Adchitects

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a customer happiness architect at Cyber Folks, a web hosting company. My title is a fancy name for marketing manager. We had 10 different brands and wanted to match them all together into one brand. That was a challenge because the brand was meant to carry our services not only in Poland, but worldwide. Our company also buys other hosting companies from foreign countries. We were assisted by a few agencies. Some of them specialized in branding and some in strategical advisories. Step-by-step we’re getting closer to our final brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Adchitects?

We had the name and the brand concept. We were seeking a company to design our website to tell our story.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave them our brand book, our logo, brand name, colors, fonts, and low-fi sketches of how we think our new website could look. We wanted them to work with us in two scopes. The first scope was for our website design. They coded everything in HTML, CSS, and WordPress.

We worked pretty closely together during the whole project.

It required attention from both sides. Our developers cooperated with them as well because we have lots of integrations with our systems. As a hosting company, we have a lot of functionalities that aren’t very common, like a domain search engine. They connected these functionalities with our system. There’s lots of backend coding. They also assisted us with adding additional functions that were meant to be after the launch.

They delivered the MVP of our website with basic functionality. We faced a few challenges on our side because of some of our internal CRM systems. Then our new brand was released to the public.

We already had a blog section with 200 articles and some photos. Because it wasn’t from scratch, they had to include existing content and make it look good.

What is the team composition?

We were in contact with Rafał (Head of Service Delivery), our project manager, and Kuba (Co-Founder & CEO). They had pretty good conversation with us. The negotiation phase was really smooth. They provided us with a pretty transparent process. There are two coders and a graphic designer as well.

How did you come to work with Adchitects?

We sent our inquiries to 5–6 agencies. We talked with three of them. We had chemistry with Adchitects. They understood our brand and knew what we were trying to say. The pricing differences weren’t significant among the different agencies.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2019 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re satisfied with their graphic designs. They had a good project manager and a good coder. We like the website and think it’s beautiful. We advertised as well, so it’s hard to say how much of the metrics are due to just their work alone. The first month was pretty successful and our direct sales grew by 30%.

How did Adchitects perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a nice process. We had a weekly Zoom meeting and discussed any issues. We could talk to the project manager, the two coders, and the graphic designer. They provided a monthly invoice with a detailed list of all the activities. Everything was very clear and there were no surprises. They delivered on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What helped us most was their understanding of what our brand should be. It saved a lot of explaining. There are more benefits on both sides in the future because it so happens that they are designers and we’re a hosting company. We complement each other—they get a good hosting partner and we get a good design partner. It’s much easier to satisfy the needs of such a customer.

The general offering was pretty good. The flow of information between us and them was pretty nice. We finished everything within budget.  It was amazing. It rarely happens in the IT world. Their estimations at the beginning of the project were very accurate.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m happy with how it looks now. We had a pretty hard time in coming into this look and feel of this blog. It needed to have a nice section for comments. We didn’t want too much in the sidebars. At the beginning, we were presented with a layout completely not matching our philosophy. After that, it turned out it wasn’t developed by the main designer but someone else instead. This new person didn’t quite catch up with the meaning of our brand. It was easy to correct, but it was a small scratch because no one is perfect. It was a 98% perfect cooperation.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We weren’t a typical customer because people don’t usually go to them with good requirements written down, but we did. We knew exactly what we wanted. We had our targets and goals written down. We had our brand book and even low-fi charts of our website. Anyone who wants to work with an external agency, write down your requirements. It really helps.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Workwide Group operates job sites for young multilingual Europeans who want to experience living and working abroad. We offer our job-seekers helpful content and guides, technology for comparing the cost of living and exciting job opportunities inside some of the world's largest and most respected corporations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Adchitects?

Web dev. Continous optimisation. New functionality. Web design.

What were your goals for this project?

