthesis and affinity mapping sessions
Companies bring us the decision they can't afford to get wrong

The future will not hold still and the data will never run out. Our job is to narrow all of it down to the few things that actually bear on your decision, and hand you those as findings you can implement.

Say versus doStated preference and observed behaviour are different data. The space between them is where the useful findings live.
Structure, not blameWhen we can point to the system that produced a problem, you get something you can redesign.
What is load-bearingEvery plan has parts that hold and parts that need demand to cooperate. We tell you which is which.

Five organisations, five decisions that needed a real answer

Each engagement began with a question leadership was weighing and ended with an evidenced answer plus a plan they could act on. Client names are withheld by agreement. The findings are not.

Case Study 1 Experiential retailMarket strategy
Where could a guided jewellery-making concept fit in Toronto?
A proposed creative studio needed a grounded assessment of Toronto's experiential shopping and crafting market. The research identified where the concept could compete, how it could differentiate, and whether the business model showed financial potential. Foresight methods and user research covered both current conditions and likely future market shifts.
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The objective

Assess the viability of a guided jewellery-making studio within Toronto's experiential retail landscape, and define the strongest strategic direction using foresight-informed market signals and user-centred insights.

What we did

We conducted desk research and a horizon scan of experiential shopping, creative workshops and adjacent leisure experiences. This analysis identified emerging shifts in participation-based retail and the growing role of learning as leisure, clarifying how the market is evolving.

We complemented this with in-person experience sampling of comparable services. That allowed direct observation of how participants engaged with guided creative experiences, where friction occurred, and what shaped perceived value during the experience.

We combined these findings with a review of the proposed business model and financial assumptions. The synthesis connected emerging market direction with observed user behaviour to determine where the concept could compete and differentiate.

Project outputs

  • Foresight-led analysis of Toronto's experiential retail and crafting landscape
  • Direct and adjacent competitor analysis
  • Emerging market opportunities and risks from horizon scanning
  • In-person user experience observations of comparable services
  • Business model and financial potential assessment
  • Strategic "where to play" recommendations grounded in user behaviour and future trends

Methods

Desk researchHorizon scanningCompetitive analysisExperiential field researchUser research synthesisBusiness model analysisFinancial viability review
Case Study 2 Higher educationLearning & adoption
How can Excel upskilling improve without overburdening staff?
Many employees stayed at basic usage despite ongoing training. Systems analysis found a reinforcing loop: manual work consumed the time learning needed, so capability never grew, so the manual work persisted. The fix embedded upskilling into daily work rather than adding to it.
+

The objective

Identify the behavioural, practical and learning-related barriers to advanced Excel adoption, and design an approach enabling continuous upskilling through low-friction, judgement-free learning embedded in work.

What we did

We conducted in-depth interviews with employees to understand how they used Excel, how they approached learning new features, and what influenced their ability to prioritise upskilling.

The research identified that advanced adoption was shaped by role relevance, workload pressure and limited protected time for learning. Employees often relied on familiar basic functions because they were efficient within time-constrained workflows.

It also highlighted discomfort in traditional training environments, where employees were hesitant to ask questions or expose gaps in knowledge. That reduced engagement with formal upskilling formats.

We ran a systems analysis of workload and additional task management, which surfaced reinforcing negative feedback loops: inefficient manual processes consumed the time that learning would have required, so capability never developed, so the manual processes persisted. Additional tasks were absorbed into the same constrained hours, tightening the loop further.

We then journey-mapped the learning experience end to end, from first encountering a need through to applying a new skill, locating exactly where pain points sat along that path rather than treating them as a general lack of engagement.

We developed an implementation approach embedding learning into everyday workflows through microlearning tied to real tasks, so employees built capability in context rather than through isolated sessions. We also designed judgement-free learning environments that normalised experimentation and removed assumptions about prior knowledge.

Project outputs

  • User research on Excel use and learning behaviours across staff groups
  • Barriers to advanced adoption identified: relevance, time, confidence, context
  • Systems analysis of workload and additional task management
  • Negative feedback loops mapped between manual effort, available time and capability growth
  • Journey map of the learning experience with pain points located along it
  • Analysis of time spent on foundational learning within workflows
  • Insights into workplace learning safety and psychological comfort
  • Microlearning implementation approach embedded in real workflows
  • Design principles for judgement-free learning environments
  • Recommendations for sustainable upskilling pathways

Methods

Stakeholder interviewsUser researchThematic analysisSystems analysisCausal loop mappingJourney mappingBehavioural insight synthesisWorkplace learning analysisForesight thinkingImplementation design
Case Study 3 Nonprofit careSystems analysis
How can internal systems keep pace with changing care needs?
A nonprofit care organisation operated where client needs changed rapidly. The analysis showed where the system supported adaptability and where it created friction during change, and produced a phased plan to improve coordination within real operational constraints.
+

The objective

Understand how the internal system functioned across roles, identify service-level pain points, and develop a practical implementation plan aligned with evolving care needs.

