Fuzzy Math

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the SVP of analytic product development for a company that provides sales tracking services to the general merchandise industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

We wanted to rebuild our web-based application. We not only had a number of user complaints about usability but also the look and feel. It was difficult to navigate through the screens and select products. The final reporting was also difficult because we had two reporting modules that existed in two separate applications. If we went from one to the other, users had to reset the module.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fuzzy Math conducted internal and external client interviews to collect feedback on their largest pain points. They reviewed the application to understand how it worked and its challenges. Then, their team created a design document that listed style guidelines, which covers how the app should look and feel. Their team reviewed the past and created the visual design for our new application. They redesigned the basic navigation for the application and designed pages. Their team combined the capabilities of two applications based in Tableau into one application based in HTML.

What is the team composition?

In total, four people worked against our project.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

Members of my team had previous experience working with Fuzzy Math. We interviewed them and one other vendor. We had a good rapport with their team and decided to engage them.

How much have you invested with them?

All told, we spent around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project had two phases. The initial phase started in April 2019 and went through to July. Their team followed up in September to review our current status and completed their work in October.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We reviewed their work internally when we considered the app's ease of use and users' abilities to find content that couldn’t be found before. The internal feedback has been tremendous. We’re just getting to the external feedback now.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Basecamp to communicate. Their team included a point person who orchestrated all of the check-ins and posted information on a shared site. They ran meetings and sent agendas over to us ahead of time. Fuzzy Math was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fuzzy Math translated what we said into proposed designs well. They listened to our feedback on the initial designs, so the process was collaborative and open. They listened to us and translated our ideas into creative designs that met our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We wish that we could've moved faster. They had to complete tasks to ground themselves in the existing app, which probably took longer than we wanted. However, I know that they were necessary to move forward.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want and concise with your feedback. Fuzzy Math won’t know what you want to accomplish unless you communicate that to them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The New Arab or Alaraby Aljadeed is all news websites Arabic and English, based in London, UK. Both publish news around the clock. The Arabic site is one of the leading news source in the Middle East. I'm the Head of Digital at The New Arab

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fuzzy Math?

Fuzzy Math were contracted to to redesign both websites and create new UX designs for both websites.

What were your goals for this project?

We have expanded our content and services, and we had plans to grow vertically and horizontally. Since we als place a great value for user experience, we needed a design that fulfills that goal and at the same time allows us to add more services, and we content and micro-sites.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

It took us nearly 9 months to land Fazzy Math. We have created a criteria for the UX design agency. The main weight was a vendor with extensive experience in UX design. We have received nearly a dozen of offers. We then shortlisted them, Fuzzy Math stood out amongst all vendors, given that they are specialists in UX design.

Describe the project in detail.

First the current status of the sites needed thorough evaluation. A user research was needed as part of the process of understanding the current audiences opinions and how can we attract new audiences categories. FM has planned and executed a massive research using both questionnaires and focus groups. The as well as meeting with stakeholders to understand their point of view for the project. That was the first part of the project. At that point we had a holistic view of our audiences as well as websites analysis which allowed us to identify and refine our needs. Based on that they helped us to outline the design framework and they have done it impressively in terms of communications, and quality of design and timing. They always delivered sprints within the time frame they have set.

What was the team composition?

We had a team of 3 initially in addition to the project manager. And then 2 more joined briefly depending on the project stage. But our impression was that every member of the team knew exactly what is their role and successfully managed their tasks with a fantastic level of communication.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The Arabic website was due to launch on the 6th anniversary of the website, which was yesterday, but given the current situation around the world (the coronavirus pandemic) the management took the decision to postpone it for a few weeks. But we have a soft launch to a selected groups of audiences, the impression so far is very positive. Also stakeholders and all editorial teams are quite happy with it. We are hoping to be able to inform you about the performance after the launch. I'll be able to share with you the results in 6 months from now

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Since we had one point of reference at our end and a platform to share all communications from FM end, I can't recall that in any point we missed or misunderstood or misinterpreted any communications. Same when FM team communicated with the development team. I never imagined as the project owner, that we will complete the project without hiccups. But indeed that what happened, clean complete projects. (2 projects)

