The Gradient

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the managing director at DEAR Systems. DEAR is a software development company operating a SaaS business model. Our product range includes accounting, inventory management, POS, B2B, e-commerce portals, and a warehouse management application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Gradient?

We engaged The Gradient to help us create a new UI for our core inventory management application.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to make a modern UI that was in-line with industry trends.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The Gradient was selected out of a pool of three other candidates from the US and the UK. Their proposal was professionally laid out during a scoping session, and they explained how they would tackle the job in time to meet our August deadlines. They used all the right project management tools too, which gave us confidence that they could stay on top of the work.

Describe the project in detail.

First, they organized a discovery week, which involved their business analyst (BA) researching our user feedback and comparing it to current industry trends for similar applications.

What was the team composition?

We have a dedicated team that consists of a BA and a product designer. We hold weekly stand-up meetings where we get updates about what has been done throughout the week and what they will be working on the following week.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve just begun programming the newly designed pages. The new design is definitely a big improvement to the standard Metronics theme we’ve had for a couple of years. The UI is now completely unique and aligned with current trends.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We use Skype or Zoom for weekly updates, but all project-related work is done in JIRA, which is what we use internally. Communication and workflow have been very effective to date.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The level of organization in their processes stands out to us, as does their communication.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not at the moment. Everything is being done as expected and delivered on time. We’ve signed an ongoing agency agreement to make them our UX/UI partner on an ad-hoc basis.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of Corrello, a dashboarding tool for Agile teams using Trello.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Gradient?

The original design of Corrello needed a refresh, and some areas of the UX needed an overhaul.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the UX to look great. It also had to be based on a better understanding of how people want to use the tool.  

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to me.

Describe the project in detail.

They delivered new designs for all the app screens, resulting in a design library to be used in future and new layouts for most/all interactions.

What was the team composition?

We worked with two people from The Gradient: a primary UX/UI designer and another resource, who provided some oversight.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work is still being implemented, but we’ve made some great strides in the UX. The whole look of the app is going to be massively improved.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They took control of project management, making sure things were moving and that I was delivering what they needed. We had regular video chats to demo the work and occasional calls or chats on email/Slack to fill in the gaps.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The provided really great quality of work and delivered to my budget and schedule, even though I held things up on occasion. Everything was well-defined throughout.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I wouldn’t change anything on their side. This was my first UX/UI project with an external agency, so I’ll make some changes on my side in the future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of Tweedo, a contact management platform that’s already launched on the market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Gradient?

We worked with The Gradient on the UX/UI design and product marketing for our project.

What were your goals for this project?

We had an idea to create a beautiful, yet useful app for contact management. Users’ contact lists had to be easy to access and navigate, and we wanted the UX to be optimized for easy searching and grouping.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had a successful experience working with The Gradient on one of our previous products, so we didn’t even consider looking for another partner.

Describe the project in detail.

During numerous user interviews, the design team discovered issues that many users experienced with their contact lists, as well as their context. This deeper understanding of the “searching for a contact” cycle influenced our design decisions. As a result, we covered the main user pain points and came up with a really great contact management tool.

What was the team composition?

There were two product designers, a business analyst, and an agency partner who managed cooperation and design strategy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Considering that we already have the live product, we’re absolutely satisfied with the completed design phase and marketing activities. They’re a truly reliable partner that takes responsibility for your success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between us and their team was smooth and effective. They contributed to the whole product, from early research and investor pitching to the launch. They also deeply integrated with our development team, and, as a result of the cooperation, we produced the product almost without any unexpected mistakes.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The Gradient has been a trusted partner on our way to success. Understanding digital startup specifics, they were able to provide the right process at the right time. They’re highly experienced professionals with deep knowledge, yet they were very open to our ideas.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I didn’t find any during our cooperation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at a boutique bank that’s publicly traded on NASDAQ. We serve the legal industry but provide our services online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Gradient?

