North2

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

FMCG company, leader in category, food supplements, vitamin drinks, an iconic local brand. I had a role of Project Leader for website development, as part of the Brand Management role.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire North2, and what were your goals?

Goal was to refresh the old website since the brand was going through rebranding. The main goal was to better describe brand story and brand offering and create great user experience for bith desktop and mobile users.

SOLUTION

How did you select North2 and what were the deciding factors?

North2 was one of the few web design studios that were from Croatia and have received Awwward. They designs were unique and creative with fresh way of thinking.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The job was to completely rebuild website and create new with responsive design. All the targets were met and on time. Website had three main sections but it was build in a way that we could easily develop it in the future.

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

We have worked with Project Leader from north2 side, Accound and Lead Designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We won Awwwards Honorable Mention, CSS Winner and CSS Reel Award.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We were using collaboration program in order to get the feedback quicker, e-mails and phone calls. North2 is a very well organized and effective team.

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

Fresh way of thinking and great team. Very easy to work with, have fun and create amazing work. They also like to focus on projects. You are sure that best designers and developers work on your project.

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

Nothing specific.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CTO at Polymachine.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire North2, and what were your goals?

We re-branded our company in 2018, with a clear new vision of what we wanted to be. We have moved offices, hired more people, created a new visual identity, and that process needed to finish with a brand new company website. Complete design, development and implementation of said website was done by North2.

SOLUTION

How did you select North2 and what were the deciding factors?

We did a thorough search of web design studios, both local and international, and made a shortlist of 5 companies whose portfolios showed vision and skill we perceived as necessary for the website we had in mind. The shortlist was also influenced by recommendations from friends and colleagues.

Immediately after the initial contact, North2 stood out with a well spoken, friendly and above all professional approach.

Our decision was made almost immediately after the initial contact, since our perception was that out all of the companies we contacted, only they didn't consider our website a 'run-of-the-mill' project to go though and forget, and that they understood and cared for who we are as a company.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

A series of in-person meetings was done to set the scope and list some of the wishes we had, but other than a few specifics we gave North2 free reign over the design of the entire website.

Some time later, North2 delivered the most in-depth design mock-up I have seen in my career. The finished website ended up looking 99% the same as that mock-up, with only a few tiny changes added by us. We wanted a website that was immediately, noticeably different than anything in our industry, both in a visual and functional manner.

That meant a custom made website, through and through, which uses Wordpress just as a content entry platform. The website features a unique filter-based image gallery, news/blog, team photos, animated 'skewed scrolling', a custom pointer, intro animation, clickable looped animations as main navigation, and many other technical details.

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

Four people from North2 worked with us, depending on the project stage. A project manager, graphic designer and two developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The immediate result was a flood of feedback from clients and industry peers who loved the site. The general consensus was the site was very unique and memorable, which is exactly in line with what we wanted. It helped present our company as a serious player in the industry, and we've seen a steady increase in inquiries and generated leads.

A noticeable improvement was the perception of our company as a top quality professional service provider by potential clients.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We used ActiveCollab, an online project management platform which North2 set up for our project, which enabled us to communicate with relevant team members concerning all parts of the project in real time. That was supplemented with in-person meetings to do summaries after a project stage was complete.

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

That they managed to capture our vision from the very first try. Our website is exactly what we wanted and then some. None of the requirements were met as a problem, only as a challenge, and all were successfully solved, in time.

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

Other than a few things we had to iterate through to understand each other better about some details, in the sense of what exactly we wanted, and what they were planning to implement, I can't think of anything during the project that wasn't 100% perfect.

I do have to mention these minor issues were not their fault in any way, since we're also designers and artists, we sometimes assume people understand our lingo by default.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for a company based in Kuwait that provides luxury building materials and high-end architectural products. We have exclusive partnership with some of the leading brands in the world. I handle the company's website content management, social media platforms and various marketing projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire North2?

We initially contacted North2 to revamp our website. We wanted a face lift for our logo as well as have a website with a lot more information about our vast product line. Eventually we started using North2 for various Ads such as newspaper, billboards, digital & social media ads and magazine designs.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a high end design website with the use of latest technologies. We wanted to showcase our vast product lines and include a lot of images and product details. We also wanted the website to be easy to navigate for our visitors.

SOLUTION

How did you select North2?

Selecting North2 was fairly easy. We had multiple meetings where we put forward our ideas and goals. They were also very focused about understanding our company history and were confident about taking on this project and delivering us exactly we had in mind.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We held multiple meetings at every stage in our project development phase. They were always prompt in terms of project deliveries and were very flexible in terms of accommodating changes. Our new website was launched in Nov 2014. They were always available for any support requests. I was managing the content for the website and was involved in all the test phases before and after the launch of the website.

