Building Applications People Love to Use! - 8 yrs.
Life's too short for bad UX. DePalma Studios is a boutique product design and development shop that specializes in user experience (UX) design and human-centered process. We work with our clients to help them build applications that are intuitive, scalable and loveable!
Founded in 2012, DePalma is a UX/UI design and development shop headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. A team of 15+, DePalma is a veteran-owned small business (VOSB) with experience in industries including accounting and finance, electronics manufacturing, gas and oil, government, healthcare, insurance, music and entertainment, utilities, telecommunications, and transportation.
Focus
Portfolio
Deloitte, Unum, Schneider Electric, MAPCO Express, Corecivic, Xima Software, Edgenet
Utility Company Enterprise Corporate Portal
A complete digital transformation and implementation of existing legacy corporate portal
UX/UX Redesign
- Strategy
- User Research
- Interviews
- Personas
- Workflows
- Wireframes
- Visual Design
Web Development
- SharePoint
- K2 Workflows
- Apex Forms
Crowd-funded Private Jet Charter SaaS Application
A tech-startup on a budget in need of an interactive prototype to help secure funding
Rapid Proof-of-Concept Prototypes
- Strategy
- Wireframes
- Visual Design
Deliverable
- Interactive Prototype
Correctional Facility Management Application
New digital product design of existing legacy facility management application
Digital Product Design
- Strategy
- User Research
- Interviews
- Personas
- Workflows
- Wireframes
- Visual Design
Web Development
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- AngularJS
- .NET
Call Center Management
New digital product design and implementation for a call center management system.
Digital Product Design
- Strategy
- Personas
- Workflows
- Wireframes
- Visual Design
Web Development
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- AngularJS
- .NET
Musician Website Builder - SaaS MVP
A refresh of an existing product UI by updating how it looks without affecting the functionality
UI Refresh
- Strategy
- Wireframes
- Visual Design
- Interactive Prototype
Enterprise Financial Risk Management System
A complete digital transformation of existing legacy financial risk management system.
UX/UI Redesign
- Strategy
- User Research
- Interviews
- Personas
- Workflows
- Wireframes
- Visual Design
Web Development
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- AngularJS
- .NET
"Find a Provider" Healthcare Application
This application was meant to facilitate the locating of a doctor in a user's area and one that is under coverage for the user's network. A very simple workflow was made out of one that was originally very complex in this redesign. The design was built as a responsive template for Desktop, mobile and tablet.
Live Shopping Application
Application meant to empower vendors selling branded clothing and other retail items. Typically, facebook live is leveraged for this type of activity, but this application offers more power to the vendor including inventory management, payment options, etc.
Fleet Management System - Marine Transportation
Our client needed a custom fleet management system to help them track and organize the logistics surrounding their marine transportation units. The company uses barges to transport goods around the country. This application helped them track the location of barges, placement within storage facilities, cargo, ETAs etc. We design and built the entire frontend of this application.
eLearning Customization for Large Gas Company
Our client needed a very simple and intuitive interface to deliver training modules to thousands of employees all around the southeast each week. The interface had to be simple enough for a non-computer-savvy employee base to understand without much trouble.
Stroll Mobile Application
This application was built to serve hyper-local advertisments to foot traffic around downtown Nashville. We built them a clickable prototype that they used to raise money from a local VC, which was then used to fund building the application.
Video Communications Saas Platform
DePalma was contracted to redesign the frontend interface of a video communications application used for sales and marketing purposes, mainly in B2B settings
Reviews
the project
Custom Mobile App Dev & UI/UX for Mobile Payments Platform
"DePalma Studios is very process-driven."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder & CEO of a mobile payment platform.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
We needed a mobile app developed.
What was the scope of their involvement?
DePalma Studios was responsible for the UX/UI development for our custom mobile application. Now, they’re working on the development phase, which includes a backend web component.
What is the team composition?
Initially, Floyd (Principal) was the primary contact. On a daily basis, we interact with Sushmitha (Head of Engagement), the project lead.
