Sawraft Studio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive of an AI startup; we have around 30 employees, and we do AI-first apps for our clients. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sawraft Studio?

The digital assistants we build for our clients need a visual representation. We have engineers, but we needed designers and frontend developers in our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sawraft Studio helped us create a digital being called Frankie. A lot of it was already predefined, so they primarily helped us with the frontend and graphic design. Sawraft Studio also helped create the character from scratch and helped us develop a few new features for the UX. They did the research in order to build the character, had several iterations through Figma, and helped with the pitch. 

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with two people; Lex (Co-Founder & Head of Design), and there was one other person on our calls.

How did you come to work with Sawraft Studio?

One of our partners from another company introduced the team to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between July–October 2022. We finished our part of the project, but they’re still directly engaged with the client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We didn't have a problem with pitching the client and telling them about the character and how it would be designed. We showed two iterations that were immediately accepted by the client, so I was very happy with everything.

How did Sawraft Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication was really good, and I felt like they were part of our team. We had a very short deadline, and they quickly came up with a solution that we pitched to the end client. Overall, there were no problems. We combined most communication channels, but we primarily used Google Meet and met in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They quickly understood what we were trying to achieve and helped us come up with a solution within a very short time. They also helped us with the pitch, which made the process easier. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was generally very happy.

Any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you explain clearly what you're trying to achieve or what you need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director and co-founder of a brand agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sawraft Studio®?

We were looking to extend our capabilities in creativity and technology approach.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sawraft Studio provides us with web development. For our first project, they designed the UI/UX of an e-commerce platform using Figma and helped develop the client’s overall brand. We put both problems together on the table and collaborated through the process.

They used Figma for the frontend’s design, and someone else did the development using Shopify 2.0. The team developed the logic behind the client’s platform and its overall visual design. So far, they’ve done projects for three of our clients. We’ve also engaged Sawraft Studio to work on our own platforms for two of our agencies. They’re currently designing the UI/UX of two marketing websites.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates from Sawraft Studio, predominantly with Lex (Co-Founder & Head of Design). 

How did you come to work with Sawraft Studio®?

We had seen some of Lex’s work through random projects here or there, so we had reached out to him a while ago to engage. Through knowing him, we connected with Sawraft Studio and chose them due to Lex’s proficiency in visual design and his being well-versed across technologies. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around July 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Sawraft Studio’s design standard is excellent. We’ve had great feedback about their work. Sometimes we work with partners that technically understand what needs to be done but have little productivity in the design space. With Sawraft Studio, the designs come to life, and everything looks excellent. I’d give them high marks from the design and aesthetics point of view. 

The team is also very proactive in designing for and connecting all the potential tech our clients will need. Additionally, even though we haven’t engaged them for development, it’s helpful that they understand code. Their handover for our developers is far more considerate than we’d find with other UI/UX designers. Overall, we’re very satisfied with the value they deliver. 

How did Sawraft Studio® perform from a project management standpoint?

They overdeliver in terms of project management. Since we work in a partnership, if any deadline is missed, it’s on us as much as on them. We typically communicate on Slack and manage the project within Figma. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with the intersection between visual craft and code that Sawraft Studio offers. Connecting those two aspects is often a pain point because we want the design to work while also having that intangible emotional benefit where it feels great and modern. Finding that balance is challenging, and the team finds the intersection between art and code. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone can improve. Sawraft Studio is a very boutique company, and they’ll likely have the growing pains necessary to scale, and as they do so, they’ll need to work on maintaining their consistency as they grow. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should have clearly defined goals and timelines, which Sawraft Studio can help you with. The prioritization of things is important; there are so many things you can do that you should be careful to scale pragmatically in time and budget. Therefore, you need to be super clear about what the deliverables are.