We were looking for an organization to partner with that would help build a UI design on a Salesforce CRM system we were making. We wanted to maximize usability, so we needed a team to come and look at the system with fresh eyes and effectively design a UI for our product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Gradient became an ongoing resource to my project team. They provided analysis resources to figure out what the requirements were. Their team produced wireframes and mockups to show their thought process in terms of what the UI would look like and then actively worked with my development team that would develop the design. They also created a video, built email templates, and designed a landing page.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with around five or six people at different points, depending on the projects. There is a dedicated point of contact.

How did you come to work with The Gradient?

The Gradient was referred to me. After the referral, I went for a site visit where I met their team, and everything looked good.

How much have you invested with them?

We will spend around $80,000–$90,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All senior stakeholders are impressed with The Gradient’s output.

How did The Gradient perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style is excellent. They always keep us informed. I run my project team using Jira, and we work in sprints & releases. Their team is involved in that process. Some of project management tools we use are Notion, Skype, Zoom, and Figma.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Gradient is on top of it. They’re extremely switched on. While they’re not native English speakers, there isn’t an issue at all. Their team is hardworking, always completing tasks based on the given timeline.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve been good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I wouldn’t hesitate to refer them. They’re an excellent company. I would suggest including The Gradient in early-stage discussions around budgets, planning, and road maps. This would help the engagement. They’re a great strategic partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of product at a technology solutions firm. We focus on building products and teams that transform industries and push boundaries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Gradient?

We were looking to create a world-class retail e-commerce application with high-quality product design and UX.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to design the UI/UX of a consumer retail ecosystem that will work in-store and on e-commerce and personalized promotions platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We contacted 25 different companies from Clutch and asked each of them to create a proposal idea for how they would design our product. We compared all of their work and eventually chose The Gradient.

Describe the project in detail.

After selecting The Gradient, we started the project with discovery workshops so that their team could understand our idea. They delivered a basic prototype within two weeks.

They’ve taken complete control of managing the product, and their team is responsible for delivering end-to-end UI/UX services.

What was the team composition?

We have a team manager, two UI/UX designers, and a business analyst.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched a pilot version two months ago, and it has received positive feedback. The Gradient is still working with us on a long-term basis and will be responsible for delivering all future versions of the ecosystem.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We meet with their team almost daily, and they’ve been proactive in delivering results. They were quick to grasp our initial requirements and now have a comprehensive understanding of our goals for the product.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team has a deep knowledge of technology and is willing to challenge us in constructive ways. Also, their attention to detail and ability to provide innovative solutions to problems stand out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Yes, there is room for improvement within the business analyst role.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CPO of Sentryc in Berlin, Germany. Our brand-new company is launching in March 2019. We’re giving business control back over their brand and products and increasing transparency through an innovative image search and marketplace monitoring.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Gradient?

We worked with The Gradient on the design for our MVP.

What were your goals for this project?

Our objective was to implement the workflow we had in mind in the form of a beautiful design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A different company put us in contact with The Gradient.

Describe the project in detail.

When we began, we held one kick-off meeting. We worked in one-week sprints that included regular feedback. Our two parties were in constant contact through Slack and email.

What was the team composition?

The team included one project manager and two dedicated designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Gradient delivered the final designs within the agreed-upon time frame. Now that the design phase is complete, the developers will start implementing it. I count hitting the deadline as a success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our two teams was very effective thanks to The Gradient’s very transparent work method and quick responses.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Commitment and responsiveness are The Gradient’s greatest strengths. They also have one of the coolest offices I’ve ever seen. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

They didn’t follow some basic UX design principles like using fewer than four fonts in the UI, but those were marginal concerns.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CTO and co-founder of a company that makes products that tie in with banks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We give clients a holistic view of how their business is performing across all their cloud platforms. Instead of having multiple isolated silos, we aggregate all the data and put it into a singular dashboard to show how the elements interact. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Gradient?

