STR8MINDS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Product Manager UX & Innovation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sportsbetting platform incl. trading for online and retail

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire STR8MINDS to accomplish?

• Get support in UX design
• Bringing in FIGMA experts to revamp our internal product design

SOLUTION

How did you find STR8MINDS?

Referral

Why did you select STR8MINDS over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from STR8MINDS were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Scope:

 Collaboration as a UX/UI expert in one to two Scrum teams. 
• Active participation in sprint planning, reviews, retrospectives, and refinements. 
• Analysis of user needs, business objectives, and technical frameworks. 
• Derivation of clear UX strategies and action recommendations. 
• Planning and conducting user research. 
• Interviews, workshops, and usability tests. 
• Analysis of usage data. 
• Application of empirical UX metrics (e.g., HEART Framework). 
• Design of information architectures. 
• Creation of user flows, user journeys, and interaction concepts. 
• Development of wireframes and structural concepts. 
• Creation of clickable prototypes. 
• Development of high-fidelity UI designs. 
• Development of development-ready designs and specifications. 
• Development and further enhancement of our design system in Figma. 
• Maintenance of component libraries. 
• Ensuring consistency and scalability in product design. 
• Close collaboration with Engineering, Product, and Stakeholders. 
• Support in feature conception and effort estimation. 
• Documentation of design decisions in Figma, Jira, and Confluence. 
• UX sparring for cross-functional teams. 

Key Deliverables:

• Complete redesign of our platform 
• Development of new product features 
• Rebranding to mark the transition to a new full-stack platform provider

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The success of our platform does not depend solely on UX, so it is difficult to quantify this work, but customer satisfaction has increased, and we have developed a product that is in line with market standards, taking into account our technical capabilities and budget constraints. The most important success was that our management was very satisfied with the development.

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

The collaboration was excellent, with quick communication channels and regular sharing of information and project updates

What was your primary form of communication with STR8MINDS?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The fact that we had the same person available to us the entire time allowed us to make very efficient progress

Are there any areas for improvement or something STR8MINDS could have done differently?

We couldn't have asked for more, so please keep up the great work 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO/ Co-Founder of DigiSocial

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We gather data from socialmedia platforms and stream line them into easy understandable data dashboards for starters, freelancers and agencies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire STR8MINDS to accomplish?

• Develop a fully functional MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to serve as a foundational platform for future product enhancements.
• Design a seamless and user-centric UI/UX to enhance the overall user experience and engagement with the web app.
• Establish a scalable and well-architected web app infrastructure to support growth and ensure reliable performance.

SOLUTION

How did you find STR8MINDS?

Referral

Why did you select STR8MINDS over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from STR8MINDS were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Scope of Work:
STR8Minds was engaged to design and develop a fully functional web-based MVP (Minimum Viable Product) that would serve as a robust foundation for future development. Their responsibilities encompassed web app architecture, UI/UX design, and front-end and back-end development to deliver a polished and user-friendly product. The team also ensured scalability and performance optimization during the development process.

Key Deliverables:

Web Application Architecture:

Establishment of a scalable, secure, and maintainable backend infrastructure.
API integration and architecture setup to ensure seamless communication between the front and back end.
UI/UX Design:

Comprehensive user experience design tailored for ease of use and user engagement.
Creation of wireframes, user journeys, and high-fidelity mockups for client approval.
Responsive design implementation for optimal viewing on desktop and mobile devices.
Development & Deployment:

Front-end and back-end development, ensuring core functionalities for the MVP.
Implementation of essential features to meet the business requirements.
Deployment of the web application on a secure and scalable hosting environment.
Quality Assurance & Testing:

Comprehensive testing of features, including functional, performance, and security testing.
Debugging and performance optimization to ensure a smooth and reliable user experience.
Project Handover:

Detailed documentation for system architecture and development.
Knowledge transfer sessions to ensure smooth handover and maintenance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successful MVP Launch:

Completion and deployment of the MVP within the agreed timeline, enabling the business to move forward with product validation and user testing.
User Engagement Metrics:

Achievement of target user adoption rates and initial feedback indicating a positive user experience due to intuitive UI/UX design.
Scalability and Performance:

The web app demonstrated stable performance under expected traffic loads, with minimal response time and efficient data handling.
Design and Functionality Alignment:

The delivered solution met 100% of the predefined business and technical requirements, offering all essential features outlined for the MVP.
Post-Deployment Feedback:

Positive feedback from stakeholders and early users regarding the design, functionality, and reliability of the platform.