There are 5-7 additional people on the team, which varies in size depending on the current needs of the project. There’s a scrum master, project manager, UI/UX, API experts, QA testers, and backend developers involved.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
I was looking for a company that was strong in UI/UX design. Through recommendations, I interviewed several companies, and decided the DePalma Studios team was the best fit to help accomplish my goals.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent between $200,000 - $410,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working together around July 2020, and the project is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We finished the UX/UI phase, and just completed 5 of approximately 12 sprints in this phase, putting us roughly halfway through the project. I was ecstatic with the results from the UI/UX development phase.
Everything we’ve seen so far indicates that DePalma Studios is building out all the functionality we requested. The true test will be users of the app — the target audience. However, I couldn’t be happier so far.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
They are doing great. We communicate via phone, text, and email. We have Slack and do Zoom calls. We have sprint calls every two weeks.
During the UI/UX phase, we did Zoom calls twice per week. They also use several project management tools.
What did you find most impressive about them?
DePalma Studios is very process-driven. They pay attention to detail and emphasize the frontend design and requirements gathering phases. I’ve been impressed with the entire management of this initiative, and the tools they use.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I asked them to help come up with some initial branding designs for the company. It was a bit of a struggle, and while they were close to the mark, I ultimately went another direction. It’s not really what they do, but it would’ve been nice to get everything from one company.
the project
E-Commerce Design for Imaging Industry Insights Provider
"It’s easy to work with them because they’re a great team of people."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of engineering at Keypoint Intelligence. We conduct tests and provide data to manufacturers and sales representatives in the copier, printer, and scanner industry.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
We wanted to create a new sales engagement product.
What was the scope of their involvement?
DePalma helps us to design our e-commerce platform for sales representatives to us as a daily sales tool. We gave them basic requirements, and they did the entire design for us from wireframes to the final version.
As a big project, it’s split into multiple phases. We’re now in the middle of phase two.
What is the team composition?
We work with three people from DePalma.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
I found them through a general internet search. Originally, we weren’t certain if we would hire a firm or an individual engineer. I came across one of DePalma’s blogs which talked about the differences between an individual designer and a design firm. I liked what I read, so we contacted them.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent between $50,000–$60,000 on the project so far.
What is the status of this engagement?
The first phase of this project occurred between March–April 2020. We started the second phase in June 2020 and plan to finish it next week.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Their team’s fast, and the quality of their work’s good. We haven’t had any complaints. They’re excellent.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
We use Slack, and their team uses a virtual whiteboard where we’re able to view their work offline. We have two meetings per week via Zoom.
What did you find most impressive about them?
It’s easy to work with them because they’re a great team of people. When we have discussions, they’re open to our ideas. If we disagree, their team doesn’t just force their opinion on us but explains their position. It’s been a collaborative effort.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I don’t have any complaints about our experience with them.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Give them a chance.
the project
Website Audit & Digital Strategy for Advertising Agency
"DePalma Studios’ process was very good, and they asked a lot of questions."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of digital for an advertising agency.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
We needed a full audit of our current website. It needed an evaluation to give insight into how it should be redesigned and restructured.
What was the scope of their involvement?
DePalma Studios provided a full audit, including an evaluation, a Google Analytics audit, and a competitor analysis. They did a comprehensive review, providing insight into digital strategy.
What is the team composition?
We worked with three teammates on this particular project.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
They did some work for our other office, who recommended them for this project. I was looking for work similar to the project they did with that office.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from April 2019 – May 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It’s too early to see the impact. However, we will take the information they provided for the internal redesign and restructure of the website. They did a good job, and we’re pleased. We would work with DePalma Studios again on future projects.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
The team did very well. We had weekly meetings and were in constant communication. We used Slack and Miro boards.
What did you find most impressive about them?
