Clay

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Operating Officer of Be GLAD

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Be GLAD provides professional development services in the area of K-12 education to states, districts, and schools. We promote language acquisition, high academic achievement, and college and career ready skills.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Enhance User Experience and Accessibility
• Increase Lead Generation and Conversion
• Strengthen Branding & Messaging
• Restructure & Improve Back-end Functionality

SOLUTION

How did you find Clay?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Clay over others?

Highest Quality

How many teammates from Clay were assigned to this project?

11-15

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

Be GLAD partnered with Clay to successfully complete a comprehensive website refresh aimed at aligning our site with the evolving needs of our business. The project focused on improving the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), particularly to enhance the effectiveness of selling our online training products.

The newly designed website not only caters to both desktop and mobile users but also features streamlined navigation, a seamless post-purchase process, and a user-friendly platform for educators to easily access and engage with our high-quality content. This refresh effectively reflected our shift from in-person to online training services.

Key deliverables included an engaging new homepage that significantly boosted conversion rates, an optimized training products page that presents and sells our training courses more clearly, and the integration of our sister company, Uplevel, into the platform.

Clay also helped us enhance the display of customer reviews, streamline third-party integrations, and improve the site's overall performance across all major browsers. Rich media elements, including video, were incorporated to better showcase the value of Be GLAD's training programs, with Clay providing both front-end and back-end development.

The results exceeded our expectations. We saw notable increases in conversion rates and user satisfaction, and the design reflected our mission to empower educators through the highest quality digital experiences.

Throughout the project, Clay maintained clear communication and collaboration, ensuring that our goals were fully understood and executed. We are extremely pleased with the final product and would gladly recommend Clay to any business looking for a trustworthy and talented agency to partner with. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Increased Conversion Rates - The redesigned homepage and improved product pages resulted in a 25% increase in overall conversion rates for online course sign-ups.
• Enhanced Mobile Traffic Performance - Mobile responsiveness improvements led to a 35% increase in mobile traffic conversions, as more users were able to easily navigate and complete purchases on mobile devices.
• Higher Customer Satisfaction - User feedback surveys indicated a 95% satisfaction rate with the new website’s ease of use, navigation, and post-purchase course access.
• Increased Lead Generation - Improved UX and clear CTAs resulted in a 25% increase in leads generated from the website.

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

Clay demonstrated exceptional project management throughout the entire project. They consistently delivered key milestones and items on time, adhering to the schedule we had set from the outset. Their approach to managing the project was both professional and organized, ensuring that we stayed on track while also allowing flexibility when we needed to adjust our timeline.

One of the things that stood out most was how responsive they were to our needs. Whether it was addressing feedback, answering questions, or providing guidance, Clay’s team was always quick to respond and showed a deep understanding of our goals.

They took the time to listen and adapt their approach to suit our vision, which helped foster a productive partnership. Their clear and transparent communication made us feel confident that they were on top of every detail, and they consistently kept us informed about progress, challenges, and next steps.

Overall, Clay’s project management was exemplary. They were attentive, proactive, and dedicated to delivering a website that exceeded our expectations. 

What was your primary form of communication with Clay?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

 What I found most impressive about Clay was their ability to combine creativity with a strong strategic focus. They truly understood our business goals and worked to ensure every aspect of the website refresh aligned with those objectives. Clay's attention to detail, especially regarding UX and functionality, was remarkable.

Additionally, their communication style set them apart. They brought a level of expertise and professionalism that made us feel confident at every stage of the project. This combination of creativity, strategic insight, and excellent communication made working with them a unique and highly positive experience.

Lastly, the team we worked with was amazing. Every team member we interacted with was talented, humble, kind, and professional. 

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

Eight weeks into our project, there was a change order to the statement of work that increased the cost beyond our initial budget. However, Clay handled the situation with great professionalism, offering us several options and demonstrating flexibility to accommodate our needs.

They worked closely with us to ensure that we found a solution that aligned with our goals. In the end, we were very satisfied with the additional work Clay provided, and we believe the extra investment was well worth it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of a fintech growth services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Growth services for Fintechs

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Branding
• Web Design
• Social Media Assets

SOLUTION

How did you find Clay?

Online Search

Why did you select Clay over others?

• High ratings
• Work Quality

How many teammates from Clay were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

• Visual ID of the brand
• User Research
• UX/UI
• Web Design
• App Design
• Messaging and Positioning

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through our collaboration with Clay, we have witnessed several significant and measurable outcomes that underline the success of the project:

• Brand Recognition: Post-launch, our website traffic surged by 40%, and social media engagement doubled, indicating a stronger brand presence.
• User Engagement: We saw a 30% increase in average session duration on our site and a 20% decrease in bounce rates, showcasing the effectiveness of the UX/UI improvements.
• Customer Satisfaction: Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with customer satisfaction ratings increasing by 25% following the redesign.
• Conversion Rates: The clearer, more engaging user interface has boosted our conversion rates by 15%, a testament to the design’s alignment with user expectations.
• Cohesive Brand Image: The brand book has been instrumental in streamlining our marketing efforts, making it easier to maintain brand consistency across all channels.
• Market Positioning: The new brand identity has solidified our positioning within the industry, contributing to a perceivable elevation in our market status.