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

STR8Minds demonstrated effective project management, maintaining clear communication throughout the development process. They delivered key milestones on time and were highly responsive to our needs, promptly addressing feedback and providing practical solutions.

What was your primary form of communication with STR8MINDS?

Virtual Meeting

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

What stood out most about STR8MINDS was their seamless blend of technical expertise and design creativity. Their ability to deliver a well-architected, user-friendly solution while remaining highly responsive and collaborative made the experience exceptional.

Are there any areas for improvement or something STR8MINDS could have done differently?

STR8Minds did an excellent job overall. One area for potential enhancement could be exploring more innovative design suggestions during the initial phases to further elevate the user experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a department head at AVANTGARDE Experts. We offer outsourcing services, and our headquarter is in Munich, Germany.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STR8MINDS?

One of our clients needed UX designers. We needed someone to provide us with different freelancers for various projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially gave STR8MINDS the briefing on the project, and they searched for freelancers out of their network. We had interviews with the candidates along with STR8MINDS’ founders. Then, we had another interview with the client to check if the skills matched the requirements.

STR8MINDS has conducted training with the candidates on Figma and presentation skills. 

What is the team composition?

We work closely with their founders.

How did you come to work with STR8MINDS?

We found them on a freelance platform.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over €100,000 (approximately $106,000 USD).

What is the status of the engagement?

We began working together in February 2022, and the partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re just an intermediate, so the client has to provide us with the milestones and what has been done and how to measure it. However, the client is happy and has extended the cooperation, which means it’s working well. The designers are great in presentation, and their Figma skills are satisfactory.

How did STR8MINDS perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive; we’ve been pleased with their quick response. STR8MINDS usually gets back to us within an hour. They also provide candidates quickly, sometimes too fast. Overall, their pricing is fair and well within our budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We love their open and transparent communication. Moreover, STR8MINDS easily handles everything regarding the contract and the quality of the designers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could diversify their UX designers.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the founders of a company that brings in clients who need help with digital marketing, web, and software development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STR8MINDS?

We needed someone to help us with custom software and web app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired STR8MINDS to build and develop a web app and interface that will enable the elderly to get in touch with their family. They’re mainly focusing on optimizing the UX/UI to make it easier to use, and they’ve also been working on integrating a payment solution. One of the app’s functionalities is the web and mobile app connection, so information can be seamlessly transferred to and from each platform.

Additionally, they’ve also recommended what type of content should be included in the app and pages.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Norbert (Sr. Web Developer & UI/UX Dev Specialist) and Marius (Sr. Full Stack Developer).

How did you come to work with STR8MINDS?

We were introduced to them about a year ago when one of my colleagues hired them for a small project. We were really surprised by their proactive approach and how they were three steps ahead of the client. This project is quite challenging because of the tight deadlines, but we trusted them and felt comfortable with their services since the beginning.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, the rough estimation is $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The ongoing partnership started in May 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our metrics are all about milestones and so far, STR8MINDS has successfully integrated a payment system and launched a working product within the deadline. 

How did STR8MINDS perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform excellently, specifically with budgeting and scheduling. They’re dedicated to understanding our needs and they’re always ahead of schedule. We mostly communicate through Google Meet and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like that they’re extremely proactive and objective-oriented. They’re really good at understanding the scope and what our needs are.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s hard to say because the clients have been extremely happy with their technical skills and communication.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be open-minded and trust them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of Proventis Partners, an investment banking advisory firm. We have 40 employees with a presence in Germany and Switzerland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STR8MINDS?

We were redesigning our website and changing its backend.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

STR8MINDS developed our site’s map, designed its UI/UX, and handled the content migration and organization. They built the site on the WordPress CMS, which allows us to update the content ourselves. The site is dynamic, and we can adjust the content to fit each user.

We’re currently engaged in a constant improvement process.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with STR8MINDS’ managing director, one designer, and two developers.

How did you come to work with STR8MINDS?

