Fortnight

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital project manager at a free-to-enter gaming app. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortnight?

I hired Fortnight to redesign our mobiile application. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fortnight redesigned and developed our cross-platform native app using Kotlin. They utilized our previous design in their design process, which included designing the UX/UI. Fortnight integrated gamification and monetization features and automations. Fortnight finished the app design and is now running the QA process. 

In addition to the app design, Fortnight provides us with graphic design services. They’re developing social media assets that we post on Facebook and Instagram. 

What is the team composition?

We work with the project manager, a member of the creative team, back- and frontend developers, and the UX designer. 

How did you come to work with Fortnight?

We found Fortnight on Google. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around £40,000 (approximately $53,000 USD) with Fortnight. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Fortnight began in December 2021, and it’s ongoing. 

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

The app is scheduled to launch in April 2022. We haven’t identified any bugs outside of the existing ones Fortnight is rectifying through the new design. They’ve also improved our gamification features. In general, Fortnight has been amazing — they’re hardworking and solution-oriented. 

How did Fortnight perform from a project management standpoint?

Fortnight has excellent project management. We generally communicate via Slack and have regular Zoom meetings to discuss the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been really impressed with how well Fortnight sticks to our timelines and budget, which I think is rare for vendors in the industry. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think Fortnight should scale up their services. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend customers hire Fortnight — their team is creative and technically talented. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and founder of a gin startup.

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

We were looking for a refresh of our Shopify site. We had set aside a budget for it and got some funding through the government to complete a digital boost.

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

We selected this vendor on previous work that looks of very high quality. The team were responsive and helpful in the introduction stages particularly Sam who helped us throughout.

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

We needed to choose, implement and customise a Shopify theme that fit with the new direction of our start-up brand. We settled on a theme and after some issues getting photography together on our end, we got it pretty much together and were very happy with the result.

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

4 or 5. It was not immediately clear who was working on the website. We had a few points of contact who were responsive enough to smoothly work through the website. We were not in a crazy rush though as we had a functional website, we were most concerned with getting it right.

If you are looking to do things with speed and on a budget, I am not sure fortnight would be for you. They do it right but they take their time which I personally preferred.

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

I think the outcome of the project was absolutely in line with what we expected and no more. I wasn't blown away but we did not really spend enough money to consider this a large scale project. We redesigned the website, they took their fee and we parted ways.

The website looked great and I was glad that Fortnight completed the project without major issues.

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

The predominant communication tool was Slack, I personally don't like slack but it was fine for the limited amount of time we actually needed to use it.

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

They worked through a particularly difficult time scale for us in relation to government funding deadlines. This was above and beyond and I am very grateful to them for pulling through on it.

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

I think giving us really clear instruction as to what they would need from us right at the start might have helped get things moving quicker. I can't say I am super well versed in web development but I do spend a decent amount of time inside of liquid coding and the code etiquette was poor. Struggled to find things as some files are not named correctly.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Graphic Designer at Digital Voices, Global Influencer Marketing Agency.

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

Fortnight brought our new rebranded website wireframes to life, consulting on the UX and UI in the design stages to ensure a smooth development.

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

We were searching specifically for Webflow developers due to our previous site being developed on the platform. After shortlisting 10 and interviewing 3 candidates, we went with Fortnight for their knowledge, enthusiasm and service. We're a young, creative team and so we were happy to find a studio who embodied this.

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

We had designed the desktop wireframes in line with our new branding. Fortnight consulted during the design stages to lend advice on UI & UX optimisation but their main responsibility was bringing these wireframes to life, which required complex animations and custom code. In addition, Forntight also handled the launch of the site, involving adding an additional domain and switching host.

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

Our main point of contact was Sam, their Marketing Manager who displayed nothing short of excellence in terms of service. I also worked with a few of Fortnight's developers, namely Nic and Tom who were really co-operative and took into account all of our requirements.

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

The site hasn't been live enough to gain accurate metrics, plus our company has had exponential growth independently to our website so unfortunately we don't have any conclusive data. We have had numerous compliments from new clients and old on the usability and user-friendliness of the site.

