Lazarev.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Managing Partner of Half Past Nine, a Growth Marketing Consultancy. We service scale-ups and F500 brands in SaaS, Healthcare, and E-commerce.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lazarev.?

We've worked with Lazarev on multiple occasions, on projects ranging from User Experience Strategy, Design, Wireframing, High-Fidelity Mockups, Full User Interface Design, and even projects such as auditing and competitive analysis.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected them out of a wide breadth of partners we were vetting, via our personal network, an online freelancing platform, and cold outreach. Ultimately, we selected Lazarev due to their ability to work on tight timeframes, the quality of work, and communication excellence.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

For our most recent project, we reached out to them with an extremely tight deadline (less than 1 month). The project involved the full auditing of a current website and experience - as well as the full strategic recommendation of a "best-path-forward".

Lazarev, in a short amount of time was able to deliver a current-state audit, a strategic roadmap of creative best-practices to move forward with, and hi-fi mockups that could be immediately deployed. They carefully took into account the resource availability on the development side, as well as the client's target audience, products + services, and general sentiment.

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

5+ we've worked with two project managers, multiple interaction and experience designers, and the CEO himself, Kirill.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes - the outcomes of our most recent project include immediately actionable design implementations that would lift conversion rate, prospect education and decrease time-to-conversion. These changes were done with tact, and precision that allowed for immediately attributable results to CVR and site engagement.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Lazarev is based in Kiev, in the Ukraine - thus, communication is bound between certain hours of the day. We view this as a positive - as, we're able to rapidly iterate with feedback in the morning, and have results delivered usually by the next morning. Having a team work overseas, whilst you sleep, with the ability to deliver results so quickly is truly an efficiency, not a detriment in our eyes.

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

Their ability to preserve creativity whilst working within the confines of often restrictive parameters is impressive. The pure quality of design deliverables, the careful attention to modern design trends, and the ability to near-instantly position a company as a modern, brand leader.

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

Certainly, every partner has small areas of improvement that could be improved upon. Given the overseas nature of Lazarev, we sometimes find English misspellings or grammatical errors in deliverables. Though, this is not a copywriting agency, it is a design agency, and if you can look past infrequent grammatical errors, the core product is nearly unbeatable.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing director of a 30-year-old advertising agency in Miami, Florida. We focus on the high-end luxury real estate category. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Lazarev.?

We were launching a new SaaS platform, and we needed a product designer to help us bring our concept to life.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lazarev did the entire product design from beginning to end for us. They worked on everything from graphic design and wireframes to frontend development and user testing. We also coordinated focus groups with them. Their team conducted extensive research and discovery both with us and on their own. The goal was to bring insights and ideas for the creation of the platform. 

The platform was a collaborative file-sharing and real estate listing service. As such, the features and functions we requested were similar to the ones in products that were already in the marketplace. However, our platform required customization and out-of-the-box thinking. As a result, Lazarev worked on discovering things we hadn’t thought about from a conceptual standpoint.

While the primary deliverable was the design of the platform, they also developed content for us in the form of presentations and visuals needed for decks. We had decks for investors and external users; we also had one for marketing and promotion. They developed such content to help us introduce the product to new audiences.

At present, they’re helping us create a website by working on its design. We haven’t completed it yet, and it’s not available in the public domain.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with around five people from their team, including the owner, who’s helped in setting up a team for us through the discovery sessions. They’ve provided us with a full-time account manager with whom we coordinate on a regular basis or at any time. We’ve also had a dedicated designer and an animator.  

How did you come to work with Lazarev.?

We found them via an online freelancing platform and connected with their owner right away. He wrote a proposal, and we had an initial meet-and-greet call. We were super impressed at how that call went; he was up to speed and boots on the ground — he understood the core concepts that we wanted to accomplish. Then, they had a few discovery sessions with members of my team. A week and a half later, we signed a contract with them and started the project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership began in December 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Being a professional in the field who has worked with several companies similar to Lazarev, I’m impressed by their level of knowledge. The way they showcase that knowledge to us via similar projects they’ve already completed is also impressive. They’ve clearly shown that they understood our project’s concept before they start working on it. That’s truly interesting and critical for us as a startup. 

How did Lazarev. perform from a project management standpoint?