We reached out to The Gradient to design our app. Based on the quality of their past work, it seemed like they could help us. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first made contact, The Gradient requested more information about the background of our product. After reviewing those details, we started putting a scope together of all the necessary requirements to work through the entire project. We held quite a few meetings initially to give the team the right idea.

From there on out, they've independently completed the majority of the work. We give them feedback either daily or every other day. The technologies they used to design the app include Figma and Notion.

What is the team composition? 

The Gradient assigned us an account manager and marketing lead. She oversees two designers who do the implementation. In total, we work with three people on a daily basis. 

How did you come to work with The Gradient?

While I was visiting Ukraine in search of developers, I decided to look for designers as well. I found The Gradient's work online. Many developers I talked to from companies in Ukraine recommended them. I met them somewhat by chance, but have been very impressed with their work.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2018. Since phase one of the UX/UI has been completed, we’ve moved on to different aspects of the product. The Gradient provides ongoing services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any measurable outcomes or results at this point because we haven't released the product yet. Concerning anecdotal data, all the feedback we've heard from our beta testers has been extremely positive. In fact, most of it has been outstanding. 

We've received extensive input from the banks we partner with, as well. Everyone who has seen the beta version of our app so far has loved the design and the workflows.

How did The Gradient perform from a project management standpoint?

The Gradient has definitely excelled from a project management standpoint. They've kept the project from stalling. Instead of letting us get stuck in the design loop, they move us on to the next stage we need to go. The amazing way they manage pacing has been greatly beneficial for us. 

We use Slack as a tool to communicate and leave comments for them to respond to in Figma. They accommodate our time zone differences. We're based in New Zealand, and they're located in Ukraine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Gradient is extremely helpful, and I can't say enough positive things about them. They've done an outstanding job with organizing the project and getting everything how it needs to be. 

I've worked with quite a few different designers on other projects. The Gradient is very thorough, and their superb documentation is the best I've seen from any agency. I never have to think twice when I give it to my frontend developers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I suggest having everything organized the way you'd like to present the product. Going in with a clear idea will make things easier. Let The Gradient figure out the flow and the design, which is what they're great at. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of WeMeet, a company that provides a platform for businesses to rent spaces for seminars, course, workshops, or other sessions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Gradient?

We needed a team to support us in defining our requirements, screens, designs, workflows, and other elements related to developing our platform. Our goal was to showcase our company’s purpose with a quick layout that could enter the market quickly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They began by helping us create an MVP version of our platform that reflects our goals. We workshopped for one week to identify the look and feel of our vision. After narrowing in on our target users and understanding the problems we needed to solve, they helped us define our current and future business requirements. They developed the MVP with consideration for new versions so that it can evolve easily. Their team helped with product design, built every screen, and implemented UI features on the front- and backend.

Additionally, they created a landing page for us, aided in brand focus, and provided materials for future marketing presentations. Their team implemented features that allow users to use filters, define their space selections, etc. They also created a video to showcase the product on our homepage.

What is the team composition?

The Gradient provided one founder as a project coordinator for every step of the project. We also worked with a project manager, designer, marketing personnel, and a business analyst. They replaced team leaders depending on the main focus during the current stage.

How did you come to work with The Gradient?

I discussed the project with 10-12 companies and told them our specific expectations and requirements. One of the companies we spoke to referred us to The Gradient after hearing our needs. We had a Skype call with their team and met them in Ukraine. It was after this meeting that my team decided we wanted to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $30,000-$40,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together for four months and have recently wrapped up the current project of developing a prototype. We are now talking to investors, and once our team completes that, we will be working with The Gradient again, hopefully around November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received positive internal feedback on the MVP’s design. The materials The Gradient produced for us have been helpful in making various processes smoother. Additionally, we are now able to reach out to potential investors because of the product they created.

