Flying Bisons

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the digital marketer of a legal tech software as a service company headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flying Bisons?

We were looking to get tailor-made illustrations for our upcoming website. The main reason why we outsourced this project was to get unique illustrations for each product landing page, yet have all the illustrations follow the same theme and format.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Flying Bison based on a colleague's recommendation. Our tech department had already selected this vendor for the UX/UI redesign of our app so we wanted to stick with the same vendor to have better communication and coordination across departments.

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

We had a product deep dive with Flying Bison in October where we discussed the product in great detail. Our product is a little difficult to understand given the complexed nature of our services so a little bit of guidance was needed here and there. However, their team did a good job with their own research and came up with some samples on a Figma file. From there on, we exchanged our feedback after every submission and made changes accordingly.

The project was divided into two parts with a total of 17 illustrations and the deadlines were met very efficiently.

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

Our team worked directly with the project manager, designer and other members of the design team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are quite pleased with the outcome of the project. The illustrations were designed according to our requirements and managed to convey the knowledge of our product in a very elegant and simple way. They maintained the uniformity of the illustrations while conveying a different message in all 17 of the illustrations. The designer played around with the color palette very elegantly. If we required any changes, they were quick to respond and fast to deliver.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager and designer were quite responsive and communicated frequently on email and digital meetings. The rest of the feedback was usually exchanged on Figma's comments section. The deadlines were delivered ahead of time and changes were made promptly. All in all, the team was quite responsive and efficient.

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

By far, the most impressive thing about Flying Bison was their UX/UI skills. All the deliverables had a clean and elegant design layout which was quite plausible given the complex project.

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

Since our product belongs to the corporate legal category, we struggled a bit with creatively putting the product knowledge into each illustration. This was also due to the fact that we are based in Norway where the legal system is different than other countries so it was a bit hard to effectively put those nuances into creative illustrations. However, with a bit of communication and product detour, that problem was worked through quite well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am editor in chief and member of the board of naTemat Group. We are well known and popular media outlet in Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flying Bisons?

After a few years with current design we had come to the point when we needed a change. Flying Bisons became our crucial partner in the whole redesign project, both UX and UI for our the biggest brand naTemat.pl (news portal).

SOLUTION

How did you select Flying Bisons?

We searched for the best UX/UI developers in our area and shortlisted 3. After interviewing them, we chose this vendor based on their workflow, design skill and cost estimate.

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

Flying Bisons conducted research, gathering industry cases and benchmarks. From there, they started designig UX following with UI views, both for desktop and mobile devices. They produced iterations, incoporating bouth our feedback and the findings into the final version and the whole design system. We worked in a weekly sprints. Overall they designed over 100 different views.

How many resources from the Flying Bisons team worked with you, and what were their positions?

My team worked directly with Flying Bisons' CEO, their UX/UI senior designers and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our project was not easy for Flying Bisons, since they didn't have a huge experience in designing news portal which is a very specific environment, much different comparing to e-commerce etc. Nevertheless, they did their homework. We are still before official launch so I am not able to provide any information about the final outcome but taking into considering everything they designed, I am not worried at all.

The most important thing for us was the necessity of outstanding design comparing to the other news sites and I am sure we worked it out.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There is nothing I can complain about if it comes up to workflow and communication process. Everything was smooth and clear. We worked together basing on a weekly status.

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

Their workflow, punctuality, patience, and fact that they are willing to walk us through the process while we are learning. They designed a few things we didn't even think of before.

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

UX/UI process was much mor effective for us than a research itself.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is empowering politics to connect with citizens via Social Media. We are a Social Media Management for Politics in a digital democracy. I am the CEO and responsible for product strategy and vision.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flying Bisons?

I hired Flying Bisons to do the complete UX/UI Design for our SaaS product. We needed experts in Design, who are willing to invest also time in understanding the product.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the project was:

1. to create a state of the art interface for a SaaS product
2. Simplicity in usability and the challenge to make it as easy as possible to use
3. Fresh and friendly design
4. drive retention through intuitive usage of the tool

SOLUTION

How did you select Flying Bisons?

