56 Degrees

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the head of marketing and communications at a London-based venture capital firm. I manage all of our external-facing presence, including owned channels like our website and social channels, as well as PR, content production and PR/marketing support for the companies that we invest in.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 56 Degrees, and what were your goals?

The brief for 56 Degrees was part of a much larger rebranding project that I commissioned in January 2021. At that point, we did not have a 'brand' or any agreed assets to use across all of our channels materials which meant we had massive inconsistency (which if you work in marketing, you know is not a good look!).

Our original website had been created a few years prior to my joining by a sole developer who did not have any 'brand' to work with. The old website was a big pain point for me as it was very corporate and didn't reflect the business that we are today. We used 56 Degrees for the rebuild and development of our website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

56 Degrees was actually hired as part of our work with branding agency Onwards - it wasn't our specific selection but I am glad that we worked with them, and we still continue to work with them on ad-hoc changes to the website today.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

For the overall rebranding project we spoke to several agencies and reviewed a few proposals before agreeing on Onwards. This scope of work was overall to develop a visual and narrative identity for Talis. As a VC, Talis has to go out and raise capital from investors, and also convince founders to choose us as their investor, so we needed a more compelling brand to draw these various stakeholders in.

Onwards conducted various interviews at Talis and with our stakeholders to propose a new visual identity and narrative identity for us. Once this was largely agreed we worked with 56 Degrees to bring these two components to life on our website, which we ended up starting from scratch again (moving from Squarespace to Wordpress).

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Jakub, the founder, is who we liaised with. I know he had a larger team of developers working with him but we didn't have any direct contact with them

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Unfortunately no tangible 'measurable' outcomes. This is mainly because our website isn't a point of sale (as we don't sell a product) - it's more of a holding page with information over anything else. That being said, we had a lot of positive feedback from Talis' stakeholders who broadly agreed that the refresh of our brand was a much more accurate reflection of who we are today

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We primarily communicated through email. Jakub was very timely at considering our requests. While Onwards had drafted a static version of our website for 56 Degrees as a starting point, we made some significant changes to this with Jakub and his team when they were actually building it. They were all incredibly obliging when at times we were probably being quite demanding! - so I very much appreciated their commitment to helping us get to where we wanted to be.

After the project was complete we made a point of asking for a couple of tutorials from 56 Degrees so that we could manage our website and make minor changes ourselves - they were more than willing to help us with this, which was hugely helpful for me as I was relatively new to managing a Wordpress site at the time. To this day I am now able to make a decent number of updates to our website thanks to Jakub and 56Degrees.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

At no point did we hear them complain about the number of changes we wanted, which I massively appreciated!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

At times, we felt it could have been clearer (from both Onwards and 56Degrees) on who was responsible for specific deliverables of the project (such as uploading all of the old content from our old website to the new one). I think this is mostly because it was my first time doing this kind of project so I didn't fully understand the nuance of what needed to be done - while they might have potentially assumed that I had a full understanding of what it takes to build a new, dynamic website from scratch.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there? 

I was the CMO of Adstream when I worked with 56 Degrees. We were a creative logistics company that worked in the advertising media and production industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

We needed their team to develop a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

56 Degrees used WordPress to develop our business website from scratch. They devised features that enabled us to generate leads and impart our company proposition to potential customers.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with Jakub (Founder & CEO) and a designer.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

They were already in place when I stepped into the role of CMO, and I decided to keep them because I saw the value they brought to the table.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from November 2020–June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We were satisfied with 56 Degrees' deliverables. They took our vision and requirements to heart and produced results that mirrored those, with only minimal changes needed.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management perspective?

