Widelab

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO at Atolia, a digital workspace that helps companies to communicate and to collaborate together. We’re headquartered in Strasbourg, France, and we are 10 people in the team. We are working with customers mainly in France and a few of them in Europe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Widelab?

The challenge we had with Widelab was to create a new user interface for both the app and the website. We had no UX/UI designer in the team that’s why we needed to outsource it.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have something different from our competitors. A very friendly user interface and a new website that could increase our conversion rate.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

When we were looking for online designers, we went to Dribbble and we saw Widelab’s account. We were really impressed by their previous work and that’s why we directly contacted them.

Describe the project in detail.

We had a first call to describe the project. Then one week later a second one with the first work to see if we were going to the right direction (which was the case). Then they’ve been working for a few weeks with often messages/feedbacks on both side and 2-3 other meetings at the end of the project.

What was the team composition?

Initially we worked with the project manager (Krystian) and a designer (Maciej). Then, when we integrated the design we’ve been discussing with the lead developer (Matt).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All the team was really satisfied by the new website which looks awesome! We also asked of a few of our customers and their feedback is very positive. We need to finish a few things about content on our side and we’re going to launch it soon.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used our own tool (Atolia) to discuss and to manage the project. They were reactive so the collaboration was fast and easy.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about the company is their sensibility to UI/UX, which is very clean and user-friendly. They’re also really reactive when you need to adjust a few things.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were really satisfied by the work, the result is awesome and was fast. Maybe one thing : they could have better adjust a few things between designers and developers to be even more productive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a young startup in developing recruiting software solutions for SME. As CEO, I overview the operative business and I'm responsible for Sales and Partnerships.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Widelab?

For the further development of our company, a mobile app for private customers could be very useful. For the concept and UI/UX Design of the project, we hired Widelab.

What were your goals for this project?

At the beginning, we internally designed some screens and shared our overall idea with Widelab. The goal was to finalize our concept based on our screens together with Widelab.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were looking for good designers online who already are experienced in working on solutions in HR or HR related fields. Widelab was recommended to us from a friend of ours.

Describe the project in detail.

After selecting Widelab, we shared our screens and our overall idea for the project. In a starting call, we discussed together the project and Widelab already had a very good idea and vision on how the app could look like.

After the starting meeting, we had calls on a regularly basis and the effort Widelab made was quite impressive. After a short period of time, we already had first designs and screens of our app.

What was the team composition?

Our main contact person and project manager was Krystian. On the project, there was a team of about 4 persons working on design and concept overall. The size of the team did not change over time and Krystian as main contact person coordinated the whole project very well. I can recommend him warmly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within the first weeks of our cooperation, we already got a very good impression on the first designs and screens. This was very helpful and Widelab shared a lot of their insights, experience and know-how with us. This helped a lot in optimizing the user experience and made the cooperation very valuable for us.

We arleady showed to concept and the design not only to developers but also to potential customers and partners. The overall feedback was very positive and we're happy to pursue the development of the mobile app.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Krystian understood our project right from the beginning. The whole communication and cooperation was extremly transparent and we hold regularly meetings together to update the process of the project as well as to coordinate workflows and details. The whole communication was held over slack and the screens were shared with invision/zeplin.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What's very impressive about Widelab is, that they almost fully understood our concept, not only on technical and design level, but also on the industry level. Their inputs on user experience and on important details in creating optimized process flows were very helpful and valuable for us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are no thins do be done differently. Keep up the good work!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The name of my company is Logic Solutions, and I’m the CEO and founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Widelab?

Basically, we are trying to address the digitization of the bulk shipping industry, which consists primarily of the transportation of industrial products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

What our platform provides is a system in which any corporation can create a job and submit it to certain areas of the globe where they need their product distributed. Carriers can pick up the job and update their progress through the app so the distributors can track it. It functions as a tool for project management as well as documentation.

We provided them with a general idea of our business model, and then they came back to us with sketches of wireframes to go off of for the UI/UX and design. Once we approved those, they created fully fleshed out designs with the goal of minimizing the number of clicks necessary to complete any task. They used Illusion for early mockups and then Zeppelin for the final designs.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people in total, two of them in design and one project manager.

How did you come to work with Widelab?

Initially, we were looking for designers and happened to stumble across their company. We spoke to some of their customers and other designers in the process and felt that they were the right company to deliver a really clean design for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2018–November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have a lot of statistics at this time, but what I can say is that the designs have been welcomed by everyone who has seen them so far. Zeppelin has been an extremely successful program for our collaboration, and everyone agrees that the interface is very clean and very easy to use.

How did Widelab perform from a project management standpoint?