What we did

We conducted stakeholder research across frontline staff, coordinators and leadership to understand how the system operated in practice, so the analysis reflected real operational conditions across the organisation.

We mapped how roles, responsibilities and processes interacted under changing care demands. A foresight lens examined how increasing complexity in client needs would continue to affect system performance over time.

The synthesis identified where the system supported adaptability and where it created friction during periods of change. Those findings informed a phased implementation plan designed to improve coordination within operational constraints.

Project outputs

  • Multi-level internal stakeholder research grounded in user experience
  • Systems analysis of organisational structure and workflows
  • Foresight-informed assessment of evolving care complexity
  • Documentation of service-level pain points across roles
  • Mapping of relationships between responsibilities and processes
  • Prioritised operational improvement opportunities
  • Phased implementation plan aligned with operational constraints

Methods

Stakeholder interviewsUser researchSystems analysisProcess mappingService analysisForesight analysisQualitative synthesisImplementation planning
Case Study 4 Film and social impactMarket viability
Can a new social-impact film build a viable audience and funding case?
A film initiative needed an assessment of audience potential and a clear foundation for fundraising. The synthesis positioned the film within a broader cultural and advocacy ecosystem rather than as an isolated project, covering both current viability and future relevance.
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The objective

Assess the potential viability of the film, clarify how investment supports production and impact activities, and define a long-term strategic direction grounded in cultural and social trends.

What we did

We conducted a horizon scan of film, social-impact media, animal welfare and cultural storytelling. This identified emerging narratives, funding patterns and shifts in audience expectations for purpose-driven content.

We reviewed the proposed investment allocation to clarify how funding would support production, distribution and impact activities. That also informed how the initiative could be communicated to potential supporters.

We analysed how audiences engage with social-impact storytelling, with attention to authenticity, advocacy and sustained engagement beyond a single release.

Project outputs

  • Foresight-led market and landscape viability assessment
  • Audience and adoption insights based on engagement patterns
  • Horizon scan of cultural and social-impact storytelling trends
  • Review and clarification of proposed investment allocation
  • Fundraising strategy considerations aligned with audience expectations
  • Long-term positioning for film impact and advocacy potential

Methods

Horizon scanningMarket researchLandscape analysisAudience insight synthesisInvestment allocation reviewForesight analysisSocial-impact strategy
Case Study 5 Economic developmentJourney mapping
How can a five-year strategy become a better client experience?
An economic development organisation was preparing the next stage of its five-year strategy. Root-cause analysis separated surface-level experience issues from underlying operational constraints, so recommendations addressed both immediate friction and structural drivers.
+

The objective

Map the current client experience, identify service gaps, and define actionable improvements aligned with evolving entrepreneurial needs and the organisation's long-term strategy.

What we did

We conducted interviews with entrepreneurs and internal stakeholders to understand how services were accessed and experienced, capturing real behaviours, motivations and breakdown points across the client journey.

We developed a journey map connecting individual experiences into a system-wide view of service delivery. A foresight lens examined how entrepreneurial expectations would shift over the next five years, particularly around speed, accessibility and integrated support.

We applied root-cause analysis to distinguish surface-level experience issues from underlying operational constraints. The findings informed strategy-aligned service improvements and implementation priorities for the next phase of the five-year plan.

Project outputs

  • Current-state entrepreneur journey map grounded in user research
  • Client and stakeholder interview findings
  • Audit of services and key touchpoints
  • Identification of experience pain points
  • Root-cause analysis of priority issues
  • Foresight-informed view of evolving entrepreneurial needs
  • Strategy-aligned service recommendations
  • Implementation priorities for the next stage of the five-year plan

Methods

Stakeholder interviewsUser interviewsJourney mappingService auditingRoot-cause analysisStrategic alignmentForesight analysis
Work with us

Every engagement ends the same way: your team stops arguing about what is true and starts deciding what to do. Hire us for one piece of the work or the whole question. Both get the same rigour.

Tier I

Select Engagements

You already have a team and a direction. Bring us in for the one part you need and keep everything else in house. Smaller scopes, faster starts, and a natural way to work together before committing to a full commission.