What was the team composition?

They had a few developers working for the development of our website. We also used their graphic designers for our advertisements such as newspaper ads, billboards, brochures, catalogues and online ads as well as social media post designing and ads.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the new website was launched, our website traffic increased significantly. We also received a lot if inquiries from our website which later was converted to sale. Our Instagram account was also launched to create brand awareness and North2 had designed templates and created engaging videos which got a lot of people to be interested in our products.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

So whenever we have a requirement, we communicate to the project manager through email and he gathers all the required details and assigns one of his team members for this.

They have also provided access to their project management portal that enables us to communicate with the respective person working on our project as well as track the progress. Its very easy to communicate with them and they are a creative bunch of people who are think out of the box. In all honesty, they are a dream team to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very knowledgeable and always up to date with the latest technologies in the market. They are very accommodating as well as flexible with our requests and deadlines.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Like i said above, they are a dream team. So nothing needs to change.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I worked as digital marketing specialist at Cedevita ltd. an recognised North2 as a wonderfull team of experts who could deliver our message through web. Cedevita was breaking the new marketteritory in Germany and Austria so we had to have respectable web pages who could show our brand strenght.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire North2?

Web development, web design.

What were your goals for this project?

To have a modern web page that can show our brand strenght and explain our product to the new market.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had previous good experience with North2 with top delivery time, great accounts and good communication. It just felt natural to select them for this project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Web development solutions, web design where they had to show to new market customers the story about our beverage Cedevita and what are its benefits. They also incorporated market location into web so customers would know where to buy the product.

What was the team composition?

Two team members in Cedevita, Filip Gaspar and I, and North 2 team- 2 accounts, web developer and web designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We raised the bar on how web sites have to look and function in our company.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Daily communication with accounts and reports from North 2 on what they did through their share point.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Ability to transform our vision into something visible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Pekara Dubravica is a family company owned by three brothers. We are one of the best bakeries in Croatia, especially in Zagreb where we have 31 stores. I am responsible for retail sale and I take care of all processes with products we sell and employees we hire.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the vendor?

We have started to work with North2 many years ago and our main goal was to have web page which is visually strong and put an accent on our products. And we think it’s great…

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They suggested all kind of possibilities they can do, all kind of new tools they can use, what is popular now, how other sites looks like. Their involvement was huge and professional.

What is the team composition?

There team have 1 to 2 key accounts managers who talks to customers and 4 programmers.

How did you come to work with the vendor?

We came to work with North2 through recommendation.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested around $30.000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have finished our last project last year but in the meantime we did many little changes on a web page.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is hard to tell because we do not sell anything through web page, we only use page to inform our customers about our new products, working times of our stores, contacts…

How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?

They have performed perfect.

Are there any areas they could improve?

From my point of view, there is nothing to improve. They are completely professional and cooperative.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and general manager of INLANDIA Travel Agency, the DMC (Destination Management Company) narrowly specialized for green and active holidays in the less explored Inland of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Our main products are tailor-made multi- day tours, daily trips and accommodation in nature.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the North2?

We were looking for a new website that would creatively represent the unexplored tourist region and reflect its beauty, hidden gems, and the experience we offer to international markets. We also wanted to stand out from our competitors, so we needed a complete visual identity and simple sales functionalities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our two priorities were a new, extraordinary logo and homepage and landing pages with sales content. North2 started by conducting market research to fully understand the trends in the travel industry and our clients’ expectations. Using that information and our initial brief, they created the usual framework and design suggestions.

They explained to us the idea with a new logo and showed how the site would look. Then they developed the site on MODX. I was surprised by how they managed to hit our desires and expectations from the first. From the base colour, the website name, the logo and Inlandia’s main message to its clients.

Their focus on strong Logo and Brand identity designs were very helpful and crucial for Inlandia as a new green travel agency. We have a contract with them for maintenance now so they monitor our website functionality. From time to time we also arrange some upgrades.

What is the team composition?

In the beginning, we worked with three persons on our original project – the project manager, website designer and developer. All of them have been excellent. I’ve also talked and had meetings with the founder and CEO of North2.

How did you come to work with the North2?

North2 was recommended by the friend and colleague who owns an IT company and who has worked with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we have launched the brand new website, we have seen growth in page views over the years. They developed a refreshing design that depicts what Inlandi.com is – a green travel agency.