DePalma Studios’ process was very good, and they asked a lot of questions. I liked that they sent recaps, as well.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The final declarations needed some language editing done. Their findings were good, but it was written by someone on the team whose native language wasn’t English, so it was hard to interpret the conclusions.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be specific about your goals for the project. Give DePalma Studios access to tools like Google Analytics to allow them to do better work for you.
the project
Wireframes & UX/UI Strategy for Payment Platform Startup
"The team was very communicative, keeping me abreast of what was going on and any changes they made."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of a payment platform startup. Within the payment platform, we also do inventory management for products based on the vendor and employee tracking based on sales.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
I wanted to come up with a storybook wireframe to be able to then sit with my angel investors and go through it with them.
I also wanted to be able to give them a good visual of the customer journey and the mobile app, which would give them a good feel of what we were offering and what they would be investing in.
What was the scope of their involvement?
DePalma Studios worked with us to develop wireframes for the React Native mobile app.
What is the team composition?
I worked with four teammates.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
I found them online and they seemed like they were a good fit. After talking to their VP, I submitted what I wanted to achieve. DePalma Studios seemed to be a team I could work with because they were so accommodating.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from June 2018–March 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The work was exactly what we asked for, and I was proud to present the work to our investors.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management was great. They were very attentive and their project manager did a great job. I traveled to their offices in Nashville and met them personally. DePalma Studios was extremely accommodating. We communicated via slack and email.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The team was very communicative, keeping me abreast of what was going on and any changes they made. Since this was a creative process, there was a lot of back and forth communication, which I certainly appreciated.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There’s nothing that stands out particularly, and they did a good job. I had do have one nitpicky comment which is that there were some misspelled words on the UX screen. There was definitely a language barrier with some of the UX developers. If I had to pick anything, that would be the only one. Other than that, it was a really good experience.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Trust them, communicate a lot, and definitely do a site visit.
the project
App Redesign & UX for Mobile Device Management Platform
“They brought real value to the table, especially with some of the UX elements.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m VP of product management at a software company. Our system manages mobile devices in the workplace.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
I needed assistance with both graphical design work and UX in the development of our mobile and web applications. Initially, I was looking for a partner to help with more of the UX and larger projects, but as the rebranding began, we shifted that focus to design work.
What was the scope of their involvement?
In early 2019, we did a very significant rebranding: new name, new logo, new colors, etc. Through that, we did a full redesign of our mobile and web platforms. DePalma Studios assisted us as we quickly converted all of our systems. In the early stages, they helped us from a design standpoint, building out new mobile screens as well as themes and styles on the web side. They helped us throughout that process of rebranding.
The scope of our work entailed the full redesign and setting standards across all of the platforms. Over the course of the year, we’ve also done a number of smaller projects with them that have gotten into UX elements, such as designing dashboards and revamping some of the management workflow wizards we’ve done.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with 5–6 people in total, including support folks, project management, and 2–3 hands-on designers.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
I interviewed and dug in deep with about four different vendors. I narrowed it down and got to the point where I chose DePalma Studios. I thought they’d be a good fit based on their design portfolio. Additionally, they appeared to have a culture that matched ours, and it seemed like they’d be flexible to our projects and the type of work we needed. It all proved to be true.
How much have you invested with them?
My company has spent $25,000–$50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working with DePalma Studios in January 2019. We worked a great deal on the redesign in March, and then the rebrand happened in April. We’re not actively working on anything at the moment, but we have a project-by-project partnership. We have several projects that we’re working on for Q2 that we designed earlier in the year with DePalma Studios.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
All stakeholders involved from our side were pleased with the outcome. At some points along the way, we had a few more iterations than we might’ve liked to get it to the right spot, but generally speaking, their work was well-received.
They definitely understood our goals and what our business is doing pretty well. They brought real value to the table, especially with some of the UX elements that were a little less defined. They were able to come up with good feedback on some of that.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
They did very well; I have no complaints. They kept in touch, and we were constantly connected. We communicated through Slack and other avenues. They always provided updates as they progressed through their development. We had live boards where we could go and see their progress and make comments as they were developing things, so that we could shift if needed.
What did you find most impressive about them?