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Where I should start from! They are all highly professional and they know exactly what they are doing. Committed, well-knowledged. I'd highly appreciate their flexibility, understanding and patience. Impressively, I they managed to keep the time frame they committed to although the delays occurred were from our end entirely. Most importantly the the cost of the project were only increased based on our additional requirements. Apart from that they kept it within the budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It would be rather on our side not theirs. It's worth mentioning that this project was mainly for an Arabic website and also a smaller English website. It was effectively their first one on that massive scale. I must say they executed it as if they are native Arabic speakers. Absolutely impressive!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of product development at a medical device startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

Since we're a startup, we had zero in-house branding. We needed an outsource team to create an ergonomic, intuitive UI that can be used by different users in different settings. I wanted the UI to be consistent with our branding. We wanted to have something quickly done to go to the tradeshow with it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We designed the software application with a specific tool in mind that can translate from a Photoshop or Sketch drawing into a usable interface. Fuzzy Math created the UI and image assets for the page. We then imported it into our application and completely restructured the UI. It’s an embedded device that will eventually be a kiosk application.

It’s still running on exclusively on Windows. We program everything in C++ and we’re using a Qt framework for the UI. Fuzzy Math had never worked with Qt, but they quickly adapted to it and learned how to convert their sketch files into metafiles that we could import into the framework.

We also wanted to have a logo and theme for the company. They investigated how we feel about our company and what our brand should represent, formalizing the brand idea and creating a concrete deliverable with branding and style guidelines. They found the right fonts and colors for us.

What is the team composition?

They had several people working on the project. There was a lead UX designer, a secondary UX designer, and a visual designer. The visual designer helped with creating the brand and styles. One of the co-founders acted as a project coordinator. He helped keep the project going and answered questions. I mostly worked with the designers.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

We looked at different large design companies. We found Fuzzy Math through a Google search for a UX designer in Chicago. We had a few calls with them, and we wanted a local company so we could have in-person meetings.

How much have you invested with them?

Overall, we’ve invested $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve finished the initial phase of creating the UI for the tradeshow. We had such a good experience with Fuzzy Math that we want to continue and push this project forward. We’ve asked for their help in finishing the UI and the final product. I told my CEO that they may be the best contractors I’ve worked with.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

They were professional and supported us by working independently when needed. When they needed feedback from us, they asked for it. They kept us on task as well, which was very much appreciated. We had several in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism was very impressive. We have a very complex workflow, but Fuzzy Math was able to understand the workflow immediately and even make suggestions to improve it. They picked it up very quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of that needs improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them. They know what they’re doing. They’re experts in UX design.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of UX organization for a software company. We create a variety of data-oriented products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

My company has many products, but we hadn't invested heavily UX. We started looking at different product sets and aimed to create synergies across different product lines. The CEO asked me if we could modernize the UI of the entire product set, which was an astronomical task. We first needed to understand our UX strategy, so we searched for a consulting firm to help us with that.

We selected two product lines and Fuzzy Math helped us with the user research phase for that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first stage was a kickoff involving internal stakeholders from the different product lines (data integration and data quality). We had a one-day workshop where we tried to understand the challenges around the UX and potential synergies. We also collected customers and companies that we wanted to be part of this user research project.

After the kickoff, they performed 30-minute interviews with the stakeholders. In the months after that, they conducted interviews with different companies and users. The next phase was a heuristic evaluation of the products. They went through the training courses we had so they could get a better perspective of the products, identifying opportunities for improvement. There was also a proposal for a “voice of the customer” program.