To continue to develop our platforms and increase the value they provide for our job-seekers and customers through good UX, innovative functionalities and great looking design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did vendor research across Northern Europe and Central+Eastern Europe. We talked to around five different agencies in the small to medium size before choosing to work with Adchitects. The reason we choose them is because of their engaged style and involvement. No other vendor took the time to do proper research about our business let alone market. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Development of new designs, coding them and translating them into several websites. The key was the mobile-first approach, which was required from the beginning by us and the involvement of an experienced UX Designer in the project. Also provide maintenance services for all websites.

What was the team composition?

Web dev, UX designer, PM.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The project met our expectations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management has been engaging and understanding. Project management has been mostly smooth but sometimes a bit un-organized but nothing major.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Not only did Adchitects do that but I remember them even checking our local weather forecast to make sure we felt important as potential customers. This is an important symbolic gesture that we appreciate and this feeling of engagement and understanding of our challenges and opportunities has continued through our partnership.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Project management has been engaging and understanding. Project management has been mostly smooth but sometimes a bit un-organized but nothing major.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of a software development company. We have around 50 employees who specialize in software development, integration, and consulting services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Adchitects?

We were looking to optimize and redesign our website using better technology.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Adchitects handled web design efforts using HTML and CSS. They also provided some web development by creating subpages and a block page for our website.

What is the team composition?

There were 5–6 people on the team, including the project manager.

How did you come to work with Adchitects?

I found them on Clutch. Their pricing and onboarding process were major contributors in our decision to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $10,000-$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from July–December 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform’s design is great and user feedback has been very positive.

How did Adchitects perform from a project management standpoint?

We held daily scrum meetings to stay up-to-date on metrics and address any issues that arose. Their team delivered on time and within budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their impressive collaboration skills make them stand apart from competitors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing they could’ve improved on, they were perfect.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you need any services that they offer, I advise you to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a home goods company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Adchitects?

We wanted to differentiate ourselves from our competitors through packaging design. We hired Adchitects to help us create a baseline for our brand and logo.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They delivered different options for packaging design, and a logo. They also did additional renderings to display on e-commerce platforms.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Kuba (CEO & Co-Founder, Adchitects) and he communicated with different designers throughout the project.

How did you come to work with Adchitects?

We saw a list of agencies on Clutch. Adchitects felt like the best choice for us because of their quality and cost.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $2,400.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2019 – February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work was great.

How did Adchitects perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very organized and accurate in their estimations and timelines. Trello was used for reporting needs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team was very professional regarding deliverables and proposing accurate schedules. The quality of their design was great. They really tried their best to understand the vision for the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d prefer to have paid a fixed price rather than pay hourly for services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear on your vision for the project and your expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and operations manager at Martinssons, a high-end antique furniture webshop.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Adchitects?

I needed a company to develop our webshop.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave them examples of other websites, and, based on those, they designed and developed the WordPress site we have now. It’s mainly a gallery at the moment, but we’re planning to implement an e-commerce plugin later on.

What is the team composition?

There was a project manager, a designer, and a developer.

How did you come to work with Adchitects?

I heard about them through a friend of mine who knows the owner of Adchitects. We’re in the same city in Poland, and their prices were very attractive.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent 10,000 PLN (approximately $2,500 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2019 and the project lasted until October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re happy. They delivered what we wanted and did everything we asked them to do. It was a really great collaboration, and they’re very nice to work with.

How did Adchitects perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very communicative. They use Trello, and it’s quite effective. That being said, there were times when we preferred the efficiency of a phone call. We also met in person three times. They’re extremely responsive and get back to you immediately.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their transparency in reporting their time, especially with their invoicing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that I can think of. It was a small investment, but they met our criteria.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Always answer when they reach out. They are ready to make changes as quickly as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of Remmed Vision, a VR company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Adchitects?

We wanted outside resources to do all of our marketing tasks.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Adchitects did many tasks for us. I worked with them for my digital marketing. They handled the whole communication for our company, preparing research, a brand book, and a website with content. 

They did full-service branding from scratch and visual identification. They completely built the brand identity, creating business cards, posters, social media visual content, and graphical elements. We got help in terms of key visual concepts for our planning. We worked on how to make our branding identification really distinctive.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–5 people. We had one project leader from Adchitects.