All of their designs came out very clean and current; it was definitely the new look that we wanted. From a UX standpoint, they quickly understood the goals that we were trying to lay out and our direction with the product, and they were able to echo that with some of the designs that they provided.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, nothing in particular. They were timely and helpful. When we had priorities that needed to be turned around, they stepped up and did that, so I wouldn’t critique anything as a negative experience with them.
Any advice for potential customers?
The clearer you are in the description of the project’s fundamental goals, the better. That’s probably true of anybody, but I think that was very positive with how we were able to kick things off. We demoed our systems to DePalma Studios to make sure they understood how it worked and what we were trying to accomplish. They were able to step up and really echo that in the projects we put out.
the project
UX & UI Design for Healthcare Laboratory
"Their team has a boutique mindset when it comes to UX."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the head of digital transformation & experience for a healthcare company.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
We hired DePalma Studios for UX/UI design work.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Over the past year, we’ve done five to six projects with DePalma Studios. The work has included system design, machine-learning UX, exploring modular, reusable designs, and exploring different product campaigns.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with about ten from their side, and three people from ours.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
One of my team members found that they were well-rated on Clutch. We cold-called them, along with a few other organizations. The team at DePalma Studios sounded the best in terms of capabilities and services. We carefully reviewed the profiles of their team, which were solid.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our engagement with DePalma Studios started in December 2018.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We have retrospectives and KPI calls. They’ve been responsive as well in taking constructive feedback and making course corrections, or giving internal rewards when good work was done.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
From a project management standpoint, the team at DePalma Studios is extremely excellent.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their team has a boutique mindset when it comes to UX. They understand the design operation process well, adapting and evolving based on the best practices. Because we have such a strong understanding of the overall process, output and creativity become part of it. We operate in a new field, so there’s a slow maturity when it comes to working with large enterprise clients.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They’ve been improving based on our retrospectives. Their team could have more UX-led innovations and ideas around that.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
They’re great for all clients, especially ones that have DesignOps processes in place. Their team’s talented resources can add capabilities to any organization. The services that come as an outcome are amazing. They’re open to feedback and have a quick turnaround time.
The team at DePalma Studios integrates well within its toolchain and their client’s tools. From a relationship perspective, everyone participates in calls. They also have an open culture that’s quite rewarding. We know almost everyone. In terms of transparency and openness, they’re excellent.
the project
UX/UI Design work for Scientific Company
“Their team managed to accomplish more tasks than we expected.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a senior UX analyst for a healthcare company.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
We needed an experienced design firm to help us create an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment support application.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The initial project’s scope involved creating an MVP. However, we decided to build a proof of concept (POC) application instead. DePalma Studios performed essential research and provided UI/UX design services. We sent them our feedback after receiving each deliverable. They also developed several prototypes of the final product. We operated on a tight timeline, but they managed to complete everything as promised.
What is the team composition?
At first, they assigned three UX designers and a UX manager. But the project’s scope kept growing, so the team eventually expanded to include seven UX designers. Their UX manager was our primary point of contact throughout the engagement.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
I found DePalma Studios on Clutch.co. Their excellent reviews and healthcare experience stood out to me. I researched their designers further through LinkedIn and found that their portfolios include high-quality work. Their asking rate was agreeable with our budget, so we hired them.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent under $50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Their involvement with this project took place from November 2018–January 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Depalma Studios joined this project shortly after it began, so they were tasked with creating a new product using the research provided to them by our medical partners in the IVF field. They utilized multiple variables to create a complex system that guides users through the IVF process.
The team considered the emotional state of patients when designing the app’s visuals. We’re impressed by how quickly they produced the final interface. They delivered nearly 90 screens and more than seven user workflows. They executed everything effectively, so extensive iteration rounds weren’t necessary.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
We had daily stand-ups with them in addition to weekly design reviews with the project’s stakeholders. They’re extremely communicative and willingly shared management tools with us to ensure transparency. They also used a RealtimeBoard so our stakeholders could view daily updates at their digression.
