Archetype

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our startup is developing a task manager and ERP software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Archetype?

They made a landing page for my startup project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a lot of communication around what information the landing page should contain and how it should be presented. We’re a startup, so there have been multiple changes from the initial idea to the final landing page. Archetype did a great job of getting an understanding of what we needed and what would be useful for us.

I gave them an overall description of the project and what clients we were aiming for, and they came up with the deliverable. We briefly discussed the technical details, communicating about ideas and what the final project should be. Aside from building the landing page, they made a logotype and came up with the name for our project.

What is the team composition?

I only communicated with Yaroslav (CEO and Head of UX, Archetype). He mentioned that there were 5–6 people involved.

How did you come to work with Archetype?

We received a personal recommendation from some friends who’d worked with Archetype and had a good experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $12,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from November 2018–March 2019. We plan to further develop the landing page and are in touch once a month.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve just launched the landing page, so we don’t have any useful metrics yet. The collaboration and their level of expertise were very good. I’m happy with their services, and I'd easily recommend them to anyone with a similar scope.

How did Archetype perform from a project management standpoint?

They were exceptional. The first meeting with them was in-person, and the rest of the communication was via Telegram.

I had no issues, and any schedule delays were related to the changes we made to the initial technical description. One aspect I enjoyed a lot was how they managed the changes we required for the technical details.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The main reason I opted to work with them was their price. Other design agencies were asking for at least 30% more. Archetype offered great value for money, as well as excellent communication. I was pleased with every aspect of the coordination with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve been pleased with anything, and I can’t think of anything that they could improve.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I advise clients to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Kira is a tech startup providing sales and marketing analytics for businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Archetype?

We were about to raise funds for business, so we had to work on the design and marketing package. It was basically a marketing launch, so we needed the design of the website, application, and everything else.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We required some UX work before starting on the UI, so we asked them to do some research on our client base. Based on that, they made some mockups and wireframes for how the future platform would look.

We developed the entire backend, which is AI-based, and Archetype was responsible for the frontend in JavaScript. It analyzes data from sales and marketing and brings it together. The app itself is responsible for sending notifications to users about unusual behavior within sales or marketing parameters.

What is the team composition?

They assigned three designers and one project manager, with whom we took calls twice a week.

How did you come to work with Archetype?

Archetype was recommended to us by some startup friends. I met with their account managers over Skype and found them to be neat and knowledgeable. They cared about UX and conducting research, more than anything else.

We also reviewed their work and really liked it; they had a unique style that we wanted in our app.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost so far has been slightly above $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Archetype in May 2018 and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application is still in development, but we’ve received lots of good feedback about its design and wireframes. We’ve had a closed beta test, and we sent out emails with design mockups. I like the designs very much. The UX was worked on extensively, so everything’s working smoothly.

How did Archetype perform from a project management standpoint?

We worked remotely, with a biweekly call to talk about the progress. There was a dedicated project manager who never missed a call, and when we needed to reschedule, he was open to it. He was dedicated to us, and he understood everything we wanted or any comments we had. We used Slack for chatting and Trello for tracking the work, while we had meetups on Google Hangouts. Everything went smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach to the research side of things and their way of managing the project was impressive. We decided every milestone at the beginning, then they saw them to completion, with nothing overdue.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like to mention something, but nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Archetype’s team is understanding, and they catch everything on the first go. I advise clients to be as open and clear as you can in terms of the requirements for the work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the co-founder of a company that does online projects targeting the Ukrainian market. We're planning to expand to other services for the Eastern European market. Our company is based in Kiev.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Archetype?

This specific project is a sales platform for branded clothes that have been pre-owned and are partially new. We had already launched a test platform, but we were searching for an agency or company who could complete the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Before we hired Archetype, we’d sent an initial design of the platform to a number of experts for review. They gave comments on what had to be changed or improved in the visual design and the structure of the website. We showed Archetype the existing product and shared the ideas that we wanted to execute.

Archetype gave suggestions based on their experience and modern standards. They had a lot of solutions that we thought were very good. They completely redesigned the website and some of the logos. They changed the colors to be in harmony with the style of the big brands, giving the impression that the platform sells premium products. They told us what was necessary and what was not.

