Designli

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Senior Marketing Manager at an entertainment company. I am responsible for creating and developing new and innovative tools used by our employees and partners. I work closely with our graphic design team to create a variety of marketing material used across many platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Accel Entertainment hired Designli to create an mobile app that will be used by our dart players who participate and play in our remote dart leagues. The goal of this app is to provide a better platform for our players to connect with each other, view their stats, create teams, and overall increase the player experience. Also with this app, our goal is to increase the amount of players playing in our remote dart leagues by making the process of joining much easier for a player to use and understand.

SOLUTION

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

Our team selected Designli after an extensive search for app developers. Designli's website was something that stood out to us as they have a lot of great information that helped us understand the process before getting started. The "Success Stories" section on their website also stood out to me as I was able to see real examples of work they had done in the past for other companies.

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

The scope of this work includes the following:

1. Kick-off Meeting | This is where we got to meet the Designli team virtually to determine if this was a good fit for us and to explain high-level what we were trying to accomplish
2. SoultionLab | This step included a lengthy video call with several members from our team as well as Designli's team. During this call we got into the specifics and details of everything that we were looking for. During this process Designli really took the time to understand our company and how things current run when it comes to dart leagues. Together during this phase we came up with solutions on how this app with increase the experience of our dart players
3. UX Document Review | After SolutionLab, Designli's team put together a detailed and thorough document that outlined exactly how this app will work. The document included all features available on the player/dart side, along with information and details on how the platform will work on the backend with our employees and dart coordinators. During this process, our team would review the document, add comments and feedback and Designli would make revisions to the document. After several revisions on our end, we finalized the document and moved onto the graphic design and prototype phase
4. Graphic Design & Prototype | In this phase, Designli sent the finalized UX Document to their team of very talented designers who brought the app to life using a prototyping platform. This platform allowed us to see exactly how the app was laid out and we were able to add comments and feedback directly to this platform that were sent to the design team. Once this phase was complete, we took this prototype and began testing it with our players and employees to get their feedback.
5. Development & Testing | Once the graphic design and testing phases are complete, we will move into the development phase of this process where the Designli team will begin creating the app.

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

As of right now, we've worked with 5 Designli team members. Keith and Josh worked us in the early stages of the process helping us outline the scope of this project. During the early stages, we also worked with Katie, who created the master UX document and handled all of the feedback and edits.

When we moved to the graphic design phase, I began to work with Taylor and Daniel. Taylor is our project coordinator and is great! She sends the team weekly updates and keeps everyone in the loop and up to speed. Daniel is Designli's designer and is VERY talented. He was able to capture the look and feel of the app by using only the UX Document.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we are still in the prototype/testing phase, we have received great feedback so far from our employees and dart players that have seen the prototype. Everyone is very excited to begin using this app.

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

During this process, Designli uses Basecamp to communicate updates to everyone involved in the process. Taylor does a great job keeping everyone updated and on the same page. The Basecamp platform makes communicating simple and easy.

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

Overall the Designli team as a whole stands out to us. The team meshes very well together and working with them has been very easy. Everyone on the team takes pride in their work and is great at what they do. I would also say that Desgnli's designer Daniel is definitely a great asset the the Designli team. During the graphic design phase, he was able to visualize everything that we were wanting in an app and has helped make the platform user friendly and easy to use.

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

Up to this point, I can honestly say that there is nothing that I would recommend be done differently. Our experience with Designli has been very positive so far.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and developer of the content for a leadership development program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop an app to deliver the leadership development program so it could be easily accessible to any user. We also wanted to develop a web platform for organizations to be able to access their data and insights from the individuals within their organization using the app.

SOLUTION

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

We initially chose to work with Designli by searching online based on their prior work.