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

We had numerous calls to discuss goals, expectations and budget prior to starting any work. Once confirmed, there were frequent calls with Sam & the development team to both consult on our designs and to bring those designs to life. Fortnight utilise Slack in their workflow, a great communication tool which we also use at Digital Voices; this meant communication outside of calls was simple, quick and effective.

As a result, we never had an issue with punctuality or deadlines that we had agreed on but it's worth noting that we had to wait around 4 weeks until Fortnight had the capacity to start (although this was mainly due to us taking too long with our rebrand)

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

Fortnight was a knowledgeable, and friendly group that was really easy to work with. Working with these guys felt like an extension of our own team. I can't say they offer anything particularly unique but the combination of experience, efficiency and service made the experience of launching a new website a lot less stressful.

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

As we only presented Fortnight with desktop wireframes and not fully responsible mockups, we were hoping that they would adjust them to work well responsively to cater to all devices. Whilst they did achieve this, the mobile version of the site was still far from the standard of the desktop site and involved additional developement from our end.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a director of Big Smoke Productions Ltd. Our company focuses on providing services to the performing arts.

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

We have developed an exciting and innovative social media platform aimed at the performing arts industry. This ground-breaking platform and App needed a strong visual identity that would resonate with performance artists and signify change and a new way of 'connecting the stage'

How did you select this vendor?

We used clutch to pick our top 5 and arranged a video call with each. We were looking for a small agency that really understood our vision and particularly the social enterprise aspects of our product. From the very first call we formed the impression that they cared about what we were trying to do, and would be fully engaged in every aspect of the process.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

They were asked to produce a brand identity that we could use throughout our platform and across social media, and marketing. We needed a unique product name, and logo. We had no preconceived ideas and were keen to explore different ideas and approaches.

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

We worked with 2 designers. The product manager took care of of the customer experience throughout the process, and the company founder sat in on a couple of calls to ensure that things were progressing to our satisfaction.

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

The project overran because of our original domain name registration falling through, despite depositing funds with a leading provider. (A common occurrence by all accounts). Fortnight were extremely understanding and, despite the considerable amount of work that had already being conducted, were keen to keep the show on the road and set about the whole process again in a totally professional manner, whilst at the same time stressing to us that they would bring the project in at a cost that was as near to the estimate as possible.

It was during this refocusing phase that their commitment to what we were trying to do shone through and it felt like a real partnership, and not just another external contractor relationship.

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

We had a face-to-face brainstorming session in London that was well organized and extremely useful in teasing out our brand identity in ways that we hadn't thought of. The main project communication tool was slack, and the ability to call was always there. Messages were answered promptly, and we were kept informed of the progress at all times.

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

Their empathy towards our product was evident from the start. They always felt like part of the team. I was impressed by their designs, and the confidence they to point out their own recommended variations, rather than just supplying range ideas with no steer on what worked from their professional experience.

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

Honestly, no. We will use Fortnight again as we expand into other areas and are very happy to have them on board as our branding partners going forward.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Founder and Director of Plain Jane Events, a creative events agency based in UK, supporting our network of clients with all their event needs.

For what projects/services did your company hire Fortnight?

Our website was ‘homemade’ over 10 years and was out of date in more ways than one! We hired Fortnight to redesign and build a new website that showcased our portfolio and allowed us to edit it ourselves after every event, keeping it current and up to date.

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

We spoke to a number of agencies around the Uk and went with Fortnight as we felt they had a great understanding of our brand, what we were trying to achieve with the website and they provided an excellent level of service and clear communication from the start.

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

After an in-depth discovery meeting Fortnight came back to us with a few different initial website designs/layouts to choose from. We worked together to merge elements from each one and create a look that was true to our brand and vision. They then proposed a new clearer flow to our site, and put together designs for the other pages which we had full access to via Figma, which we’d never used before and loved!

Once the layout was signed off, they then moved all content over from our old site over. We were then given a great session on the back end of the site and how to update the pages we agreed to have control of. The Fortnight team stayed in constant contact and helped with tweaks once it was live.