I got a reference through a freelancer we hired. She didn't have time for the project and recommended Flying Bisons. After a call with the CEO and a project manager, I felt more than comfortable

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected Flying Bisons, we kicked off with a set-up workshop on the status quo of the software with our product team. Flying Bisons took the time, to understand the product in detail, frame by frame. Based on the analysis, they scoped the needed resources and timeline. We needed the project to be done fast, due to user traction and software development. The first stage of the project was to define the user journeys in detail, followed by creating a new structure of each screen. The first draft of the new UI was around 90% of what we needed. So the second feedback loop was fast. Parallel to that, Flying Bisons developed mood boards for the new design.

On top of that, they basically created a completely new Design fundament for the product with colours , logos, icons and font. The third stage of the project was to combine the new interface with the design and make it ready to ship for the implementation by our development team. This stage was executed so fast and on the point, that we even saved time and costs.

What was the team composition?

Our product lead was coordinating the project from our side. Flying Bisons assigned a project manager, that was coordinating and updating us. On the execution of the project Flying Bisons put two additional Designer on the project and even the CEO was checking in on the project on a regular base.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project had an immediate and measurable impact on different levels of our product:

1. The new interface and design was so good, that we adapted it for all of our marketing and communication purposes.
2. User feedback was extremely positive and retention increased within 4 weeks
3. Due to the great design we followed up with Flying Bisons to create a new website
4. The product feeling switched from a functional software to one, that actually makes fun to use it

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Flying Bisons planning and execution gave us a clear guideline and enabled our product lead, to solve questions and requests in short feedback loops. Also, Flying Bisons was always thinking ahead of the next step and was willing to go the extra mile by delivering additional elements, that we didn't even think about.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Dedication: From start, I was impressed that the project team was really motivated and dedicated to delivering impact for us Quality: The design and quality of work is just perfect and customized. Execution: It was impressive how smooth and professional the project management was and how execution driven the progress was visual and clear at each step along Honesty: The pricing was transparent and I knew very early within the project, that I can always get an honest feedback and clear expectation management. Something that you see not very often.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really. We had a bit of hustle with the invoice at the end. But that was mainly due to tax compliances on our side.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing chief officer in the Porowneo.pl, an independent insurance comparison website. We are focused on motor insurances and it’s our main line of business, and we also sell travel insurance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flying Bisons?

It was very important to us to provide our customers the best UX with our website and offer the best web selling processes, so Flying Bisons delivered the solution for it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided to us the full path of selling funnel for our customers. Flying Bisons developed how the process should look like including the design, how it would look on the website, and how it would translate to mobile devices and desktop portable devices. 

They also prepared or fine-tuned the processes we have. Additionally, they did market research. Through that, they identified what kept our external stakeholders excited and how they viewed our processes. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with 5–7 people from their team. They were designers and researchers, and we also had a project manager. More people were involved in our cooperation, but we didn’t have direct contact with them. 

How did you come to work with Flying Bisons?

I was new to the organization when I engaged with them. They were already connected with the company when I arrived. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership ran from November 2019–January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our success measurement was based on how many users landed on the first page divided by those who signed up for our application form. We saw a significant change in that factor, but I couldn’t tell you the exact numbers. 

How did Flying Bisons perform from a project management standpoint?

I was quite happy with our cooperation. They found ways to solve our problems and they were proactive. However, I have to add that after a year of cooperation together, the smaller engagements we had produced a burnout effect in the team. To be specific, there was a time when it was much more on our side to even things out. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The way Flying Bisons proposed and executed the market research impressed us. We were really amazed by the way they prepared and found customers to do interviews with. It was a very smooth process and was very helpful in the end. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Flying Bisons could’ve been a little more involved in the process of changing the design on our website, especially at the end of our engagement. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing for a drug development company. We create and manufacture drugs, and we also provide services to help other drug companies with manufacturing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Flying Bisons?