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

1. We began with a few meetings to examine whether Designli would be a good fit.
2. We did their SolutionLab phase to work through what the user story and key features of the app would be. Designli provided a final SolutionLab set of deliverables including the final user story, overview of application, various user card personas, user flow diagram, development and budgeting, and next steps.
3. Once established, we moved into the Graphic Design and prototyping. Their team was phenomenal at continually assessing our needs, particularly with budget and timelines, to make sure the design and prototyping fit our needs.
4. Currently in development stages right now. Throughout each of these steps, we set consistent meetings which were upheld and we consistently received updates including reviews, timelines, budgets, and what to expect next.

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

A project manager was assigned to our team who does a phenomenally well at staying in close contact when needed, providing reviews, updates, etc. We continually work closely with one of their leads who was present at each of our meetings with their design lead, and now continuing to meet with a core group of developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are in the development stage right now so we don't have measurable outcomes related to the final product. However, Designli has always delivered on the expectations provided and continues to exceed expectations as they are consistently proactive about anticipating our needs, especially with timelines and budgets, by providing alternative solutions.

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

Designli has been a pleasure to communicate with. Everyone we have worked with has been responsive and we receive consistent reviews and updates. Once again, they anticipate our needs by proactively providing alternatives before we reach out to them with questions. Most of our communication has been through video calls or through email.

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

Everyone we have worked with has been patient, open-minded, and optimistic about what could be done with this project, supported by various individuals who provide their own unique skill to the project. We value how different individuals are assigned for various aspects of the project, such as setting up the user story, to design, to prototyping, and development. And perhaps most important, they have met our expectations for timelines and continue to deliver on those timelines while delivering great work.

They are transparent with us and proactively provide alternatives, which is greatly appreciated.

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

Nothing up until this point.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Congregations For Kids, a nonprofit organization that works in the child welfare and foster care space. We look to provide support systems to foster parents, social workers, guardians ad litem, and other adults involved.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli?

We needed help to develop a web platform for one of our programs. We already had a WordPress website for that program, but our goal was to eventually market our solution as a SaaS product to other nonprofit organizations. Thus, we hired Designli to help us move away from WordPress.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Designli has helped us develop a web platform for our program called Care Now, allowing us to move away from WordPress. On it, social workers can request emergency tangible items like a car seat, diapers, or a crib. Then, we connect those social workers with our donor base to provide them with the items they requested. This platform helps fill the gap whenever government funding takes a little too long to fill the social worker needs.

Apart from helping us with the transition, Designli has added new features to our platform to make it more functional, including backend features like a dashboard.

What is the team composition?

Initially, when we started discussing and scoping the project, we worked with Keith (Co-Founder & CEO) and two other people from his team. Since then, we’ve been working with the COO and a technical team of five people.

How did you come to work with Designli?

The person who developed our WordPress site referred us to Designli. We initially wanted to work with him due to our previous experience, but he was moving onto a different chapter of his career. However, he helped us research development companies because we trusted his expertise. When he recommended them, we trusted that they would be a good fit for us, and they turned out to be a perfect fit.

How much have you invested with them?

As a nonprofit organization, our projects rely on grants. Designli understood that perfectly and broke down the project into phases based on when we would get our funding. The first phase cost $65,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together during the third quarter of 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Different nonprofits like us around the country have been interested in our solution, which eventually will help us create a bonus revenue stream for our organization. However, we first need to package and license it to market it.

In general terms, Designli has been great to work with; they’re very helpful. They’ve been great at translating technical terms into layman’s terms, showing us our different options, and providing us with a robust yet easy-to-understand proposal. From the start, it was easy for us to know where our money would be most effectively spent. Overall, their work is very transparent, so having a trustworthy partner has been very important for us.

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

Designli has been great at project management. They’re very responsive, and they hit every deadline. Additionally, they’ve been great at setting expectations, and they’ve delivered what they promised when they promised it.