We communicated via email, phone-, and video calls. 56 Degrees was a proactive and self-starting partner that strived to meet our deadlines under any circumstances. They were always quick to identify any technical issues that could impede our process.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

We were most impressed with how professional yet friendly they were — they made everything digestible for us despite the complexity of the tools they used.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I couldn't point out anything that needed improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Present a clear brief and highlight your design and quality expectations with full transparency.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and development director of a healthcare company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

Before the pandemic, our company began a rebranding process. We needed someone to develop an exciting and impactful website that would take our rebranding efforts to the next level. We wanted the site to have an education section as well as an information section about our products and services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

56 Degrees developed a WordPress site using a custom template for us. This site serves a dual purpose for us — it provides information about our company, products, and services while also serving as a knowledge center where we can deliver educational content such as training and how-to videos for clinicians, scientific articles, and research papers.

We’ve just recently launched the site a few months ago, and we’re currently working with them to prepare for the next phases of the project.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Jakub (CEO & Founder), but we also work with a designer, a number of developers, and a project manager, who oversees individual projects.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

We searched for web development companies online and eventually came across 56 Degrees. After assessment work, we chose them because they delivered a very good presentation of their vision for the project.

I’ve worked with a number of other web developers before and I think that 56 degrees has by far the best understanding of what we were trying to do and how to evolve the design and aspiration that we had for the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent upwards of £30,000 (Approximately $40,000 USD) to develop the site.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It’s still quite early to see measurable, quantifiable results from the website, but we're already in the process of setting up SEO for it. 

The site is definitely working as it needs to and delivering what it absolutely needs to. We’ve also gotten very positive feedback from users in terms of the site’s presentation and usability.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

56 Degrees has performed very well in terms of project management. Obviously, these kinds of projects are always quite complicated, but they did very well in terms of delivering in a reasonable timeframe and managing their ongoing tasks.

We primarily communicate through video calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with 56 Degrees’ eye for detail and dedication to perfecting everything.

In the past, we’ve worked with companies who lost interest in the project when they felt like their job was done, but this has never been the case with 56 Degrees — they’ve been very good at following up and understanding that this is a long-term project and not just about creating a nice-looking website. They understand that this is a core part of a marketing effort that’s going to take many more phases of development to get it to where we want to and justify the investment we’ve put into it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could work a bit more on finding the right balance between aesthetically pleasing imagery and imagery that is relevant to our company’s industry or subject matter.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think that in order to get the most out of the engagement, you have to dedicate a lot of time to explore how you want to develop your site. 56 Degrees has a huge capability to deliver really impressive technical websites that are not just off the shelf, so make sure to go into the project already knowing what you’re aiming for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior digital project manager of an advertising and marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

We were getting a lot of digital projects, so we were in need of web development resources. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the web development project with an introduction call to walk them through what we needed. We then shared some web designs and asked them about their capabilities, and they brought some interactivity and nice transitions into the layout — which is what the client wanted.

The website was built using WordPress and they also created a backend for the client and for us to access. Moreover, they implemented their expertise in UX development, which has been helpful with the project’s progress.

What is the team composition?

We only worked with Jakub (CEO & Founder).

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

They were already working with the company before I was hired.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about £20,000–£40,000 (approximately $26,500–$53,100 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–August 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We measure the success with the client’s overall satisfaction, and they were really happy with how 56 Degrees managed the process and the output that was delivered.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

I thought they were really helpful and communicative throughout the project. They were also very available for calls and were always willing to answer our questions to make sure everything was clarified.

The process was very clear from the beginning because we scoped it together and agreed on the deliverables — so the timelines and schedule were quite seamless.

We typically communicated through email and phone, and we used Trello to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What impressed us the most is that they didn’t just do the work that was asked. They were very proactive in bringing new ideas to the table, and were very receptive whenever issues came up.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t have any problems with 56 Degrees. I knew they were trying to expand so they weren’t as available as times, but this is the essence of working with an external supplier. The project ran smoothly overall.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise them to reach out to 56 Degrees for their advice – they have the creative and user experience expertise to come up with ideas of their own and deliver beautiful work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of a brand and communications agency. I run the business, look after the clients, and lead the projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

They handle web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

56 Degrees works with us on all of our website projects. They get involved in the initial design phase to provide advice and guidance and make sure that everything we propose is possible within the available budget. Then, they do the backend development on WordPress. They’ve helped us with about 10 client projects. Most of our clients are B2B and insurance, so they generally want brochure sites that are functional, elegant, stylish, and contemporary.