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

We worked with 2 people throughout the process, a project manager and a designer.

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

The initial design stage was great to watch, seeing our branding develop into a website, and online portfolio. We now use our website as a portfolio to send to clients with links to different event sectors or individual events and clients have been really positive about how well that works.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their communication was great throughout, and using Figma allowed us to really see how things developed so we could feedback easily.

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

We really felt they understood our brand and created a site we feel proud to show off. Their knowledge of user experience really helped us to keep things simple while using some really cool design elements to keep it current. I felt this was a really collaborative experience but also very supportive and I knew they were in control at all times, but open to our feedback and ideas.

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

The project took around 6 months, having not done this type I thing before, I was expecting it to be quicker, but when you look at all the elements involved and the content to be created and decisions to be made I understand why.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Creator + Owner of the Make Up Bible which is a game-changing platform designed to help individuals learn how to apply Make Up on themselves no matter how much Make Up experience they have. The project is based on helping individuals gain confidence, self-love and determination through the power of make up.

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortnight?

App Creation and Development. An app to be made for my budget. Which they agreed. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

To design it from scratch.

What is the team dynamic?

Made up of around 5 members.

How did you come to work with Fortnight?

Looked online

How much have you invested with them?

£6000

What is the status of this engagement?

Standstill. 

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?

They have not worked within my budget at all. They have created 10% of the app and now asking for more money to complete it. 

How did Fortnight address the challenges that arose?

They’ve been avoiding my messages. They have said that they will not be refunding me for my losses. 

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

I’ve lost £6,500 worth of investment for my business. It has been detrimental to my business to the point where I may have to close down the business due to not having the product I paid for and invested in.

How was project management handled?

Through the team members.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?
 
Provided a good design.

In what specific areas can they improve?

They need to be clear with their customers instead of leading them on and taking their money.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

Be super clear on what you want and ensure a contract is in place with specific requirements. Do not invest your money into this company. I’m so upset by this.

This review was published on April 15, 2021.

Poppy Johnson

Creator, The Make Up Bible

Beauty & Cosmetics

1-10 Employees

United Kingdom

$10,000 to $49,999

Mar 2021 - Ongoing

Project summary

With the aim of gaining confidence through the power of makeup, Fortnight is creating a web app. The team is tasked with building the app's wireframes and developing UI designs. 

Feedback summary

Although the project is ongoing, the client is delighted with the new app design. Fortnight has gone above and beyond to exceed the business's goals. Their team's project management has been beneficial to complete the platform. They have been flexible with the ideas and suggestions for the concepts.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Creator + Owner of the Make Up Bible which is a game-changing platform designed to help individuals learn how to apply Make Up on themselves no matter how much Make Up experience they have. The project is based on helping individuals gain confidence, self-love and determination through the power of make up.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fortnight?

App Creation and Development

What were your goals for this project?

To create an app that is new of its kind to the Beauty Industry. I was also looking to be able to easily update the app as much as possible from my end so it keeps the app current.

SOLUTION

How did you select Fortnight?

I was searching online via google and then once found the websites, I also checked out their social media too.

Describe the project in detail.

We initially had a welcome meeting so that I could meet the team which was really beneficial. I also was working alongside them to create the wireframes for the app, one of the team then took my designs and developed them into UI designs giving me full access to view the project as we go which was great.

What was the team composition?

I was made aware of all the team members, great to communicate with them all via Slack. I worked closely with the designer to ensure my designs were properly met. I also had numerous meetings with the project manager to see what had been done and the next phase of development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'm really happy with the design, they went above and beyond what I was expecting and the next stage is the functionality which I'm looking forward to seeing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They use project management software which kept us all up to date which was really beneficial. They were also really easy to get hold of. If I had a question, they would answer via slack pretty much straight away.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They really invited my ideas and thoughts around the concept. They work really well as a team and their knowledge and design are mind-blowing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Literally, none, Keep doing what you're doing!

