# Essential Designs Essential Designs Reviews (34), Pricing, Services & Verified Ratings - 5.0 out of 5 average review rating - 18 connections joined Essential Designs's Network [Visit Website](https://www.essentialdesigns.net/?utm_source=clutch.co&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=directory) [Get a Custom Proposal](https://clutch.co/profile/essential-designs) **18 Years of Custom Software and App Development** At Essential Designs, we specialize in enterprise software development, custom software solutions, mobile app development, legacy modernization, and long-term software support for organizations that need scalable technology built around real business operations. For over 18 years, we’ve helped growing companies and enterprise teams turn ideas — and underperforming systems — into secure, scalable platforms designed to evolve with their business. We design and develop custom web platforms, internal dashboards, SaaS products, and native or cross-platform mobile apps using React, React Native, Python, PHP, ASP.NET, and Swift. Our work is ideal for organizations with complex workflows where off-the-shelf software lacks flexibility and scalability. Every project begins with in-depth planning and discovery to align technology with operational needs from day one. With senior developers, experienced UI/UX designers, and Agile delivery practices, we build software that is intuitive, reliable, and built to scale long term. What We’re Best Known For • Enterprise software development • Custom internal platforms & dashboards • Mobile app development • Legacy modernization & platform rebuilds • Stabilizing incomplete or underperforming systems • Long-term software support & system expansion Typical Projects • Internal business platforms & dashboards • SaaS products & scalable web applications • Native & cross-platform mobile apps • Legacy software rebuilds & modernization • Long-term development, maintenance, & support We’ve delivered solutions across healthcare, education, mining, finance, recruitment, and enterprise operations. With offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Los Angeles, and San Diego, we support clients across North America. Click “Visit Website” to start the conversation. ## Company Information - Minimum project size: $10,000+ - Hourly rate: $25 - $49 - Number of employees: 50 - 249 - 5 Locations: - Vancouver, Canada (Headquarters) - Toronto, Canada - Calgary, Canada - Los Angeles, CA - San Diego, CA - Founded in 2008 - 1 languages: English - 3 timezones: Central Standard Time (CST), Eastern Standard Time (EST), Pacific Standard Time (PST) ## Services, Focus Areas, Industries, and Clients ### Service Lines - 30% Custom Software Development - 30% Web Development - 20% Mobile App Development - 10% AI Development - 10% Application Management & Support ### Focus Areas - CMS Focus: - 91% WordPress CMS - 9% DNN (DotNetNuke) - Frameworks and CMS: - 44% .NET - 13% Angular - 13% Laravel - 13% React Native - 6% NodeJS - 4% CodeIgniter - 4% Zend PHP - 3% CakePHP - Mobile Platforms: - 40% Android App Development - 40% iPhone iOS App Development - 10% Hybrid & cross platform apps - 10% iPad iOS App Development - Programming & Scripting: - 20% ASP.NET - 20% PHP - 15% Java - 15% Swift - 10% C# - 10% JavaScript - 10% SQL - Application Platforms: - 20% Amazon Application Development Framework - 20% Linux server - 20% Windows server - 10% Azure Platform - 10% Google app engine - 10% Heroku - 10% Other app platform - Mobile Focus: - 10% Business Intelligence Mobile App Development - 10% Enterprise Mobile App Development - 10% Field Operations Mobile App Development - 10% Financial Mobile App Development - 10% Health & Wellness Mobile App Development - 10% Learning & Education Mobile App Development - 10% Mobile Commerce - 10% Productivity Mobile App Development - 10% Sales Enablement & CRM Mobile App Development - 10% Social App Development ### Industries - 5% Manufacturing - 5% Information technology - 5% Non-profit - 10% Government - 5% Advertising & marketing - 10% Financial services - 5% Education - 10% Energy & natural resources - 10% Business services - 10% Medical - 5% Utilities - 5% Supply Chain, Logistics, and Transport - 5% eCommerce - 5% Consumer products & services - 5% Hospitality & leisure ### Clients - 40% Small Business (<$10M) - 40% Midmarket ($10M - $1B) - 20% Enterprise (>$1B) ## Pricing Snapshot Average rating for cost based on this provider's reviews: 4.9 out of 5 **What Clients Have Said** *(This summary is based on verified Clutch reviews.)*: Essential Designs offers competitive pricing and good value for cost, with project investments ranging from $10,000 to $260,000. Clients consistently highlight their budget alignment and responsiveness, while some reviews noted a desire for clearer pricing structures. **Most Common Project Size**: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 31 reviews *(Pricing information for this provider is based on reviews where the project size was available.)* ### Pricing by Service - Web Development: $10,000 to $49,000 based on 15 reviews - Mobile App Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 13 reviews - Custom Software Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 11 reviews - UX/UI Design: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 5 reviews - Web Design: $10,000 to $49,000 based on 2 reviews - Application Management & Support: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 1 review - Other Application Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 1 review ## Reviews Clutch investigates each reviewer's identity and work history. Every review goes through a rigorous, human-led verification process to confirm the reviewer's identity, and reviews that we verify are visibly marked as 'Verified' so you can trust that they come from a real client. [Learn More](https://help.clutch.co/en/knowledge/how-clutch-verifies-reviews) ### Essential Designs Review Insights Overall Review Rating: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.9 - Cost: 4.9 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 ### Top Mentions - Timely (16 mentions) - Communicative (13 mentions) - Efficient (9 mentions) - Great project management (6 mentions) - Flexible (4 mentions) - Professional (4 mentions) - Accommodating (3 mentions) - Easy to work with (3 mentions) - High-quality work (3 mentions) - Knowledgeable (3 mentions) - Well-organized projects (3 mentions) - Helpful (2 mentions) - Proactive (2 mentions) - Reasonable pricing (2 mentions) - Transparent (2 mentions) - Creative (1 mentions) - Easy to reach (1 mentions) - Exceptional results (1 mentions) - Great team (1 mentions) - Personable (1 mentions) ### Review Highlights **Room for Improvement in Training Resources** Some clients suggested that more detailed training resources for internal staff could enhance the onboarding process and make it easier for teams to adapt to new systems and functionalities. **Strong Project Management Skills** Clients consistently praise Essential Designs for their excellent project management. They are known for delivering projects on time, maintaining clear communication, and being responsive to client needs, which makes the collaboration smooth and stress-free. **Commitment to Customer Satisfaction** Clients appreciate Essential Designs' dedication to ensuring customer satisfaction. They quickly address any issues and are committed to providing solutions that meet client expectations and requirements. **Ability to Integrate Cutting-Edge Technologies** The team is proficient in integrating cutting-edge technologies and innovations, which impresses clients and adds value to their projects, ensuring modern and efficient solutions. **Expertise in Custom Software Development** Essential Designs excels in developing custom software solutions, including mobile apps and web applications, tailored to specific business needs. Clients appreciate their ability to integrate modern technologies with existing systems and solve real problems effectively. **Outstanding Communication and Collaboration** Essential Designs is commended for their transparency, responsiveness, and ability to communicate complex technical details clearly. Their approach fosters trust and ensures clients feel involved and informed throughout the project. **Pricing Transparency and Value for Cost** While some clients noted a desire for clearer pricing structures upfront, Essential Designs is generally seen as offering good value for the cost, with a focus on delivering within budget and providing cost-effective solutions. **Impressive Design and Development Skills** Essential Designs' design and development capabilities are highly regarded. Their ability to deliver high-quality, user-friendly interfaces and innovative solutions stands out, making them a reliable partner for complex projects. **High Client Satisfaction and Positive Outcomes** Many clients report increased user engagement, improved productivity, and successful project outcomes after working with Essential Designs. Their solutions have led to increased sales, better customer experiences, and streamlined operations. **Focus on User Experience** Clients appreciate Essential Designs' focus on delivering user-friendly applications that enhance customer experiences and meet user needs effectively, contributing to the success of their projects. ### Essential Designs Reviews #### SaaS Web App Design & Dev for Municipal Association (Featured Review) **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, UX/UI Design, Web Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: June 2023 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has developed a SaaS web app for a municipal association. The team also hosts the app on their servers and provides maintenance and troubleshooting services. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Senior Specialist, Municipal Association - Industry: Construction - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Oct 11, 2024 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has shown a great problem-solving attitude and worked well with the client to achieve the project's vision. The team has delivered all milestones on time, except when the client needs more time to review or add items to the scope. Essential Designs is also flexible and agile. ""They offer great problem-solving and a good attitude."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Senior Specialist of a municipal association.Describe what your company does in a single sentence.We're a municipal association concerned with the quality and design of roads in Ontario. We have been devoted to the cause of better roads since 1894. Our members include most of Ontario’s municipalities and a growing number of First Nations as well as dozens of affiliated corporate members in the transportation and infrastructure sectors. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?Develop an SaaS web appHost the web app on their serversmaintenance and troubleshooting **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGood value for costHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?6-10 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.that is confidential information **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?They offer great problem-solving and a good attitude in working with the client towards finishing the project as per the client's vision. Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?project was divided into 8 milestones and they were all delivered on time with exceptions for when the client (us) took longer to review or had to add further items to the scope. What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?flexibility and agility Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?. --- #### Custom Web App Development for Real Estate Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: May 2025 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has developed a custom web application for a real estate company, integrating it with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and existing tools to modernize IT systems and support future growth. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner, Rimrock Real Estate - Industry: Real estate - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Feb 5, 2026 **Feedback Summary**: The solution from Essential Designs has reduced manual processes, improved productivity, and scaled well with business growth. The team has delivered all milestones on time and maintained clear communication throughout the project. Ongoing support and documentation are provided. "“Overall, we were very satisfied.”" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Owner of Rimrock Real EstateDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Rimrock is a Real Estate company committed to Premiere Real Estate Service in Edmonton and Surrounding areas. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We hired Essential Designs to build a custom software solution that could streamline our operations and improve efficiency. Our goal was to modernize our IT systems, integrate with Microsoft Dynamics, create a scalable platform that could support our future growth. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsClose to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetGood value for costReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.The team handled everything from initial discovery and requirements gathering to full development and deployment. They designed and developed a web application, integrated it with Microsoft Dynamics 365, and created APIs to connect with our existing tools. Key deliverables included a fully functional, user-friendly platform, complete documentation, and ongoing technical support after launch. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The new system reduced manual processes and gave us real-time visibility into our operations. We noticed immediate improvements in team productivity and client response times. The integration with Dynamics was seamless, and the solution has scaled well as our business continues to grow.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Their project management is excellent. Milestones were clearly communicated, and all deliverables were completed on time. The team was responsive, proactive, and flexible when adjustments were needed. Regular updates and demos kept us fully aligned throughout the project.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?In-Person MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?We were most impressed by their deep technical expertise combined with a strong understanding of business needs. They didn’t just deliver code — they delivered a solution that solved real problems. Their ability to integrate modern technologies with existing systems stood out.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?Overall, we were very satisfied. If anything, more detailed training resources for our internal staff would have been helpful, but the team was always available to guide us directly, so it wasn’t a major issue. --- #### Mobile App Design & Development for Coffee Supplier **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development, UX/UI Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Nov. 2023 - Feb. 2025 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs developed a mobile app for a coffee supplier. The app facilitated the order of drinks at the nearest location. Other features were chat functionality and invitation capabilities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Sales Manager, Coffee King - Industry: Food & Beverage - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 11, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs successfully launched the app. The team was receptive, listened to the client's needs and ideas, and offered valuable suggestions. The team also had outstanding design and development skills. Communication and project tracking were simple and efficient, making the process smooth. ""The team’s design and development skills truly stood out."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Sales Manager of Coffee KingDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Coffee King is an Independent Supplier of Internationally Sourced Freshly Roasted Gourmet Coffee Beans & Coffee Machines. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We wanted to develop a mobile app where people could order food/drink at their nearest location with ease. We wanted them to be able to connect with other users through the app with chat and invite features. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchClutch SiteWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsGreat culture fitGood value for costCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.We began the project with a series of discovery meetings to align on the overall vision and functionality. After sharing our goals and feature requirements, the Essential Designs team provided us with a detailed design scope. The app itself is quite complex, featuring user ordering, location-based services, chat functionality, and invitation capabilities. We’ve had ongoing weekly meetings with our dedicated project manager to review progress, introduce new features, and make any necessary adjustments as the project evolves. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?We have a live app, we are constantly adding more to it week by week to get the finishedresult we want.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Our project manager has been incredibly helpful and easy to communicate with. She notonly listens to our needs and ideas but also offers valuable suggestions on how toapproach different aspects of the project more effectively. We primarily use Slack andemail for communication, both of which have made staying in touch and keeping theproject on track simple and efficient.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?The communication from our project manager has been outstanding, which made the entire process feel smooth and stress-free. Beyond that, the team’s design and development skills truly stood out. They consistently delivered high-quality work and brought creative solutions to the table.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?The process has been very smooth overall. One small enhancement that could make it even better would be incorporating more detailed status reports, which could help keep everyone aligned and further streamline communication. --- #### Mobile App Development for Health Nonprofit **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Sep. 2024 - Mar. 2025 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs developed an application MVP and proof of concept for a health nonprofit. The team created a fitness app to guide users through workouts and link them to the client's Amazon page. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder, The Vie Institute for Generational Health - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 11, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs' work was well-received by the client's 260,000-member subscription base, resulting in increased sales and app downloads. The team was smooth and efficient, and they maintained clear communication and adhered to timelines. The team's commitment to customer satisfaction stood out. ""I love how committed they were to ensuring customer satisfaction."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Founder of The Vie Institute for Generational HealthDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.The Vie Institute for Generational Health is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the frontiers of fertility and generational health through cutting-edge science, technology, and innovation. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We hired Essential Designs to build our applications MVP and proof of concept (POC). We hired the team to consult and identify what products were needed. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralClutch SiteWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.One of the key exercises I wanted to promote was a series of full-body workouts usingportable sandbags. People could use these tools to train at home or while traveling in justunder 10 minutes. The app would guide users through the exercises and link them to myAmazon page where they could buy sandbags. The app featured a set of animated male and female figures performing four workouts using sandbags. Essential Designs built in a countdown timer in addition to a voiceover that notified the user when the minute duration was about to end. That way, the user could prepare for the next activity. The app also featured a library of exercises that users couldaccess to customize their workout. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?I shared the app with my 260,000-member subscription base. Since the platform included alink to my Amazon page, sandbag sales continued to increase. Scott also recommendedwebsites to submit my app, so I’ve gotten downloads from there, too.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?The workflow with Essential Designs was smooth and efficient. Their team maintained clearcommunication throughout the project and consistently adhered to the agreed-upon timeline,which made collaboration easy and stress-free.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?I love how committed they were to ensuring customer satisfaction. If anything wasn’t quiteright, I only had to mention it, and they would fix it quickly.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?No, everything was perfect! --- #### Web Rebuild & Mobile App Dev for Training & Coaching Company **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: June 2022 - Feb. 2024 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs rebuilt a website and developed a custom app for a training and coaching company. The team created multiple design options for the app and ensured the site had a modern design. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder, Louise Lee Coaching & Consulting - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 6, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs delivered promising design concepts and a functional website that allowed potential customers to learn about the company's services. The team always delivered on time and accommodated sudden requests. Their hands-on approach and availability were commended by the client. ""Their responsiveness stood out."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Founder of Louise Lee Coaching & ConsultingDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Professional Training and Coaching **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?I hired Essential Designs to redevelop my website and build a custom app for my coaching clients. The goal was to create a seamless experience where clients could access past consultations, receive appointment reminders, communicate directly through the app, and track their progress using an interactive roadma **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsClose to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?6-10 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs provided multiple design options for the app, allowing me to choose the one that best fit my vision. They also built a modern, functional website to showcase my services and improve client accessibility. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The design concepts I’ve seen so far are promising. The completed portions of the website have already made it easier for potential clients to learn about my services and get in touch with me.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?They stick to deadlines and usually respond to my requests within a day. When I requested additional functionality for the app, they accommodated it without extra charges, which I really appreciated.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Their responsiveness stood out. I can often book a same-day call if needed, and meeting Scott in person was a nice touch. He actually flew out to meet me, which is rare in this industry. Most agencies I spoke with only offered Zoom meetings, and their CEOs were unavailable.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?Their pricing structure could be clearer. The proposal made sense after I discussed it with them, but having a more detailed breakdown upfront would have been helpful. --- #### Mobile App Support for Mental Wellness Company **The Project** - Services: Application Management & Support, Mobile App Development, UX/UI Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Oct. 2024 - Mar. 2025 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs enhanced a meditation app for a mental wellness company. They refined the app's UI/UX design, improved the meditation programs, added new features, and ensured cross-device compatibility. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder, Brilliant Mind Wellness - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 2, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs helped the client boost user engagement, increase time spent on the app, and extend session durations. The performance improvements they implemented also resulted in a smoother UX. Moreover, the team adhered to deadlines, responded promptly, and quickly addressed concerns. ""They worked closely with us to ensure every detail aligned with our vision."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Founder of Brilliant Mind WellnessDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Human mental gym, where challenges are transformed into clear paths forward. Brilliant Mind Wellness combines professional counselling & coaching, Yoga & meditation, energizing retreats & business KPI progress tracking to assist our clients evolve into their best selves. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We worked with Essential Designs to enhance our meditation app by improving the user experience, adding new features, and ensuring smooth compatibility across devices. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs collaborated with us to refine the app’s interface, enhance meditation programs, and provide ongoing maintenance to ensure the app runs smoothly. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Since launching the updates, we’ve seen a significant boost in user engagement. People are spending more time on the app, and session durations have increased. Performance improvements have made the experience more seamless for users.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?They were fantastic at staying on schedule. Their responsiveness stood out, as they quickly addressed our concerns and implemented changes efficiently.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Their ability to fully understand our needs and tailor their solutions accordingly made a huge difference. They worked closely with us to ensure every detail aligned with our vision.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?Honestly, they handled everything professionally, and the project was executed exactly as planned. I have no complaints. --- #### Mobile & Web App Development for Insurance Co **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, Mobile App Development, Other Application Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: July 2024 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has provided mobile and web app development for an insurance company. The team has rewritten and optimized the client's policy administration application. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Managing Partner & COO, The Verge Insurance Group - Industry: Insurance - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Mar 31, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has completed the project on time, meeting expectations. The team has ensured flexibility in favor of quality and has been ready to suggest improvements and efficiency where needed. The team's ability to integrate cutting-edge technologies and innovations has impressed the client. ""They have proven they are more than capable to tackle new scopes and understand our business needs."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Managing Partner and COO of The Verge Insurance GroupDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.The Verge Insurance team is proud of its long heritage and strong reputation for looking after its client’s insurance needs. It is a story that began more than 60 years ago and today continues to flourish. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?Maintenance of the current policy administration applicationRewrite and optimization of the current policy administration application **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?Close to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?6-10 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Complete rewrite for Insurance Mobile & Web based App. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Task Completion RatePage Load TimeBug CountTest CoverageActive UsersRetention RateUser Satisfaction ScoresRevenue GrowthDescribe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?The teams delivered on time and ensured flexibility in favor of quality, always ready to suggest improvements and efficiency where needed, both from the point of view of the apps capabilities, as well as from project management perspective.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?They have proven they are more than capable to tackle new scopes and understand our business needs, as well as having the ability to integrate cutting-edge technologies and innovations, ensuring therefore the perfect mix of the two aspects, while having the customer in mind.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?We couldn't find any. --- #### Mobile App & Web Design & Development for Staff Aug Company **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development, Web Design, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Oct. 2024 - Feb. 2025 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs revamped the website of a staff augmentation and consulting services provider. The team also designed and developed a custom app that gave end users access to past consultations. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** President, Prestige HR Inc. - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Mar 27, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: The client was satisfied with the design concepts of the app, and the completed portions of the website helped the client improve accessibility to their services. Essential Designs accommodated requests for additional functionalities without extra charges and stuck to deadlines. ""Their responsiveness stood out."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the President of Prestige HR Inc.Describe what your company does in a single sentence.Prestige HR is an industry-leading provider of staff augmentation and consulting services. We’ve built our company around a single concept – relationships. We focus on the people we serve. We deliver more intelligent solutions that help our clients and candidates thrive. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?I hired Essential Designs to revamp our website and build a custom app, giving clients direct access to past consultations, real-time updates, and progress tracking—all designed to strengthen our relationships and deliver a smoother experience. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralClutch SiteWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsClose to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs provided multiple design options for the app, allowing me to choose the one that best fit my vision. They also built a modern, functional website to showcase my services and improve client accessibility. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The app is still in development, but the design concepts I’ve seen so far are promising. The completed portions of the website have already made it easier for potential clients to learn about my services and get in touch with me.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?They stick to deadlines and usually respond to my requests within a day. When I requested additional functionality for the app, they accommodated it without extra charges, which I really appreciated.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Their responsiveness stood out. I can often book a same-day call if needed, and meeting Scott in person was a nice touch. He actually flew out to meet me, which is rare in this industry. Most agencies I spoke with only offered Zoom meetings, and their CEOs were unavailable.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?Their pricing structure could be clearer. The proposal made sense after I discussed it with them, but having a more detailed breakdown upfront would have been helpful. --- #### Custom Software Dev for Building & Renovation Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Mar. - Oct. 2024 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs provided custom software development services for a home renovation company. The team migrated the client's outdated CRM and CPQ systems to a modern solution to improve efficiency. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** General Manager, RENOVA Homes & Renovations - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Mar 22, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs completed the project ahead of schedule and delivered everything on time. The team fulfilled all the requirements and responded quickly to any requests. They kept the client informed at every stage and executed the project flawlessly. They were attentive to detail and reliable. ""Their efficiency, attention to detail, and ability to adapt to our needs set them apart."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the General Manager of RENOVA Homes & RenovationsDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Renova is an award winning building & renovation company driven by quality and professionalism. We've been building and renovating homes for Calgarians for the past 30 years. We pride ourselves on setting and meeting the expectations of our customers so they can enjoy their homes for many years to come. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We needed to transition from our outdated CRM & CPQ system to a modern solution that improved efficiency and streamlined our operations. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?Close to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs handled every aspect of the migration, ensuring data integrity and developing custom software tailored to our needs. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Completed project ahead of schedule100% fulfillment of our requirementsFast turnaround on requested changesMinimal disruption during the transitionSignificant productivity gains post-implementationDescribe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?They managed the project exceptionally well, delivering everything on time and responding quickly to any requests.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Their efficiency, attention to detail, and ability to adapt to our needs set them apart. They kept us informed at every stage and executed flawlessly.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?If anything, a more detailed user guide for our team would have made onboarding even easier. --- #### Mobile App Development for Travel App **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Dec. 2023 - Aug. 2024 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs was hired to develop an interactive mobile app that would encourage travelers to visit the communities and businesses of Vancouver Island. The team also built a backend admin panel. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner, Vancouver Island HeartBeatz - Industry: Hospitality & leisure - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Oct 2, 2024 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs delivered the app on time, leaving the client pleased with the collaboration. The team did a great job of communicating professionally and responding to queries and concerns promptly. Their collaborative nature and commitment to producing a top-notch product impressed the client. ""The Essential Designs team worked well together and seemed to want to make the best product for me."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Owner of Vancouver Island HeartBeatzDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.The Vancouver Island App is your direct link to the businesses, events, and awesome places to visit on Vancouver Island. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?To develope an App that would encourage travelers to visit the communities and businesses of Vancouver Island.To make the App interactive with a gamified aspect where users can earn points. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchClutch SiteWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?Close to my geographic locationCompany values alignedThe communication was excellent.How many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.The App development was to include the communities of Vancouver Island, and the businesses and locations visitors would want to visit. To make the App unique from other options, it needed to have a gamified aspect that would encourage visitors to travel to those communities, and to stop in and visit the businesses. As well, the backend admin panel needed to have the ability to use the data for creating valuable insights to the business owners.The Vancouver Island App is free for users to explore, and to plan their travels on Vancouver Island. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?There were quite a few milestones identified throughout the project. Each was documented and completion status was updated to completion. Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?The project management was excellent and timely. The communication worked out really well, and at all times the communication was respectful. My emails were answered efficiently.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Email or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?The Essential Designs team worked well together and seemed to want to make the best product for me.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?Initially, trying to keep track of the emails was trying, but once I mentioned I was having difficulty, the team lead implemented a very effective alternative. I would recommend that that streamlined process is continued. --- #### Mobile App Design & Development for Marketing Agency **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Feb. 2021 - June 2023 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs designed and developed a mobile application for a marketing agency. The team was responsible for the app's front- and backend development, testing, and connecting with social media platforms. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder, Skille - Industry: Advertising & marketing - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jul 17, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs' work increased the client's number of users and user engagement metrics. The client's marketing campaigns performed better, and they received positive feedback from users about the app's UI/UX design. The team delivered work on time and was responsive to the client's needs. ""What impressed me the most about them was their expertise and dedication to delivering high-quality work."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Founder of SkilleDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Skille is a full-funnel growth marketing service agency **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?I hired Essential Designs to create a user-friendly mobile app for my social media marketing company, Skille. Our main goals were to make it easier for users to engage with our platform, improve their overall experience, and seamlessly connect with different social media platforms. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Clutch SiteWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?Pricing fit our budgetGood value for costCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs took on the job of designing and developing the app. They worked on the look and feel of the app, made sure it worked well on the front and back ends, connected it with social media platforms, and tested it thoroughly to fix any issues. They also provided ongoing support to help us after the app was launched. The main things they delivered were an app that was easy to use, looked good, connected with social media platforms smoothly, and had tools to manage marketing campaigns efficiently. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Working with Essential Designs brought us positive results. We saw more people using our app and staying engaged with it. Our marketing campaigns performed better, and users gave positive feedback about the app's user experience.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Essential Designs managed the project well, delivering everything on time and being responsive to our needsWhat was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?What impressed me the most about them was their expertise and dedication to delivering high-quality work. However, there is room for improvement in terms of providing clearer instructions for post-launch support.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?Essential designs were very impressive, their understanding and execution of the project was top class. They were fantastic! --- #### Web & Mobile App Development for Staffing Company **The Project** - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Nov. 2022 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has designed and developed web and mobile applications for a staffing company. The mobile app works with Android and iOS devices, and Essential Designs has used Figma for the app’s design. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & Owner, Professional Sourcing Solutions Inc. - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Apr 13, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: The client has received positive feedback about the app developed by Essential Designs. The project management process has been transparent and efficient, and Essential Designs is four weeks ahead of schedule. Essential Designs’ project manager is responsive and provides close follow-up. "“Essential Designs’ development process has been very transparent.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the founder and owner of a company that provides temporary and permanent staffing solutions to different industries in North America. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? Our company had developed a manual recruitment process, and we needed to automate it into a robust web-based platform and mobile application. We don’t have a development team, so I reached out to Essential Designs to help us with the software’s design and development. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Essential Designs has designed and developed our web and mobile applications. I initially created workflows of our recruitment process and brief details of how I wanted the UI to look like. I used Microsoft Publisher to create sketches to give Essential Designs an idea of what I wanted.  During the design phase, Essential Designs used Figma to produce the app’s design and to collect our team’s feedback. Our platform is a database that matches candidates with job opportunities. Clients create job postings, and the platform has a search algorithm that matches candidates based on the role and location. Then, the platform sends a push notification to the candidate’s mobile device, who can declare their interest in the position right there. If the candidate is interested, the client receives a notification to review the candidate’s profile.  Essential Designs has developed a beta version of our platform and is close to launching it. The mobile app works for Android and iOS devices, and I just signed a three-year contract with Essential Designs for continuous software development, technical support, and maintenance services. I have a 24 hours coverage if there are any technical issues with the platform. What is the team composition? I’ve worked with a team of 12–15 specialists from Essential Designs. A project manager and an account manager are assigned to my project, as well as a web and mobile development team. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? I started searching for companies in September 2022 when my company decided to develop our platform. I wanted to work with a Canadian company that wasn’t very large, so I created a list of candidates. I wanted to cultivate a partnership relationship instead of a client-based relationship, and that’s why I chose Essential Designs.  How much have you invested with them? I’ve invested $150,000 CAD (approximately $112,000 USD) with Essential Designs. What is the status of this engagement? We started working with Essential Designs in November 2022, and our engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  Essential Designs developed a beta version of the platform, which we showed to our current client base and potential clients, and we’ve received nothing but positive feedback. Our clients are pleased with the platform’s design, functionalities, and UI.  How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? We set the project’s budget at the beginning of the project with delivery dates associated with it, and Essential Designs is four weeks ahead of schedule. Essential Designs makes sure to have my approval before they start working. They’re clear about the budget and provide time estimates. I’ve never felt Essential Designs adds time to increase the project’s budget. Essential Designs’ development process has been very transparent.  Essential Designs’ project manager is responsive to my questions and considerate of our three hours time difference. They adapt to my business hours and never book a meeting early in the morning or late at night. Are there any areas they could improve? I can’t think of anything for Essential Designs to improve.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? Have as much preparation for your project as possible before you engage with Essential Designs. The more preparation you have as a client, the better the process will be, and you can save time and money. I found that this was helpful to accelerate the process because I was prepared. I had a clear idea of every single functionality I wanted in the platform prior to starting the development process. --- #### App Design & Dev for Social Media App **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development, UX/UI Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Feb. 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs designed a social media app.They’re currently involved in the development phase and delivering the app’s functionality in milestones. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director, Social Media App - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Aug 19, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: The client is satisfied with Essential Designs’ methodology because it allows them to test each feature as the project progresses. The team excels at their communication, accurately informing the client about time estimates and possible delays. They’re also very responsive and knowledgeable. "“Essential Designs’ communication skills are one of their strongest suits.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the director of a company that is developing an app, so I handle the operations on the back end. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? Essential Designs is helping us develop our app — we work very closely with their team. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Essential Designs is in charge of coding and putting together our app for us. We initially went through a discovery phase, where we discussed the app's idea, defining our needs and what features we required to be on it. After that, we did a full design process, where we designed the overall look and feel of the app, as well as its UX. Now, we’re in the development phase. Essential Designs broke down and laid out all of the features that were going to be implemented into milestones. That way, we know when we can expect to see each feature, as they’ll become available at every milestone. What is the team composition? Luke (General Manager & Sales Director) was our initial main contact with Essential Designs. After that, we worked with two graphic designers on the UX and the overall app’s design. Lately, we’ve been working with 2–3 developers, but I think that a couple more of them are working on the back end, coding the app. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? We were looking around for many different developers in Vancouver, and we went into a discovery and introduction phase with some of them, including Essential Designs. I really enjoyed working with Luke. He was very knowledgeable, open, and transparent about everything, which was a good sign. Additionally, I had read their reviews on Clutch, and I got a good feeling about them. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent around $100,000–$250,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in February 2021, and our engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  I really like Essential Designs’ work methodology because we can test each functionality and give feedback instead of testing everything at the end. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? I’m happy with the Essential Designs’ process. We interact with their lead developer, which is great, and we have a good system in place for staying in touch and communicating. We haven’t been able to meet in person due to the pandemic, but it would be good if we could do that. Essential Designs actually had a COVID-19 outbreak, which delayed our project by four months. However, that was not their fault, and it was just an unfortunate incident. Aside from the COVID-19 situation, they’ve been very consistent with their deadlines. Additionally, we’ve needed to add a few features, which has pushed things back. However, they’ve been very accurate with their estimates. From a project management perspective, they get in touch with us whenever they need anything from our side, and they also get in touch as soon as a milestone becomes available. Essential Designs is also very easy to reach via direct messages. What did you find most impressive about them? Essential Designs’ communication skills are one of their strongest suits. Although I hadn’t worked with other developers in the past, I’ve heard complaints of people working with other developers, saying that they don’t hear about delays until they’re already happening. However, that doesn’t happen with Essential Designs. Are there any areas they could improve? It would be good if their developers were more informed about what is requested during the design phase. As Essential Designs has separate teams for each project phase, we had to clear some things up when the development started. Aside from that, I have no constructive feedback for them. Obviously, the delay wasn’t ideal, but we couldn’t plan around the pandemic. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Keep a constant stream of communication open. Although Luke is very involved in the actual coding and development process, he’s very easy to get in touch with. Thus, I recommend you stay in touch and check in with the developers and the rest of the team throughout the project. --- #### Web Application Dev for On-Demand Handyman Service **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Mar. - Apr. 2021 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs was hired by an on-demand handyman services company to provide web application development. They delivered an esthetically pleasing booking app with a user-friendly interface. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner, Handld - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 3, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs’ efforts streamlined the client’s process in their business. They led a communicative process, meeting all the requirements within the timeframes. They were trustworthy throughout the engagement, and the partner looks forward to working with them in the future. "‘‘I had a lot of trust in them, everyone knew their job, and they worked very efficiently.’’ " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We’re an on-demand handyman services company, and I’m the owner. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? We wanted a web application with easy and efficient booking services for our customers. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They built an app with a smooth UX. It also has a feature that collects information in a way that’s easy for me to distribute to my workers. Additionally, It has a very esthetically pleasing frontend interface that draws clients in and allows them to move them along the process smoothly and efficiently — which was our goal. What is the team composition? We worked with around 8–10 people. Our main point of contact was the owner, but there were also UI/UX designers and project managers. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? We worked with a few freelancers beforehand, but it didn’t work out so well in terms of skill and ability. We needed to get the business moving forward, and we came across with Essential Designs. I reached out to them, worked together on a couple of projects, and they were very engaged with the project, which I thought was cool.  We stayed in contact with Essential Designs and felt comfortable moving forward with them because they knew our project from the beginning and what the goal of our business was. How much have you invested with them? We spent around $14,000 with them. What is the status of this engagement? We worked from March–April 2021. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Their involvement is not very quantifiable, but their team was enjoyable to work with. The app is very functional, and it made my life easier — they understood the purpose behind our project. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? They gave me a schedule of when the project was going to be completed and met the timeline perfectly. We used emails and Basecamp to communicate, and we also had calls and meetings with everyone involved in the project. It was a smooth, clear, and straightforward communication process. I don’t have a background in technology nor web services, and they were able to explain everything in detail for me after I told them what was important to me in this project. They also answered my questions along the way — I had a lot of trust in them, everyone knew their job, and they worked very efficiently. What did you find most impressive about them? Based on my prior experiences, I’d say that the trust and communication skills they provided to the project were what distinguished them from their competitors. Are there any areas they could improve? I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — I’m looking forward to working with them again. Any advice for potential customers? I’m confident that they’ll get the work done for you if you understand what you want and communicate it clearly. --- #### Website Design & Dev for Peer-to-Peer Rental Marketplace **The Project** - Services: Web Design, Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Mar. 2020 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs designed and developed a website for an online peer-to-peer rental marketplace. Working in milestones, they integrated Google Maps, a user search feature, and various other functionalities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & CEO, Sponge - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 16, 2020 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has facilitated a highly positive experience by bringing the client’s vision to life. Professional and communicative, the team remains receptive to feedback and change requests while also providing industry expertise that has made the site even better than expected. "“If you haven’t designed a website before, they’re so helpful. I feel like they went above and beyond.