They pretty much redid the whole website. They redesigned the product card, the front page, the email, and the logo. They also changed the layouts of filters. We had horizontal filtering, but they advised that the filtering should be done vertically. Based on their research, most platforms are doing filtering this way. People are used to that, so we shouldn't be different from what people are used to when navigating this kind of website.

What is the team dynamic?

My primary contact is Yaroslav [CEO, Archetype], and he had a team behind him. I don't know how many people they have, but I know some of them are in contact with our programmers.

I’m not involved in the everyday work for this project. I did approve the final design, and they consult me about major decisions for product development and staffing. I also have other people on the team.

How did you come to work with Archetype?

We asked our contacts and received several recommendations. We also talked to companies who worked with a local hub for IT companies and startups. We met with the top studios here in Kiev. Yaroslav and his company were our top option because of their professionalism and their quotation, which was within our budget. Other agencies were also good, but they were much more expensive as they mainly concentrated on large corporate products. Archetype had the right approach. They also had good feedback and references, so we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $7,500 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in June, and the engagement is ongoing. The website design is done, and we are about to finalize the programming. I have another project that's been out there for 6 years and needs a redesign, and I’d like to have Archetype do that.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, we don’t have any straightforward results. We can talk about it in a few months, but not yet. The only result I can share with you is the feedback from our consultants and experts, which was very positive. Archetype was able to implement their comments. After we showed the design, one of them said, "Okay, that's what I was talking about. That's exactly what we need. There are a few small corrections, but otherwise, it is working well." This happened often. We also showed the design to other consultants after we actually started doing the work, and they've been very happy with Archetype’s output.

Besides asking those experts, we also sent the design for blind valuation. We have a similar competitor on local markets, so the redesigned platform was compared with the design of our rival brand. We wanted to see which design looked more modern and which was preferred by users. The design done by Archetype performed better than our competitor’s platform. Before the redesign, the opposite was true.

How did Archetype perform from a project management standpoint?

We are very happy with the deadlines in general and their approach to work. More or less, we’ve kept all the deadlines. There are some minor delays, but they are not major ones. You can never hit the specific dates you plan, but more or less, it’s really not a problem.

The communication is very efficient. We have a project manager who is in touch with them on a daily basis. It is easy to reach them for extra comments or questions. Sometimes, we have to work extra hours, and they are ready to synchronize their time with us. If I send an email quite late, they would be ready to take a look at it, which is really something. Based on experience, we don't always get that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Archetype seems like a boutique agency that cares about clients. They give us enough attention—we do not feel like we are just one client out of hundreds. They are easy and comfortable to work with. What makes them stand out is their attitude and flexibility. They are quite friendly and open.

They were quite open about sharing information even before we had a contract signed. They’ve given us a lot of free advice, which builds trust and demonstrates their professionalism. I like that approach.

They have a lot of experience in what they do. They already knew what we needed before we told them what we wanted. They're designers who know how to make a product look modern and friendly. They meet our expectations for the product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In general, I'm happy with their work, but there's always room for improvement. If I were to be strict about it, the deadlines could be a problem.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is a courier delivery marketplace. We run an Uber-style marketplace for couriers and senders.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Archetype?

We needed to create the user interface part of our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Archetype is responsible for the UI part of our platform. Initially, we prepared the requirements and mockups. Based on our specifications, Archetype performed an analysis and created our interface design. The initial design phase took 2–3 weeks to complete.

We are now in the development stage, which is being done in-house. We continue to use Archetype’s services for small design changes. We will finish coding in 1 week, after which we plan to start the testing stage. That’s when we will look at the icons and other elements that may need changing.

How did you come to work with Archetype?

We found them on LinkedIn, and then we started an interview and negotiation process. We looked at their background, communication skills, availability, and abilities.

How much have you invested with Archetype?

They have a rate of $20 per hour. We renegotiated our scope of work as we progressed.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Archetype in June 2017. Right now, we’re only using Archetype for small changes and support. The app will hopefully be launched at the beginning of August.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The design took a bit longer to complete, but Archetype did a good job in the end.

