Seeley Designworks

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of HomeValet and lead the development teams and daily operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Seeley Designworks?

We required a big-picture thinker with a keen eye for design and branding to assist in unifying the various work streams in product design and strategic direction.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were introduced to Michael by a trusted advisor who had worked with Michael in the past and recommended him highly. We knew we needed someone who could rapidly digest large amount of information, organize them into linear work streams. Michael, as a consultant to us, had demonstrated his ability to do that so we hired him full time.

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

One thing we lacked on our team was bandwidth and skills to properly roadmap product roadmap and market analysis. Michael Seeley took responsibility for this effort and, unencumbered by daily development tasks, worked with the leadership and engineering teams to develop such analysis that was then reviewed by said teams. He then took this further by presenting strategic options to the team and executed on large parts of the roadmap as well.

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

Michael brought in a couple other consulting contractor to assist in materials selection and super high quality 3d rendering.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Seeley's portfolio of product design and release road-mapping was largely adopted as the future direction. His design skills are excellent, but what impressed us most was his ability to tie product design and development to business milestones on an appropriate timeline.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Michael was very communicative. He made strong use of Slack, PowerPoint for presentations and portfolios, and was always available via zoom for consultation.

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

While Seeley came to us with a broad range of skills already, he constantly was improving his skillset by learning new things that he could apply to his efforts. His ability to digest large amounts of information and present them in an organized way was incredibly impressive.

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

Seeley developed some large scale ideas/plans. Execution was dependent on availability of resources internally and it could have helped if he had incorporated those limitations a bit more into the roadmap, however, that's difficult to predict, so it's not a huge fault.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of a company focused on agriculture.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Seeley Designworks?

We needed help with industrial design on a consumer-facing product and UI/UX design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave Seeley Designworks branding guidelines to start with, and from there they helped dissect our existing users and facilitated interviews with those people to better understand their motivations and the UX requirements. 

They also worked on the industrial design of physical products for us. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with two people, including an engineer that was contracted out, and a UX expert that was on site doing interviews with our users. 

How did you come to work with Seeley Designworks?

They were recommended to us through a professional referral. One of our board members had worked with them before or knew someone who had worked with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between January 2021–March 2022. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They finished the job and accomplished the mission we set out for them. 

It is still too early to tell, but we feel optimistic about the designs that Seeley Designworks produced for us. The designs are contributing greatly to commercialization products that we are currently working on.   

How did Seeley Designworks perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very methodical in their approach and met all the deadlines. 

We communicated through Zoom, Slack, and Google Meet. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were highly experienced and had lots of industry experience from previous work on similar products. They had immediate relevance and asked all the right questions to maximize their contribution. They didn't wait for us to tell them what needed to be done because they already knew. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There wasn’t anything else they could have done for us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend working with them; they provided great service and value. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Advisor to the Board.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Product Development Consulting Firm engaged in helping business optimize product value

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Seeley Designworks to accomplish?

• Create a user centric product design and experience strategy
• Develop a user interface framework that leads the competition
• Advise the core design team and stakeholders on the critical requirements required to win in the market

SOLUTION

How did you find Seeley Designworks?

• Referral
• Networking

Why did you select Seeley Designworks over others?

• High ratings
• Previous Experience

How many teammates from Seeley Designworks were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Foundational Insights: 

• WHY - Helps teams make confident decisions and invest or prioritize effectively to leapfrog the competition fast. 
• HOW - Leveraging collected knowledge and observational activities. (Articulated and unarticulated needs + Competitive intelligence.) 
• WHAT - Ensuring robust foundational insights to support informed product decision-making 

Opportunity Definition: 

• WHY - Validation of consumer and stakeholder solutions providing clear prioritization of next-step strategic development. 
• HOW - Identifying and Visualizing product solution opportunity and how it relates to consumer and influencer needs directly. 
• WHAT- Convergent co-creation and personified narrative development. 

