Create Ape

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

When I worked with CreateApe, I was a senior digital marketing manager at ReSci (Retention Science). ReSci is a Martech software, so it helps companies target customers with the right messages by using AI.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CreateApe?

We were going through a complete rebrand of our company that included renaming and repositioning ourselves. We were looking for a vendor to design a new website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had some ideas of what we wanted on our site, but they helped us identify the structure. They redesigned our entire website and helped us move our backend from MODX to WordPress. They were with us from the beginning of brainstorming to the final design phase.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with Alessandro (Founder and UX Designer, CreateApe). He had a developer and a designer who were also involved in the project.

How did you come to work with CreateApe?

I worked with them at my previous company. We interviewed a couple of other vendors for this project, but our entire marketing team agreed that CreateApe was the best fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in January 2016 and it was completed in June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website was part of our rebrand campaign, so the design was very important to us. We got positive feedback from our investors about the messaging on the website and our internal sales team thought the new website was much easier to use. CreateApe understood exactly what our CEO and our team wanted. They were able to interpret our ideas even when we weren't articulating them clearly.

How did CreateApe perform from a project management standpoint?

We had regular phone calls and used email to stay in touch. Alessandro is very responsive. He came to our office and made sure he answered everyone's questions. He was easy to work with and stayed on top of our deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I worked with a couple of different vendors throughout my career, but CreateApe stands out because of their communication. I never had to hunt them down. If they were going to be late, they were always upfront about it, letting me know the reasons.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Lean on them for their expertise and their knowledge. They'll give you a different perspective to look at your project, which is the key to success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of SWARM Engineering. We build multi-agent systems that use artificial intelligence to solve complex optimization problems for enterprises.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CreateApe?

We engaged CreateApe to design the UI/UX and graphics of a web application. We were still finalizing what the system would do, so we also needed advisory services and some facilitation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CreateApe led a brainstorming session with us to determine the web app’s UI/UX and functionality. They then created low-fidelity wireframes using Sketch, a technology that I requested. It allowed us to apply edits ourselves and limit the number of iterations needed. Once we were satisfied, CreateApe completed high fidelity wireframes. They attempted to integrate it with our underlying systems, but that was a challenge as some of those systems were still in flux. Ultimately, we performed the integration in-house, allowing us to change both the front- and backend in tandem. CreateApe did not charge us for that prototype development work, which we appreciated.

What is the team composition?

We collaborated with a variety of team members, but we had 3–4 people who stayed with the project from start to finish. Alessandro (Founder, CreateApe) was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with CreateApe?

I searched for UX designers and found it difficult to find someone who had enough experience at our price point. CreateApe then reached out to me. They interested me because they had a local presence and we could have our initial meeting in person.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–August 2018, and the project is complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The UI/UX design fulfilled all requirements, and we’ve implemented it into a preliminary platform. The app itself has yet to launch; a paid pilot program with a major customer is live now, though.

How did CreateApe perform from a project management standpoint?

They showed flexibility throughout the project and accommodated our timeline without issue. We had a direct line to their team at all times. We coordinated via phone, email, Slack, and GitHub.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They adapted to our restrictions as a startup and provided valuable flexibility, insight, and feedback throughout the project. We also found it valuable to have a face-to-face relationship. We look forward to engaging in future projects with CreateApe.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, the project went smoothly and we were highly satisfied with their work.

Any advice for potential customers?

We found it beneficial to have the initial meeting in person and to set up checkpoints throughout the project for status updates.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of Renovation Angel, a nonprofit that reclaims items from renovated or demolished homes–primarily in kitchens with appliances and countertops. For no charge, our team carefully dismantles items, saving homeowners removal costs and also giving them a tax deduction for their donations. Because all of these appliances aren’t going to landfills, we’re protecting the environment. In my role, I oversee our web presence across all channels.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CreateApe?