Designli has also kept us updated throughout the project. We meet weekly, but they’re always available to answer questions. If we have any concerns, they get back to us within one business day, and if we find any issues or bugs, they respond within minutes and fix them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Desingli’s most impressive asset is their ability to convey what clients can do with their budget. Initially, they were great at guiding us through our options, explaining the reasoning behind them, and helping us find the best solution to make our vision a reality based on our budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re very pleased with their services, and they’ve gone above and beyond.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t hesitate to call Designli. They’re very engaging from the beginning, so don’t let the experience of reaching a development company be intimidating for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We were founded to develop a marketing application to help service clubs, churches, and organizations of that type keep track of their members and services they perform. Our way would be easier for the average person to do than was currently available in the market.

My main position is with another company, but my employer is a part of this LLC. I’m helping them out with Designli because of my web design and development experience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli?

We hired them to help create our website and mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve done graphic design and prototyping for our web app and mobile app.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with their CEO, their CFO, and a design resource. Taylor (Project Coordinator) and one other resource are also on the team. Taylor was added to facilitate direct communication.

How did you come to work with Designli?

We were trying to decide how best to vet design companies. I wanted to stay away from freelancer platforms because of the size of investment necessary for this project.

We’d requested references from some people, but those were more for larger corporations. My employer stumbled upon Designli, and I enjoyed both their nearby location one state over and their mid-size approach.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $24,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since April 2021. The work is paused now at the end of the prototyping phase, and we’ll most likely be bringing on another partner to produce the full applications.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They provided design links for how people will interact with the app and website. This is what got us in the door with the company we’re considering for the full development. They can click around in the prototype to get a feel for the solution.

If we had questions about how to use the prototype, Designli responded immediately. They were very responsive and flexible. The process would have gone faster if not for extensive discussions on our side, too.

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Basecamp to communicate, along with weekly summary messages and as needed communications if there are any action items. Designli's team was flexible with our preferred live methods of communication, like phone calls or Zoom calls. They were always very attentive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to work with a wide variety of people and skill levels with technology stands out. This includes investors who don’t have a strong understanding of Basecamp. Designli was open to talking to those people over the phone. I don’t find this flexibility everywhere in the the tech industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Anything that needed to be changed was handled quickly. They didn’t leave us hanging.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have people with different technological familiarities, make sure that the people in direct communication with Designli are able to ask them questions to clarify anything that is confusing, rather than dumping anything they don’t understand down on the next person down the line.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a small software company that focuses on the development of productivity apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli?

I was trying to get input to determine the level of effort needed to complete a new mobile app project. I also needed an app design or a clickable prototype that I could implement.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Keith (Co-Founder & CEO) first explained to me their offering called Solution Lab, which was a perfect starting point for me. Solution Lab entailed their team listening to my vision for the app and pointing out things that I may want to consider to balance the costs. We took that approach, and the Designli team made sure that they fully understood what I was looking to do before providing the estimates.

We then went into actually developing the app for iOS and Android. The first phase involved creating a blueprint document listing all the details of the project along with a clear breakdown of the work. Once that was completed, Designli created the designs for the prototype, which is where the original idea began to take shape. I worked closely with their team to nail down the branding, UI, and overall look and feel.

What is the team composition?

I interacted with four people: Keith, Josh (COO), a project coordinator, and a graphic designer. 

How did you come to work with Designli?

I found Designli online and reached out to them because they were local and had great reviews on Clutch. It was important to me that we be able to meet face-to-face, at least occasionally, throughout the project, so I chose them. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from September 2021–February 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I now have a real, professional, clickable prototype that I can use to communicate the value of the app with all of my stakeholders. Designli was able to deliver everything on time and within the budget that we had established at the outset. They’ve also met all of the general benchmarks.

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great at managing the project. Whether it was during our weekly updates or when they were answering my questions, their communication was exceptional and proactive. We primarily used Basecamp but we had a number of Google Meet conferences as well. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m not sure how they would compare to other digital product providers because they’re the first that I’ve worked with, but it’s hard to imagine that I would’ve had a better experience elsewhere. They were excellent communicators and were very forthright around the costs, expectations, and deliverables. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, none that I can think of. There were hardly any missteps. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would highly recommend working with Designli. They’re very good about guiding the client through the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at an e-learning company. We’ve created a site for custodians to be trained virtually.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli?

