How we work
All projects are unique, and based on our experience your design project doesn’t lend itself to a rigid repeatable formula. What we do have is a set of tools that can be used in ways that are appropriate to your specific project, based on your needs, budget and timeline. It starts with a clear understanding of what needs to be done and then carrying it through to a polished final product.
A cup of coffee or a call
The first thing we’ll do is get to know you and your team, and get a high-level picture of where you’re at and what you want to achieve. By the end of our call or cup of coffee we’ll have a pretty good idea of the kind of project we’re looking at, and the different ways we can potentially help. At this point it’s too soon to set up project fees and timelines, but based on our experience we’ll classify your project as small, medium or large.
Project foundation
This is where we get into the details of what exactly is involved and getting the project done. Depending on the size of your project (S, M, L) this can take anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks and ranges from $5,000 to $20,000. At the end of the project foundation phase we’ll have a work plan that outlines in detail how we’re going to move forward, one that lets us get specific about timelines and fees.
Design / Build phase
This is the bulk of the project. Depending on the size and complexity this phase can last anywhere from 6 weeks to a year or more. At this point we’re into making things on an ongoing basis; some of them are tests and some are production ready. We’ll be doing research and experiments, building wireframes, storyboards and prototypes, through to pixel-level mockups. The design phase can also include pitch decks, marketing materials or anything else we need to do to support the project. In the case of the website we’ll be doing web development culminating with a launch and coordinating with all the other efforts you have to go along with making your website public. In the case of a product or app it would include design management: the production of assets and reviewing development. If we’re working on an agile project there are likely regular releases every two weeks, or more often with continuous integration projects.Optimization
One of our clients once said “We’ve had a baby, I’m not sure we’re really ready to raise a child?” With digital projects and websites the launch isn’t really the end; it’s a new beginning and the optimization phase is where we see if users are engaging with the project in a way that we had planned. This is usually a reduced scope on our end but could as long as the main project phase or longer. For apps this is also a fact of life, we’ll stick around to run the experiments we need to get you to your goal as you continue to adapt to input from your audience.