We have three WordPress websites, each detailing the different services that we provide. We’d been working with another agency to maintain the platforms, but we weren’t happy with their performance. Looking to update the site, we decided to find a new long-term partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were new to WordPress, and we were working with complicated plugins, so CreateApe first assessed our sites and highlighted several areas that needed to be either changed or updated. The team took over each platform’s entire architecture and worked through all bugs and updated a few plugins. They did a tremendous job of cleaning up our systems, which continue to run seamlessly.

Since then, they’ve done some design work. A project that started with simply updating our UX strategies soon expanded to a full website redesign. Now, they maintain our platforms and social media accounts, scaling and improving each as we grow as a business.

What is the team composition?

The CreateApe team grew since we first started working with them, adding exceptional talent to their portfolio. We mainly work with Alessandro (Founder, CreateApe), his assistant, and a lead developer who handles the day to day work.

How did you come to work with CreateApe?

I came across their profile in an online search and reviewed their reputation and business model. I liked what I saw, so I reached out and asked them to take on our project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend between $60,000–$90,000 each year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2012, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The redesign improved our overall user experience and customer satisfaction rates. Our customers praise the platforms’ updated and intuitive performance and accessibility. CreateApe’s assistance with our social media campaigns has been very helpful as well.

How did CreateApe perform from a project management standpoint?

The track the project through Basecamp, providing updates on each task’s progress. Over the years, the CreateApe team has developed a good understanding of our business and our project. Now, they’re able to work quickly and adequately address problems. Because we have access to each team member, the inter-team workflow is efficient and fluid.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their transparency, reliability, and ability to execute. I know what to expect from their work; there’s never any confusion or misunderstandings.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve delivered everything we’ve asked of them so far.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should be clear with what they want. Provide CreateApe with definitive goals so that they can put together an accurate proposal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a consulting general manager, working with a healthcare company on their e-commerce website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CreateApe?

The healthcare company is a $2 billion medical company that provides services to patients across the U.S. They were looking to create three new online channels to connect their patients to various health and wellness products and services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One website that CreateApe helped us with is a direct channel for current patients with specific prescription needs. They helped us with the vertical that had specific use cases and a lot of complexity. They built the workflow and UX for prescriptions and medical devices.

The second website they built is a service that we’re doing in partnership with other vendors in the medical services space. We’re creating a holistic service surrounding sleep diagnosis. The site allows people who have issues sleeping to see if they need to be diagnosed for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Users can do a video screening with a medical physician from the convenience of their home. CreateApe created a UI that marries all of these services to make it seamless to the end customer.

The third website is a retail environment for anyone that needs medical devices or equipment to convalesce at home. This site has a broad catalog of 5,000–10,000 potential products. The site makes these products available to anyone.

CreateApe also helped us develop the overall branding, creating logos and designs. In addition, they developed the UX. They focused on how the end customer arrives at the site, what they see when they first get there, and then how the experience plays out all the way through the transaction.

What is the team composition?

We primarily interact with four individuals. Alesandro (founder, CreateApe) is our overall lead and UX expert. We also worked with a lead designer; a project manager who oversaw the timeline and the budget; and a frontend developer who made sure that the development files worked for our backend developer and our integration partner.

How did you come to work with CreateApe?

We were referred to them by another company that worked with them in the past. We needed a team that was extremely nimble, flexible, and had a rapid turnaround time. CreateApe could be available outside of regular business hours to work with our vendors in Eastern Europe. They also have expertise in UX, which was very important.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000 across the three different sites.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2018 and the engagement in ongoing. They've delivered all of the creative, designs, and files. Currently, they're working with our development and implementation teams. They're continuing to support user acceptance testing, design validation, and QA.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the three sites has been live for about three weeks. We're doing AB testing right now. It’s getting positive feedback on the look and feel, a major improvement from the previous site. In terms of performance, we're seeing better performance on the new site than the old site. It’s early, but we’re confident that the site is going to continue to perform better.

How did CreateApe perform from a project management standpoint?