They then started to put together the work product. Their team built journey maps and archetypes for our personas. The final item was a strategy roadmap for the UX.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Mark (Founder, Fuzzy Math) from the beginning. The project had three primary figures—Mark and two other researchers. They did an incredible job running workshops with stakeholders and conducted customer interviews.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

We used Clutch to find qualified companies that could help us. Eventually, we narrowed it down to three and chose Fuzzy Math. They were at the top of the Clutch list I looked at. We looked at other companies from other referral sources, but after significant analysis, we determined that Fuzzy Math would be the best partner.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $325,000–$350,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

They began work in October of 2018. The final wrap-up was in the summer of 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We began some of the strategic recommendations they had. Their suggestions were wonderful, but some of them haven’t gotten funded yet. The things we were able to do have gone well, and we’ve made progress. They advised us to start a design system and acquire a modern technology stack. We’ve initiated a project to focus on one product line and put extra resources on it. They’ve helped clarify UX opportunities to the executive leadership team.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a SharePoint site and used Basecamp to share information and communicate. We met with them on a regular basis, and they stuck to the schedule. If there was anything not on schedule, it was something out of their control. Overall, we stayed closely aligned with the timeline of the original project proposal.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I felt a lot of compatibility and camaraderie with them. They had the same thought process that we do; it was like we’d known them forever and always spoke the same language. They were incredibly supportive of me and allowed me to voice any frustrations that I had. They also helped me communicate with the executive leadership team, which was good because sometimes the consultant has more weight in those discussions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes they have issues with not being brief. They’d have 10 slides that I needed to reduce to a single slide. However, I get the idea of putting as much information as possible out there from their perspective. Afterward, I could take it down to the most germane points.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of an IT technology company that develops custom software systems for the Metals Service Center and manufacturing markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

We were working on a project to migrate our main application's Windows GUI to a modern web-based UI. Previously we handled all the UI design work internally; however, moving to a web interface required design skills we didn't have. Our application includes order processing, inventory and warehouse management, and a fully integrated accounting module. These modules encompass hundreds of screens (transaction entry, maintenance, reporting, etc.) that support numerous workflows. We hired Fuzzy Math to help us redesign the UI/UX by building a new UI pattern library and style guide .

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fuzzy Math began the project with a discovery phase. Their team traveled our office to better gauge our design preferences and overall project goals. They visited one of our local customers to observe how users interacted with the current Windows UI. They used this information to develop their design proposals. They used an iterative process to create POC designs, and they validated these designs with our local customer.  

Fuzzy Math created a comprehensive web UI/UX pattern library and style guide. Applying these deliverables to a few of our most heavily used screens, they created a series of templates bringing the patterns together into functional screen designs.

What is the team composition?

My team worked with four Fuzzy Math team members. We collaborated with their project manager and designer on mockups, workflows, and system performance. Another designer worked on the color schemes, high-definition design, and the overall look and feel. A final teammate assembled all of this design work into an interactive pattern library and style guide with detailed CSS and HTML documentation.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

I found Fuzzy Math online when I searched for local UI/UX companies.  I also looked at their review on Clutch. I put a bid out to three different companies before ultimately choosing Fuzzy Math.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $180,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project spanned May–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The pattern library enables us to create a consistent user experience. We’ve completed our first user acceptance tests, and feedback has been positive.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, the project went well. We used Basecamp. A couple of times, we needed to regroup to clear up misunderstood requirements or timelines. Once we had a few conversations, we resolved the issue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we began working together, my team knew very little about practicing modern UI/UX techniques. Fuzzy Math took the time to educate us on what they were doing and why. We weren’t accustomed to this process and often wanted to speed it up, but they did a great job managing our expectations so that we didn’t rush the work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The CSS in their final deliverable didn't immediately translate to the web development framework we were using. A more detailed discussion on the technical aspects of the deliverables could have made the handover smoother.  Ultimately, it was a non-issue, and it was quickly resolved.

Any advice for potential customers?

Keep an open mind, be patient, and make sure they can speak to your customers or end users.  For instance, we have a very fast-paced user base. Observing our users helped Fuzzy Math see that some design concepts, such as a scrolling screens, wouldn’t work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the VP of digital strategy, e-commerce, and product development at Hyatt Hotels.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

We needed to revamp our property websites across all 11 of our company's brands.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fuzzy Math spent a lot of time cultivating a thorough understanding of each of our brands. They interviewed departments within our organization that had a vested interest in the property sites. For each of our multiple brands, they met with our branding, digital, analytics, and product development teams for the individual properties. Our lead product developer informed their design decisions. They arranged meetings with our stakeholders to understand our standards and desired look and feel.