Clients and business partners have commented on how great the site looks and how it stands out creatively. A well-affected shade of green extends throughout the website and more strongly emphasizes outdoor activities and a return to nature. The results have exceeded our expectations. They are still providing ongoing maintenance.

How did North2 perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a team of professional and passionate people who were committed to delivering a quality output. They hit their deadlines and keep you informed along the way.

Workflow has been very easy and straightforward. Every step is recorded in a project management software that gives you complete control over their work during the development phase - all tasks, communication,
team members and files.

I would generally connect, sometimes online, sometimes face to face, with my project manager, and when necessary with the developer. They also were conscientious of our tight budget and created cost-effective solutions. Based on their approach, I felt like they wanted my business to grow.

Are there any areas they could improve?

North2 has a business which is very successful and very busy. This is a good thing. I don’t have a suggestion for improving their core business - responsive web design and development. But I have a wish that they hire a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist who could help their clients analyze and suggest some implements to the website so they are really good optimized for search engines.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the COO and founder of SofaScore, a sports company whose products provide live results and detailed sport statistics to 20 million people worldwide on a monthly basis. Our team has around eighty employees who take care of our digital products (web, iOS and Android app), from our headquarters in Vrbani, Zagreb.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire North2?

At the time we had a brand identity and a name that wasn't very recognizable, as well as a website that wasn't aligned with the latest trends. We hired North2 for rebranding and development of our new website.

What were your goals for this project?

Before all, we wanted to get a new name that would be recognizable and that could be pronounced in the same way around the world. Also, we wanted to have a responsive website that would be equally streamlined both on desktop and mobile.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We wanted to work with a company from the same city so that we would be able to hold frequent face-to-face meetings. North2 was recommended to us by an acquaintance, and it proved be a really good choice for us at that moment.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

First, we had a series of meetings where we briefed North2 about our project and our clients’/users’ behavior. They suggested several options for our new name, after which we continued to narrow down these suggestions and work on the creation of our new logo in a new series of meetings. In the final phase, we proceeded to the development of our new website and the creation of graphics for mobile apps.

What was the team composition?

From the very beginning we maintained close communication with the company founder who had a role of the project manager as well. He worked with us on the elaboration of ideas and briefed the designers and frontend developers about further development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new name was a big refreshment for both the company and the product, our users very soon started to connect more closely with our brand and this was the cornerstone for further development of our identity in the following years.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a very close cooperation with frequent updates, our developers managed to develop new features almost on the spot, as they were envisaged by North2.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their flexibility and readiness to receive feedback and act on it stood out, and their willingness to learn were very impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

One of the things I can mention is the lack of a timely reaction with some deadlines. However, as the final outcome of the project was very satisfactory, it was worth the wait. Also, quite some time has passed since then and I believe they had a lot of time to improve in this area.

BACKGROUND

Očna Optika Legros is a family company. We are located in Zagreb where we have 2 stores. My expertise is service repairs, logistic, tech and IT.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We are working with North2 for 15 years now, and we needed a new web page which is visually unique and individually tailored to express our philosophy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

They suggested all kind of options what can be done, different kind of new tools they can use, guiding trough process of developing and detailing. Bottom-line they take all credit for final result.

What is the team composition? 

I have communicated with the owner and the project manager, two developers, designer and two programmers.

How did you come to work with the vendor?

We came to work with North2  through recommendation.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have finished our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have only positive feedback; our customers say: “…now we have all information we need.”, “…visually web page is beautiful.”

This new web site has improved our brand to become more familiar. Our analytics data has improved as well trough visits and duration of sessions.

How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team has really professional approach, fast responses and easy to communicate.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They are improving all the time during this 15 years period.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Swimming club Orahovica is a non-profit organization located in a small town in continental Croatia. We saw an opportunity in a small pool complex located in the town and opened a swimming club, which in the past 4 years has had more than 500 children as members. The club doesn’t only deal with swimming but also with organizing different sports events and charity project throughout the year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire North2?

We wanted a modern and original logo, different than other clubs in the same sector, something playful to attract children, but also modern and simple.

SOLUTION

How did you come to work with the vendor?

Through a mutual friend.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They came up with the complete visual identity.

What is the team composition?

Close cooperation with North2 project manager and designer while working on visual identity of our swimming club.

What is the status of this engagement?
Completed

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Being completely different in visual identity form other clubs, the design soon became well known in the whole community not just swimming, but also multisport like triathlon, in which our members also compete.

How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?

Studio North2 did an excellent job. Always with professional and creative ideas, respecting deadlines, as well as our personal preferences and wishes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not that I can think of, we are really happy with their performance.