How did you come to work with Adchitects?

They were recommended to us based on feedback from other people we know. We chose them because we liked their portfolio and their style of work suited to our needs. We also liked the approach they offered. Their price was good for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $20,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2018–October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They gave us a distinctive way of finding any kind of images of children with glasses. We are satisfied with the quality and planning of the work. All the material they delivered is really consistent.

Previously, we only had a logo. We were searching for something specific for our brand that could be applied to other marketing messages, and they achieved it. It’s much easier for us to attract clients to our company now.

How did Adchitects perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m satisfied with their project management. They provided us with tools and training on how to manage the project. We aren’t an easy client because all the tasks are assigned to different people. It was pretty hard to manage the work, but they did it well. It was done fast and efficiently.

We worked in time and material methodologies. We used Trello to find all the tasks and coordinate the work. They’re flexible with timing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their project management stood out. There were no issues with quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are good for projects that require a unique approach. They’re pretty flexible in finding some unusual graphical concepts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Let’s Day Out, an iOS app that connects people to luxury and premium experiences in London. We also connect users with similar interests to group experiences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Adchitects?

We were looking for a company to help us design a new website. We had a landing page, but we only had four weeks to complete the site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Adchitects built our website from scratch using WordPress, and they continue to help us make improvements and add new sections. They’re also currently working on our app design. We had a video call when we started working together, and I showed their team examples and told them things I wanted to have on the app.

They’re designing our web portal, which is a product for companies. We work with about 70 event host companies that organize the events and experiences we feature on our app.

What is the team composition?

My points of contact are the head of digital and the CEO. There’s also a UX designer and other designers and developers, but I haven’t talked to them.

How did you come to work with Adchitects?

I was referred to them by my development agency.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent £5,000 (approximately $6,400 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Adchitects in June 2019, and they completed the first version of the website in July.  Our work together is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Adchitects has done very well, and they’ve been able to satisfy my expectations. Among the different designers I’ve met, their design quality is the best I’ve ever seen. 

How did Adchitects perform from a project management standpoint?

Adchitects delivered the site according to the deadline. They’re very transparent about project scope and timelines. They have good service and communication skills, and the team is always very polite and friendly. They care about their customers.

They can accommodate urgent requests at the very last minute. We use Trello to see what’s been done, what’s approved, and what’s in progress. It’s an efficient process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everything they do is pretty good. What surprises me is that I can just tell them that I really want a product that functions like contemporary booking apps, and they’re very resourceful; they find ways to achieve that. The team is motivated, and they get things done. They don’t compromise on quality or say they can’t do something.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, I want to have constant communication via Slack, but I think their team prefers to use Trello. I think they should accommodate the different working styles of every team. That’s one thing that could be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

People who want to work with them should have a strong idea of what they want to achieve. Once you’re clear about your goals and objectives, Adchitects will be good about executing what you want. If you don’t really know what you want, it might be more challenging.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We sell materials, parts, and consumables to the airline industry and work closely with airline customers. I work in quality assurance and our IT department.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Adchitects?

At the beginning of the year, we wanted to refresh our website. It was becoming outdated, so we wanted a company that could help us with web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted the website to fit what we do today. The old site didn't represent us well, so they built us a WordPress site.

What is the team composition?

We work with a team of between six and eight people.

How did you come to work with Adchitects?

We looked through Clutch for web developers. We weren't sure where to begin, but we trust Clutch reviews. We interviewed about three companies before we selected Adchitects. Based on the phone call and what we saw on their website, we knew they were passionate about what they do. The pricing was also very good. Our executives approved them, so we selected them.

How much have you invested with them?

Our costs are currently around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around February 2019. Once we go live, we will keep them on for security and a couple of other services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our business is somewhat unique, and we don't rely on customers coming through the website. We're well-established in the industry, so most of our business comes through brokers. We do have a portal on the site that creates quotes for users, and there are options to order parts online.