Our UX team ensured they were designing a digital design system that's compatible with the one we had in place. 

Our corporate site and 11 individual brand sites with over 700 individual properties each have a distinct personality. Fuzzy Math excelled at tapping into the needs of every single one. They showcased unique activities surrounding our resort properties and positioned our city-based hotels as suitably geared for conferences.

By extracting existing metrics and analytics, they showed us how our existing property sites were performing; most were outdated and broken. After studying user behavior, they determined what our audience needs and used those findings to inform our future designs. 

During the visual and structural refresh, we conducted user testing to see if flat or nested types of navigation performed better. They generated metrics for everything, down to the millisecond of time it took users to complete tasks or find information. Flatter navigation with a long scroll performed better and was highly preferred by our end users. 

By doing this project, we created a single website code base that uses responsive design. The information on the screen adapts based on whether you’re looking at a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, or a mobile device. The templates were optimized for SEO as well, which was paramount for us as we saw a huge uptick in traffic coming to our site.

What is the team composition?

For each brand, they assigned us an interaction designer and a visual designer. There was a design lead overseeing those teams. 

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

We met at a conference in Chicago. My director of UX had worked with the team before and knew their co-founder through UX conferences.

Initially, we invited several firms to pitch and chose Fuzzy Math based on their expertise and UX design skill. They were capable of building responsive property templates with SEO for our individual property sites.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $850,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2016–2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Fuzzy Math captured the differences between our brands using creative elements from the style guidelines. They were innovative without deviating too far from our image. While slightly bending the rules, they stayed true to the core aspects of what our brand stands for.

Fuzzy Math designed our property sites to help users easily find all the useful information we've always had in place. Their designs improved and simplified the navigation tremendously. Some of their ideas have started to make their way into our print material.

When we launched the new website for the first brand, we immediately received a lot of positive feedback. End users love the new sites and find them much easier to use without getting lost. Our individual brand managers are delighted with the designs. 

Another huge win was increased web traffic for our dining and entertainment sites, especially the special events sections. We've also seen more user engagement like filling out requests for quotes or more information.

One property’s general manager said they’re getting more requests for meetings and events. In 2017, there were 12–14 requests total. Within the first month and a half of 2018, we secured more than 30 requests through the tool. This was a huge bonus we were pleased to see.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

The team's design method fit perfectly with our Agile development process. They were very flexible with us. We had a standing review meeting every week. I always looked forward to seeing the designs for each new branded template. It was exciting to watch them bring our concepts to life.

Communication was fantastic. The project lead was always in constant communication with our director of UX, who was leading the efforts. They were responsive to all our questions.

We had a cyclical schedule. As they completed the design of the brand, we moved that design to our development team. Then, our development team started creating the template within Adobe Experience Manager for that brand. As it was being developed, Fuzzy Math stayed involved for questions and supported us in figuring out the design challenges around those questions. Fuzzy Math was wonderfully attentive as questions popped up.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Throughout the project, we always felt like their number one client. They worked with other clients during our project, but it didn’t impede or infringe upon the velocity or quality of work we were getting from them.

The overall engagement from their team members was great. Every week, when we’d meet with them, we looked forward to hanging out with them. They’re great people to work with. That goes a long way when you have a long, grueling project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as open and transparent as possible. They will be empathetic to your needs, but no one can read your mind. We immediately felt an inherent trust in Fuzzy Math, so we included them in a lot of discussions. Understanding us enabled them to step up and pitch in. They felt like an extension of our team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of VHT Studios. We're a visual marketing company and we work primarily in the real estate industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

We're developing a new line of business and we're looking for investors. We needed a partner to help us build a prototype of what our new platform would look like and what it would do.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We presented our concept to them in a couple of sketches and they did everything else. They did the storyboard and designed the wireframes, providing recommendations on how we could improve our concept. Then, they built the prototype of our new platform, managing both the creative design and the development. The demo model replicates what the actual platform will do.

What is the team composition?