We were developing a new brand for the business. As part of that, we needed a new website, logo, and value proposition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went through a discovery phase with them to figure out what we needed from our website. They also did some research on our competitors’ website. Then, they designed the website and developed it. It’s in both English and Polish. Their team took care of SEO and implemented the website with our CRM. 

What is the team composition?

I engaged with eight people, but there may have been more people behind the scenes. We had a dedicated project manager, a lead designer, and a lead developer who were our main points of contact. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2020, and the bulk of the work was completed by January 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website traffic has increased by about 50%. We’re getting high-quality leads from the website as well. 

How did Flying Bisons perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was excellent. I liked having a few dedicated contacts; it made the project run smoothly. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their designs are unique. They did all of the programming and design from scratch, so it was tailored to our needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We could’ve done more things in parallel at the beginning of the project. We only did one task at a time, but that made the project progress slowly. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Engage during the discovery process and workshops. If you stay focused when defining the project, the rest of the process will move more quickly. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of DevSkiller, a SaaS provider. We build our own product in a subscription-based model. It’s a cloud-based solution for HR and recruitment businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flying Bisons?

As we build our own products, we were looking to improve how the product looks and its ease of use for customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Together with them, we design the UI/UX of our solutions. We cooperated with them very closely. As we’re defining a new product, we work with them on designing the goals for the product and then designing the user journeys, features, etc. We work with them on the existing products that we developed a long time ago internally as well.

We have two products. First, it’s for developer screening and that’s the first product we developed without Flying Bisons but they help us with it now. We also have a second product that is a skills management platform and talent management platform which we’re building from scratch. They’re involved in the whole product lifecycle.

What is the team composition?

My point of contact depends on the project. We work with a pretty big team on their side. Inga (Digital Project Manager & Operations Supervisor) is one person we closely work with. Adam (Lead Product Designer) is also an important point of contact.

How did you come to work with Flying Bisons?

We found them when they were just starting. They were a pretty young agency but we spoke to them and it was pretty unique how they think about the role. It’s pretty common that companies are trying to optimize what you ask them to. What was unique about Flying Bisons is they were trying to understand why something happens, find a root cause, and optimize the root cause. By using such an approach, you can have much better results than by just grabbing only low-hanging fruit. They’re good about knowing when they should dig into it and when they should just deliver.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $200,000 each year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There are a few different metrics we’re using. We’re getting feedback from users and that’s where our sales team and customer success team and software team are continuously talking to clients. The feedback we’re getting about how the platform looks is pretty good. We don’t have a lot of complaints from the customers. There are just a few things that we can improve that was suggested by the customer. They’re very happy with it.

The second thing is we’re measuring how easy it is to onboard users to the platform and how easy it is for users to understand how the platform works. People are happy with the look and feel of the platform. We were able to close some deals because the platform is intuitive, easy to use, and it looks good.

How did Flying Bisons perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Jira. We use Figma to work on the designs. We have weekly status updates and meetings to keep everything on track and keep the ball rolling.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They look for root issues and our core value and build a solution according to that. They don’t just focus on the low hanging fruit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If there’s anything needing improvement, we talk to them immediately and come up with a solution. For example, when we moved some spreadsheets to Jira to manage the work, they were open.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When they started working on the UI for our new product, they tried to get in line with the UI that we already had on the platform to keep the platform looking similar. We told them we were okay with changing it completely. When we gave them that freedom, it looked really awesome compared to the previous one. What’s important is to tell them what their boundaries are for the cooperation.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Innovation and Investment Manager at a major real estate developer in CEE.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flying Bisons?