Winning Product Prioritization: 

• WHY - Strategic direction and prioritized design and development activities to meet consumer and industry needs. 
• HOW - Synthesizing prioritized consumer opportunity to desirable and viable solutions and corresponding development strategy(s). 
• WHAT - Winning product definition strategy and prioritized development roadmaps.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to deliver a business plan for our company along with a winning design and product strategy. This was delivered on time and within budget.

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

They delivered on time and met expectations.

What was your primary form of communication with Seeley Designworks?

Virtual Meeting

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

They were able to conform to the unique needs of this project. This flexibility was made possible by his extensive experience in end-to-end product design.

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

Nothing

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the former Head of Brand & Marketing of an agricultural technology company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Anu™ is leading the charge in the Ag-Tech revolution, empowering people to grow their own fresh, locally-grown produce right at home. With our patented technology and expert knowledge, anyone can become a farmer and take control of what they eat. We're more than just a company, we're a community of individuals committed to making healthier choices and living sustainably.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Seeley Designworks to accomplish?

• A new way for consumers to access fresh produce.

SOLUTION

How did you find Seeley Designworks?

Referral

Why did you select Seeley Designworks over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Seeley Designworks were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Seeley Designworks undertook the responsibility of crafting a product that would offer consumers enhanced accessibility to fresh produce in their kitchens, all while operating under a set of stringent technological constraints.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the most remarkable measurable outcomes of the project was the successful integration of the specific technology into a tight space. Seeley Designworks showcased their exceptional design skills by achieving this challenging objective. This achievement demonstrated their keen eye for detail, innovative thinking, and ability to harmoniously blend form and function. 

The project's success in meeting this critical technical constraint underscored Seeley Designworks' prowess in delivering a compact and aesthetically pleasing solution, marking a significant milestone in their progress and success on this project

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

Seeley Designworks' management of the project was nothing short of excellent. Like all clients, we occasionally introduced new requests that had the potential to shift the project's focus and timeline. However, Seeley and his team demonstrated exceptional flexibility and professionalism throughout the process. 

They consistently remained closely engaged with us, providing regular updates on how these new requests would impact the project's timeline and overall trajectory. This proactive approach to project management ensured that we remained informed and allowed us to make well-informed decisions, contributing to the project's overall success and our confidence in Seeley Designworks' commitment to our vision.

What was your primary form of communication with Seeley Designworks?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What I found truly impressive about Seeley Designworks is their innate talent for understanding consumer needs and problems and, equally astonishing, their ability to provide innovative solutions. Their capacity to approach an issue from various angles and perspectives was nothing short of remarkable. 

It's evident that they invest significant effort in thoroughly comprehending the intricacies of the challenges at hand, enabling them to develop solutions that not only address the problems but do so in a way that resonates with and enhances the consumer experience. Seeley Designworks' knack for holistic problem-solving underscores their dedication to creating products that not only meet but exceed expectations, making them a standout in the industry.

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

It's challenging to pinpoint areas for improvement with Seeley Designworks because the project's final result was nothing short of amazing. While the process at times may have seemed a bit messy, it's important to recognize that this journey was instrumental in achieving such a great outcome. 

In essence, it underscores the dedication and creative effort required to attain a truly exceptional result. Seeley Designworks' ability to navigate through any challenges and uncertainties that arose during the project only contributed to its overall success, making it difficult to suggest any specific areas for improvement. Their commitment to excellence shines through in the final product, and we couldn't be more satisfied with the results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Design Manager of Whirlpool

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Appliance manufacturer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Seeley Designworks to accomplish?

• Brand Governance Documentation

SOLUTION

How did you find Seeley Designworks?

Referral

Why did you select Seeley Designworks over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Seeley Designworks were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Collect and coordinate information from cross functional teams to establish new brand guidelines.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ability to finalize one document to capture a complete documentation of the new visual brand language.

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

They were able to integrate into our various teams to extract key design details to build a document that captures our holistic design intent.

What was your primary form of communication with Seeley Designworks?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

We were impressed by their knowledge of our workflow and ability to integrate into our teams.

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

None