We worked with their team lead, a creative person, a designer, and a developer.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

We worked with them in the past and we liked the quality of their work. We also interviewed other companies for this project, but Fuzzy Media was our first choice.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $35,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between February–June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got an incredible response, and we actually received three offers. Fuzzy Math made the prototype very visual, so everyone is impressed with it. People even think that's an actual live product, which is exactly what we wanted.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

We spent a lot of time up front making sure everyone was working towards the common goal. Fuzzy Math was always on top of things, so we never had to push them. Their team lead really kept us on track with the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took ownership of the project and helped us make our product even better. Many companies just follow directions, but Fuzzy Math really cared about our success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we haven't had any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Follow their lead. As long as you can clearly articulate your expectations, they can meet them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of product management and development at software developer. My team oversees a software suite that supports higher education institutions and course materials management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

We’ve used them for a few different projects. We initially brought them on to do a dashboard to track instructor submissions, but have since used them for two larger projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In addition to the compliance dashboard project and an analytics dashboard for our publisher partners, one of the most important projects they worked on was a UI overhaul for one of our products. They took a holistic approach and analyzed our website. Once that was complete, they gave us an evaluation of what was working and what could be designed better.

We discussed our vision, and they came up with a few different versions of what they thought would benefit us. After we gave them feedback, they built updated wireframes and came up with a solidly consistent look and feel for us. It’s clean and concise, and includes a comprehensive pattern library. They created a fantastic, living document with embedded HTML. There is no guesswork on how to build each icon or button, all we have to do is grab it and insert it into the code whenever we want to make changes.

What is the team composition?

We interacted with a team of three or four people, including a project lead and a design lead. It was good to have a mix of people working on the project, since they each brought a different opinion and viewpoint to guide the process.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

My former boss discovered them and brought them in for the first projects we did with them. The first project was the single-page compliance dashboard, which they did a good job on. I liked their working style, so when the time came to redo my UI, I immediately reached out to them about the project.

How much have you invested with them?

I believe we’ve spent around $80,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them on several projects, but the UI redesign started around January 2016 and ran through April 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The biggest indicator of the impact is all the positive feedback we’ve received regarding the new UI. Previously, our feedback was mixed, which was one reason we decided to do this revamp. We immediately heard positive responses from the campuses and stores that have our products, so we know the project has paid off.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

Deliverables are always right on target. They always stick to the timelines we agree upon in the statement of work and often deliver ahead of schedule. The quality is never rushed, and they clearly spend a lot of time and care on our projects.

We email regularly and have half-hour weekly meetings to go over touch points. Each project has a set of milestones that we establish at the beginning. As they complete each milestone, they check it off, send us previews of the work, and move on to the next part of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach is very professional, but also laidback and casual. I’m not a serious person, so that kind of blend appeals to me. Even though they’re not exclusively our partner, they’re fully invested in our projects and the final results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve had nothing but really good experiences with them. They do really well with project management and deliverables, and I can’t think of any criticisms for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you work with any third-party vendor that isn’t physically in your office, keep the lines of communication open. We’re always most successful when we have weekly updates to keep the project on track. They process stayed focused and we didn’t have to go back and fix things.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Senior Manager of Web Services for a Healthcare Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

We noticed that our website had been speaking to our audience in a very generic way. The content’s tone was too legal and not resonating with the message we wanted to convey. Our team engaged a firm to research users and use cases. Once we discovered our users’ different personas, we hired Fuzzy Math to redesign our website in collaboration with the in-house development team that I lead. The improved UX design needed to meet the needs of the individual user personas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Based on the previous research, we had identified our users and the content priority for each type. Fuzzy Math updated the UX design to give our brand a consistent voice while catering to each user persona. The team worked on memory dashboards, claims ordering, ID cards, and search and eligibility verification functionalities. To complete these features, Fuzzy Math wireframed the visual designs and then developed with HTML and CSS to make the site mobile-responsive. The team also helped write content for the entire site.

What’s more, we hope the improved UX will reduce the number of incoming phone calls for enrollments and inquiries. Fuzzy Math is aiming to achieve this result by correcting our bad data. They’re creating calls to action in prominent areas of our website that ask users to update addresses and phone numbers. We’re also collecting contact information as well.

What is the team composition?