I usually have to act as the project manager whenever we use third-party vendors. Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about that while working with DePalma Studios. They created a project plan, updated me twice a day, and kept the engagement organized.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They deliver excellent work and have exceptional communication skills. Their team managed to accomplish more tasks than we expected. I have nothing negative to say about them. Working together has been a great experience. We’re currently in the process of hiring them for future projects as well.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No. I can’t think of any notable suggestions.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Have a detailed plan in place and set realistic goals.
the project
UXUI Design for Artificial Intelligence Software Company
“They’ve allowed us to be a few steps ahead in the market in regard to our UX/UI.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the CEO of a company that specializes in software engineering services, mostly for modern technologies such as AI and machine learning.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
We needed a partner to lead our UX/UI.
What was the scope of their involvement?
DePalma Studios manages nearly all of our UX/UI projects. They facilitate the marriage of human-centered design and UX/UI to create sleek and modern software. They’ve recently been working on conversational design and changing how humans interact with computers. They’re taking us away from menus and forms to more conversational-based design. They’ve assisted with digital transformations, such as mobile, cloud, and UX strategy.
What is the team composition?
We’ve worked with teams of anywhere from 2-10 people.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
I’d used them before at my old company. They did good work and were leading the way with UX design, so I hired them in my new position.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent between $15,000–$200,000, depending on the project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been partners since 2010.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’re extremely pleased with their work and so are our clients. DePalma Studios creates wonderful UX/UI that translates beautifully into full-fledged products. They’ve allowed us to be a few steps ahead in the market in regard to our UX/UI.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
They have a lean and rapid turnaround, completing most projects in three months or less. We use Jira and Slack to constantly remain updated and informed. They offer project status reports and take timeliness seriously. They’re a great balance between speed and quality.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They have the passion, insight, and experience to push the envelope and do extraordinary things. They have an impressive skillset, great project management, and a fantastic work ethic. The entire team thinks outside the box and produces excellent products. Unlike other firms, they let us know if something won’t work or could be better.
the project
UI/UX Design for Client of Digital Marketing Consultancy
"They really know their stuff, which gave us a sense of security."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the owner and CEO of Sterling Communications, a digital marketing consultancy.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
As a consultancy, I have several clients that all have different challenges. One particular client had an outdated interface that I needed help improving.
What was the scope of their involvement?
My client, Trievr, has an automated software platform used primarily by the pharmaceutical industry. The existing interface was looking archaic. My concern was that Trievr would have a high rate of drop-off because users wouldn't understand how to use the platform. I hired DePalma to create a more intuitive flow, as well as to bring the UI and UX up to date.
What is the team composition?
I have one main point person but I interact with the whole team.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
I found them through an online search. I vetted them and thought they were a good fit. From there I introduced them to my client, who signed off on the contract.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent between $5000–$10,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
They worked on the platform from February–April 2018.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our team is running behind on deployment, so the platform hasn’t launched yet. DePalma did a great job meeting all of their deadlines and providing us with everything we needed. Trievr is so happy with their work that they’ve already renewed their services for another interface.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
I do the vetting in advance in order to prevent my client from running across any issues. DePalma came through with flying colors. The team was fantastic. They were always available and so cooperative.
What did you find most impressive about them?
All of the team members were amazing. They really know their stuff, which gave us a sense of security.
the project
Web Platform UX Design for Disability Insurance Provider
“DePalma Studios has the artistic skill and perspective to give products a wonderful, embracing customer experience.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’ve been vice president of the IT organization for a disability insurance provider for 18 years.
What challenge were you trying to address with DePalma Studios?
At the time, my role focused on customer solutions for the largest subsidiary of our holding group. I was responsible for owning, driving, and managing digital customer interactions for our enterprise including all of our web portals, mobile apps, and the contact center platform.
We’d finally gotten approval to assess and revamp an old customer interaction portal. The website had been state-of-the-art when it was built, but that was a long time ago. It desperately needed to be revisited. We didn't have the skills internally to deliver the world-class customer experience we aimed for. I was in the process of hiring the right UX design firm to assist us when we found DePalma Studios
What was the scope of their involvement?
