Pushstart Creative

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former founder and CEO of a startup company that doesn’t operate anymore.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pushstart Creative?

We needed industrial and UI/UX design services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Pushstart Creative helped us develop a robot prototype ready for manufacturing. The product was similar to a toy robot acting as a tiny companion, like a pet. Pushstart Creative developed the robot’s hardware, and eventually, our project pivoted to a Kickstarter campaign. 

Pushstart Creative created a kit that included a robot toy called HEXBUG Spider. This kit included stickers, and we created a mobile application that provided an environment with an obstacle course for the robot and acted as a remote control. Pushstart Creative set up our Kickstarter page, being responsible for copywriting and design. The team also created the application’s UI/UX design and delivered the final designs in Unity. Pushstart Creative helped us create user personas and conduct the initial market research. 

Finally, Pushstart Creative designed the kit’s stickers and box. Our packaging design was important because the user’s phone needed to be placed above the play area for the robot to work, and the phone’s camera acted as the robot’s eyes. Pushstart Creative designed a box that held all the kit’s items and doubled as the stand for mobile phones.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 teammates from Pushstart Creative, including Aaron (Founder), a UI/UX designer, a project manager, and an industrial designer.

How did you come to work with Pushstart Creative?

I don’t recall how I found Pushstart Creative, but I believe the team reached out to us through our marketing. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Pushstart Creative between March–November 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our Kickstarter campaign was a modest success since we doubled the expected amount of raised money. Our goal was to raise $15,000, and we raised $33,000. 

How did Pushstart Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

Pushstart Creative delivered work on time and stayed on budget. We had certain hours allocated to the project, and the team was good at communicating how our decisions would affect our budget and time. Pushstart Creative informed me clearly how much time each task would take so I could make informed decisions. We communicated via in-person meetings and emails.

Moreover, Pushstart Creative listened to my feedback and clearly incorporated it throughout the project. The team was great at guiding me in fulfilling my vision in a realistic and attainable way. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I’d like to highlight Adrian’s work. He was great to work with and highly savvy with broad skills. He was also technically talented, and even though robotics wasn’t their area of expertise, he understood the concepts well enough to work with us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with Pushstart Creative’s design sense. The team delivered a beautiful product and cared for me as a client. As a startup founder, I was coming out of academia, and in hindsight, I was way over my head and needed to learn many things at the time regarding how to start a business and hire staff. I remember I didn’t need to worry about Pushstart Creative because they were so competent, and I had total confidence they would turn out the required work. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Pushstart Creative to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend communicating clearly with Pushstart Creative because they’re a great team, and customers will be in good hands.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Brane Audio, s smart speaker maker located in Austin, TX.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pushstart Creative?

Pushstart helped us with branding, industrial design, UX/UI, website design and app design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A hardware development company based in Boston recommended Pushstart to us.

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

We started with branding, then competitive research, then industrial design, then UX/UI design, then website design and finally app design.

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

We worked with founders, a few industrial designers, a few UX/UI designers, a few writers and a few software engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most recent product that Pushstart worked on with us, the Brane X smart speaker, was just named the #1 pick of Wirecutter for CES 2023.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Pushstart responds quickly to all of our requests and makes requested changes/updates within hours to days.

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

The breadth of their skill set and overall talent were impressive.

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

None that I can think of now.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Design Innovation, Equipment, UX/UI Design Manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Pushstart Creative?

Concept exploration, wireframing, UX mapping, prototyping, user research, UI design for connected dispensing equipment.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The vendor was selected prior to my joining the company.

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

Pushstart works on all stages of design—from early stage concepting all the way to executing final designs for production. We work with them on industrial design for physical products, UXUI design for digital products, and engineering design for connected platforms (physical and digital product).

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

My team worked directly with their UX/UI designers and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through early concept development, we have been able to quickly prove out concepts for internal stakeholders. With their prototyping and design work, we have been able to conduct user research and make data-informed decisions on complex connected UX flows and features. Turnaround time has been exceptional.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have moved a significant portion of our discussion and collaboration to Figma, where we've seamlessly enabled asynchronous work and reduced the need for meetings. Communication is excellent and displays initiative. Pushstart is quick to follow up, timely in providing status updates, and thorough in requesting the information they need to proceed with the work.

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

Their range of skillsets and speed of execution was impressive.

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

Additional usability research capabilities or resources would complete the stack.