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

Working with Clay has been an exemplary experience, especially in terms of project management. Their team demonstrated an exceptional commitment to timeliness and responsiveness, which significantly contributed to the success of our project:

• Timely Deliveries: Clay was meticulous in adhering to project timelines. Every phase, from the initial research to the final delivery of the web design, was completed on or before the deadline. This punctuality was crucial in maintaining our project schedule and enabled us to launch our rebranded website ahead of the planned date.
• Responsiveness: Clay's team was highly responsive throughout our collaboration. They were quick to reply to our inquiries and provided frequent updates, ensuring we were always informed and engaged in the project's progress. Their ability to listen and adapt to feedback was particularly impressive, demonstrating a genuine partnership approach.
• Adaptability to Needs: Clay excelled in adapting to our evolving needs. During the user research phase, they encountered some unique challenges specific to our target audience. They quickly devised alternative strategies that were more aligned with our objectives, showcasing their flexibility and problem-solving skills.
• Proactive Communication: The project management style was proactive. Clay anticipated potential issues and addressed them before they could impact the project timeline. Their forward-thinking approach helped avoid delays and ensured a smooth workflow.

What was your primary form of communication with Clay?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Clay's work quality was impressive.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Spike

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Spike is developing an essential utility for traders, offering reliable banking services that facilitate seamless crypto trading activities across multiple exchanges

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Conduct product research
• Develop identity and branding assets
• Develop UI/UX designs for mobile app and home page

SOLUTION

How did you find Clay?

Referral

Why did you select Clay over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Clay were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Clay designed the brand and UI/UX of my fintech mobile app. They delivered:

• A comprehensive user interface for iOS and Android
• A complete design system

On the brand side, they delivered:

• A logo
• Brand assets
• A complete style guide

Clay also worked closely with our developers to guide them on design implementation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• The delivered designs were world-class.
• The designs helped us achieve the level of quality compared to some of the best fintech consumer apps. 
• Our onboarding and initial users acquisition boosted significantly.

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

• The project has been delivered on time and on budget. 
• All needs covered with at most professional attitude.

What was your primary form of communication with Clay?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Clay's skilled personnel understood the fintech domain and had excellent management skills and delivery capabilities.

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

Their services aren’t super affordable, but well worth the spend. Otherwise, nothing really.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of goLance

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

we are. freelance platform

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Redoing our company website
• redesigning our interface

SOLUTION

How did you find Clay?

Online Search

Why did you select Clay over others?

pprtfolio

How many teammates from Clay were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We did a $50k project with Clay. They did a review of our site and delived us one of the most pathetic proosla/deliverables I have ever seen. They basiscly said they looked at our site and all the pages they could do improvment. Nothing spiscific and absolutly no value. After the the $50k they sent me a boilierplate proposal for $550k. 

We spent $50k and got absolutly noting of value and I don't belove we were teated very well after we made the second (large) payment. 

I would be very carful working with there people and I would reject their large upfront comittment. Not sure if they could they could perform. My team was unhappy to continue, and I felt cheated. big firm with lots of experience promoting their work but mistrated us, in my opinion. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

we were supposed to get a detaield review and direction of our redesign, We got ntither, just a lot of fluff and attitude. 

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

no, we feel cheated 

What was your primary form of communication with Clay?

Virtual Meeting

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

nothing 

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

yes, delivering some value

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Upli is a mobile app that Upli makes it possible for users to achieve their dreams through smart money management, education and setting goals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Clay?

We hired Clay to redesign our Logo and brand colors. We also had them redesign our entire app UI/UX.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We took suggestions from our Public Relations firm, and some of our developers also had suggestions. We talked to abut 6 firms and choose Clay in the end.

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

We started the project with a robust review of our category and competitors. Next we talked to current users about their experience with the app. We also held a workshop where we brainstormed some new ideas based on user feedback. When we were done with the designs, we once again put them in front of users to get final feedback before deploying out to Apple and Google.

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

We had a Project Manager, Partner Design Lead and a team of about 4 other designs who worked on the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We could not be happier with the final product and the design solution they delivered for us. the feedback we have received from investors and partners has been 100% positive and has opened up so many new doors for us. The designs Clay created simplified a very complicated set of features and delivers a wonderful experience for our users.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They worked as an extension of our own team. They truly cared about the product and its design as much as we did. If was super collaborative.