DePalma envisioned an entirely new look and feel for our customer site's design. We considered migrating to a different platform before our holdings company changed the technology they use internally. Six months in, DePalma flexibly overcame this learning curve and quickly got up to speed with the new program.
When we resumed activity, we finished all the estimations and initial designs before starting our delivery program increments. During the first 12-week Program Increment (PI), we went through six sprints to produce some great-looking early deliverables.
By the time we were about halfway through the second Program Increment, our holdings company experienced leadership changes that halted all major projects, including this one. That was truly unfortunate for us and completely unrelated to the quality of their work.
What is the team composition?
The number of resources fluctuated from 2-4 over the different project stages. Typically, we'd work with one manager, another project manager, and multiple UX designers from DePalma Studios.
How did you come to work with DePalma Studios?
Through blind luck, I got a cold call from one of DePalma's marketing staff members. I was actively looking for a firm of their kind, so it couldn't have happened at a better time since I was actively looking for a firm of their kind. My assistant would generally filter this type of call, but theirs came through. They turned out to be an excellent fit.
I ran the RFP process for 5-6 candidates with my boss and five direct reports. We took notes during each vendor presentation and met afterward to assess and grade them. Our scoring process used a form we developed with a major consulting firm. At the end of the entire process, we tallied up the scores, had a final conversation, and made a unanimous decision to hire DePalma Studios.
How much have you invested with them?
DePalma bid on this project as part of the RFP process. We agreed to a fixed budget for that level of work, and they adjusted management to that figure. If internal changes in order or direction impacted the total, they had to change their pricing accordingly.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together for about a year starting in 2015, including the RFP and onboarding stages. Unfortunately for us, our project had to be canceled. Our relationship ended in 2016 due to internal decisions around our holding company's business objectives.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
DePalma is one of the best partners I've ever worked with. This strong working relationship was truly a fantastic experience. I regret that internal decisions canceled the project. They had nothing to do with DePalma. We had to realign with our parent company’s new business objectives, which tends to happen in this space. The principal owner willingly adapted as our company changed course internally. I know they absorbed the price when items took longer than they anticipated to complete because we never had cost overruns.
The designers we interacted with were absolutely first-rate. As an engineer by trade, I can make a functional product, but design isn’t my specialty. DePalma Studios has the right mindset and artistic skill to give products a wonderful, embracing customer experience. It takes a special kind of person to develop the consistently superb artifacts they did. If we had questions or requested any changes, they refactored and redesigned it exactly as we wanted. The turnaround was always quite prompt, and everything they delivered was top-notch.
How did DePalma Studios perform from a project management standpoint?
DePalma Studios was incredibly responsive. We had no problems with communication despite a minor time zone difference. The team was even available to talk while on vacation. They always ensured we had the proper people engaged in the task at hand. I have the principal founder's personal phone number. If I called him right now, I know he'd pick up even though we haven't worked together in over a year and a half.
What did you find most impressive about them?
DePalma Studios blew everyone out of the water during our formal RFP process. As a boutique vendor, we didn't know how they’d fare against teams with highly recognizable industry names. Every other contender designed a slightly better version of our existing application. They were hoping to impress us with their knowledge of our insurance model.
While DePalma was limited in that space, they knew everything about customer experience. They developed a unique website prototype with a modern, elegant UX that received unanimous support from my team. DePalma Studios showed the innovation and creativity that no one else brought to the table.
Are there any areas they could improve?
As they went through a period of growth phase and internal transformation, there was some personnel turnover. We’d prefer to have kept the same resources throughout the project. That’s probably an impossible ask since there are so many opportunities available and you can’t force employees to say with your firm.
I understand they have to manage their business the best way they see fit, but these changes caused a bit of pressure. Sometimes onboarding new hires set us back a small step, but the new designers they brought in were always top notch. We never saw a reduction in quality, just with the team’s continuity.
While the platform has yet to be completed, internal stakeholders are impressed with the progress thus far, especially on the UX/UI side. Throughout the project, the team has been exceptionally organized, managing the project efficiently and effectively.