How did The Gradient perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team performed extraordinarily well; they were able to shift gears like a well-oiled machine. They were attentive and proactive, always ready to begin planning the next step. They never missed any details and gave quick, constructive feedback. They used Confluence to keep track of changes in the project and RealtimeBoard for project documentation and references. They defined every step in Confluence, showing us every perspective.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Gradient is different from other agencies in how they truly help the client define their product from all possible angles and challenge them to see different perspectives. We valued the space they gave us as creators, yet they knew when their role was needed. They are a very diverse team that became a part of our company to deliver the best product.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s essential for clients to become involved with the team and meet them face-to-face, if possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the product owner of the website for a company that sells hearing aids. We’re different from traditional clinics because we sell hearing aids through our website and call center, and not physical shops.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Gradient?

We needed help redesigning the website to make it look more trustworthy and modern.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Gradient did their own research. We also shared with them our knowledge of the market. While our old website served as a rough wireframe, they took a new approach. They came up with their own wireframe and design process. They also changed the blue in our brand color palette to be more appropriate for a medical device.

They designed the site using Sketch, then used both Zeplin and Notion for sharing the designs. They used InVision to make clickable and interactive models to give us an idea of what the final design would look like.

What is the team composition?

Our main contact was the project lead. The owner of the company takes care of contracts and invoices, and we also worked with a designer.

How did you come to work with The Gradient?

We vetted several design agencies on Dribbble and Clutch. After calling different agencies, The Gradient checked all the boxes in regards to the web design process and being cost effective.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement took place between July–September 2018. They finished the design last week, and now we're working on the web implementation. We're doing it ourselves with our developers, but they're available if we have questions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We need to get the new site implemented before I can talk results. What's most important at this point is we’re very happy with the redesign. My developers are pleased with how it looks.

How did The Gradient perform from a project management standpoint?

There wasn’t any scope creep, or discussions of parts of the project being out of scope. The project manager was very organized, and available whenever we had any questions. We used Jira and Slack to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I particularly liked that they were thinking about the project alongside us. They also came up with their own suggestions, which I thought was important.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only negative aspect was that it felt a bit rushed at the end when they were trying to complete the design. Everything got done, but it would’ve been a better experience if the ending hadn’t felt so hurried.

Any advice for potential customers?

Not really. We did a good thing by having a reasonably well-defined project at the start. That was made easier by the project’s focus on rebuilding an existing site.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business development manager at an IT firm that provides solutions based on blockchain. We mostly focus on financial institutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Gradient?

We needed someone to help us with a quick prototype design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We asked Denys (CEO & Co-Founder, The Gradient) and his team to develop our prototype, which is a work-based application. It can be used as a demo to demonstrate or display how the prototype works to our clients.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with five or six people. Our main point of contact is Denys. I also spoke with Kateryna (Business Analyst, The Gradient) and Oleg (Founding Partner & Design Director, The Gradient).

How did you come to work with The Gradient?

Our past colleagues recommended we try out their service.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July to August 2018. The project took two to three weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They got the first demo done within five days, which was impressive and left us with a great impression. They always had regular meetings with us to get our suggestions and make sure their understanding was correct.

How did The Gradient perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with them has been a really great experience. There’s a time zone difference between Ukraine and Hong Kong, but we still managed. They’re very responsive and would respond even during their evenings. They were responsible and provided a lot of value. They’d ask us about the workflow or product features, as well as the idea or the whole logic behind it. That meant they could help build a great prototype that our clients are satisfied with.

Most of our conversations were either through WhatsApp or video web conferencing. Every two to three days, they provided us with a demo or a fast prototype after making revisions. We had very effective communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m very satisfied with their performance and what we pay. It’s great to find a partner that’s responsive and responsible for their work. I have no complaints or anything that they can improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t expect them to be like a robot. They’ll question you on your idea, so be well prepared. They’re very professional. You also need to be professional to work with them. Having good communication on both sides is important.