Lazarev has an extremely clear and concise process in terms of how we interact. We use both text, email, and Slack all the time, and we have weekly Zoom meetings with them. We recap everything that has happened so far with the deliverables, project timelines, and milestones that we need to cover. It’s been a seamless and accessible relationship as far as communication is concerned.

Moreover, they’re extremely consistent and great at consolidating information. No matter who gets engaged in whatever part of the project, they can help get them up to speed quickly. They have the documentation necessary to do that. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of expertise is our favorite part. They bring things to the table that we haven’t thought of but are actually critical for the whole process. They even go beyond that by educating us as a client around how to best develop this concept we have. Overall, they’ve gone above and beyond in terms of research while showing us how they’ve come up to the conclusions they have. 

Their efforts truly help our team; they make sure that we understand every step they take along the way. The process is highly transparent, and their expertise continues to sell us on Lazarev — it’s the reason why they’re such a great partner. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only challenge that we’ve faced is the time difference between our locations; they’re in Europe, while we’re in the United States. Beyond that, we’ve had no problems in terms of scheduling meetings. Everything has gone well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come to the table with all of your thoughts and ideas. Be transparent with Lazarev, and they’ll be transparent with you. They’ll help you get the most out of what you’re trying to accomplish if they have a complete understanding of what you want them to provide and complete — they excel in identifying their customers’ needs and goals. They’ll reiterate these things to you to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Project Manager of Ten Adams

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Healthcare marketing, branding, and advertising.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Lazarev. to accomplish?

Product Design

SOLUTION

How did you find Lazarev.?

Online Search

Why did you select Lazarev. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Other

How many teammates from Lazarev. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Designing a simple and effective user experience and tool for educators, administrators, and support staff to leverage available content to transform and improve learning experiences for all students.

• Product Strategy 
  • Tech Stack Architecture
  • MVP Feature Specifications
• Product Design
  
  
  • UX/UI Design
  • Design Concepts
  • Design System Files

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Met all timelines
• Stayed within budget
• Delivered all tasks in scope
• Consistent communication
• Collaborative partner

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Lazarev. consistently delivered items on time and was very responsive to all questions and needs. They proactively communicated and addressed risks before they became issues. We were always aware of current progress and built trust early and knew they would provide great work throughout the project.

What was your primary form of communication with Lazarev.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Collaborative and positive attitudes
• High quality work
• Proactive and strategic thinking
• Solutions oriented
• High value

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

More seamless handoff from design to development but issues were resolved quickly. Providing full documention of all specs earlier in process to ensure alignment but this was also resolved during the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of an AI Solutions Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide Conversational AI solutions, allowing businesses to engage in human-like conversations with customers and employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Lazarev. to accomplish?

• We initially developed a prototype SaaS platform and wanted to enhance its UI/UX. Our primary objective was to improve the interface and overall user experience, making it more enticing for our target audience.

SOLUTION

How did you find Lazarev.?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Lazarev. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• We stumbled upon Lazarev. through the Webby website, where they were highlighted as winners.

How many teammates from Lazarev. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Starting with a roadmap, Lazarev. set clear goals and stages for the project. They then delved into market research, learning about trends, user preferences and their pain points, which helped us spot the opportunities and the potential pitfalls. At the same time, they dived into understanding user experiences through surveys, interviews, and testing, all of which brought our users' needs and preferences into sharp focus. 

Translating these insights into tangible progress, they created user flows that defined the paths users would take to navigate the platform seamlessly. These transformed into detailed wireframes, sketching out the app's structure and layout. With moodboards, Lazarev. captured the visual essence we were aiming for. 

These moodboards were brought to life through collaborative design discussions, with Lazarev.'s team presenting alternative ideas that added depth to our vision. The back-and-forths between our teams sparked a dynamic exchange of creativity. As the project was almost over, they did thorough QA testing to make sure everything works just fine across different devices.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We're really pleased with the UX and UI design they delivered. They've addressed a lot of features our customers were hoping for. Given that our product is still relatively new, we're eagerly looking forward to the future outcomes that lie ahead.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their project management approach was highly effective throughout the collaboration. They demonstrated punctuality, consistently delivered items on time and met deadlines.