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

The design talent here is second to nobody.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of products for i360, a data analytics firm that also provides a wide array of software to search and act on the data we provide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clay?

We wanted to completely overhaul our portal, which is our central product. It’s a query and action tool that our customers use.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us overhaul the usability and UI/UX for our web-based application. They used .NET Core, Angular, and various database technologies. We initially had a beta product, and we asked them to work on a specific area of the product which was limited in scope. We needed them to listen to our use cases that we had around that area and then help us within that limited realm, seen through the interactions that our customers have within that area, and identify which workflows could be re-envisioned and optimized. Then they translated not only workflow diagrams but some basic wireframes.

What is the team composition?

Our primary point of contact was a UX lead.

How did you come to work with Clay?

Our senior in-house UI designer was tasked with evaluating a number of firms. I gave him a specific criterion and he came up with a list of 15-20 firms for me to review. I narrowed that list to about six that I wanted to send a one-page RFP to, which laid out our beta product. We were willing to spend a little bit of money with various firms to see who would work. Clay was the first one we tried and we were very happy with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2018 until January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were a good fit and they were able to understand our use cases and where our customers would be coming from. As a result, we scaled up to set the basis of our UX guide for a complete redesign and created workflows and wireframes for several of the major components. They’ve given us a backlog of hundreds of wireframes and a guide, and that’s going to be months of work for us to implement. We haven’t even begun to put the mockups they provided in front of beta testers or full customers. However, the reactions have been very positive from everyone that we’ve reviewed them with.

How did Clay perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was good. I think Clay is one of the better firms I’ve worked with because that understand that there’s a creative process that we need to be able to understand. They appreciate that the process has to be directed and lead to deliverables that we can act on. It was a really good balance. We had a weekly conference call and a shared Slack channel. We communicated either daily or every other day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We serve a unique nonprofit, so one of the challenges is understanding the use cases our customers have. There are applicable parallels in some commercial products out there. It’s not common for people to pick up on those parallels quickly, but Clay did. They simplified it from a UI perspective and they picked up on the use cases and the parallels to some of the commercial work they’ve done. It didn’t take them long to get there.

They also processed the volume of information we threw at them and turned it into quality deliverables quickly. There was clearly a creative process occurring. They’re a very bright team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Communication was sometimes a challenge. Around the holidays, we lost a little bit of productivity time. They went off in a direction that wasn’t as useful when we could have used that time in another direction. That was just a breakdown in communication that may not have occurred if it wasn’t the holiday period. We needed to maintain focus and have better communication during that time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate. Take the time to write out exactly what it is you’re looking for. It allows them to create some really good and precise workflows.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and creator of a product called Prism, which is a mobile bill pay experience for American consumers. It was acquired by a company called Handle Financial, where I am now the head of product for Prism.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clay?

We were looking to revamp our payment experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our payment experience is the core of what we do, so doing it really well is very important. We hadn’t really touched or iterated it for a while, and had since learned a lot, received customer feedback, and collected data from support cases.

They took the high-level problem statement we had, as well as some of the nuances of what we do, synthesized that information and worked on early iterations and mock-ups. They’re particularly good at iterating, listening, and taking our feedback along the way which is super helpful.

They excel at building a phone-based interface and are very up to date on the current trends and modern apps features. They helped us layer that angle into what we do. They helped us solve our problems, but also helped us to convey our functionality in a way that aligns with industry standards and user expectations.

What is the team composition?

We primarily interacted with the project manager and their director of design. I’m unsure of exactly how many designers contributed, but there were several.

How did you come to work with Clay?

We had worked with them when Prism was still independent after I’d been referred to them by a fellow iOS developer. We really liked their work so they helped us with several iterations of our app experience as well as our consumer-facing website. As we had worked with them before, there was a level of trust on our end that they could handle whatever we threw at them during this project.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project from February to April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our engineering team is starting to work on actually implementing the design, but in the user testing that we have done, everyone has been thrilled with it. Their cost is high, but we’ve continued to find that the value they provide is worth it. I’m keen on using them again in the future as new and different needs arise.

How did Clay perform from a project management standpoint?

We interacted with them once or twice a week, depending on where we were within the project, as well as via a private Slack channel. Having the time to chat live was really helpful in walking through their latest iterations and giving immediate feedback.

We didn’t have strict deadlines. There were a few situations where we weren’t quite satisfied with what they had done, but they were more than happy to go back to the drawing board and iterate. Similarly, there was another point where they wanted to spend a little more time on a specific area to iterate and work on it. As we weren't schedule driven, we were flexible and taking an extra two or three days was not critical. We were more focused on the overall quality of it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Overall, I am extremely satisfied. They helped us arrive at a solution and an interface that we are extremely proud of and are very much looking forward to getting into our customer’s hands.