We found them through a recommendation from a friend.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent €50,000 (approximately $59,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with STR8MINDS in November 2020, and we launched our site in March 2021. Now, we have a monthly retainer with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

STR8MINDS was extremely open-minded about understanding our needs and converting them into technological solutions. Their client understanding and execution speed are really impressive, especially when working on the backend. Additionally, they did a lot of migration work from one hosting partner to another, and they got that done smoothly.

Their support has been very prompt during the entire project, and they’re responsive whenever we have an issue. They’ve come up with solutions and implemented them quickly, even for parts that aren’t fully within their scope.

How did STR8MINDS perform from a project management standpoint?

STR8MINDS has extremely friendly people, and it’s a pleasure to work with them. They’re well-organized and structured.

They use Jira boards to manage projects, so we know exactly what our status is and what the deliverables are. We worked pretty much in Agile methodology during the development, and we had weekly sprint planning in place. STR8MINDS moderated everything.

What did you find most impressive about them?

STR8MINDS’ technical creativity is impressive. They’ve come up with technical solutions that weren’t off the shelf.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if they investigated more into what our competitors are doing so that they could be inspired and come up with their other suggestions.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important to have a clear briefing and direct dialogue rather than just communicate through email. You should be willing to get involved in the project and not just expect it to be delivered three months after the briefing. You’ll get the most out of the team if you work interactively with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an online liquor and spirits shop in Germany, and my position is in sales.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STR8MINDS?

We needed to update the back end and front end of our online shopping site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

STR8MINDS took care of the development and part of the design of the project. They built an online shop from scratch with WordPress, German Market, and other different plug-ins we already had. After that, they made sure that the site was updated with more speed, better Google searching, and a nice front end. In terms of workflow, we told them the specifics of what we wanted and what we needed, and they tried to improve it, taking into account what’s important for our customers.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Norbit (Partner) and Peter (Developer) throughout the project.

How did you come to work with STR8MINDS?

They were referred to us by a friend of mine. He worked with their team before and said they did a great job, so we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around €7,000–€8,000 (approximately $8,500–$9,700 USD) with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked from April–June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The speed of our online shop has increased, the feedback from our customers has been great, and we see that reflected in our sales.

How did STR8MINDS perform from a project management standpoint?

It was perfect communication. We worked from two different countries, and I thought it wouldn’t be easy, but STR8MINDS had several channels to contact them in a fast and responsive manner — even WhatsApp. We also used phone calls and emails to reach out to each other.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their fast work, innovation, and the tools they used throughout the partnership were what distinguished them from other providers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — they did impressive work for me. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Get in touch with them and tell them what you need — they’ll make sure you’re satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the account lead for the Automotive & White Goods Industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire STR8MINDS?

We required a strong partner for UX/UI with a very deep understanding on feasibility, when it comes to executing in development.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The contact came through a reference in my network. They were highly recommending the team. This feedback made us feel, that we need to meet the people behind. Not only the skill set, but the people behind gave us the confidence, that we are heading towards the right step. And it figured our to be the correct decision.

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

We had to strengthen the complete digital ecosystem. It would take more than 1000 sentences to cover up. What I can definitely confirm is, that the team has successfully driven the project holistically and giving high attention to details.

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

5 - UX, UI, Full Stack Developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They a built a strong foundation for our digital ecosystem. Which was outstanding is the award winning Mobile App. This says it all.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective!

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

The people and their sense of taking up responsibilities.

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

There are always areas of improvement. This is also a positive aspect of the people - is their self-reflection.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Goldmarie & Friends is an Loyalty Fullservice provider Driven by curiosity, courage and the steady hunger for change, we are leading both companies as well as people into the digital future.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire STR8MINDS, and what were your goals?

We wanted to move our entire website incl. blog from Django CMS to Wordpress and at the same time implement the website as a PWA.

SOLUTION

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

Str8ghtminds was recommended to us and when choosing a suitable service provider, this is also very important to me!

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

Wordpress CMS and Website as an PWA

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

2 Developer 1 Designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a great website with future-oriented technology.

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

Agile with Asana, Slack und Jira

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

They have given excellent advice, flexibility, deliverables.

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

You should always try to improve. Standing still is no option :-) But for us everything was absolutely perfect!