They’ll begin building our own website in December 2020, and it will be live in January 2021.

What is the team composition?

We have one point of contact, Jakub (Founder & CEO). We don’t deal with any of his developers directly, but I know he has a bigger team. The size of the project determines how many developers will be assigned.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

We had been looking for a partner for a while. We tried using freelancers, but they were hit or miss, and we didn’t have enough website work to recruit someone full time. Jakub got in touch with us. We had a couple of conversations and did a couple of test projects, and it worked really well. We don’t use anybody else.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re coming up on $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together began in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve been highly satisfied with 56 Degrees’ work. The feedback from our clients has been fantastic, and our experience has been excellent.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is excellent. Jakub is always available by phone or email. He’s good at being upfront about how long things take, and if they run into any problems, we’re always told immediately. He’s very open, honest, and direct. When we’re working on a large project, we catch up at least once a week.

They’re amazing. They’re quick and effective; they solve any problems the same day we raise them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re the most honest and helpful web development team I’ve ever worked with. I’ve had so many bad experiences with people who pretend to know what they do or try to get out of the work you expect them to do. They have excellent knowledge and provide excellent service. It’s fun to work with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a really clear brief and deadline, and know what you’re doing. Ask your advice as much as you can. They have a wealth of knowledge, and they’re very happy to share it. From my experience, taking advantage of that has been the difference in making projects really, really easy.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We’re a strategic brand and content consultancy. We create work that looks great and delivers results. We call them beautifully effective ideas. I am Creative Director and Co Founder

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 56 Degrees, and what were your goals?

We have worked with 56 Degrees on a number of website build projects over the last 3 years. Our requirements differ from project to project.

SOLUTION

How did you select 56 Degrees and what were the deciding factors?

Initially via a recommendation. Then a conversation to understand more about the business and approach to projects.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Each project begins with a kick off call to discuss wireframes and creative visuals. We talk the team through our thinking and then collaborate with them to see how we can build upon what we have. They bring invaluable technical insight, interrogate the requirements. And then offer up a number of solutions for discussion.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Company founder Jakub M. tends to lead projects, with support from a number of developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The standard of work is excellent. The first pass of each project is always impeccable. I have only ever received positive comments.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Professional, open and honest. Never missed a deadline.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The team are meticulous. They are passionate about what they do, and this comes through in the work they produce.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None at all.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a creative consultant at byfire.co.uk. I work with various businesses, providing design services specifically within brand strategy and creation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

We were doing a full rebrand for a project management consultancy based in London. It involved a complicated website migration to a new WordPress site, so we asked 56 Degrees to come on board and handle the development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

56 Degrees developed a WordPress site from scratch for our client. Using our branding work as a basis, they came up with a few site designs to choose from. We selected the direction with the client, and 56 Degrees built everything else.

They were also responsible for migrating our client’s information from their previous site while preserving SEO. We actually didn’t know how to give them that information to transfer, so it was great that they were able to take that whole process off of our hands and sort it out. 

What is the team composition? 

I worked with two people: there was the managing director who also did development in the background and a designer.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

Before I had my own clients, I used to work for design studios. One of those studios used 56 Degrees for their web needs. I ended up meeting their managing director once or twice and thought that he was the kind of guy that you could have a laugh with.

Years later, I realized that I needed external support for my project. Since I had the budget to include 56 Degrees, I reached out to include them. 