We continue to be impressed by their ability to dive into a problem area or space that they may or may not be familiar with and pull out the essence of what our challenges are, or what we are struggling with, then really help us map out what needs to be done.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re very receptive to feedback. If they deliver something that you are not happy with or you feel it isn’t solving one or more of your requirements, be willing to communicate that with them. They hold themselves to a very high standard.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We build software to facilitate the execution of different phases of clinical trials. We focus on randomization and trial supply technologies, which deal with patient data capture and shipping logistics. I'm a principal architect responsible for building the product roadmap as well as product and process management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clay?

We wanted to upgrade our user experience and aspects of our technology stack. We were implementing some new products into our overall ecosystem. We wanted a partner to help us survey our users and help us make sure everything works well from a user experience perspective.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clay started off by surveying our product documentation and demos. We walked them through the actual application portfolio and our products. Together we created a project plan for the whole user experience initiative. They identified a list of internal and external stakeholders to interview for feedback on our existing products. They conducted around 15 internal and 15 external interviews and then we took all of that information and put together a design plan. Based on our information architecture, they went through a process to plan out a series of product releases. They also put together a project plan and then we started spec to look at the functionality. Currently they’re taking the solution through the actual design process and implementation.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with a project manager, art director, and creative director but we also interact with their frontend developers.

How did you come to work with Clay?

We started looking at about 10 design companies. It was initially a global search that we wound up focusing us on San Francisco because our office is based there. Clay has a location in San Francisco so we brought them in for an interview. They showed us a lot of good product designs and gave us some good examples. When we put out our request for information (RFI), they came in with a bid that fit our price range and also seemed reasonable. A lot of other vendors were either outlandishly expensive or completely under-scoped the project. Clay came in with a pretty good target rate for the size of the initiative. We liked their people and what they brought to the table.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project kickoff was in April 2017 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't gone live yet but we did present the designs and mock-ups at user group meetings. The users were definitely impressed with the direction and the new look and feel.

How did Clay perform from a project management standpoint?

We integrated their developers into our agile process in Jira so we're working with them every day. The project managers also work with our systems to track all of the project elements. They're very responsive and proactive. I really like that they’ll push back when they really feel something will improve the user experience. They have great experience and are very intelligent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creative direction is really good. Their design team is able to start from a limited set of requirements and provide very robust designs. Our product and subject matter is quite complicated. Clay takes complex concepts and translates them into a good user interface and user experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be a little bit better with project planning and scoping. To be fair, we made it difficult for them to accurately scope because we made so many changes. Redoing enterprise software is a large project and we completely changed the game plan several times, so I give them credit for being pretty flexible.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have a strong process. Define your stakeholder list, project plan and roadmap. Before you start programming, make sure you have enough functionality for them to work on. We had a lot of stuff ready for them to program at the beginning, but then they caught up and had to wait on us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of a mobile app prototyping platform. We help users formalize their ideas so they can go to market quickly.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clay?

We wanted to create a new product without sacrificing any internal resources, so we decided to outsource design work to a third-party agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We described the concept and handed wireframes to Clay. We gave them some data, and they also conducted their own research with our customers. From here, they designed the information architecture and visual interface of our product.

The initial deliverable was a full mockup of the tool’s user flow. After that, they worked on a high-fidelity visual design.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three or four people from their team, including the CEO, the creative director, and two visual designers.

How did you come to work with Clay?

We found them through online research, though it’s possible they were recommended to us. We interviewed three or four agencies before narrowing the list to two and conducting trial engagements.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between January–April 2017. After hiring additional staff, we decided to complete the design and development in-house.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clay was very helpful. We worked collaboratively on UI and they set the initial groundwork, proposing a number of ideas for the application. While we ended up going with a different solution, our final product was heavily informed by Clay’s thinking and findings.

How did Clay perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication was very efficient while I was working near Clay’s San Francisco office. After returning to Europe, however, the time zone difference added complications. Still, they were willing to work with us and communicated outside their normal office hours.

Despite Clay’s efforts, working with remote teams can be difficult. The project wasn’t moving as quickly as we hoped, so we shifted the project to our in-house team to improve efficiency.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very proactive designers who conducted thorough research and contributed a number of innovative ideas. Their team is tech-savvy and familiar with market trends, so they offered valuable insights. We communicated clearly and they had an intuitive understanding of our goals. They felt like members of our team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their creative director became less involved as we moved into the design phase, which caused some communication issues. If their ideas had been presented directly by the creative lead, it may have led to a better solution.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients shouldn’t interfere with the design process too much. Clay knows what they’re doing and should be given room for creative freedom.