Star Ratings

Overall rating: 5

Quality: 5

Cost: 5

Schedule: 5

Willing to refer: 5

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager for Tracworx. I manage activities around design and marketing.

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortnight?

We were launching a new product and needed help making the website for it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fortnight helps us with web design. We built the site on Webflow, but they’ve implemented all the designs and branding elements to it, which has been very helpful. The site is just a landing page with a brochure style. It describes the products that we’re selling.

We did some wireframes and basic concepts of how we wanted the site to look like, including the structure and the copy. Fortnight gave us some tips and tricks on how we could make it better. They did the designs using a platform called Figma and sent them to us. We gave them feedback and went back and forth with the designs. At the end of that process, we were very happy with what they gave us.

What is the team composition?

I work with two people: a project manager and a web designer.

How did you come to work with Fortnight?

We were looking for experts and design agencies that used Webflow. We needed something that we could edit and change after it was done but that also had the functionality of a website built with code — we wanted a middle ground between those two aspects.

We found Fortnight on the Webflow providers' list. We called numerous different companies that gave us different prices and quotations. Fortnight gave us the best price, and we also liked their previous work.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. Fortnight has delivered the product, but it's not yet published.

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

We showed the design to the stakeholders within the company to know their opinions, and they're very happy with the result. The design turned out very well, and it communicates the key messages that we were going for.

Working with Fortnight’s team, I've found out that they’re very responsive. If I want a quick change, they’re able to work pretty fast, and the team is very friendly.

How did Fortnight perform from a project management standpoint?

While Fortnight’s designs are the best, their project management is pretty good, too. We use Slack to communicate back and forth. We had a very short deadline of just a few days, and they were able to deliver pretty fast work — it was perfect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fortnight's quality is impressive. The personal one-on-one work that they’ve offered us is very good, and communicating with them is very, very easy. They’re open to feedback, and they’re easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Fortnight is fairly decent in all areas — I haven’t caught a flaw that they could have.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go into the partnership with a clear plan of what you want to display and go through the key messages that you want to convey. Allow some creative discussions about the design and how they can make it better.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a music marketing company for artists and record labels. We use data to create smart strategies across the digital landscape. We work on TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram.

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortnight?

We needed help with app development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fortnight is helping us build an iOS app where artists can log in and connect their social profiles and see their data. The data creates a to-do list for artists, which informs their marketing campaigns.

Fortnight helped with the UI/UX, initially. We wanted to build an app that was functional and easy to use for artists. From there, we developed a prototype of the product.

Next, we worked on the functionality. We wanted to grasp the process that a user would take to submit a PR pitch and submit social media campaigns. Now, we’re discussing the backend workflow.

What is the team composition?

We work with Rico (Director), Sam (Marketing Manager), and one developer.

How did you come to work with Fortnight?

I’ve worked with Rico before and was impressed with the work they’ve done in the past. I didn’t want to work with anyone else.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £10,000–£15,000 (approximately $14,000–$21,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020, and our work is ongoing.

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

Friends and family who have used the product so far have given us great, positive feedback. They all say it’s user-friendly and functions well. The design is sleek, too.

How did Fortnight perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management has been the standout factor. I’d give them an 8–9 out of 10. They offer great communication and they’re always open to answering questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When you’re developing a product and it’s your own brand, it’s hard to have conversations with designers who have their own take on the product. Fortnight has been really receptive to feedback and open to discussing what they didn’t want to do initially.

They’ve been really open to making changes. Their ability to listen and develop something that’s in line with what you want to achieve and in line with what their experience is telling you is going to work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be proactive. The more proactive you are, the more proactive they are. Be forthcoming with your feedback and what you want to achieve and they’ll take it from there.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a car leasing platform which offers CMS and backend services for car dealers and leasing brokers, as well as website and marketing services for them. I’m the founder. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortnight?

We're trying to get the full brand developed, as well as the designs from a UI/UX perspective done for the website and the mobile application.