The website definitely looks more professional that what we had. We only went live a month ago, so we don't have any quantifiable results yet.

How did Adchitects perform from a project management standpoint?

They're excellent project managers, and we worked in InVision and Trello during development. They're in close contact with us, and we got updates every day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

A major reason we chose them was their cost. We were very pleased with their quotes, and they’ve kept us well under budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were concerned at first about communication, but we felt reassured after the first couple of calls. I don't think there's anything they could improve. It would be nice to have a more local vendor to meet face-to-face. Other than that, the relationship is good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You do need a level of tech savvy to enter a project like this. Because you're working through portals, this kind of collaboration might be awkward for someone who isn't good with technology.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

National Luxury Hardware Supply is a wholesale distributor of luxury building materials. It is a subsidiary of Chicago Brass Architectural Hardware, which I am the President of.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Adchitects?

We engaged Adchitects to develop our new brand identity and our initial ep-commerce platform.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to develop our initial entry into e-commerce under a subsidiary brand, providing a template for further expansion into the channel.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Adchitects through a write-up on e-commerce developers for small business. I reached out to them as well as a few other parties and discussed the scope of our work. Their level of engagement and ability to clearly understand what we were looking to do far exceeded any other vendor we spoke with.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Adchitects created a brand book for our new brand and developed a complex configurator & pricing estimation e-commerce website.

What was the team composition?

Our main interaction was with our project manager, but we also have communication with their design and development team. From our side, it was a single point of contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Not there yet as we are just deploying the site they built for us, but we truly believe it will be critical to our further growth as a company. The platform they constructed for us is incredible and functions well. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We utilized Trello, and I found it to be quite effective. Our project manager was excellent and extremely communicative.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to clearly understand our needs and retain communication after only being discussed once.

Are there any areas for improvement?

This is not a knock by any means, but I would suggest expanding their initial proposal to include a suggested overage in their estimate. For example, our bid is x, but we suggest adding on y to accommodate the normal number of changes and/or add-ons we see in a project of this nature.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Leveraging the knowledge gained through our interior design firm, we are launching a disruptive online furniture company. I'm the CEO and co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Adchitects?

We hired Adchitects to develop a custom WordPress and WooCommerce site. We exclusively serve the interior design community, so we needed a visually gorgeous site. Since our products can be customized, we needed a website that allowed users to select their product, update it with their preferences, and see product photos and pricing updates. And since our products have so many variants, we needed a site that could handle a huge number of product variants without adjusting the architecture.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to build with WordPress and WooCommerce. This allowed us to create a flexible site that supported our growth. We didn't need to worry about outgrowing the limitations of our platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Adchitects for a handful of reasons. First, they could support our creative and technical needs. Many agencies claim to offer both, but most are either a creative shop with so-so web development capabilities or a geeky development shop that delivers mediocre creative work. Adchitects did splendid work across both fronts. They also offered the benefits of working with a hip, cosmopolitan European team, along with a reasonable hourly rate. While chatting with them, their warmth and excitement shone through. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They developed our new WordPress and WooCommerce site. Customizing an off-the-shelf theme, they added plug-ins and custom CSS to deliver the UX/UI experience we wanted. They also improved our company identity, logo, and brand guidelines. 

What was the team composition?

We worked with a managing director, who orchestrated our overall project engagement; a project manager, who managed the nuts and bolts; a creative director, who led the creative elements; and a lead developer, who handled the coding and customization. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Adchitects was so speedy that they delivered our project before the prototyping process wrapped. We haven't yet launched.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their project management was great. My only feedback was that we found ourselves defaulting to email. Adchitects has already updated their best practices and shifted to Trello. They were nice to work with, they addressed issues well, and they listened without judgment or frustration when we gave feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about them was their blend of creative and technical abilities. They were more than capable of delivering high-performing WordPress and WooCommerce sites and wonderful creative assets. Even more impressive was their attitude. Working with them was a pleasure.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have little to say. My only gripe was with the project communications, and they already corrected that.