I would give them a ten out of ten. They really nailed exactly what we were looking for in the project, so we only had to give them minimal guidelines and appropriate changes to the design as needed. Their whole team was very adaptable to our needs and did a good job of staying on top of our deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designs are extremely unique compared to what we’ve seen in the market. A lot of design solutions can be very cookie-cutter, whereas our work in this project has consistently felt like we are getting original work at all times.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The cost was the most difficult factor for us in this project, but we wouldn’t have wanted to sacrifice the quality of the work, so it wasn’t a huge problem.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your research before you dive into the design process. The better you understand where you want to go, the easier it will be to get there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO and CIO of a web hosting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Widelab?

We wanted to have a better customer-facing side to our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve been working on our customer-facing system. The process is very simple, I provide them with wireframes and they put them in the context of our design scheme.

We’re continuing to design more and more features and have been using the InvisionApp to collaborate around the product we've been building with Widelab. Overall, they’ve been great.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact, but we also work with one user experience specialist, one person who focuses on navigation, and one that ensures that the proportions on each page are good. There’s even a point person for designing different aspects of the software.

How did you come to work with Widelab?

I reached out to a couple of companies, and Widelab provided the quickest and most sleek designs in response to our requirements.  Selecting them was an easy decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $25,000-$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2019, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The first round of work was implemented in less than two weeks. Overall, they do great work. They understand the current world of user experience, designing beautiful interfaces, and create things that are easy to use. I’ve been showing the product to select people in our organization to get feedback and they were all impressed. They say it’s a fresh, new, and good looking. We’re excited to get the product launched soon.

How did Widelab perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is impeccable and they’ve never missed a deadline. We use Slack for daily, bi-daily, or weekly communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We like that they deliver a quality product on time. I’ve been trying to find someone like them for the past couple years and I’m very happy that we came across them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think it can get any better. It’s well planned, well communicated, and really works.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to use them. They’re great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of a multi tenanted platform for ticketed events. We incorporated in November. We are based in Edinburgh. Our main team is 2 people. Our aim is to provide website solutions integrated with existing box office software. Our first clients are in the UK. However, our clients regularly tour to Australia and North America so we foresee expanding internationally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Widelab?

We enlisted Widelab for the designs of our first 3 websites and to consult on our own branding. Widelab helped deliver an array of templates and bespoke design. We do not have any designers on staff. We needed to find a company to work closely with us.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed designs that would speak to the heart of our clients. Our goal was to refresh our clients initial materials while maintaining the strengths of their own brand. We needed to build a structure that provided a seamless user experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Widelab on Dribble. We were looking for a company whose style we loved. We wanted to enlist a company with excellent communication and project management. We interviewed several contenders. Widelab was the best match for ease of communication, quality and price.

Describe the project in detail.

My co-founder went to Gdánsk for a technical workshop. They outlined the user stories and overall journey serving as the baseline for the designs to follow. Widelab swiftly started to create great work at an amazing rate. From that first meeting, it was clear they really understood where we were trying to go as a company.

After the workshop, there was regular messaging on Slack and a weekly video chat or phone call. Once the wireframes were ready we started the development stage.

Then there was ongoing discussion as the designs were varying stages leading towards completion. Widelab incorporated our own feedback and the notes from our clients until we had a finished product. There were so many components to include from checkout flows, calendar options, event pages, libraries, and much more.

What was the team composition?

Contact was primarily with the main project manager with regular input from the UX lead. There were 1 or 2 other people working as the project required.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The success is in the satisfaction of our clients. The websites before the renovation were pretty poor and the designs from Widelab means they're refreshed and top of the line. The projects are still to be fully released so they full effects aren't yet noted.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication between our team and theirs was frequent and swift. We were regularly updated. I was very satisfied with the regularity of our contact. We were very lucky not have experienced any delays. Our projects were delivered on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I have been hugely impressed with the quality of the designs, the rate of production, the ease of communication and how well they have managed this project. As a start-up we’re figuring out our own style and trajectory. Having such a secure team accompany us in our formation has been invaluable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Aspects that could have been difficult which were working across time-zones, balancing a strong management while collaborating our own leadership, and the delicacy of talking to clients about their own branding desires were handled so well. We are delighted with the end results and look forward to working with Widelab in the near future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Upwise is a pioneering technology platform that helps foster company innovation. It enables companies to stay ahead of the game by providing tailored innovative solutions, critical insights as well as helping to facilitate the interaction between technology providers, so that they can innovate better and faster. With our artificial intelligence, process automation and knowledge base we are here to change the way innovation is executed within a corporate environment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Widelab?

Design the whole platform, UX and UI

What were your goals for this project?

Ability to create a unique platform that allows a manager to get unique insights about their market from an emerging technology perspective

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have done screening process we really like the works, we've started with a small task and once we're confident of their ability to deliver we kept working with them at ongoing bases

Describe the project in detail.

The project was creating a hybrid solution between a report and a platform that allows managers to get a real-time and insightful view of the subject that matters to them, there was a real challenge how to show complex data in a simple and easy to consume,

What was the team composition?