The core team, which has lasted throughout the partnership, includes a project manager and about five other people. At the start, we met with the same number of teammates twice per week. We’ve also interfaced with a developer and separate content and UX teams.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

I had worked with them about 10 years ago at a different organization. Due to that prior relationship, I included in this project’s RFP process. A group within our organization evaluated about four different candidate companies during a demo and presentation. We also considered cost and preparedness, among other criteria.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $350,000–$400,00.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017 and the partnership is ongoing. Fuzzy Math has wrapped up the first statement of work and will proceed with the other SOWs. In addition to HTML and CSS development, they will build additional functionalities including a backend administrative tool. The official launch will be in early 2019 when all the full website and its content are complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The UX design was responsive and functional across different devices. The redesign also matched our brand as far as readability and utilization of whitespace and color. For example, even the simplest action buttons are consistent in appearance throughout the website. We’ve already received positive feedback from our internal steering committee. Our team can’t wait for the responsive design to go live because 40% of our users already visit us via mobile devices.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

Their organization and workflows are exceptional. We have two phone calls every week or two hours of meetings. They share files via Basecamp and design screens with InVision. We leave comments on the latter to complement communication via phone and email. Occasionally, we use in-person meetings to work through specific issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their core team works closely together and as part of our in-house team. Communication is easy and everyone has a sense of ownership. In an impressive iterative process, the design team has created over 600 pages and received feedback from 15 people for each one. Furthermore, the project manager and senior leadership are always available by phone. That level of accessibility is phenomenal.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve kept better track of progress over time. That issue stemmed from not having proper project management on our side. At this point, I don’t think there’s anything else to improve or change.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should work with the same team I have. That group has been fantastic; they’re very detail-oriented. I encourage new customers to form the same kind of relationship we have with Fuzzy Math.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of MyTaskit. We are a work coordination software company that provides software as a service options to help companies coordinate daily tasks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fuzzy Math?

We ran into design and usability hurdles in a product. We had a particular audience that needed a simpler UI/UX that worked with their level of technological ability. We wanted to strengthen our team and decided to bring in a UI/UX specialist.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For each project, I talk through our high-level needs with their CEO. He makes sure he understands our business needs and scopes out all their services. They refine the requirements, make recommendations, and get up to speed on the application. We give a demo of the application as needed and they interview us and our existing clients to build a case document. We make changes and they build a low-fidelity wireframe. We agree on the functionality and they then work on high-fidelity designs. They’ll then either hand the product over to our developers or collaborate with us to complete the product.

Our most recent project was adding functionality to a scheduling system for human resources. They helped us build a variety of views. A user can look at the scheduling app within our app by day, by week, by month, by asset, by tech, and by customer. It’s a complicated system with a lot of moving parts.

What is the team composition?

I interact directly with their CEO and our product manager works with a point of contact on their team. I am not as involved with the process, so I only interact with a few people on their team.

How did you come to work with Fuzzy Math?

A contracted project manager of ours was looking for Chicago-based teams that were local to him. He did all the research and we chose them based on his recommendation. We were so impressed with their initial work with us that we had them build out our new pages and functionality for an application and they became our go-to UI/UX contractor.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together initially in 2014. The most recent project with them began in November 2017 and finished around June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had two clients who were waiting for us to complete the app before signing on with us. One joined us after we had the low-fidelity wireframes to show them and the other signed on after the high-fidelity capabilities were clear. They committed to us and became the two largest deals of the year.

How did Fuzzy Math perform from a project management standpoint?

We use a tool for project management and use agile and scrum methodology. They enter our scrum processes and become a part of our team. They attend each scrum session as it relates to their work. They have a specific set of skills, and are willing to recommend other companies if our needs don’t fall within their wheelhouse.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I can describe what I’m looking for and they just get it. It doesn’t matter what market we’re in, they understand what we’re after. They ask the right questions and get the answers they need. They grasp the unique requirements of each project and know their project management and UI/UX skillsets. We have our own UI/UX person now, but we still use them to augment our team and they’re very helpful with transitions. I’ve worked with four startups and they are some of the best UI/UX people I’ve ever seen.