The website is a backend system that has been set up for leasing brokers that sign up with us, which is only accessible on registration. There are a few parts to it as a marketing landing page, which is built on Webflow, and then there's a custom developed website which is based on React.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started by trying to understand the industry and the environment — the automotive industry is a fairly old-school one. They're trying to find a balance between reaching those old school contacts, but with a modern design and a defined approach that is coming from outside of the automotive industry.

What is the team composition?

In total, 5–6 people work with us. We had the initial contact with a project manager and then I believe there are two designers and two developers involved. 

How did you come to work with Fortnight?

We had a few common contacts and then we found them on Dribbble. We chose them based on a mixture of looking at the work online and seeing social media posts, and we also have a few strong contacts in the industry who we heard of them from.

How much have you invested with them?

The amount comes to about £65,000 (approximately $85,400 USD) at the moment.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2019 and we are still working with them.

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

Delivering on time and budget is always a big KPI for those projects and communication along the way worked really well, so that is great. We're really pleased with the design.

There aren’t any hard metrics at the moment that we have in terms of total conversion rates, because it's too early to have enough quantitative data.

The feedback was done with user testing people in this industry and it was a standout point that the branding and design were so spot on.  Their team is fairly informal and focused on getting things done, which is great.

How did Fortnight perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Notion to break the work down into milestones. For branding, for example, they worked through it in a couple of weeks. They used a sprint approach to really set specific milestones and expectations and plot the design work. That was great.

That's just allowed us to have a constant view of what's going on and to be flexible in moving things around, which is essential for a big project where things are always changing. 

They read into the material in terms of understanding the industry and what's needed and competitive as well as what we are trying to bring across and to make sure that the branding aligns with that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would point out the communication and their focus on getting things done rather than being too bogged down. Project management and the iterative, flexible approach have been really great. That approach to design where it's fairly practical or focused with a specific goal in mind is great. 

Parts of the design have been particularly good for the branding and design element, which was really spot on from a UI/UX perspective. The development was great as well, but that's what really stood out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have spent more time on user testing, although that wasn't really a requirement from our side. Maybe if they already had a test setup for a big group that they can use for that.

That might be a different field altogether, though. Other than that, I can’t really say we would have done anything differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I definitely recommend their services and I would recommend getting them involved quite early on. They're quite good with the initial design concepts and understanding user flows in the industry.

Even if you’ve only got an idea or haven't got the product fully fleshed out, it was really helpful to talk to them about it and then steer in that direction. I wouldn't wait too long and then just use people like them for delivery. 

Get them involved in the discovery process early on, which helped us a lot with efficiency afterward, because they were involved from the beginning and have done a lot of research in the industry as well, so that was quite good.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the strategy partner at a social advertising agency. We build audiences and communities online that people care about and want to be a part of.

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

Our website was built by one of the team internally on Square Space when we first started up the agency. It lacked functionality and didn't sell us and what we do.

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

We searched online for vendors and shortlisted a couple who looked within our price range and had designed sites that felt modern and aesthetically aligned with our brand. We then spoke to Fortnight, who shared further examples of their work. Based on this we felt they were a good fit for our project.

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

We had a kick off meeting to discuss goals and objectives. From there, the team at Fortnight went away to work up wire frames. They were very flexible and responsive to our feedback. Halfway through the wireframe stage, we changed our branding which impacted the designs and timeline, but they handled this with patience and positivity.

They built the wire frames on Figma, which was easy to use and work collaboratively on. The site itself was built on Webflow, which Fortnight recommended we use. It is an intuitive, simple CMS so we're happy with this recommendation. Once live, the team were responsive to any bugs we flagged and these were resolved very quickly. Overall we're really pleased with our finished site. I have led on website builds in other roles and this was a much smoother process than I have experienced in the past.

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

We had a few different project managers throughout the process and a designer.

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

Too early for any measurable outcomes, but overall we're really pleased with the site and are enjoying having a website that reflects our company, ethos and work.

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

We used Slack to communicate, which was much cleaner than email.

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

They gave us a site that delivered against the brief and is easy to update. They were always friendly and positive, regardless of the feedback we sent them.

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

There were a few small bugs when we first launched, which we flagged to the team.