They collaborated with us in Asana, our internal tool, during the initial phase. Once the projects were formalized and approved, they migrated them over to their project management tool. We mainly communicated through email and Skype. We had in-person kickoff meetings at the offices. We also met at key touch points, such as creating a storyboard of the personas of the types of individuals that would be visiting these sites.

They were great at adhering to our deadlines. We didn't have any issues in terms of getting the assets delivered on time. We were working on some really broad projects that involved a lot of cross-functional teams from our company. Sometimes those other team members weren't available on our schedule. In those cases, certain aspects were delayed because CreateApe didn't have the information that they needed to continue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were clear that we didn't want an agency to come in and just create a beautiful design. What was refreshing about CreateApe is that they took the time to understand the technology we’re using. They did research into whether or not they should design a custom site or leverage a template. Once they decided on a template, they thought about what types of modifications needed to happen to get the right customer experience. They went deep into every aspect, such as what happens when a user rolls over every icon in the design. They gave us a Zeplin file with the specs for everything (i.e., colors, fonts, behaviors) so that nothing was left to the imagination. CreateApe is significantly less expensive that other agencies we worked with in the past. They executed the work flawlessly and on the timeline that we needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re a large organization, which can be intimidating for an agency. Our project may have been CreateApe’s first experience working with a large, cross-functional team. We were perhaps a test case for them, but their next customer will benefit from the work that we did together.

Any advice for potential customers?

Give them detailed information about your requirements at the onset. Don’t assume that they're going to understand all of your requirements. Be as specific and clear as possible. Listen to their advice. Alessandro is very knowledgeable about consumers and UX. Sometimes we weren't open to listening, and as a result we made some mistakes along that way. They’re experts, so trust that they will give you really good advice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a VP for a real estate company. I’m responsible for all the marketing and communications that we disseminate to our audiences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CreateApe?

We wanted to create a more cohesive brand for our online presence, so that whenever someone went to our site or saw one of our communications, everything would be consistent, in terms of visual display. We also wanted some ingenuity and innovation, but not so much that it deviated from our brand vision. We were thinking this would include web development, landing pages, email communications, and UI.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Specifically, they did a deep dive in our needs. In our case, they physically developed our overall website, landing pages, and email communications. They also created collateral materials, but the primary focus was our online capacity.

What is the team composition?

I interact with four different people, in addition to the founder, Alessandro.

How did you come to work with CreateApe?

I worked with the founder at a previous company for about five years, and we had a great relationship. He was always so incredibly responsive, creative, and resourceful when it came to both time management as well as providing new ideas. I knew he was someone I was going to work with again, no matter where I ended up.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Unfortunately, I've taken more of a seat in another part of the business so I can't give any real visibility on that.

How did CreateApe perform from a project management standpoint?

I refer them and work with them again and again because they’re just so responsive. If we have an immediate need, they’re on it quickly. Time management and resource allocation are essential to getting the job done in the businesses I run, and their company absolutely adheres to that model. I’ve never once had an issue with them being, resourceful, mindful, or delaying a timeline.

We usually communicate over phone, email, or some version of Webex. Even though they’re remote, it’s never been an issue or a challenge. It feels like they’re right next door. When the founder is in town, he’ll always make an effort to have a face to face meeting. If we say we need to see them face to face, they’ve never once said no. He's a “contractor,” but he's become a part of the team; their whole team is part of our team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The founder has a tremendous mind and I’ve referred him to the presidents, CEOs and VPs of many other companies who’re looking for somebody who can really understand their vision and build assets that promote that vision. He’s also is constantly aware of the end-game, whether that’s monetization, through-rates, or user response. He’ll think of what we’re trying to achieve and then come back with three or four different solutions to make that happen.

We can give them a skeleton model and they come back with an incredible representation of what we’re seeking. That’s exactly what he did for both our website and our landing pages. Another reason I like to work with them is because I know that I’m never going to be an afterthought. They’re always proactive and communicative.

They're on it in terms of technology, customer support, and innovation. They’re always being mindful of how everyone is mobile today. They think about how the user is going to experience a mobile application versus a desktop.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I hate to say this, but I wouldn't be the person to ask that question to. I think they're stellar.

