Essential Designs is a custom software development agency specializing in complex web and mobile applications for growing companies and enterprise teams. For 18 years, we’ve helped organizations turn ideas — and often underperforming or partially built systems — into secure, scalable platforms built to last.
We design and develop custom web platforms, internal dashboards, and mobile apps using modern technologies like React, React Native, Python, PHP, ASP.NET, and Swift. Our work is best suited for projects where off-the-shelf software isn’t flexible enough and long-term reliability matters.
Our process starts with deep planning and discovery, aligning technology with real business workflows from day one. With senior developers and experienced UI/UX designers, we build software that’s robust, intuitive for non-technical teams, and easy to scale over time.
What we’re best known for
Custom internal platforms and dashboards where standard tools fall short
Taking over and stabilizing underperforming or incomplete builds
Translating complex requirements into clear, usable software
Delivering enterprise-grade solutions designed for long-term growth
We’ve delivered hundreds of custom solutions across healthcare, education, mining, finance, recruitment, and enterprise operations, often acting as a long-term development partner and extension of internal teams.
With offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Los Angeles, and San Diego, we’re available for in-person collaboration and ongoing partnerships.
Typical projects
Custom internal web applications & dashboards
Scalable web platforms & SaaS products
Native & cross-platform mobile apps
Ongoing development, iteration, and system expansion
Ready to build something solid? Click “Visit Website” to start the conversation.
Min project size
$10,000+
Hourly rate
$25 - $49 / hr
Employees
50 - 249
Locations
Vancouver, Canada
Year founded
Founded 2008
Languages
Timezones
1 Language that we service
English
3 Timezones that we service
CST
Central Standard Time (CST)
EST
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
PST
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
5 Locations
Vancouver , Canada
Toronto , Canada
Calgary , Canada
Los Angeles , CA
San Diego , CA
No have been added yet...
Pricing Snapshot
Min. project size
$10,000+
Avg. hourly rate
$25 - $49
/hr
Rating for cost
4.9
/5
What Clients Have Said
Essential Designs offers competitive pricing and good value for cost, with project investments ranging from $10,000 to $260,000. Clients appreciate their responsiveness, project management, and ability to adapt to needs, resulting in successful outcomes and satisfaction.
The company is consistently commended for its effective project management, delivering projects on time and efficiently handling milestones. Clients highlight their proactive communication and adaptability to client needs.
Areas for Improvement in Training and Documentation
While clients are generally satisfied, some have noted the need for more comprehensive training resources and clearer documentation to facilitate easier onboarding and internal training processes.
Effective Use of Client Feedback in Development
Essential Designs is noted for effectively incorporating client feedback into the development process, allowing for iterative improvements and ensuring that final products closely align with client visions.
Positive Impact on Business Operations
Clients report significant improvements in their business operations post-implementation of solutions by Essential Designs, including increased productivity, reduced manual processes, and enhanced user engagement.
Commitment to Customer Satisfaction
Clients highlight the company’s dedication to customer satisfaction, noting their willingness to address issues promptly and adapt to client feedback. Their commitment results in high client satisfaction and long-term partnerships.
Exceptional Communication and Responsiveness
Clients appreciate Essential Designs’ excellent communication skills, noting their responsiveness and ability to keep clients informed. They maintain clear communication channels, ensuring alignment throughout project phases.
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.
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.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Web & E-Commerce Dev for Religious Organization
Web Development
$10,000 to $49,999
Feb. 2018 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
4.5
“They're doing a great job.”
Jun 8, 2018
IT & Security Manager, Amazing Discoveries
Adrian Hamerski
Verified
Other industries
Langley, British Columbia
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
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.
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.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"In IT, it’s hard to predict unexpected things, but they do what they can."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"There are no hidden costs or unexpected expenses. Everything was clarified before we began working together."
Willing to Refer
4.5
NPS
"They are great and do a great job. I am happy. We are lucky we can afford their services as not everyone might be able to.
App Dev & Design for Technology Consulting Company
Mobile App Development
$10,000 to $49,999
Apr. 2018 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They keep on top of things and make sure that everyone is on the same page."
May 18, 2018
CEO, Cloud Launch One
Helen Ching
Verified
Other industries
Toronto, Ontario
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
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.