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost about £12,000–£14,000 (approximately $15,500–$18,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

I started talking to them about the project in September 2019, but we weren’t able to start development until the client and I nailed down the requirements. The actual work lasted from January–October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

56 Degrees really pushed the bar with the website. They struck the right balance between honoring our client company’s heritage and making the branding a bit more modern. Our client has said the design work has been a breath of fresh air compared to other websites in the sector.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great at keeping up to date, turning things in on time, and self-management. In some cases, they even managed me, too. I’m not sure if they used any project management tools internally, but we communicated through the standard channels.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s really the relationship that we’ve built. Working with 56 Degrees is like having an extension of my own team, not just professionally but personally as friends. That’s a really nice thing to have. With other developers I’ve worked with, it can be hard to talk with them, so we stay at arm’s length. I’ve never gotten that feeling with 56 Degrees.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, the project went pretty well, so I only have nit-picky comments. The first was that they took a little bit longer than I would’ve expected to get an initial quote to us. That was an important factor in getting the client to agree to bring them on and checking our own costs.

The other was that they said they would deliver three design directions but only presented two. Now, they did explain why, and the client and I were both fine with it. However, we would’ve preferred it if they let us know ahead of the presentation.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sit back and enjoy the ride. If you don’t know anything, they’re quite eager to fill in your knowledge gaps, which is really nice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a branding agency that works on a variety of brand experience issues, from naming, to marketing strategy, to content creation. I am the creative director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

I work closely with their team to provide web development to our clients as components of that work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team helps us to incorporate the design and branding work that we do into completely new or refreshed websites. It is not unusual for them to build the products from scratch, and they often use WordPress as the base CMS so that the clients are able to continue managing everything after they take over.

One of the key projects that they helped us to deliver was a new site for a rehab facility in Thailand that caters specifically to LGBTQ individuals, and therefore provides them with unique treatments that speak to their unique experiences.

56 Degrees helped us to represent that approach and to find partners that had good creds working for LGBTQ brands as well as LGBTQ models and writers, which we were really proud of. They’ve helped us to deliver the same attention to detail and excellent quality work for a number of clients, including the rum brand ecommerce website that we are in development for right now.

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

I was introduced to them through another web developer

How much have you invested with them?

Our clients pay 56 Degrees directly, and the projects usually come in around £6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them about seven years ago, starting around June 2013 and continuing to today.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Anecdotally, the feedback that we receive is always extremely positive. Anything that they’ve built, people think looks absolutely incredible. The current site is working very well leading up to launch, and we’ve never had any issues with resolving problems or challenges to make sure that we are able to launch our products smoothly and successfully.

In the work with the rehab center, they ended up taking the work that we did with 56 Degrees and using it to inform their rebranding efforts across their numerous other individualized treatment programs, which we saw as a really positive sign. We were also able to obtain some really high-profile endorsements, in part because of the quality of work that their team provided.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

They always deliver on time and within budget, so I’m very satisfied with their performance on that front. We use Envision to communicate and keep track of all our milestones for the work, and they have done a great job of keeping us up to date throughout the process.

 I’m not a terribly technical person so having the 56 Degrees team to help answer questions and move our strategy forward when we might not otherwise be able to has been a huge asset. They always have really good input, not just on the website but from a holistic perspective about our client’s business concerns and objectives and how the website can facilitate those.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team understands what our demands in terms of the standard of quality are going to be, and they are prepared to achieve them. Everyone who works there is very down to earth and professional, so we have no problem introducing them directly to our clients and trusting their communication to flow directly back and forth without any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask them if they have any examples of the type of site that you want to build. The earlier you get their input, the better informed you will be to approach the rest of the process, and the more they will be able to understand your vision and deliver exactly what you are looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the creative director of a brand and marketing agency in New York City. We create brands to help our clients sell, lease, or engage in a place or district.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

We hired 56 Degrees for development support and assist us as a studio to provide a quality product for our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The 56 degrees team provided website development for multiple projects throughout our studio. At the same time, they brought UI/UX skills and knowledge as well. They’ve worked on a wide variety of projects spanning residential, commercial, destination, and corporate websites. These websites have included animations, interactive maps, newsletters, subscriptions, and client portals.