What was your primary form of communication with Lazarev.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out to us the most was their strong work ethic and results-driven approach. One aspect that truly impressed us was their shift in focus from brainstorming design trends to inquiring about the specific business outcomes we aimed to achieve. This unique perspective showcased their ability to utilize UI/UX design as a strategic tool for business growth.

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

Not really. Everything was great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CPO of Fieldstream

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Fieldstream helps companies with marketing insights and optimization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Lazarev. to accomplish?

Upgrade UX & UI of our SaaS analytics product

SOLUTION

How did you find Lazarev.?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Lazarev. over others?

Demonstrated great skills during evaluation meetings

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Lazarev was contracted for a project to upgrade our legacy UX/UI. Thus creating both a new UX flow and a new user interface. This included several different sections with different dashboards and insight tools.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Clear delivery in all required areas. Good feedback from customers regarding easy of use and clean UI.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management has been excellent. Clear communication, good understanding of requirements and prompt deliveries. They care about the client and have a deep focus on solving problems efficiently.

What was your primary form of communication with Lazarev.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Client management Deliveries on time and according to budget Very high skilled UX designers and UI designers Ability to understand a complex product.

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

There was nothing they needed to improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO & Co-founder of ShopSwap

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Shopswap - we enable co-marketing at scale for DTC brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Lazarev. to accomplish?

• Animations for marketing assets
• Illustrations for marketing assets

SOLUTION

How did you find Lazarev.?

Other

Why did you select Lazarev. over others?

High ratings, Pricing first our budget, Great culture fit, Good value for cost, Company values aligned

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Lazarev was tasked to design, illustrate and animate marketing assets that would be used across our website and in marketing material.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Delivered animations

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They go above and beyond to make sure management of the project is aligned at every level. We were blown away by their organization and speed and which they delivered deliverables.

What was your primary form of communication with Lazarev.?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

Their project management, delivery speed, and communication were impressive. They also provided above and beyond quality of work for this project.

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

No - we are so happy with the work they provided and plan on working with them continuously.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of an industrial decarbonization and energy management consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lazarev.?

UX/UI design

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We used an online freelancing platform. 

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Lazarev developed a detailed wireframe in Figma from our basic Powerpoint-based wireframe, then they developed the user flow, followed with developing the full UI design including using mood boards and made a clickable prototype UI design.

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

Their CEO and project manager. We also had a call with their BD director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very happy with the quality of their work. Lazarev listened to our suggestions and made changes promptly. Our industrial partner said the work was fantastic and that he loved it. The English skills of our PM were excellent.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They generally responded very promptly. Due to the time change between Ukraine and Canada, meetings were held in the mornings, but that was fine.

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

Very professional. responsive. stayed on budget and on time.

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

At the end of the project, it was less of a priority for us (since we had met our milestone already) and, it seemed, for them, so it was sometimes difficult to get things resolved such as finally getting the final product ownership transferred to Figma accounts in our name.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a co-founder of a Web3 startup called Metastaq. We provide bespoke, utility-driven NFT experiences to the Fortune 500.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lazarev.?

We hired Lazarev for the UI/UX for Metastaq.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our Founders had previously done work with Lazarev, so it was through reference.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Their team not only worked on the design aspect, but since Web3 is such a new space - they also helped us define the user flows and experience. This is not an easy task - Web3 has no reference points - so Lazarev was key to enabling us to go from zero to one. They worked very 1-1 with our team to understand our vision and then worked with our teams to translate them into designs for a compelling product.

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

4-5 resources, mostly designers and a PM.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end-product was compelling, and we usually receive very positive feedback from our clients on the UI/UX.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was a bi-weekly cadence and a dedicated Slack channel. Was very one-on-one.

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

Just the design aesthetic that they bring is top-class.

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

A bit terms of expectations regarding budget. Lazarev is top-notch in what they do and they charge accordingly. But they should be a little bit more transparent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO/Founder

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lazarev.?

Design and design audit of UI/UX for Financial Services SaaS platform and website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Searching and interviewing multiple

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

They designed and audited multiple facets of our business, from SaaS application to our website - many things in the works.

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

We worked with multiple designers and have an amazing project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have audited and redone multiple facets, designed new modules entirely. The outcome great thus far, that's why we are ongoing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We do weekly meetings with them and that keeps everything in sync

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

Communication and skill. They layer processes to make sure that things are perfect.

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

No