August

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of Brand and Customer Experience of Junto XP

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Junto partners with forward-thinking companies to create user experiences that drive growth. Specializing in UX design and digital brand strategy, we collaborate with businesses at every stage of their journey—from startups to established enterprises—helping them thrive at the intersection of creativity and technology. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Web development

SOLUTION

How did you find August?

Referral

Why did you select August over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from August were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Junto has worked with August as their partner in technical development, translating complex UX/UI design into fully functional sites. Their role typically involves executing the backend development, front-end implementation, and ensuring that project milestones are met on time and within scope. Both teams collaborate closely to ensure seamless integration between design and development, delivering experiences that are both visually engaging and technically robust.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The projects are delivered on time and in budget which is important to our clients. On top of that, collaboration is key. August feels like an extension of our team, which is meaningful when you're solving complex issues for end clients.

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

• August is responsive and are great partners in fulfilling requirements end-to-end. 
• They take an agile apporach to project management making it flexible. 
• Their iterative method emphasizes collaboration, customer feedback, and small, rapid releases to continuously improve on a porject. We've found this approach worked well on the projects we collaborate on. 

What was your primary form of communication with August?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

August is unique for its specialized focus on technical development and project management, particularly in the context of web development and digital solutions. The following attributes are unique to August:

• Technical Expertise and Precision - August Digital excels in technical development, focusing on building robust, scalable, and high-performance websites and digital products. They specialize in coding  complex functionalities and ensuring smooth integration with back-end systems. Their technical team is proficient in a wide array of programming languages, frameworks, and content management systems, ensuring solutions are tailored to each client’s specific needs.
• Rigorous Project Management - August Digital brings a structured, detail-oriented approach to project management. They ensure that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget, often managing complex timelines and technical dependencies.Their project management expertise helps mitigate risks, align cross-functional teams, and ensure seamless collaboration between technical developers, designers, and clients.
• Collaboration with Design Teams - They ensure that design elements, user experience features, and branding components are not only visually stunning but also functionally sound and optimized for performance.

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

We haven't had any issues or challenges working with August. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Creative Director of Frontier

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Frontier is a design and brand studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop a new website for one of our clients based on existing designs
• Ensure the site was easy for the client to maintain and grow over time
• Help the client understand how to use the site via easy-to-use documentation and written guides specific to this site.

SOLUTION

How did you find August?

Referral

Why did you select August over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• technical expertise to match our needs

How many teammates from August were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We worked with August to develop a medium-sized website based on our designs. They provide all development services, project management, and quality assurance to deliver a final, launched, site that expertly met our expectations and design intentions. 

The website included:

• Custom-designed pages for the home page
• About page
• Projects directory
• News & events
• Case studies

The website had many custom features, including a full-screen slideshow for case studies that accommodated a variety of media and content types.

The site was designed and tested across several devices and built for all screen sizes.

The process lasted approximately two months, during which August undertook development sprints, QA reviews, and the launch of the site. They provided weekly status updates, and worked closely with our design team during the QA process to ensure the final site perfectly matched our designs.

Near the end of the project, they provided a detailed guide on how to use the site, which our client greatly appreciated, and they conducted a tutorial to demonstrate the site's backend use for the end client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Firstly, the finished product not only matched our designs and user experience, but improved some areas, based on what would allow for a faster, more efficient build. Our designs were not standard, but August could problem-solve and apply their expertise to build our exact needs.

Second, the product needs to be set up for frequent updating by the client team, who were not web savvy. August built the CMS to be easy to use, provided detailed guides for how to set-up and update all areas of the website, and hosted a tutorial for the client to see first-hand how to manage the site and CMS.

All of this was done within budget and timeline, and with clear communication throughout.

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

August were exceptionally attentive and available throughout the project. Our design lead had direct contact with their development lead, and response times were always very quick.

Weekly status updates were provided, detailing the progress made, and development milestones were set at the outset of the project, to help us understand where we were in the process and what to expect.

In the few instances where features were not working as intended, during the QA process, August put in the work required to resolve them before the client ever saw them.ns. 

in the few instances where the client made decisions that required us to change our tactics slightly, August were very responsive and eager to help get to the best result.

What was your primary form of communication with August?

Email or Messaging App

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

The design we proposed for this site was unusual and we knew there would be some back-and-forth to get to the right result. August were able to problem-solve effective ways to implement our ideas, and never pushed back when asked to try something new or make a change.

In addition, their project management and client services were noteworthy. Their project lead was always available, understood the project in detail, and could directly help solve problems when they arose.