We hired them for the launching of our business because we needed help with web development and consulting.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Designli helped us brainstorm through the whole process of turning our idea into a business — they were instrumental in thinking through the different challenges that arose for this project.

We went through a process where we sat down for a full day with their team to review everything about our business regarding what we wanted to get out of the product in the short and long term. Their team also helped us find color schemes and create a logo.

In terms of the platform development, they’ve done all the coding to put everything together.

Currently, they’ll continue to work with maintenance and future iterations.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with four members of their team, including one of the co-founders, a project manager, and a couple of developers.

How did you come to work with Designli?

We found them through a Google search. After looking at the website and learning about their process to do projects, I like what they offered and how they explained the whole process to us.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$25,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

What they’ve provided is invaluable; they’ve gone above and beyond what a typical software developer would do. I feel like they helped us go from building a skateboard to having a luxury car — the quality of the product is awesome.

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve been using Basecamp, which enables them to have a good follow-up process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their hands-on approach to the process is outstanding. Also, their ability to explain things clearly to us is great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — we’ve enjoyed every aspect of working with them, and we’re excited to continue with this partnership.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take advantage of the tools they provide, communicate your needs, and allow them to give their professional input.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the executive director for a building materials investment company. We invest in building materials, manufacturing, operating, and joint venture companies across the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and the Middle East.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli?

We wanted to create an online marketplace where sellers, manufacturers, and buyers — like contractors, distributors, and retailers — could concisely and consistently compare different building materials in the Middle East. We also wanted this platform to give them the ability to place orders for these materials and have them delivered to their site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began with a number of discussions where we explained our ideas and provided Designli with supporting documentation. They helped us write up a 40-page project scope that details the build and logic of the platform. We continued to conduct weekly calls with their team to iterate on this document in greater detail.

We’ve started the development of the wireframes or the visual representation of the platform, but we are currently fine-tuning it according to the feedback of our stakeholders. Once this iterative process is done, we will be moving into actual development. 

What is the team composition?

We work with three people from their side. Josh (COO) and Keith (Partner) are also very involved, and we appreciate that their senior members participate at such a detailed level. There was another person who was involved at the beginning of the project. She helped us with the scoping work. 

I believe the development of the wireframe is contracted to someone based in Europe, but Josh is involved in that process. He’s always with us on the calls to make sure that the execution work goes as discussed.

How did you come to work with Designli?

They worked with one of our operating companies on a website development project, so the recommendation came from within our business. They came highly recommended, and we did a bit of our own research to compare them to others. We figured they were probably the best people to work with.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around January 2021. It’s an ongoing project. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can’t give metrics yet because the platform hasn’t been launched, but I can say that the quality of their work has been fantastic. I think in terms of output versus expenditure, they have been incredibly efficient. It hasn’t taken too many iterations to see our thoughts reflected in the documentation. The Designli team is able to translate any idea into a technical, workable solution.

They also have the ability to think through any issue and utilize their wealth of marketplace development experience. They’re quite good at helping us navigate not just the final outcome but also each idea that goes into making it.

Our relationship with them is quite simple and flexible. It’s very easy to hop on a call with them and relay any stakeholder feedback that we’ve gathered. It’s easy to walk through issues with them because they can quickly resolve or implement it to push the project forward. 

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

Designli sticks to the deadlines. Though there are delays sometimes, these are minimal. They’re still much better than other developers that we’ve worked with, if not the best.