How did Archetype perform from a project management standpoint?

We had frequent 1-hour meetings during the initial phase, but we communicate less often now.

What did you find most impressive about Archetype?

I appreciate the creativity Archetype used to provide our design. Archetype was able to design elements that we hadn’t mentioned initially.  

Are there any areas Archetype could improve?

Overall, no. We didn’t experience a lot of issues. Archetype has done a good job.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Archetype?

I have worked in this field, so I know how to describe key features and functionalities. It’s important to discuss the details of what is required.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Essaybay.com is a platform for students from all over the world to get informational materials for studying for high school, college, or anything else they need. They tell us what they need to get done, and we provide them with all the required information for those projects, assignments, and tests. We are mostly aimed at Canada, United States, and Australia,  but all students are welcome here in our company. I'm the COO.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Archetype?

We were looking for a company that could offer us a full spectrum of services. We were working with a couple of freelancers before, but they, unfortunately, couldn’t provide us with such services as Archetype could. We were looking for web design, constructing the strategy, constructing the picture of our client, developing a marketing strategy, and managing and improving the process of servicing clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created the web design and designed web characters. We didn't even know it could be done, but they made a really personalized website exactly completed to our needs and requirements. They developed and improved the client focusing process. They even studied the target audience. Through the project process, they created and implemented features that other companies didn’t have. They found out what our average customer is going to be: the age, the preference of our customer, what they are searching for, what they want to get, and what kind of service they want to receive. The project is finished, but they’re still looking at how tasks can be improved or whether something can be changed. There were three people from Archetype working on this project: one from marketing, one UX designer, and one UI designer.

How did you come to work with Archetype?

We'd been cooperating with freelancers before. Overall they were okay, but we asked ourselves "Can we get something better?" Then one of my friends who was contracting Archetype before recommended them to me. We had a couple of talks about our project, and the things they offered seemed pretty good. Also, we had a really good opportunity to communicate with them via phone and email, and they were always in contact with us. We didn't have to wait for more than a couple of hours to get the answers to our questions, while with all those freelancers we had to wait two or three days. They’re a bit more expensive than the freelancers, but we get more service and we had a recommendation from a friend of ours, so we decided this could work better. They became more involved with our work every week and month. That's where we thought it was a really good deal to work with them.

How much have you invested with Archetype?

It was between $11,000-$12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from November 2016 to February 2017. For now, our company is in a stage of backend development, so we are still working with them on the backend features of our website and CRM, and what will work in terms of the frontend, as we're looking for a way to make the ordering, checkout, and communication process faster. As well, we consult with them regarding client issues or designs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We tested the design and everything they made on a couple of customers. They were trying to use the website and our services, so we looked at what they felt while using it. The process from the client came to us to payment and receiving of the work became twice as fast, and that, I think, makes us better than the competitors in some points. Before, the client came to us and could only order one, two, or five pages of work. Archetype offered us to make this service for 100, 200, and 300 words. For example, if the client doesn’t need a full page, they have offered us to make such kind of a service. This excluded so many possible questions or issues while introducing various decisions for the clients.

How did Archetype perform from a project management standpoint?

It was really good. I didn't have to call them every day, every hour, and ask them what have they done. They sent us the completed work as soon as it is done. They’re responsible about meeting deadlines. We were always in touch. They care about their reputation and work, and I saw that they want to provide us with good service to get us pleased with it, and they succeeded.

What did you find most impressive about Archetype?

In my country, what really distinguishes them is that they have a personal approach while being professionals. I saw companies that provided such kind of services, but they were much more expensive. Working with them is a great experience. They were involved in our project even more than we expected. They made some adjustments in our vision of the services, and now I can see that they were right in some of their points. They make us feel that they do care, and it's not just because we pay them money. That made me feel really comfortable while working with them.

Are there any areas Archetype could improve?

They could reduce the price a bit, but that's just from a client's perspective. But the price overall was really good and satisfying, according to the services they have provided. Everything else was fine regarding service. I’m not the type of person to leave feedback, but I felt that Archetype deserves it.