Workshop Facilitation & Engagement
"We know the problem and roughly what we want to run."
You have identified the problem and have an idea of what you want to undertake. We make it happen: design and run the session, whether that is a co-design workshop, a stakeholder round or a synthesis session, then hand you the data and a written read of what came out of the room.
Starts at$6,000 CAD
Methodology Design
"We have the problem. We don't know how to research it."
You know what you need to find out but not how to plan for it, or which research tool will actually get you there. We build the full outline: the right methods for the question, who to talk to and why, what goes in at each stage and what comes out, and how the pieces connect to the goal. Your team runs it.
Starts at$4,500 CAD
Advisory, One to One
"We just need someone who knows this to think with us."
Hourly sessions for direction on anything foresight or research related in your business. Pressure-test a plan, work out whether a signal matters to you, sanity-check a method, or keep the momentum going after a project has wrapped. Book once or set a standing slot.
Starts at$275 CAD an hour
Tier II

Full Commissions

You hand us the question and we take it from framing through to a plan you can act on. Best when the answer has to hold up in front of a board, or when nobody internally has the bandwidth to run it properly.

The Adoption Audit
"We rolled this out. Why isn't anyone using it?"
A clear diagnosis of why a system, tool or brand promise is not landing, with staff or with customers. Interviews, workflow mapping, adoption diagnostics and a prioritised roadmap you can start on Monday. Sample size and method are set to fit the question, not a template.
Starts at$28,000 CAD
The Horizon Scan
"What's coming that we should be planning for?"
Signal and trend analysis scoped to your industry and one live decision. You get a read on where the market is heading, what the people in it are observably doing, and what that means for the choice in front of you.
Starts at$18,000 CAD
A Bespoke Project
"Something isn't working and we can't name it."
For when you know something is off but not where it sits, or you are getting conflicting advice and cannot tell which of it applies to you. We start with a conversation, work out together what actually needs interrogating, and we build a project around that. Some of our best work has started exactly here.
Scoped togetherPrice on enquiry
How a full commission looks

Every commission is shaped around its own question. Stages stretch, overlap and get revisited as findings come in, and we adjust the plan with you as that happens. A Select Engagement can cover whichever checkpoint you need.

01

Framing

Kickoff and scope

Setting the focal question, its boundaries, and the decision it has to serve.

02

Research Design

Methodology construction

Choosing the methods, participants and evidence base that will actually answer it.

03

Evidence

Interrogation and collection

Fieldwork, scanning and interviews, run against a sharpened version of the question.

04

Sensemaking

Synthesis and pattern analysis

Clustering, driver mapping and root cause, until the findings hold up under pressure.

05

Activation

Deliverable and action plan

Prioritised recommendations, tradeoffs named, and a plan whoever owns it can run.

In every engagement

What you get, whichever route you take

  • The right question, framed first. We agree what the decision actually hinges on before anyone spends money gathering data against the wrong one.
  • Primary evidence, gathered for you. Real interviews and real observation, rather than a summary of what other people have already published.
  • Findings your whole team can act on. Written so a frontline worker and a CFO reach the same conclusion, with the tradeoffs named rather than buried.

Start with a free call. Bring the decision you are weighing and you will leave that conversation with a sharper version of the question, whether or not you hire us.

Book a free intro call

Finding the human in a world that keeps going digital

Studio Klee is a foresight and research practice based in Toronto, working with companies across Canada. Every engagement is led by Neecha Klee, who brings nearly a decade in design and research spent getting to the core of problems, and a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD University. Specialists join the studio when a project calls for them.

Companies come to us when a decision matters and the honest answer depends on how people will behave. A new platform, an AI rollout, a repositioning, an expansion. We go and find out, then bring back something you can act on.

A lot of market prediction is done at arm's length, reading dashboards and extrapolating from what has already happened. That work has its place, but it cannot tell you why a number moved or what people will do next. Foresight is only as good as the human understanding underneath it.

So we build ours on qualitative ground. Getting someone to tell you the real reason they avoid a system, or buy the thing they said they would not, takes time and care that most research timelines do not allow for. The findings live there, and we build the timeline to make room for them.

Clients tend to describe the same thing afterwards: a clearer picture, a shorter argument, and a plan the whole room could agree on.

A note from Neecha

I have been told I have an inquisitive mind, which I take as the compliment it is. I think the best of us never let go of the curiosity we had as children, and keep finding the beauty in exploration and discovery as the world unfolds around us. That is most of what this job actually is.

I am moved by deeply human experiences, and starting there is what lets me build strategy with intention and meaning inside a business landscape. It is why the studio runs the way it does, and why I still sit in the room for every interview.

Neecha Klee, Founder