We mainly worked with an account manager who understands the project in-depth and can support our questions and needs in a timely manner

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Upwise.io website was designed by Widelab and also the platform: most of it is not open.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

As we're in a diff time zones I was surprised to see how flexible and responsive, having a dedicated account manager who speaks fluent English over more than two years help us to create a common language. they were very open and professional and really try to understand our needs and come up with their own great ideas plus they were happy to change and improve if needed

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our clients didn't believe that we're a startup because our platform looks so professional and innovative. Widelab was part of our company's success. They blend a great service with a very professional team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the head of product at Rabbu, Inc. We help airbnb hosts and property managers automate the smart home technology (locks, thermostats, etc.) in their rentals. I help to guide work done on the product to ensure that it solves our market's problems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Widelab?

We hired Widelab to give a major renovation to our web application's UI. We had a functional product when we hired Widelab, but it was not as visually appealing and easy to use as we wanted it to be.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve the visual appeal of the UI to something we were proud to show off. Additionally, we asked for Widelab's guidance as we thought through the UX of new feature sets.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We liked the style of Widelab's portfolio and thought they were a good fit for the look we wanted.

Describe the project in detail.

We kicked off the project with several calls to help Widelab understand our industry, business, and goals. Following this, we sent Widelab more specific project requirements for each section of the project. Widelab completes mockups and then we discuss them to form the shape of the component of our product.

What was the team composition?

We primarily interact with the project lead and one or two designers from Widelab.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We get very positive feedback from customers and sales prospects about our UI. This is great credit to Widelab's good work.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Using Slack as a communication tool, Widelab is readily available at seemingly anytime. We have never had to wait long for a response. Additionally, InVision helps us to communicate feedback directly to designers.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Widelab is very responsive and produces high-quality UI designs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It's important for designers to really understand the business of the client and integrate it into their designs. Widelab has invested time to learn about our business already, but they can always learn more.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the product manager at CardCash, a gift card and discount service. Our company has about 100 employees and is based in New Jersey.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Widelab?

Our company was building a mobile app, and we wanted to create a modern and clean UX design.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to have three to five national companies use our software.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They came highly recommended from an acquaintance. We were impressed with their profile and communication.

Describe the project in detail.

We had the right flow, but we needed a design concept and a lot of iterations to get it right. They were easy to deal with and communicate with, as they understood our goals. They delivered a beautiful product. They’ve also worked on other website and branding projects.

What was the team composition?

I mainly deal with the project manager, but during the initial discovery stages, some other designers were on board as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still in the development stage for the main app project, but we are constantly adding additional screens and tweaks, and they’re excellent. Their design work and understanding of our business challenges have been greatly appreciated as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They are always very communicative, primarily via Slack.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism and quality of design, as well as communication, stand out to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’re very satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a co-founder of an end-to-end real estate platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Widelab?

We engaged Widelab to design our real estate platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After we brought Widelab into the fold, we showed them the design progress made by a previous vendor. Instead of continuing from that base, they decided to start over from scratch. We met in person and held a discovery session, but they worked remotely after that. They presented initial wireframes and designed much of the platform using InDesign. Once they complete their designs, we have our developers implement Widelab’s work into the build.

What is the team composition?

We work with a four-person team led by a project manager and lead designer who then delegate the work.

How did you come to work with Widelab?

We were initially working with a different design firm, but we were not satisfied with their work. We reopened our search and found Widelab through Google. They have an impressive portfolio, so we felt comfortable partnering with their team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent approximately $30,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in September 2018 and remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our end users and investors have offered a lot of positive feedback about our platform. The design work, in particular, stands out.

How did Widelab perform from a project management standpoint?

They have an excellent approach to communication and project management. They always provide follow-up emails after each phone call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They impressed us with their designs on previous projects, and they delivered similar work for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m nitpicking here, but I could see us growing our engagement if they involved more of their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a senior business analyst at Madison Commercial Real Estate Services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Widelab?

We needed a vendor to help us with UI design for our products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They manage the actual product design, including UX concepts and UI design for both our existing software and some of the new products that we build from scratch. I give them my requirements and we have a phone call where we review the project. Then, they do their designs, using Sketch and InVision. We often go back and forth making changes, so it's a collaborative process. We share the designs with our clients and, after that, they go straight to developers or we send them to our in-house development team.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work through a project manager, but there is also a team of designers dedicated to our project.

How did you come to work with Widelab?

I liked their Dribbble profile, so I reached out to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2018 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's been a very positive experience for our company and we've learnt a lot from them in terms of UX/UI design. All the feedback we've received so far has been very favorable.

How did Widelab perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive and keep us up-to-date with the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand all of our requirements and do high-quality work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They accepted any feedback that I had and improved their process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about your requirements and give them as much information as possible about the project and the results you expect.