Digital Innovation Through the Lens of Beauty

Leonardo Da Vinci revolutionized the way people were painted
during the Renaissance, and his "Mona Lisa" is the most famous
painting in the world and is a cultural icon for beauty, in part
due to what is usually described as her alluring and mysterious
smile. What has made the "Mona Lisa" so popular for more than 500
years? It can be boiled down to one word: innovation. 


Da Vinci was an innovator his entire life. He saw possibilities
everywhere. The painting is a culmination of his curiosity and
studies he undertook during his lifetime. Leonardo was interested
in just about everything. One thing he was interested in was
human anatomy, and he made many anatomical studies of the human
body, including the facial muscles used for smiling. He
discovered the complex system of muscle movement needed to
produce a smile, and the data he collected during dissections he
performed helped him produce the world's most revered painting.


This week’s CX Decoded podcast guest knows about innovation, data
collection and omnichannel approaches when it comes to beauty as
well. Michelle Pacynski, vice president of digital innovation
at Ulta Beauty, has led Ulta through much of its digital
transformation in the past 10 years, a time in which the company
revolutionized how beauty products were assembled and marketed to
enthusiasts.  


We caught up with her to find out what brands can learn from the
beauty industry about a host of topics, including the high level
of engagement of beauty enthusiasts.