We share a Basecamp folder and conduct weekly calls. The mechanics of their project management are not apparent to us as a client because they take care of everything. We simply see the results, which is amazing. Their team keeps us in the loop for regular progress updates and does not shy away from asking questions. This gives us confidence that we’re not burning hours moving in the wrong direction. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Three things stood out to us about Designli: the experience that they provide, the quality of their work, and the way they manage the project as well as their relationships with their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We haven’t gotten to the development phase yet and maybe that’s where things will become a little more difficult. We don’t have any constructive feedback for them at the moment, though. We have been very happy with our engagement with them so far. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Definitely work with Designli. There isn't anything that we would have done differently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO at a software development company. We’ve developed three products over the years, and we license them in various on-premise and SaaS models. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli? 

We work with Designli on our flagship product. We’ve developed it over the years, but many features have been confusing. As a result, our goal is to revamp and modernize the product’s UX design to make it easier to use.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Designli’s main deliverable is to redesign our product while following our brand guidelines. We work in collaboration with their team to identify key areas where we need UX improvements based on our end client’s feedback. Then, they propose solutions, and our teams agree on the best approach to use. 

For example, we’ve revamped the design of the shipping process. Users should be able to add one or more items to their carts and have them delivered to one or more locations. The team has proposed various options to streamline this process for end users. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with their CEO and COO to negotiate the deal; the COO is in charge of the overall project. Our team has also worked with a UX professional from their team during the initial discussion process. We’ve also been collaborating with one of their designers. 

How did you come to work with Designli?

A common friend of ours recommended Designli. That friend used the team in the past. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $12,000–$12,500 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any quantitative data yet since we haven’t implemented the new UX designs. However, we’re in the process of re-architecting the product, and we’ll implement their designs after that. 

Anecdotally, we’ve reviewed the new designs internally, and the feedback has been positive. Our overall satisfaction is 100%, and Designli has definitely met our expectations.

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

Designli has done well in terms of project management, and I don’t have any complaints about their scheduling or management skills. We use Basecamp and Figma to manage everything and communicate about the designs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is willing to accommodate our schedules, budget, and ideas. I’ve seen this quality in other design companies, but the Designli team is better at it than the other teams we’ve used in the past. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we hire a design company, we want them to lead with their expertise. We’re software developers, so we can’t handle designs internally. As the product owner, we’ve given Designli some guidance, but we rely on them for their UX perspective. Given that, they should drive the project more with their expertise instead of looking for guidance from us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set expectations correctly. Designli is good at managing the scope of the project and schedule, but they should guide the process, too — you should emphasize that when you start working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of AthleteUp, a marketplace for college and professional athletes to connect with brands, businesses, and fans to monetize their name, image, and likeness. They acquire sponsorships from businesses or lessons for local youth athletes. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli?

My background is in the finance and banking sectors, so I don’t have any coding or software development background. I have the idea and I know the features I want, but I need Designli to help me understand the development and technical aspects of the idea. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Designli helps me think about the right things and decide on the features and functionalities that are critical for our MVP. They also help me decide what features can be added later on, guiding me around what technologies can help us go where we want to be. To do this, I’ve participated in their discovery process where they asked me about my goals. Then, they’ve mapped out user stories and user flows. Simply put, they’ve provided me with a blueprint for the technology, features, and functionality of the app. The team has also scoped the project out with pricing for each feature.

Apart from that, we’ve also asked them to create the actual mockup designs and high resolution wireframes of the app’s clickable prototype. This is somewhat a separate project from the discovery process, and we’re nearly done with it. We haven’t engaged them yet for the actual development of the app. 

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Keith (Co-Founder & CEO) and Josh (COO), who are our main points of contact on most subjects. Our team works with Keith for discovery and with Josh for design. 

How did you come to work with Designli?

I was searching through online reviews websites, including Clutch. They had good reviews, so I also looked at their portfolio and design samples. The team also had some background in projects similar to mine. Ultimately, I liked their style, and it didn’t hurt that they were pretty close to my location. In the end, I hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $10,000–$25,000 in their services. Our team has spent $5,000 for the initial discovery and another $18,000 for the high-resolution designs. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. The discovery phase where they built the blueprint lasted from May–June 2021. Then, in the first week of July 2021, we jumped into building the clickable prototype. That work is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m impressed with the quality of Designli’s work. They take my feedback and hit what I ask for; the design looks polished and professional. I’m also pleased with their whole process, and their communication is top-notch. If I need to talk to them, I can do it digitally; they keep me informed. 