Any advice for potential customers?

I would say that the more you give them, the better output they'll give you. The more that you're able to articulate your vision, your audience, and what you want from a marketing perspective, the more success you'll have with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Hyssop

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Functional Medicine Practice

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Create Ape to accomplish?

• Website Design and Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Create Ape?

Online Search

Why did you select Create Ape over others?

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

How many teammates from Create Ape were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

design + development

IA, Wireframes, and Hi-Fidelity Design

Logo

Implementation

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Pre & Post-Launch Quality Assurance & User Testing

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

A1! Absolutely excellent and professional in their project management. Everything was delivered on time, including being highly responsive and flexible to the needs of our business and brand. They were aligned with the needs of our industry and delivered exceptional, specialized solutions. Exceeded expectations!

What was your primary form of communication with Create Ape?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their Team Work, Commitment to the goal, Highly Creative, Expertise in Healthcare and Web Design. Very Impressive.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Department Head of Restaurant Tech

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We help restaurant to streamline their repair and maintenance operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Create Ape to accomplish?

• Design presentation deck

SOLUTION

How did you find Create Ape?

Email

Why did you select Create Ape over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Create Ape were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

They were hired to design a presentation deck for us to use

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got a well designed presentation file that we could use.

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

I highly recommend them:

• Alessandro and team moved fast
• They included us in the process
• They delivered high quality work! 

What was your primary form of communication with Create Ape?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The speed at which Create Ape operates was most impressive.

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

Nothing specific.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Rise Healthcare Reimagined

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A new take on healthcare with a personalized, proactive, and preventivie apporach. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Create Ape to accomplish?

• Develop multiple websites
• Develop operational interfaces
• Develop brand assets and collateral

SOLUTION

How did you find Create Ape?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Create Ape over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Create Ape were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

We came to Create Ape at a pivitol point in the launch of our healthcare startup. They were instrumental in the development of our main website, e-commerce platofrm, UI and UX strategy, multiple brand assets, marketing collateral, and overal laucnh strategy. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All deliverables were recieved in a timley manner. The relationship is ongoing including multiple marketing innitaives based around Create Apes strategy and development. 

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

Communication was extremely fast and easy. The entire team is responsive to email and Slack and leads weekly standing meetings and updates. 

What was your primary form of communication with Create Ape?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The character of the leadership team gave me confidence that a solution to our issues would always be reached in a fair and effective manner. I feel like they treat our project like their own.

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

More specific ROI tracking and reporting.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at a consumer products & services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

An alternative and healthy way to get vitamins and energy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Create Ape to accomplish?

• Brand Logo
• Packaging Design

SOLUTION

How did you find Create Ape?

Referral

Why did you select Create Ape over others?

• Referred to me
• Other

How many teammates from Create Ape were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Because this is a new business, a consumer packaged one, I needed a new logo and help designing the package for the product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Constant updates and messing. 
• The team did a great job of keeping me in the loop. 
• They showcased every stage of the design project to me.

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

They were very professional and on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Create Ape?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Communication and understanding of scope of work. If something wasn't understood they asked instead of assuming.

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

I think it would be good idea to update the client how many hours have been spent on the project as often as possible. Just show we know where we stand.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a 3PL and logistics company. I am the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CreateApe?

We needed a landing page for the company website.

What were your goals for this project?

Obtain a quality landing page quickly wit a little back and forth as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A referral who spoke to CreateApe's ability to meet (or beat) deadlines while requiring minimal supervision.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

CreateApe provided a custom landing page for our website.

What was the team composition?

We were paired with a PM and 2-3 support team members.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The landing page and the timeliness with which it was completed enabled us to triple the size of the company in our first 45 days.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We were assigned a PM. PM communicated ideas and progress quickly and precisely. The process was extremely effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The speed at which they operated essentially error-free was very impressive. At this price point, we anticipated multiple rounds of comments and revisions. There were two.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.