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the founder and CEO of Sponge, which is going to be an online peer-to-peer marketplace for rentals. People will be able to upload items that they want to rent out, so they can essentially create their own rental business through Sponge. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? We hired them to design and develop our website. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They started with the basic design of the website and then developed it. I went to them with the concept and was very particular about what I wanted. They had additional ideas, such as integrating Google Maps and being able to search for certain users.  They did the website in milestones. Once they completed a milestone, they’d send it to me for approval, and I’d request any changes. What is the team composition? They have their own design team that I’m super impressed with. For the design phase, there were 2–3 people. It’s really cool that they have different divisions within their company; in addition to the design team, they have a software team as well as a communications manager who I can go to if I have any problems. It has kept everything really simple and easy. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? I’m from Alberta and had outsourced a company here, but they were very incapable of communication or meeting deadlines. There was a general lack of effort. I used Google to look at other companies. Essential Designs’ website stood out to me; it was very professional, clean, and simple, which I like; some of the other websites lacked information or seemed amateur.  I considered four other software companies – two in Vancouver and two in the United States – and went through a whole interview process. From the minute that I had an interview with Essential Designs, they stood out in every way process. It was unbelievable. When I reached out, they responded instantly.  How much have you invested with them? The budget was $43,000 CAD. The website was almost complete, but then I asked to add a few features and make some changes. That was another $7,000, so I believe we’re at $50,000 CAD (approximately $37,000 USD).  What is the status of this engagement? Our work together began in March 2020, and it’s ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Everything has been so positive. It’s so amazing that they’ve been able to bring my vision to life. They really listened and understood, and there were no problems with making changes to anything; there was no hesitation. For the design phase, they continued working until it was absolutely perfect. The same was true for the software phase; there have been little changes here or there, with no questions asked. It’s been so efficient. There has been no time wasted with them, which I’m grateful for.  How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? They’re super hands-on, and they have great communication and pricing. The design team was so knowledgeable and even had input that I hadn’t thought of. Their ideas were so brilliant, and I was so grateful to have their feedback. I can say the same about the software team – they were always one step ahead of me. It’s been such a great experience working with them. They’re able to deliver quickly, which is important to me. I was slightly nervous since we’re not in the same city, but there have been no issues. They sent little videos for updates on the website. We communicate via 2–3 emails each day, which I appreciate, and there have been a few phone calls, which have been really efficient. They worked in milestones and provided estimated deadlines and what would be achieved during those milestones. They met every milestone. The website should’ve been done the 15th, but I wanted to make some revisions, and there were no questions asked. They’re on the ball and are already working on it. What did you find most impressive about them? Their professionalism and communication stand out. Whether it’s the 2–3 emails a day, phone calls, or videos they’re sending to show the progress of the website, they’re so on the ball with communicating, and I’ve never once had to wonder what they’re doing. They’re always providing feedback. They’re also so professional to work with. Nowadays, it’s hard to find people who are fully invested in being professional. Are there any areas they could improve? Honestly, I don’t think so. Any questions or issues we’ve had, they’ve worked with me and bent over backward to resolve. In the beginning, I asked whether they could break down the billing. Without hesitation, they worked with me to figure it out. We created a different budget and eliminated things that weren’t important to me.  Any advice for potential customers? I’d recommend being available. When they’re ready to work and are sending things that need to be approved, you need to be available for them to be able to continue doing their jobs. Also, be open with them regarding what you want. They’re so understanding. I’m very certain of things that I like, but by being open-minded, I feel like they brought my project up a level with their input and feedback. They’re such a knowledgeable team, and I think people should be open to their expertise; this is their trade. If you haven’t designed a website before, they’re so helpful. I feel like they went above and beyond. --- #### App Dev for Environmental Management Company **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Oct. 2017 - Mar. 2019 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs handled the app development for an oil and gas land brokerage company. Their team designed, developed, and launched the app for desktop, iOS, and Android. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Mineral & Crown Sales Coordinator, Millennium Land Ltd. - Industry: Energy & natural resources - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 5, 2020 **Feedback Summary**: The partner’s crown base has tripled, and they’ve retained new customers. The platform is user-friendly and has been enhanced with post-launch updates. In addition to being an effective communicator, Essential Designs was professional and took the time to understand their client’s needs. "“They took the time to understand and resolve issues.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the mineral and crown coordinator at Millennium Land Ltd. We’re a land broker for oil and gas companies. Our crown reserve app allows clients to confidentially reserve crown bids. I run the backend of the app to ensure our clients’ bids are being processed. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? We wanted them to create and streamline the app in order to make work-life easier for ourselves and our clients. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Essential Designs created the app so it operates on iOS, Android, and desktop. We provided the content, and they handled the platform’s design and development. They conducted a few updates after the app launched. What is the team composition? Their team consisted of three people, but we maintain regular contact with two—Kyle (Project Manager, Essential Designs) and Anthony (Project Manager, Essential Designs). How did you come to work with Essential Designs? The person who started the process is no longer with our company. I got on board when the app was launching. How much have you invested with them? We invested $76,000 CAD (approximatively $57,000 USD). What is the status of this engagement? The project ran from October 2017–March 2019. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Our crown base has tripled, and we have lots of returning customers. We’ve received positive feedback that the platform is easy to use. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? We used email for communication and Basecamp for project management. Their team was very professional and understood our needs. Their team didn’t know much about our industry background but learned and adapted to it. They respond to emails right away and issues are usually fixed within 24 hours. After launch, we had a few issues, not to the fault of Essential Designs. They changed some coding to comply with website issues on our end. Their team was quick to resolve this. What did you find most impressive about them? Essential Designs was great at communication. They took the time to understand and resolve issues. Are there any areas they could improve? I had no issues with them, they did great. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be very clear on what your needs and goals are for the project. --- #### Dev Services for Payment Solutions Startup **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Dec. 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs provides development support to a payment solutions startup. Deliverables have included full UX mockups, a web-based UI, and a mobile app for iOS and Android. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 4.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP Product, Foundry Payments - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jan 3, 2020 **Feedback Summary**: Although the product hasn’t yet launched, internal stakeholders are pleased with Essential Designs’s deliverables. The personable team provides effective project management along with actionable insights and suggestions. They meet milestones and deliver value through a fixed-price model. "“Their ability to immerse themselves in and understand what we’re doing sets them apart.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the VP of product at a startup that offers custom payment solutions to institutional customers, such as higher education facilities, corporate campuses, and hospitals. We provide open-loop, Visa-backed, or stored-value products, depending on the scenario. We can also include promotions, offers, and loyalty programs in our solutions. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? My company decided to outsource front- and backend development to free up our in-house resources. We hired Essential Designs to be our frontend developers and build our product. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Essential Designs is responsible for our product’s frontend development. They interact with a couple of our other outsourced development teams to produce the end product.  Essential Designs’s initial project was to build a web-based admin UI, or a web account center. My team provided documentation and presentations around the goals of our product and what was important to our buyers and users. We also had remote sessions with their UX designer discussing use cases. Their team built out full UX mockups based on those sessions and the information we provided. They’ve also developed an iOS and Android app for our end users. What is the team composition? I interact with three people, including a UX designer and two project managers. The project manager works with the developers, so we don’t have to deal with the developers directly. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? I did a Google search and came across Essential Designs as well as other Vancouver companies. After talking with a couple of them, I had a better feeling about Essential Designs fitting with our culture. I was confident about moving forward with them. How much have you invested with them? The original project was around $260,000. We’re continuing to do more work with them. What is the status of this engagement? Our work together began in December 2018, and it’s ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Due to circumstances outside of Essential Designs’ control, the product isn’t yet on the market. This is a big project, and there have been a few changes along the way. The product is currently in QA. We hope to have our first real customers using the product within the next few months. So far, the results are good. The functionality in general works and matches what we’re looking for. The team grasps the requirements. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? We’ve been really happy with the process they’ve taken. It’s good to have two project managers so that if one is away, the other one can provide coverage. We have weekly meetings with them, and we use Basecamp for written communication on different topics. What did you find most impressive about them? Their ability to immerse themselves in and understand what we’re doing sets them apart. They provide suggestions, especially around UX, and have even improved upon our ideas, which is not something you generally get with outsourced developers. I think we are getting value for having a local Vancouver company. Are there any areas they could improve? No, not really. We changed the project a couple of times in the latter part of this year, and that really slowed down our progress. However, that was our own doing.  Any advice for potential customers? It’s important to understand what you want and be able to communicate that. Have written documentation, whether that is a flowchart or a PowerPoint, and spend time going through those things with the project managers and UX designers so that they have an understanding of what you’re trying to achieve. Also, be available to respond to questions.  --- #### Android App Re-Coding for Energy Management Firm **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Sep. - Oct. 2018 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs provided application development services, working to update the source code and interface. The scope included work on the Google API and the app’s font. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Product Manager, Schneider Electric - Industry: Energy & natural resources - Client size: 10,001+ Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Nov 21, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: The republishing of the application was completed smoothly, with any minor issues addressed quickly and effectively. The team demonstrated their professionalism and followed the timeline for the project well. "“I was happy with their efficiency.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m a product manager for Schneider Electric, a company present in more than 150 countries. We have a solar and mobile department in Vancouver, where we produce for different kinds of markets. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? We had an app, but it hadn’t been updated in several years. We needed to work on the source code and make minor changes to the interface. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They took our app, updated its code to the latest Google API, and changed its font. Updating features wasn’t required in this particular project. What is the team composition? We worked with two people, including Scott (President, Essential Designs), who organized the work. I worked with him on setting the scope, and I then worked with one of their project managers. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? Since it was a small project, we didn’t invite too many companies to apply. I checked Essential Designs’ portfolio, and after discussing a scope of work, they were ready to work with us. They were a good fit. What is the status of this engagement? We worked together from September–October 2018. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We had a minor problem after publishing, but it only required a few changes in the settings. They did those changes right away after I gave them the feedback. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? The process was pretty smooth; they were responsive and happy to make small changes that we required but hadn’t described in the beginning. We had a timeline for the project, but we didn’t provide any documentation. We used a standard project management tool, Basecamp, which allowed us to send replies using email while providing an online interface. What did you find most impressive about them? It was a pretty small project, and I didn’t interact with the whole team but generally, I was happy with their efficiency. Are there any areas they could improve? In the beginning, they suggested we use their agreement model, but they were forced to review ours since we were the bigger organization. They did so without any problems; they’re pretty flexible in this sense. Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs? No. --- #### Web App Dev for Fabric Designer **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Jan. - Sep. 2017 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs developed a web app for quilt-makers that visualizes products and allows for customization prior to purchase. The project also included web design for the app’s landing, info, and FAQ pages. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner, FabSwitch - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jul 17, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Customers are able to browse and customize patterns using current fabric inventories or by uploading their own swatch images, which has led to increased sales. The Essential Designs team worked efficiently, responded quickly to concerns, and communicated their process clearly. "“I was pleased by how well they met deadlines and felt like they managed costs reasonably.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the sole proprietor of an app called FabSwitch, a quilt-pattern customization app, and I design quilt patterns for Coach House Designs. I receive digital images from a fabric company, convert them into a pattern, and then incorporate them into marketing materials to sell the associated fabric lines. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? I realized over the years that some patterns weren’t selling with the original fabrics, so I wanted to create an app that would let customers select their own fabric options based on what’s available and print an updated pattern with the new list of fabric requirements for purchase. I approached Essential Designs to help me build the app. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They developed a web-based app that works across devices and platforms. They also designed the site content associated with it, including the landing and FAQ pages. The features are fairly straightforward: customers log in, choose a pattern, and customize the fabric choices as they wish. They can choose from fabrics in our database or upload an image file of their own swatch, and the app allows them to receive a digital download of their updated pattern immediately after purchase. What is the team composition? I primarily worked with their owner, who interfaced with the development team. I think there were four or five people on the project in total. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? I searched for local app developers. I’ve worked with developers from other regions before, but since this project was labor-intensive I wanted to work with someone in the same time zone who could meet up face to face. It was a little nerve-wracking for me as I’d recently been scammed online, so I didn’t want to invest a lot of money and be taken advantage of. Essential Designs had done a lot of work for government agencies in Vancouver and had a good reputation, which reassured me. I met with their owner and decided to go forward from there. How much have you invested with them? The project cost around $10,000. What is the status of this engagement? I worked with them from January to September 2017. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? My demographic is older adults (ages 45–60), so it can be challenging to get them engaged with digital tools, but those who are more comfortable with technology have really liked the app. Many people who do this kind of crafting have a hard time visualizing beyond what’s available on the preview pattern and if those fabrics aren’t available, they give up. The app allows us to increase sales by giving customers more choices and helping them see exactly what their finished product will look like before they buy anything. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? I was pleased by how well they met deadlines and felt like they managed costs reasonably. They were also very easy to communicate with and timely with all of their responses. We met in person occasionally and talked on the phone a few times but once the project got underway, we communicated primarily via email, which was most efficient for me as a small business owner with a demanding schedule of my own. What did you find most impressive about them? Some developers have difficulty communicating with people like me who don’t have deep technical knowledge, but they were very respectful in how they went about explaining anything I didn’t understand. They even used a screen-recording tool to make demonstration videos for me so I could learn how to manage all the back-end components I’d need. The process was very user-friendly. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Don’t be intimidated if you’re like me and aren’t familiar with technical jargon or software. Their team will work with you and help you master what you need to in order to operate your business. --- #### Web Dev for MS Society of Canada **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: May - Nov. 2016 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs designed and developed a web platform from scratch for users to access and post information in a user-friendly format. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Employee, MS Society of Canada - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 14, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs created a visually appealing, user-friendly platform that has helped bring invaluable information to a targeted audience. Not only was their team collaborative and proactive about meeting client needs throughout the process, but also donated their efforts completely to a good cause. "“They delivered exactly what we wanted.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm the director of the lower mainland chapter for the MS Society of Canada, a nonprofit. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? We wanted to create a platform where people affected by MS could share information. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Essential Designs designed and developed a web platform that allows users to access and post information relating to MS. Without wireframes, their team developed much of the design on their own, taking into account that the interface needed to be very user-friendly for our audience. What is the team composition? I worked directly with Scott (Partner, Essential Designs) and he worked with his team internally. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? Scott was a volunteer for the MS Society. Our team was having a discussion and he offered to see if the company could help us. How much have you invested with them? Although the project ran about $30,000, Essential Designs completely donated their time to our project. What is the status of this engagement? We collaborated on the project from May 2016 through November. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Essential Designs help us create an important space for people to get more information and support regarding MS. Users find the new platform incredibly helpful and visually appealing. They delivered exactly what we wanted. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? Their team genuinely understood our users and was accommodating, closely listening to our needs throughout the process. Scott met with us in-person a few times, but he was also responsive through email and liaised with his team of volunteers effectively. What did you find most impressive about them? They were very transparent throughout the whole process and good about explaining everything in layman's terms, which helped me feel more apart of the whole process. I was also most impressed by the company’s generosity of donating their time, skills and talent. They really made a difference and without them, the project would not have happened. Scott and his team responded to any communication very quickly and addressed our questions effectively. He was an excellent communicator, had great customer service skills and was an all-around pleasure to work with. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be open about what your needs are and if you have any questions. They're very approachable and willing to work with you as needed to achieve your goals. --- #### Web Dev & Design for Live Broadcast Platform **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Mar. - Aug. 2016 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs built a site for a marketing platform. They selected the CMS, created every aspect of the customer view and the admin back pages, and set up a future live broadcast option. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner, Victoria Worthington - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 13, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Users like the look of the site and feedback is positive overall. The project manager from Essential Designs was personable and attuned to brand needs. They brought a level of perfectionism to the project and made sure everything was satisfactory. "“They made sure that everything was flawless, right down to the tiny details.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am the owner/operator of a marketing platform for companies to advertise their products. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? I have no technical background and needed a company to help build our website. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They created everything from top to bottom. We went back and forth for what felt like two years and drew out exactly what I wanted the site to look like. They made templates and sent screenshots of where visual assets should go and the different layers underneath. They provided a skeleton of the entire site; then, we went into detail on each page. There was a customer view and an administrative back page where I could keep track of everything behind the scenes and manipulate both sides of the platform. We were most excited by the live feed option. We could toggle between the back page and the broadcast page to see viewership spikes and loads. They made sure that everything was flawless, right down to the tiny details. They were very involved and offered a variety of choices for the CMS and other key features. We relied on their expertise. What is the team composition? We worked directly with Scott (Partner, Essential Designs). We put our faith in him and there was a lot of mutual respect between us. There may have been other people on the team, but we only worked directly with him. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? I reached out to a couple of companies I found via Google search. Essential Designs was the quickest to respond and were very good at selling their services. It was the only company I spoke with that was confident they could accommodate us. How much have you invested with them? We spent between $50,000–$60,000. What is the status of this engagement? We had a long business partnership, but development ran between March to August of 2016. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We did a dry run with a few acquaintances to test it. Everyone felt it was well done and feedback is great overall. At the time, we didn’t have the finances to upgrade to live broadcasting. We hope to do that in the future. Once we’re ready to make that change, it will take them half a day or so to get that up and running. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? They did well. We went back and forth on ideas and Scott clearly took pride in his work. He was delicate with everything and made sure we were completely satisfied. He operated at the same level of perfectionism that I do and was great to work with. What did you find most impressive about them? They’re very personable. There was a lot of underlying humor in our interactions. Scott was entertaining and in-tune with everything we needed. Are there any areas they could improve? My partner is less tech-savvy than I am. It would have been comforting to have more hands-on meetings in person. I sure they would have accommodated that kind of request if we had asked them. --- #### Third-Party Web Dev for Creative Design Agency **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Aug. - Nov. 2017 **Project Summary**: Provided with design mockups, Essential Design conducted website development for third-party clients. They wrote the code and built page templates of several WordPress platforms with parallax scrolling. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** President, Creative Design Agency - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 13, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: All third-party clients have been impressed with the functionalities and clean UX of their respective sites. Essential Design communicated well with all involved parties and diligently made edits until the products reached completion. Their expertise in complex development is evident. ""They are truly experts in their field." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am the president and creative director of a design agency. We provide comprehensive creative services for branding projects. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? My company designs all creative and visual elements for my clients’ websites, but we sometimes need outside help to provide web development for those projects. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Once our creative design is presented to our clients and approved, we send the design files to Essential Design to create a working website. We coordinate to create a design solution that will fit the user experience, interface design, and functionalities implemented in the development stage. They write the appropriate code and build modules and page templates. Once the beta version is ready, we’ll review with the client and address any concerns. Our most recent websites have used WordPress and have employed parallax scrolling. What is the team composition? I interfaced with the owner and two project managers, who were my main contact points. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? They came as a referral from my IT consultant. We met and discussed our goals, and I found them to be a strong contender to join our team. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent approximately $20,000. What is the status of this engagement? We worked together from August 2017 through November 2017. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? All feedback from our clients has been positive. The websites are well-received, and the clients are impressed by the product we delivered. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? They were prompt in answering questions and addressing issues. We used mostly Basecamp to communicate, and they were very efficient and responsive. I was happy with the entire process. What did you find most impressive about them? Clear communications and prompt follow through. They stayed on top of the game and it was critical for our business. They are capable of much more than simple websites. They have produced several very complex applications. They are truly experts in their field. Are there any areas they could improve? I was hesitant at first because of our budgetary limitation. However, we were able to come to an agreement for both scope of work and prices. --- #### Web & E-Commerce Dev for Religious Organization **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Feb. 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs cleaned up a past developer’s work. All from scratch, they will create a WordPress website and design an OpenCart webstore with features including inventory counting and transfer tracking. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 4.5 **The Reviewer** IT & Security Manager, Amazing Discoveries - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 8, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Although the work is just beginning, Essential Designs delivers excellent support and communication. They document the work and cost estimates clearly and fix issues quickly. They exceeded expectations by helping with problems beyond their scope. "“They're doing a great job.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the IT and security manager for Amazing Discoveries. We’re a nonprofit, Christian ministry. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? We don’t have a big IT department and need to outsource some of our work. We previously worked with 3–5 people, but it was before they were capable of being efficient and jumping into the project, we had lost time. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We had a meeting a with their president and project manager. We provided them with a list of our expectations and a list of things that weren’t working. We asked them to make the pages user-friendly and bug-free as much as possible, as well as do some graphic design and layout for the UI pages. We decided to go with WordPress for the main webpage because we want to be able to update it ourselves. For the webstore, they will be taking care of the design from scratch and it will be done through OpenCart. We are looking forward to having functionality that isn’t currently part of the OpenCart site, such an inventory counting. We make and produce our own DVDs, and we need certain features for accounting and other departments, such as tracking transfers between warehouses or checking the stock. Essential Designs is going to develop those from scratch. For the first three months, they took care of the issues and bugs in the system that the previous developer left. In the meantime, they prepared quotes for us for the new systems, and we are currently reviewing their offer. What is the team composition? I am in direct contact with their president and project manager. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? We contacted a few local companies and Essential Designs was one of them. We met with them and they convinced us that they could eliminate the problems we were struggling with, and they could provide enough resources. How much have you invested in them? So far, we’ve spent between $30,000–$40,000 CAD ($23,099–$30,799 USD). What is the status of this engagement? We began working with them in February 2018 and the work is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? They’re doing a great job. Communication is great. Everything is documented and clear. Even with problems that weren’t directly related to them, they helped me as much as they could, checking information with third-party companies. I receive great support from them. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? Project management is really fast. As long as they have enough information from me, I receive a breakdown within 2–3 days about the current situation and what needs to be done. I’m able to reject or refuse if there is something I’m not happy with or if I don’t want to spend money on a feature. Once I give them the green light, they start working. We communicate through email, Skype or phone. They use Basecamp which allows me to follow up on my requests and have updates on what is currently going on. I am very happy with the way they communicate. I report any problems and things are fixed within 24 hours. Are there any areas they could improve? There are no problems or doubts. We have two big projects that need to be built from scratch, and we haven’t reached the stage to see if they are capable of working on them at the same time. I believe they can, but it is new ground for both parties. --- #### App Dev & Design for Technology Consulting Company **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Apr. 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs is designing and developing native apps for iOS and Android, as well as for a web portal. They're focusing on UI/UX and developing user personas. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CEO, Cloud Launch One - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 18, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: While the app is still in development, Essential Designs earns praise for their efficiency and quality of work. Their expert team inspires confidence throughout the project by communicating clearly and beating deadlines. This, along with their can-do attitude, sets them up for an ongoing engagement. ""They keep on top of things and make sure that everyone is on the same page." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. Cloud Launch One provides software-related services, ranging from design to requirements to data analysis. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? All of my teams are subcontractors. A customer needed mobile application design and development. I selected Essential Designs to help me with that part of the project. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? I provided them a line map, and walked them through all of the information required in terms of the environment. Then we had several conversations about user personas and required functionalities. They’re designing native apps for iOS and Android, as well as a version for a web portal. The goal is to add functionality that our competitors don't have to give ourselves a competitive advantage. What is the team composition? I'm primarily working with one UI/UX designer. A couple of people have been on some of our phone calls in order to manage the project on their end. I'll work directly with a developer once the design is finalized. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? The subcontractor that I typically work with was booked, so I looked online for a new firm. I decided to give Essential Designs a call because they have a Toronto office. I was very impressed by our phone conversation, and thought they would be a good fit. How much have you invested with them? I’ve spent $15,000 CAD ($11,703 USD) so far. What is the status of this engagement? Work began at the beginning of April 2018 and is ongoing. I have a contract until the end of September 2018, and we’ll most likely extend beyond that date. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? I’ve been very happy with the quality of work. Some minor tweaks were needed to make the design consistent with the corporate look and feel, but the clients’ marketing team is impressed with the overall design. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? The team is very good at keeping the project moving. A lot of times we’re waiting for the client to evaluate and respond to a design. Essential Designs will continue to follow up. They keep on top of things and make sure that everyone is on the same page. They use a conference call tool that allows us to share our screens, record our meetings, and send documents back and forth. What did you find most impressive about them? They’re very good at what they do. The designer is very talented and very efficient. In fact, the designer finishes everything so quickly that we’re usually waiting on the client for the next batch of work. That's a good problem to have. I’m very happy with their service and responsiveness. Any advice for potential customers? Be prepared. Lay out everything from a from a project perspective so they know where they're going. If they know what effort is required, they can provide the best service. I wanted to make sure that I fully utilized the design team's time, so I shared all of my documents with them in advance. This way, everybody is working towards the same goal with the same expectations. --- #### Web Application Dev for Data Consulting Company **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Oct. 2017 - Mar. 2018 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs developed a custom web application using ASP.NET and a SQL Server database. They did all the coding and partnered on the design. The app manages inventory of wells and their attributes. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner, Consulting Firm - Industry: Business services - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 23, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: In contrast to off the shelf software, Essential Designs’ customized app surprised and delighted. The team delivered an app that performs exactly as desired, resulting in high satisfaction from users. The team’s communications and project management were timely and effective. "“The coders know what they’re doing, and they do things quickly and efficiently.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the owner of a data consulting company that works in the oil and gas sector. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? Each oil company has an inventory of wells or locations where there are going to be wells in the future. They have a whole bunch of land and plans for where they’re going to drill the next wells. They wanted to keep an inventory of all these wells and all the hundreds of attributes associated with them in a centralized place. They were using Excel worksheets and it was a disaster. The business problem was storing all of this in a centralized place, capturing the attribute changes that occurred over time, and allowing us to report on those changes. We needed to create a web app. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We worked as a partnership on the design and database design. They did all the coding. I worked with a project manager through the testing phase to test it and provide feedback, and then they make the change. They used ASP.NET and it’s a SQL Server database. We’re still engaged with them for changes or bug fixes. It’s an ongoing relationship. What is the team composition? I worked with 1–2 project managers. The development team was 2–3 people. There may have been a person in quality assurance as well. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? I visited three companies. I had worked with Essential Designs a few years back. I really liked Scott (President, Essential Designs), the owner. I found him reasonable and down to earth. The price was also really good; it was half of what others quoted. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent $45,000 CAD ($35,194 USD). What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in October 2017 and the work is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? The app performs exactly how we wanted it to. Pop-up boxes come up and data writes to the database exactly the way we wanted. The users are really pleased. It’s been a new journey for our client to have a problem, dream up a solution, and then, have it come together, and work exactly how we wanted it. We typically buy software off the shelf and go through a big implementation. It’s been neat to tackle this problem on our own and make something to fit. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? I deal with the project manager and he deals with the developers. We met in-person a couple of times. We tried to keep all communication inside of Basecamp. If I saw a bug, I’d screen capture it and post that to Basecamp. They communicated very well, and their responses were really timely. When we had a new feature that we wanted to add, they’d go to the developers, get a quote, and keep it in the queue until it was approved. I was pleased with that. The project manager was excellent. What did you find most impressive about them? It was a good, solid experience. The coders know what they’re doing, and they do things quickly and efficiently. I’ve been quite pleased. Are there any areas they could improve? No. It was a positive experience. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Provide clear, concise instruction on exactly what you want. If you’re vague on how you want something to work, they’re going to come up with the way that they think it’s going to work. It might not be the correct way and you end up doing rework. They have a shop overseas and there’s always a time lag of one day. You put in a request and you get a response the next morning. It was never an issue but it’s something to be aware of. --- #### App Dev for Substance Users & Emergency Responders **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Nov. 2017 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Esstienal Designs developed, programmed, and designed a mobile application for iOS and Andriod devices based off initial sketches. The apps include text-to-speech technology.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CEO, LifeguardOD - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 20, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Initial feedback has been extremely positive and the app is on schedule for launch. They are a reliable and professional team that continues to openly communicate and provide technical knowledge.  ""Their professionalism and knowledge of their craft were exceptional."  " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am the founder and CEO of LifeguardOD, an iOS and Android mobile application designed to expedite emergency response time to drug overdoses and address the opioid crisis in Canada. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Essential Designs? I had a vision for an emergency response application specifically for drug overdoses but did not have the technical expertise for app development. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We came to Essential Designs with an idea of what we were looking for and provided initial sketches, and they provided storyboards based on our ideas. We worked together to start building the application screen by screen, and they went on to develop and design the LifeguardOD mobile app for iOS and Android. They programmed and implemented text-to-speech technology into the applications as well. What is the team composition? I worked primarily with a project manager, and the team consisted of about five onsite and 14-15 offshore developers. How did you come to work with Essential Designs? I did some research on Google and contacted several application developers. Scott Jackson (Management Executive, Essential Designs) quickly and enthusiastically expressed interest in the project. What is the status of this engagement? We started development in November 2017, and the application is set to launch in April 2018. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We’re partnered with emergency responders and during our testing phase, they’ve found the application to be very user-friendly and reliable. The app will be ready to roll out this spring. How did Essential Designs perform from a project management standpoint? The Essential Designs team communicated with me constantly and kept me updated on project deadlines. Scott was very warm, open, honest, and professional. They made me extremely comfortable with technical knowledge. What did you find most impressive about them? Their professionalism and knowledge of their craft were exceptional. Scott took our financial situation into consideration and adapted to meet our needs and terms. Are there any areas they could improve? No, I have no complaints. Do you have any advice for potential customers? I would tell them to be honest and open with their team. --- #### Custom Software Platform Dev for Mktg & PR Firm **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Dec. 2025 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has developed a custom software platform for a marketing and PR firm. The platform features a robust backend workflow system and a user-friendly customer-facing storefront. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CEO, Ascend Agency - Industry: Advertising & marketing - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review **The Review** — Feb 13, 2026 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has delivered the project on time, meeting all the client's goals and objectives. The team has been responsive, communicative, and trustworthy throughout the engagement. The client is impressed with the team's commitment and understanding of their vision. ""Their commitment and understanding of our vision and company were impressive."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the CEO of Ascend AgencyDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Ascend is an innovative marketing public relations and communications services firm specializing in brand building and impactful storytelling through expertly crafted articles. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?Improve our workflow, reduce team conflict, and change the way we place orders. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitGood value for costReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Create a completely customized software platform that blends a strong back-end workflow system with a smooth customer-facing storefront to give users and internal teams a seamless, integrated experience.Create a custom solution that simplifies daily operations and expedites transactions, enabling the business to operate more efficiently, increase productivity, and provide customers with a quicker, more fulfilling experience. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?We had weekly sprint calls with our wonderful PM to review our progress and make sure we were on track for our deadline.  Google Meet with Scott, who remained involved throughout the process and kept all of our goals and objectives front and center during the build.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Consistently punctual, communicative, and trustworthy. We got what we needed.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Their commitment and understanding of our vision and company were impressive. The entire dev team is great. Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?No, only positive experiences. --- #### Website Development for Recreation Center **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Nov. 2025 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has redeveloped a website for a recreation center. The team has built a new membership platform and a finance module, enhanced backend capabilities, and shifted the site to WordPress. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CEO, Westside Recreation Centre - Industry: Recreation - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Online Review **The Review** — Feb 11, 2026 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has improved the website's functionality, UX, front- and backend aspects, and financial monitoring. The client has gained staff hours for other projects due to the improved site. Moreover, the team has an efficient response time, excellent customer service, and great support. ""Essential Designs are extremely rapid in offering support and deploying fixes even in out-of-office instances."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the CEO of Westside Recreation CentreDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Westside offers quality recreation facilities, activities, programs and services for all ages and abilities. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?Our website had become quite outdated and maintenance with our previous provider had become expensive and slow. Essential Designs was brought onboard to take over the maintenance of our website, redevelop existing modules to up-to- date formats and also allow us to develop new modules of our website to improve our offering to our members **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsClose to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitGood value for costReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs have carried out a huge amount of scope across our website including but not limited to development of a new membership platform, development of a new finance module, building out our backend capabilities and moving our website host to a more suitable option for our traffic demands and also shifting platform to WordPress site to allow enhanced in-house control of content. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Our website’s overall functionality has been improved both in frontend possibilities and user experience as well as backend aspects of website management and financial monitoring. These are not easily quantifiable but there has been a net gain in available staff hours for alternative projects as a result of improved website abilities reducing workload.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?The primary communication platform I’ve used with Essential Designs is Slack for day-to-day communication, we also utilised Trello for providing and managing scope and development with invoicing being issued via email. All responses were very efficient and language was never a barrier.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?In-Person MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Response time and customer service. Very quick response to all queries and whenever there was an issue caused by our older modules. Essential Designs are extremely rapid in offering support and deploying fixes even in out-of-office instances.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?I have never been found wanting with Essential Designs, their team and service level is brilliant. --- #### Software Dev & Maintenance for Medical Supplies Firm **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: May - Oct. 2025 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs provided software development and maintenance support for a medical supplies firm. The team maintained the client's existing system and added new functionality. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Owner/President, Homepro Medical Supplies - Industry: Medical - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review **The Review** — Feb 9, 2026 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs delivered high-quality work without any issues. The team completed the project on time and within budget. They managed the project well, responded promptly, and treated issues with utmost importance. Moreover, the team communicated via email and Google Meet. ""We were one of Essential Designs' smaller clients, but they were always incredibly quick to respond."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Owner/President of Homepro Medical SuppliesDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Providing medical supplies and equipment has been our mantra for over 20 years. Be it distributing disposable medical supplies or durable medical equipment our company personnel have been serving the medical community in one form or another for many years. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We needed support with software development and maintenance. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?6-10 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.The team at Essential Designs has been helping us with ongoing software development and maintenance. We brought them into an existing software system, and they've come on board to help further the development and handle maintenance. The key technologies they've used include .NET and TypeScript. They've also added functionality to the software. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The team’s work has been great, and we haven’t had any issues relating to their work.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?The team stays on budget and meets deadlines. We have a great deal of confidence in their team because of how they handle project management. We speak to the same people each time, so we’re able to build rapport. Communication is incredibly fast, and they use Jira and GitHub for project management. For day-to-day communication, they use Google Meet and email.