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

While there were some small QA issues that arose from some minunterpretations of our orignal designs, they were addressed within the expected timeframe of the QA period. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the head of marketing at the Cirus Foundation. We're focused on bringing back ownership of data to the individual and we do that in a very unique way - but it all starts with the Cirus Extension. Surf & Earn.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire August?

August was hired to design and develop our brand assets, website, extension and much more. They are our go-to partner.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Through references within our network. August's work came highly recommended and they over delivered on our website which drove us to a more intimate relationship.

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

There are many facets of this project but each is approached with care and the process is: Discovery Design Development QA

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

9 resources Frontend Developer Blockchain Developer Illustrator Web Designer Project Manager Quality Assurance Analyst

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've gone through numerous iterations on the brand, ui/ux, development each one better than the one before. Through testing and user feedback we've been able to determine that the improvements made by August had a positive impact.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We are transparently not the most organized team in the world but August has been extremely efficient in coordination and shifting directions when needed. August adapted to our team well and brought a level of organization that we needed. They take our (many) ideas and build a cohesive body of work.

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

Their work is incredible, but we're most impressed with their ability to adapt and deliver consistently at a very high level. They very much feel a part of our direct team vs. a vendor. The relationship and accountability has been very important.

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

Had to really dig for this one... as innovators we come with some wild ideas and sometimes we need to be told to RELAX by the experts because they're simply not good. Only thing I would suggest is more of an authoritative approach when we share ideas that may not be in the best interest of the user. We've gotten much better at that though.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and executive director of La Petite École, a French preschool located in Toronto, Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with August?

I acquired this business six months ago. It had bad branding, little online presence, and an outdated website, so I engaged with August to rebrand and build a new website for it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

August has created a completely new branding and website for my business; the only thing we kept was the name. This process has included creating a new logo and color scheme for our brand, as well as promotional materials, such as flyers and marketing assets. Although I initially gave them some guidance, they came up with a lot of things themselves.

Our site is very simple. It has some basic information about the programs we offer, as well as contact information and an inquiry form connected to my inbox so that prospective clients can get in touch with me. Recently, they designed a page and some promotional materials for our summer camp.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Chris (Founder) and Jeff (Director of Operations). Chris handles the initial conversations regarding the scope of work, and Jeff manages the project.

How did you come to work with August?

We were referred to August. Before engaging with them, I went through a little discovery process on my own. Still, I had seen some of their previous work for other clients and trusted their work.

How much have you invested with them?

The total value of August’s work has been around $20,000–$30,000 CAD (approximately $16,000–$24,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in the summer of 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There has been a very positive response to our new site and branding from the community we engage with. The site is easy to use, and the new brand has caused positive impressions.

How did August perform from a project management standpoint?

August’s performance has been very good, and they’ve delivered everything in a timely manner. As this is a small project, we don’t need very thorough project management; I just trust them to do their work, and our relationship is very casual. We communicate via email and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

August’s creativity is impressive. They’ve demonstrated a great ability to develop a fantastic brand and website with minimal guidance — I appreciate their initiative.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m very happy with them, so I continue to work with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set your expectations clearly. As long as you communicate to August what you’re looking for, they’re going to meet those expectations and produce great results. Additionally, they have a very talented and artistic team, so leverage them as much as possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of a startup tech company building a fintech product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Prior to launching our product and now on an ongoing basis, we rely on August to support us in developing marketing collateral and maintaining our brand elements for our product. This includes owning the development of our website, as well as creating all design elements our team uses in the product, including illustrations.

SOLUTION

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

We were looking for a team that could seamlessly work alongside our team and move at our speed for a reasonable cost. Today, our team views August as a partner and extension of our capabilities.

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

Our relationship with August has evolved into an ongoing retainer. We consistently rely on August for all marketing assets, design elements, illustrations, web development and more.

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

Depending on the requirements at the time, we generally work with up to 4 members of the August team, coordinated by Jeff, who leads their operations. Included in that team is a fullstack developer, a web designer and a graphic designer / illustrator.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

August works extremely close with our Marketing and Growth team who primarily focus on metrics of customer acquisition and distribution. August has helped us build a compelling brand that has resonated extremely well with our target audience.

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

We primarily rely on Slack and Jira to manage ongoing projects with the August team. They're extremely responsive and sensitive to our timelines, and we always feel prioritized.

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

Their casual approach and the quality of their work are a unique combination. Simply put, we have fun working with them and we always know that what we'll get is high quality output.

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

August is still a small team, so naturally there are times when their resources are spread thin, but it hasn't had a detrimental impact on any of our deliverables to date. I could foresee challenges with their capacity as our requirements grow, but I suspect they would address those by growing their team as needed.