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

They do an excellent job at managing the project and communicating with us. We mainly stay in touch through digital methods. For one, they use Basecamp to keep everyone updated. Through it, they give us the things we need to review.

I always know what they’re working on because they provide weekly reports on their work both at the end and beginning of every week. In other words, we have a constant flow of open communication. I’ve been happy with that. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a playbook that helps them run their solution and achieve excellent outputs. They also know the right questions to ask because their resources have such a broad range of experience. On top of that, they have innovative solutions that simplify things for non-technical customers. 

Overall, it’s a well-run operation. They ask questions, get the details, research them, and get back to us with plenty of recommendations. In fact, I can take their outputs to investors or other third parties to raise funds. As a result, I’m truly pleased with the way they handle the entire project and their recommendations. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The engagement isn’t going as fast as my initial estimates; the design timeframe has been stretched out a bit. There’s slower feedback than I hope. However, I’m still truly pleased with the quality of their outputs. All I’m concerned about is getting good work. 

From a cost perspective, they’re at the higher end of the spectrum. That being said, from a quality perspective, we’re getting what we pay for — we have a highly polished product, and the team knows what they’re doing. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you don’t have any technical background, Designli is an excellent team to hire. They truly help you hone in on the features you want and need. They excel at asking the right questions and giving useful recommendations. In other words, if you’re not a coder but you have an idea, then they’ll help you figure the whole process out. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a company dedicated to selling trading cards. We offer license keys for an online game as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Designli?

We do a lot of different things in the trading card community, and one of those things is trade cards and game license keys. I was looking to create a mobile application where the community could sell their licenses to us.

We already had a project under development, but I decided to change the design and look for other developers. Designli came in to take over the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Designli has been helping us develop an Android and iOS app that allows users to scan their license codes and submit them to us for sale. They’ve also developed a web-based admin panel to manage the information — all that is linked together.

Designli provides design services as well. A lot of the app structure was already built, but they were capable of adapting to it to implement their designs. We’re still in development, and currently, we’re ready to debug the apps so we can publish them on the marketplaces.

What is the team composition?

I’ve personally spoken to five different people from Designli on various levels.

How did you come to work with Designli?

I did a Google search and found Designli. I was looking around and comparing some companies, and what set them aside was their website design — it was amazing. The graphic design they did, the examples of all the different apps they’d built, and their success stories were intriguing — it all looked very professional.

They also talked about their approach on their website. Their approach was to build an MVP and work all the way up to a fully functional app, which makes the process a lot easier. Instead of doing it all at once and provoking a huge learning curve and other issues, they get feedback from the community so we can decide to upgrade the app based on that feedback. This approach was what set them aside from everyone else.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent around $27,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My experience working with Designli has been phenomenal. They reply extremely fast, and I can jump in on a call at any time. We’re both in the US, and we operate in the same timeframe, so they’re always responsive.

How did Designli perform from a project management standpoint?

Designli uses Basecamp for project management, and it works great for communication as well. They break down the process every week and give me a recap about how we are spending our budget, where they are allocating resources, what errors have they run into, and how much is going to cost us to fix those errors.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is phenomenal. I can bring something up, and they get it right away. They work with me to find a solution, and they’re always willing to jump in on a call and work things out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I came from working with a different development team, and working with Designli has been such a smooth process that I don’t see anything that’s not working efficiently. Maybe I’ll have more feedback once we launch the apps and run into issues, but so far, I’m not aware of anything that should be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Working with Designli is a mutual relationship. They’re great at giving updates and providing feedback. However, getting the most out of the engagement requires the same level of interaction from you as a customer. They can only do so much, so you have to provide them with enough information to run through the issues that might arise.