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?We were one of Essential Designs' smaller clients, but they were always incredibly quick to respond. When we have issues, they treat them as if they’re extremely important. We feel like we have a partner, and that’s been incredible. That’s why we’ll keep them on for as long as we can.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?I don’t have any areas for improvement. --- #### Web App Development for Sports Training Center **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, UX/UI Design, Web Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Sep. - Dec. 2025 **Project Summary**: Essential Designs designed and developed a custom web app for a sports training center. They handled the UI/UX design, front- and backend development, API integration, and admin dashboard creation. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Business Dev Mgr, Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center - Industry: Sports - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review **The Review** — Feb 4, 2026 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs delivered a scalable solution that automated several manual processes, reducing operational time by 37% and achieving significant overhead cost savings. The team met all milestones on time, responded promptly, and communicated clearly via email, messaging apps, and meetings. ""They were able to recommend the right technologies for our needs and implement complex features."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Business Development Manager of Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training CenterDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.The Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center is a dynamic sport venues and support facilities for elite athlete programming in dynamic sports. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We hired Essential Designs to design and develop a custom software solution that could automate our business processes and replace outdated manual workflowsTo build a scalable web application from scratch, and handle full custom software development lifecycle **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchClutch SiteWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitGood value for costCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs handled the entire custom software development process from discovery to deployment. Their team worked on requirements gathering, UI/UX design, backend architecture, and frontend development. The key deliverables included a responsive web application, an admin dashboard, and API integrations with our third-party services. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The custom software automated several manual processes, reducing operational time by 37% and saving significant overhead costs. Our team can now manage tasks in half the time compared to before.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Essential Designs managed the project very efficiently. They set clear timelines, used agile sprints, and provided regular updates through weekly calls and progress reports. All milestones were delivered on time, and they were quick to address any adjustments we requested.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?In-Person MeetingVirtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?What impresses us most is their deep technical expertise. They were able to recommend the right technologies for our needs and implement complex features that other vendors struggled with.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?No. They were always responsive. --- #### Software Dev & Integration for Social Commerce Platform **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, Mobile App Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: June 2024 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has integrated an NFC-connected physical product with a social commerce platform's app. The team handles onboarding flows, routing, database setup, and NFC reprogramming. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & CEO, Netbinc Corporation - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review **The Review** — Apr 16, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has delivered a fully functional app, meeting the client's expectations. The team has ensured a smooth onboarding process. Moreover, they've delivered on time and within budget, provided regular updates, and been receptive to feedback. Their flexibility stands out. ""They were rockstars. No notes."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Founder & CEO of Netbinc CorporationDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Netbinc is a next-generation social commerce platform that integrates the power of social networking with e-commerce. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We brought on Essential Designs to help integrate an NFC-connected physical product with our app. They also helped evaluate vendors and review technical requirements. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitGood value for costCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.They handled the full integration from onboarding flows to NFC chip pairing. When a userscans the product, it opens a mobile onboarding experience that connects the chip to their profile. They can then manage the product, assign it to their profile, and others can scan it to view their info. ED covered development, routing, database setup, and NFCreprogramming. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The platform works exactly how we envisioned it. New users can easily onboard,pair the product to their profile, and share it with others via NFC scan. The tech issmooth and responsive.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Everything was delivered on time and on budget. The PM kept things moving, sharedregular updates, and always listened to our feedback.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?The team just got it. Clean code, strong understanding of what we needed, and fast turnaround. Super flexible too.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?They were rockstars. No notes. --- #### Custom Software Development for Marketing Platform **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, Mobile App Development, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Aug. 2024 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs provides development services for a marketing platform. The team has built a SaaS platform for financial services with a self-service environment and has constructed iOS and Android apps. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director of Content, AdvisorStream - Industry: Financial services - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review **The Review** — Apr 14, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs' work has been of excellent quality. The team's commitment to refining features and improving the product's functionality and UX is commendable. Moreover, the team's structured project management stands out. Daily communications have been smoothly through Slack and Basecamp. ""Their proactive attitude and commitment to fully understanding the solution stood out."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Director of Content of AdvisorStreamDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.AdvisorStream is the highest-rated marketing platform for financial advisors that drives growth, revenue, and retention. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We hired Essential Designs to support the development of a SaaS platform tailored for financial services. The scope included building a Web Self-Service environment, iOS and Android mobile applications, and a robust back-end with multiple third-party integrations. In addition to development, Essential Designs also provides ongoing first- and second-line support for the platform. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralClutch SiteWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsClose to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitGood value for costReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.The project scope included UI/UX design for both web and mobile interfaces, full-stack development of the SaaS platform, and provisioning of business analysis, QA, DevOps, and support resources.The key deliverables included a white-labelled web platform, native mobile applications, and a comprehensive back-end system capable of integrating with multiple external services. The team handled everything from discovery to deployment. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The quality of the final product has been excellent. While some phases of the project took slightly longer than expected, the delays were often due to the team’s deep involvement and commitment to refining features and identifying additional areas for improvement. Their thoughtful approach consistently resulted in better functionality and user experience.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Project management was well-structured, with regular stand-ups that included the Essential Designs Project Manager and Delivery Manager, as well as weekly delivery calls involving business analysts and key stakeholders. Daily communications flowed smoothly through Slack and Basecamp, allowing our internal team to collaborate efficiently with theirs.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?Their proactive attitude and commitment to fully understanding the solution stood out.The team consistently offered insightful suggestions, demonstrating a true interest in delivering a product that met not just the requirements, but the bigger business goals!Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?There were occasional minor delays in delivery timelines, but these were addressed quickly and constructively. The team showed strong accountability and took steps to improve internal processes wherever needed. --- #### Mobile App Development for Corporate Greeting Card Company **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Nov. 2024 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has developed a mobile app for a corporate greeting card company. They've built features enabling users to sign up and select gifts, conducted tests, fixed bugs, and provided ongoing support. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Marketing Manager, Embassy Greeting Cards - Industry: Retail - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review **The Review** — Apr 7, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has helped the client increase users, improve ratings, and reduce technical issues. The team's highly organized project management has enabled them to quickly deliver on time and address adjustments. They're also professional, efficient, and committed to quality. ""They've really taken the time to understand our needs and deliver exactly what we've envisioned."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Marketing Manager of Embassy Greeting CardsDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Embassy Cards creates, publishes and markets corporate greeting cards throughout Canada. Embassy Cards excels in creating custom and unique greeting cards for discerning corporations. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?We partnered with Essential Designs to develop a mobile app that allows users to sign up, select gifts, and complete secure transactions seamlessly. **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?ReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsClose to my geographic locationReferred to meCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?6-10 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential Designs built a user-friendly app that ensures a smooth experience for customers. They thoroughly tested the app, addressed any bugs, and provided continued support to improve functionality. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The app has been a success! We’ve seen an increase in users, better ratings, and fewer technical issues since launch.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?They were highly organized, met deadlines, and quickly made adjustments when needed.What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?They've really taken the time to understand our needs and deliver exactly what we've envisioned. Their professionalism, efficiency, and commitment to quality made the process smooth.Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?There were some minor tweaks I requested, but nothing that impacted the final result. Their team was quick to make adjustments, so it wasn’t really an issue. --- #### SaaS Web App Design & Dev for Municipal Association **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, UX/UI Design, Web Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: June 2023 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has developed a SaaS web app for a municipal association. The team also hosts the app on their servers and provides maintenance and troubleshooting services. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Senior Specialist, Municipal Association - Industry: Construction - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Oct 11, 2024 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has shown a great problem-solving attitude and worked well with the client to achieve the project's vision. The team has delivered all milestones on time, except when the client needs more time to review or add items to the scope. Essential Designs is also flexible and agile. ""They offer great problem-solving and a good attitude."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Senior Specialist of a municipal association.Describe what your company does in a single sentence.We're a municipal association concerned with the quality and design of roads in Ontario. We have been devoted to the cause of better roads since 1894. Our members include most of Ontario’s municipalities and a growing number of First Nations as well as dozens of affiliated corporate members in the transportation and infrastructure sectors. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?Develop an SaaS web appHost the web app on their serversmaintenance and troubleshooting **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchReferralWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGood value for costHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?6-10 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.that is confidential information **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?They offer great problem-solving and a good attitude in working with the client towards finishing the project as per the client's vision. Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?project was divided into 8 milestones and they were all delivered on time with exceptions for when the client (us) took longer to review or had to add further items to the scope. What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?flexibility and agility Are there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?. --- #### Custom Software Dev for Insulation Product Manufacturer **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Mar. 2023 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Essential Designs has built software for an insulation product manufacturer. They've implemented features enabling end customers to identify and order the products they need. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** President, Insulation Snakes - Industry: Manufacturing - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 26, 2024 **Feedback Summary**: Essential Designs has delivered fully functional software as scheduled. They've conducted a beta test, and the app only requires minor changes. Moreover, their knowledgeable team impresses the client with their efficiency and responsiveness. They also communicate well via email and online meetings. ""The way they set up their teams is efficient and works well."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the President of Insulation SnakesDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.We make removable, reusable, weatherproof insulation products. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Essential Designs to accomplish?Design an app for customers and end users to be able to determine and then order the products they need **SOLUTION** How did you find Essential Designs?Online SearchWhy did you select Essential Designs over others?High ratingsClose to my geographic locationPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitGood value for costHow many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?6-10 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Essential designs walked us through the process and then worked with us to develop our software. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The software works and the Beta testing was very successful with only small changesDescribe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?On time and the most responsive IT company we have ever worked with!What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?The way they set up their teams is efficient and works well. Very knowledgeable staff in all disciplinesAre there any areas for improvement or something Essential Designs could have done differently?Nothing I can think of. --- ## Portfolio & Awards ### Honeywell License Generation Platform Honeywell is an American multinational company that invents and manufacturers technologies that address some of the world’s most critical challenges around safety, security, productivity and energy.     Project Overview Honeywell needed a secure, highly reliable system to generate and manage encrypted license keys for hardware products used across international offices. The platform had to support multiple user roles, align strictly with global brand standards, and maintain 99.9% uptime for a business-critical process. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed a custom, enterprise-grade license key management platform. The system enables encrypted key generation, role-based access, and approval workflows for teams across global offices, while remaining fully aligned with Honeywell’s international brand and security requirements. Impact The solution provides Honeywell teams with 24/7 access to license key generation, supports evolving hardware products, and ensures uninterrupted operations for a critical business function—delivering the reliability, security, and scalability required at an enterprise level.https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/honeywell ### Growmotely Growmotely is a full-service talent sourcing and management firm, placing remote professionals into permanent positions. They manage sourcing, placement, contracts, payroll, performance management, and engagement for their clients and remote talent. Project Overview Growmotely needed a scalable platform to manage the full lifecycle of remote talent placement—from sourcing and matching candidates to wage negotiation, scheduling, and ongoing engagement. Off-the-shelf tools couldn’t support the complexity of managing both talent and hiring companies within a single system. Our Role Essential Designs designed and built a custom, user-facing web application alongside a powerful admin panel. The platform enables candidates and hiring companies to connect, manage roles and schedules, negotiate wages, and process payments, while allowing Growmotely’s internal team to manage users, oversee workflows, and collect commissions seamlessly. Impact The result is an all-in-one talent management platform that streamlines operations, supports platform growth, and delivers a smoother experience for both remote professionals and hiring companies—demonstrating our ability to build complex, multi-user systems that scale with the business. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/growmotely ### AllSkin AllSkin leverages an extensive database of 10,000 skincare products categorized into various skin concerns. The app aims to help users find the most suitable products by guiding them through a personalized skincare survey and analyzing their existing skincare routines. Project Overview AllSkin set out to simplify skincare decisions in a crowded market filled with conflicting information. The challenge was to create an accessible, personalized mobile experience that could guide users toward products suited to their individual skin needs. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed AllSkin, a mobile application that uses a structured skin assessment to personalize recommendations. The app guides users through a 20-question survey, analyzes their skincare routines, and surfaces relevant products from a searchable database based on individual skin profiles. Impact The result is a user-friendly mobile platform that delivers personalized skincare guidance at scale, demonstrating our ability to build consumer apps that combine data collection, logic-driven personalization, and intuitive user experience. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/all-skin ### Taxzilla Taxzilla is a modern mobile app for iOS and Android that simplifies financial record-keeping, generating essential reports for filing personal income tax in Canada. It's a must-have tool for gig-workers in driving activities like couriers, food delivery, and ride-sharing. Project Overview As the gig economy grew, many drivers were missing out on legitimate tax deductions due to inconsistent or manual expense tracking. The challenge was to create a simple, accurate way for gig workers to track income and expenses and generate tax-ready reports without adding complexity to their daily workflow. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed Taxzilla, a mobile application for iOS and Android that streamlines income and expense tracking for gig workers. The app enables users to log mileage, gas, and maintenance expenses, then automatically generate organized reports required for filing personal income tax in Canada. Impact Taxzilla helps gig workers maintain accurate financial records, maximize eligible deductions, and reduce the stress of tax season—demonstrating our ability to build consumer-focused mobile products that combine ease of use with real-world financial utility. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/taxzilla ### Good Roads Good Roads is a Canadian association that supports municipal and provincial agencies involved in infrastructure, transportation, and public works through industry collaboration and standards-based initiatives. Project Overview Good Roads identified the need for a centralized digital solution to streamline how public agencies and vendors collaborate around infrastructure technical services. Existing processes lacked a single, trusted platform to manage submissions, reviews, and approvals across multiple stakeholders. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed the Good Roads Technical Services Portal, a web-based SaaS platform that connects manufacturers, distributors, and technical service providers with municipal and provincial agencies. The system enables agencies to review and approve services efficiently, while giving vendors a single point of access for submissions and approval tracking. Impact The platform improves transparency, consistency, and efficiency in the technical services approval process, demonstrating our ability to build secure, multi-stakeholder SaaS solutions for public-sector and infrastructure-focused organizations. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/good-roads ### Escape System Escape System is a mobile platform that enables organizations to send real-time emergency alerts directly to users, providing a faster alternative to traditional on-site notifications. Project Overview Traditional emergency alerts rely on alarms, speakers, or physical signals that don’t always reach people in real time. The challenge was to create a direct, reliable way to notify individuals instantly during emergency situations using their personal devices. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed Escape System, a mobile application that delivers real-time emergency notifications through push alerts. The app was built with a strong focus on usability and clarity, ensuring messages are received quickly while providing a polished, intuitive user experience. Impact Escape System enables organizations to communicate critical information instantly and directly to users, demonstrating our ability to build reliable, real-time mobile applications where speed, clarity, and user engagement are essential. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/escape-system ### BMW BMW is a global premium automotive brand known for luxury vehicles, performance engineering, and innovation. Project Overview BMW wanted to enhance the road trip experience by simplifying route planning, weather awareness, and destination discovery within a single mobile experience. The challenge was to combine real-time data, curated content, and trip documentation into an intuitive, easy-to-use application. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed the BMW Road Trip Planner, a mobile application that integrates route planning, weather optimization, landmark discovery, and trip note-taking. The app brings together real-time weather data, curated points of interest, and interactive features to help users plan, explore, and document their journeys seamlessly. Impact The result is an engaging, user-friendly mobile experience that elevates road trip planning and encourages exploration—demonstrating our ability to design and build polished, consumer-facing applications that blend data, usability, and brand-aligned design.https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/bmw ### Corona Corona is a globally recognized beer brand known for its strong association with beach culture, live music, and experiential events worldwide. Project Overview Corona wanted a better way to connect partygoers with its beach party experiences while simplifying event discovery, ticketing, and artist engagement. The challenge was to bring all of this together in a single digital experience that felt immersive and easy to use. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed a mobile application that centralizes event information, ticket access, and artist interaction. The platform uses interactive and gamified elements to encourage user engagement and make exploring events and performers more engaging. Impact The app created a more immersive way for fans to discover events, engage with artists, and participate in the experience—demonstrating our ability to build branded, consumer-facing mobile applications that drive engagement and enhance live experiences. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/corona ### Lifeguard Lifeguard is a digital harm-reduction platform developed in collaboration with public health organizations to help prevent overdose-related fatalities through real-time emergency response. Project Overview Lifeguard partnered with public health teams to create a reliable digital solution that allows individuals to access emergency services immediately during high-risk situations. The platform needed to be highly dependable, easy to use, and capable of triggering rapid response without requiring ongoing user interaction. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed the Lifeguard mobile application for iOS and Android. The app connects directly with local 911 and ambulance services, allowing users to log their location and intent. If the user does not confirm their safety within a defined time window, emergency services are automatically dispatched using precise GPS data. Impact Lifeguard provides a critical, real-time safety tool that supports overdose prevention and rapid emergency response, demonstrating our ability to build mission-critical mobile applications where reliability, speed, and clarity are essential. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/portfolio/lifeguard/ ### Wood Buffalo Environmental Association The WBEA operates a network of continuous ambient air monitoring stations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, providing environmental data and notifications to member organizations and stakeholders. Project Overview WBEA needed a faster, more reliable way to deliver air quality data and exceedance alerts to its members. Their existing process relied on manually emailed CSV reports that often arrived the following business day, limiting timely awareness and response when air quality thresholds were exceeded. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed a native mobile application for iOS and Android that connects directly to WBEA’s monitoring systems. The app delivers real-time air quality updates and instant push notifications when measurements exceed Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives, including detailed contextual data such as location, time, and conditions. Impact The solution replaces delayed, manual reporting with immediate, real-time notifications—enabling faster awareness and response to air quality changes. This project demonstrates our ability to build reliable, data-driven mobile applications that support time-sensitive, compliance-focused public-sector operationshttps://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/wood-buffalo ### Foundry Payments Foundry Payments (owned by Trove) manages payments made through the BitePay app. BitePay was designed as a digital replacement for the traditional physical card system used by university students, which allowed a balance to be loaded on the card and redeemed for meals on campus.  Project Overview University students often rely on a mix of meal plans, credit cards, and parent-managed payment methods, creating a fragmented and repetitive payment experience for daily campus purchases. The challenge was to streamline payments across vendors while supporting both student convenience and operational efficiency. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed a mobile application that consolidates meal plans, credit cards, and other payment options into a single platform. The app enables fast, tap-to-pay transactions via mobile devices, simplifying payments for students while reducing friction for campus food vendors. Impact The Byte app delivers a unified, time-saving payment experience that improves transaction speed, reduces complexity, and supports scalable campus-wide adoption—demonstrating our ability to build multi-party payment platforms with real-world operational impact.https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/foundry-2 ### Bronson Jones Bronson Jones & Company LLP is a Vancouver based personal injury law firm that has extensive experience representing plaintiffs who have been injured in motor vehicle collisions and other types of accidents. Bronson Jones handles most types of legal services, including Brain Damage / Head Injury. Project Overview Bronson Jones identified an opportunity to improve client care by digitizing symptom tracking and communication throughout the legal journey. The goal was to provide clients with an easy way to log symptoms, track progress over time, and stay on top of important appointments and medications. Our Role Essential Designs designed and developed a native mobile application for iOS and Android that enables clients to track symptoms, visualize progress through graphs, and receive automated reminders. The app was built to be intuitive and accessible, supporting clients while providing structured data to aid ongoing case management. Impact The platform improves consistency, visibility, and engagement in client symptom tracking, demonstrating our ability to build user-friendly mobile applications that support care, compliance, and long-term process optimization in regulated, client-centric environments. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/case-study/bronson-jones ### Emerson Electric Emerson Electric Essential Designs partnered with Emerson Electric on the modernization of the Zedi Go mobile platform — a field operations and monitoring application used across industrial and energy environments. The project focused on improving usability, performance, scalability, and real-time operational visibility for field personnel and internal teams. Project Overview The existing platform required modernization to meet evolving performance, security, and user experience expectations. Field operators needed a faster, more reliable mobile experience with improved access to operational data, real-time monitoring, alerts, and analytics while working remotely in demanding environments. Our Role Essential Designs worked closely with Emerson’s team to redesign and modernize the Zedi Go mobile application for iOS and Android. Our team focused on improving application performance, modernizing the UI/UX, optimizing data visualization, and enhancing the overall user experience for field operators managing remote assets and operational data. The platform modernization included improved workflows, real-time data access, alert management, and mobile usability enhancements designed to support operational efficiency in the field. Impact The updated platform delivered a more modern and scalable mobile experience while improving operational visibility, usability, and accessibility for field teams. The modernization helped support real-time decision-making, streamlined field workflows, and positioned the platform for ongoing long-term growth and development. ### Teck Teck Resources Limited, known as Teck Cominco until late 2008, is a Canadian metals and mining company. Canada’s largest diversified resources company, it was formed from the amalgamation of Teck and Cominco in 2001. Project Overview  Teck needed a faster, more reliable way to manage contractor safety and site access across large, complex mine sites. Their manual, forms-based process slowed approvals, limited real-time visibility, and created inefficiencies while workers were actively on-site. Our Role Essential Designs designed and built EHSC, a responsive, cloud-based web application that automates contractor safety workflows. Contractors submit safety forms digitally, which are routed to approvers in real time—allowing instant approval or rejection and eliminating delays caused by manual processes. Impact This project demonstrates our ability to replace manual, high-risk processes with enterprise-grade custom software that improves operational efficiency, enhances safety, and supports large-scale, compliance-driven environments. https://www.essentialdesigns.net/portfolio/teck/ ### Clutch Awards - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/clutch_1000_2024_award.svg) - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/global_award_fall_2024.svg) - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/top_clutch.co_field_operations_app_developers_2024_award.svg) - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/top_clutch.co_asp.net_developers_canada_2026.svg) - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/top_clutch.co_.net_developers_canada_2026.svg) ### Industry Recognitions - AI-Enhanced Development Service - Nominated for CanadianSME Business Awards - Top Mobile App Development Companies in Toronto - Top 10 Software Development Companies in Canada - Top 10 CRM Software Dev Companies In Canada - The Tyee Article - Daily Hive Article - TheoTech Sol. partnership with Essential Designs - Yahoo Article - Newsfile Article - Top 10 Vancouver Application Developers - Top Laravel Developers - Top Calgary Mobile App Developers - Top Toronto App Developers - Top Vancouver App Developers - Top Custom Devs in Canada ## Key Clients - Honeywell - BMW - Teck - Taxilla - Growmotely - Lifeguard Health - AllSkin - Good Roads - Escape System - Emerson Electric ## Packages ## About the Team ### Our Story We are Essential Designs, a Canada-based team with 18+ years building custom web, mobile, and business platforms. Our multidisciplinary group blends UX design, Agile engineering, QA and AI tools to modernize legacy systems and deliver new SaaS and enterprise apps. We've partnered with clients like Emerson Electric, Honeywell, Teck, Schneider Electric and Lifeguard to centralize operations, improve safety, save lives, scale remote-work and build licensing platforms. ### Quick Facts - 18 years in business ## Locations (5) ### Vancouver, Canada (Headquarters) - 408 – 55 Water Street - Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1 - Canada - 16 - 20 employees - Phone: 604-568-7800 ### Toronto, Canada - 545 King Street West - Toronto, ON M5V 1M1 - Canada - 6 - 9 employees - Phone: 647-493-8150 ### Calgary, Canada - 630 8th Ave SW – #600, - Calgary, AB T2P 1G6 - Canada - 6 - 9 employees - Phone: 403-775-0396 ### Los Angeles, CA - 10250 Constellation Boulevard - Los Angeles, CA 90067 - United States - 6 - 9 employees - Phone: 1-213-652-9778 ### San Diego, CA - 600 B Street - San Diego, CA 92101 - United States - 6 - 9 employees - Phone: 1-858-879-1990 ## Connections - Shalaka Teli (Gadre Infotech Pvt. Ltd.) - Faizan Tariq (Websolixs) ## Contact Essential Designs [Send a message](https://clutch.co/profile/essential-designs) ### Connect on Social - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/essential-designs-inc./) - [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/teamessentialdesigns) - [X](https://twitter.com/essentialdesig) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/essentialdesignsapps)