Delivering a top-notch, nicely designed, user-friendly website presenting the offering of a newbuild mix-use commercial development in the center of Warsaw, Poland. Since our initially planned provider didn' deliver on time a quality product, we asked Flying Bisons to deliver in a week, what would normally need 8 weeks. They not only did stand up to the challenge but also deliver a great piece of work.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed the website to present the concept of a mix-use development with multiple functions, yet stay consistent and cool for our targeted customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Recommendation. The team came recommended through one of our connections, we asked the other people from the market what do they think of the Bisons, and all the comments were very positive. They also made a very good first impression. And most of all, they agreed to deliver in a very short period of time.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Website composed of several subpages, with a CMS for an in-house marketing team.

What was the team composition?

We had a few people responsible for different parts of the project, and one project leader as the main contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

140 shops + 20 restaurants project, wouldn't have a digital online representation if not Flying Bisons. We wouldn't be able to check conversion from our internet and outdoor campaigns, that were moving the traffic to the website. Customers wouldn't be able to learn about the place and it's offering.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We literally had a few days to complete the projects, the guys were very responsive and took a huge responsibility to deliver on-time. Every day we had a quick check-in..

What did you find most impressive about this company?

There was great communication, and they're experts in what they do.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the e-commerce director for a pharmaceutical company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flying Bisons?

We were setting up an e-commerce channel, and we needed UI and UX design for our webpage.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We hired them to help us design the new web page. They were responsible for everything that is UI and UX related.

They strongly suggested that we start with getting input from our consumers to understand them and see what they were looking for so they could then build a page and design focused on them. That unique mindset was one of the reasons we selected them. They began with a relatively deep study of our users. We defined a few personas with them, and they interviewed people to try and understand their interaction with the company, online shopping, and what they are looking for in an online shopping provider. 

Then, we began the design process. There were several phases to go through all the pages that needed to be designed. There was a lot of discussion about what we wanted and what they thought was best. 

What is the team composition?

One of the partners of the company was involved often. We also had a project manager as well as a senior UX designer, who ended up being more of a project manager than the project manager; he supported us the most. With him, there was a team of three or four that were involved. They worked with us on and off and worked on other projects at the same time.

How did you come to work with Flying Bisons?

For something that is as consumer-oriented as the UX and UI, we needed a local agency that understood the Polish market and consumer. We looked at 5–10 companies, and we interviewed three companies. Flying Bisons came across as knowledgeable and had the experience that was in touch with our target customer base. They seemed like a decent fit for us.

How much have you invested in them?

We have invested around €40,000 (approximately $45,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The project went from December 2018–April 2019. We’ve remained connected to them since then, and they have come back with new ideas.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over the past month, we have been doing internal and external user testing. The feedback about the design, navigation, intuitiveness, and ease of use has been extremely positive. The work they produced, the ideas they had, and what we were able to put into practice so far is quite positive. 

How did Flying Bisons perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed quite well. It was a tricky project because we had many different partners that were working at the same time. We had developers, a payment services provider, and logistics companies, which all influenced the design. Flying Bisons were strict, which was great in terms of fulfilling deadlines with the quality of work that they were producing. There were things that we had to change, go back, and review. When it was up to them to control deadlines, they were excellent. When they were subjected to the deadlines of others, it was a bit harder, but I still don’t have any complaints.

All of us, as a team, prefer to communicate face-to-face. We had meetings at least once a week, and sometimes, we met more frequently to go through the designs and discuss the project. They tried a few project management tools, but they didn’t work well for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Technically, they are extremely talented. They clearly stand out from the pack in terms of understanding how a consumer interacts with a digital platform or web page. Flying Bisons were constantly trying to push the boundaries and look at solutions in a unique way. If you want innovation, this team is quite good.

They are also tremendously consumer-oriented. They always had our consumers in mind, and their opinions were typically grounded in examples about the way our consumers interact with the platform or what they heard in the research. Putting the customer front and center for this work is exceedingly important, and they have done that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They had to operate in an environment where they were not the sole participants. They presented ideas that we said yes to, but the platform could not cope with them. As we were building an MVP, it had to be simpler and easier to deploy. It seemed that sometimes they felt they were being challenged, and they didn’t like it.