56 Degrees helped create a comprehensive district website that was heavily programmatic and informative about the destination. They had to think about how a user could learn more about the district, while also engaging with it as a tool to know what was going on in the area. When you’re working on a district, the site must tell a solid story about the area that informs it and the team helped us bring this vision to fruition by helping us shape the delivery of the content including the district's history, building overviews, neighborhood stories, and set up subscription service. 

What is the team composition?

Jakub (CEO & Founder) is our go-to point of contact. The other specialists are named Tomasz (Frontend Developer) and Radek. 

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees?

We were looking for a reliable, detail-oriented vendor who could take on the practical and creative sides of our projects. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested substantially with him and his team.

What is the status of this engagement?

We originally started working with the team in 2017, and we’re still working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The work they’ve provided has been very well-received by our clients. We’ve received larger corporate projects because the clients have seen key projects that we’ve done in the past executed successfully. A lot of the work 56 Degrees has helped us achieve has also been celebrated and awarded, by both website inspiration sites as well as the design industry. The work has also helped to get our brand name out there.

The large district project they worked on received excellent feedback from the client, but also from other clients. This site propelled us into getting similar work in the destination arena, which was an area we were looking to grow in. It was comforting (from a client perspective) to know that we could successfully handle a project of that size.

Also, they’ve helped us manage our entire portfolio of websites, making sure they were all built correctly. It’s now easier to rework aspects of the site due to their clean code.

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

They are fantastic. They are always there to address our questions and concerns. Even though there’s a time difference, we’ve been communicating seamlessly. They are committed to getting the work done right. 

We have started to use Asana, and it’s making our lives easier. It makes the process easy and straightforward. The team is very responsive on Asana and they update it accordingly once any task has been resolved.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They can balance the rational and emotional aspects of website design and development. They’re a developer who is skilled with code, but can also put on a design hat when required. They aren’t a studio that cuts corners — they invest effort in making sure that every detail is right.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d love for them to have a presence in the United States. I’d also love for them to have an additional designer that we could quickly turn to for quick questions. But, overall, I can’t speak highly enough of their team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should know what you stand for. Understand you're expectations because as soon as those are communicated with their team, they’ll respond accordingly. Come to the table with an open mind, but also know what you’re trying to achieve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a design company, Studio Bartlett. We work with companies on the more creative aspects of their business, including assisting with UX/UI and web design.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 56 Degrees?

My business focuses on the design aspect, but I wanted to find a regular partner I could work with to provide backend development support for projects. I hired 56 Degrees to build a website for a Welsh cottage rental business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My studio did artwork and design which we then handed over to 56 Degrees. They took our designs and turned them into a fully functional WordPress website that included a booking engine for the cottages. 

What is the team composition?

My primary point of contact is Jakub (Founder & CEO, 56 Degrees). He also has a team of developers working with him. 

How did you come to work with 56 Degrees? 

I received a recommendation from a colleague. Initially, I just had 56 Degrees do a few small projects for me to test them out. They performed really well so I decided to bring them on for larger development assignments (i.e. the cottage rental website). 

How much have you invested with them?

The development of the cottage rental site cost about $3,200. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working on the cottage website in December 2017, and the site launched in April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We got positive feedback from the owner of the cottage rental business. The website launched nearly two years ago and there haven’t been any issues with its functionality. 

How did 56 Degrees perform from a project management standpoint?

Jakub has excellent project management skills. He’s fostered a strong relationship with me. Our communication is very seamless. We primarily keep in contact through email and phone calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

It is impressive how they can translate our vision into a digital format. A lot of other developers aren’t as detail-oriented when it comes to the aesthetics of a site. They’re thorough in their process so it doesn’t take a lot of revisions to get the desired end result. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. 

Do you have advice for potential customers? 

Make sure to be diligent with mapping out what you want the site to be like and they will deliver.