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.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"The prices are quite reasonable."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Web Application Dev for Data Consulting Company
Web Development
$10,000 to $49,999
Oct. 2017 - Mar. 2018
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
“The coders know what they’re doing, and they do things quickly and efficiently.”
Mar 23, 2018
Owner, Consulting Firm
Anonymous
Verified
Business services
Vancouver, British Columbia
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
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.
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.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"They were really solid. The time estimates were really good."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"Their pricing was really good."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
App Dev for Substance Users & Emergency Responders
Mobile App Development
Confidential
Nov. 2017 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
4.5
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Their professionalism and knowledge of their craft were exceptional."
Mar 20, 2018
CEO, LifeguardOD
Jeff Hardy
Verified
Other industries
Vancouver, British Columbia
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
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.
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.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Custom Software Platform Dev for Mktg & PR Firm
Custom Software Development
Confidential
Dec. 2025 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Their commitment and understanding of our vision and company were impressive."
Feb 13, 2026
CEO, Ascend Agency
Jonathan Jadali
Advertising & marketing
Irvine, California
11-50 Employees
Online Review
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.
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.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the CEO of Ascend Agency
Describe 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?
Referral
Why did you select Essential Designs over others?
High ratings
Pricing fit our budget
Great culture fit
Good value for cost
Referred to me
Company values aligned
How many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees
Describe 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 Meeting
Email or Messaging App
What 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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Website Development for Recreation Center
Web Development
$10,000 to $49,999
Nov. 2025 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Essential Designs are extremely rapid in offering support and deploying fixes even in out-of-office instances."
Feb 11, 2026
CEO, Westside Recreation Centre
Jan Bloemraad
Recreation
Calgary, Alberta
201-500 Employees
Online Review
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.
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.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the CEO of Westside Recreation Centre
Describe 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 Search
Referral
Why did you select Essential Designs over others?
High ratings
Close to my geographic location
Pricing fit our budget
Great culture fit
Good value for cost
Referred to me
Company values aligned
How many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees
Describe 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 Meeting
Email or Messaging App
What 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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Software Dev & Maintenance for Medical Supplies Firm
Custom Software Development
$50,000 to $199,999
May - Oct. 2025
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"We were one of Essential Designs' smaller clients, but they were always incredibly quick to respond."
Feb 9, 2026
Owner/President, Homepro Medical Supplies
David Schwartz
Medical
Brooklyn, New York
11-50 Employees
Online Review
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.
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.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the Owner/President of Homepro Medical Supplies
Describe 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 Search
Referral
Why did you select Essential Designs over others?
High ratings
Pricing fit our budget
Great culture fit
Referred to me
Company values aligned
How many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?
6-10 Employees
Describe 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 Meeting
Email or Messaging App
What 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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Web App Development for Sports Training Center
Custom Software DevelopmentUX/UI DesignWeb Development
$10,000 to $49,999
Sep. - Dec. 2025
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They were able to recommend the right technologies for our needs and implement complex features."
Feb 4, 2026
Business Dev Mgr, Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
Trevor Higgins
Sports
Chula Vista, California
11-50 Employees
Online Review
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.
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.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the Business Development Manager of Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
Describe 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 workflows
To build a scalable web application from scratch, and handle full custom software development lifecycle
SOLUTION
How did you find Essential Designs?
Online Search
Clutch Site
Why did you select Essential Designs over others?
High ratings
Pricing fit our budget
Great culture fit
Good value for cost
Company values aligned
How many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees
Describe 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 Meeting
Virtual Meeting
Email or Messaging App
What 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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Software Dev & Integration for Social Commerce Platform
Custom Software DevelopmentMobile App Development
$10,000 to $49,999
June 2024 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They were rockstars. No notes."
Apr 16, 2025
Founder & CEO, Netbinc Corporation
Dennis N.
Other industries
San Diego, California
1-10 Employees
Online Review
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.
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.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the Founder & CEO of Netbinc Corporation
Describe 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 Search
Why did you select Essential Designs over others?
High ratings
Pricing fit our budget
Great culture fit
Good value for cost
Company values aligned
How many teammates from Essential Designs were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees
Describe 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 user scans 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 NFC reprogramming.
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 is smooth 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, shared regular updates, and always listened to our feedback.
What was your primary form of communication with Essential Designs?
Virtual Meeting
Email or Messaging App
What 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.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Showing 21-30 of
34 Reviews
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.
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