It took time for them to understand that this was going to be the process and to adapt their process on their side and to find the best way to do things given the constraint. They managed to do it quite successfully. They wanted to have a strict process from beginning to end which is great, but when you clash with other people within that environment, it is tougher, and you have to show some agility and flexibility.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ensure that they dedicate the necessary amount of time and quality people to the success of the project. We had an excellent design lead, and he stood out from the rest, not only in terms of technical capabilities but also in terms of commitment. He wanted to work with us to help us solve problems. It is important to not only look at the company but at the people that will be working with them. There needs to be a fit between the culture of the company and the person sitting on the other side, independent of their technical capabilities.

Additionally, always plan for the unforeseen. Don’t try to scope 100% of the work, because new issues will come up. If this is clear from the beginning, and if there is a clear way of dealing with it that is understood from the beginning, the process will be much easier.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner of Gymsteer, a gym mobile app platform. It’s an app for gyms and fitness clubs to maintain their business. The software allows us to sell classes or passes to those places. Users don’t have to buy a pass to one place but can go anywhere they want. It’s like pay-per-view. Users only pay when they go.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flying Bisons?

We needed a business solution in an app to help us boost our conversion rate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started out with a discovery phase so they could get to know our business and what we do. They asked a lot of questions. We had some workshops to brainstorm and create personas with potential users. We mapped out the customer journey, the flow, and how the app should look and work. They then started designing and developing the app.

What is the team composition?

We worked with UI designers, UX designers, developers, project managers, and owners.

How did you come to work with Flying Bisons?

A friend recommended them. They’re one of the best companies in Warsaw and I found that I liked them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $25,000-$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March—June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did a really great job. We’re now testing the mobile app and we’re launching soon. All the people that have seen it are very impressed.

How did Flying Bisons perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager is very communicative. We used Figma and Jira to make sure the screens were okay. They met deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would definitely recommend them to someone.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I’d have them improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the COO of Veriori S.A. We’re a research and software development company that supports business process management using blockchain, AI, and cryptographic and steganographic security mechanisms. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flying Bisons?

We needed to develop our app’s UX/UI and design our company’s brand and brand book.  

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to give our app users and customers the best possible UX, ensure proper design quality, and use professional analysis as a basis for the design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’d worked with Flying Bisons on a previous project and were amazed by the quality of their designs and creative. Due to our previous cooperation, we didn’t consider any other service providers. Once you start working with Flying Bisons, you won’t think about switching. 

Describe the project in detail.

We've intentionally left the whole process to Flying Bisons because of our previous experience with them. They delivered a complete GUI and UX process for our web and mobile application, as well as a brand design.

What was the team composition?

We worked with two UX/GUI designers, a subject-matter expert (SME), a project manager (PM), and a graphic designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Stakeholders’ feedback has been very positive, focusing on the extraordinary quality of Flying Bisons’ design. Constant communication with Flying Bisons’ UX designers and subject matter expert allowed us to tailor the interface to our users’ needs. Our corporate clients always mention design as a strong feature of our solutions. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Flying Bisons' project manager handled communication and scheduling according to an agile methodology. Thanks to their top managers’ and SME’s involvement, we were able to work through any needs that came up throughout the process. Our PM kept us well-informed regarding the time and effort spent on our designs, our budget, and our timeline. As a project management professional myself, I place great value in their operational management efforts.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They add value beyond what’s expected. If you’re looking for special dedication and a constant desire to add value for the customer, you'll be amazed by Flying Bisons’ commitment. They’re constantly proposing new, creative solutions and ideas.

Are there any areas for improvement?

When we first started working with Flying Bisons, we had some minor comments about project and operational management. Due to a high level of professionalism and flexibility, however, they were able to reshape their project management model within a month.