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Expert design. Effective products. Elated clients.

5.0
14 reviews

Guidea is a product design partner for leading companies including 20 of the Fortune 100. Our UX solutions are consistently rated as Visionary and Innovative by Gartner, Forrester, Fast Company and at CES.

Since 2005 we have launched hundreds of products that touch millions of lives, in spaces ranging from astrophysics to digital therapies to network security. We’re looking forward to hearing about your UX challenge.

 
$50,000+
 
$150 - $199 / hr
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2005
Show all +
Austin, TX
headquarters
  • 4806 Ave H
    Austin, TX 78715
    United States
    5122037710
other locations
  • PO Box 981
    San Francisco, CA 94016
    United States
    5122037710

Portfolio

Key clients: 

Adobe, Amgen, Bloomberg, Bristol Meyer Squibb, Cloudera, Dell, eBay, Express Scripts, Fidelity, Google, Honeywell, Humana, IBM Watson, Intel, Johns Hopkins, Johnson & Johnson, Macmillan, Mastercard, Nationwide, Novo Nordisk, National Science Foundation, PayPal, PBS, Pearson, Purina, Re/Max, RetailMeNot, USAA, Vodafone, WellDoc, Whole Foods, Yale Medical

Reviews

5.0
14 reviews
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UI/UX Design for Pediatric Behavioral Health Company

“Not only are they easy to work with, but also I was impressed with the consistency and skill level of the team.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Jan. - Mar. 2020
Project summary: 

After an intensive discovery phase, Guidea developed the protocol for a human factor trial and executed the study. The trial was a UX research exercise for a medical tech product to be submitted to the FDA.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Palo Alto, California
Director, Pediatric Behavioral Health Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Guidea put in the time upfront to understand the product and its goals before creating the study. This allowed them to define protocol that targeted the most pivotal points of the trial as well as delivering a final report that met business needs. The team was responsive, diligent, and professional.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a pediatric behavioral health company that uses machine learning to help identify and diagnose children with Autism.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea - A Theresa Neil Design Company?

We were in the process of conducting a pivotal trial so that we could submit our product for our first FDA clearance. We needed Guidea’s assistance with human factor testing on the physician portion of our product interface.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Guidea helped us craft UX tests within a tight timeline so that we could make sure we weren’t slipping in any of our company objectives. 

At first, we engaged them to give an overview of what we hoped to accomplish, providing information on our product. They looked at our risk analysis and went over the user types that we expected for our product.

From there, they created a protocol for user testing and partnered with a group to recruit participants. They finished the tests with recorded interviews, going over general usability questions as well as asking about overall impressions.

Guidea generated a final report and engaged with our regulatory quality group, too, to make sure that the output would be what we needed for our FDA submission.

What is the team composition? 

My main point of contact was Karen (UX Researcher). She would filter any additional information from us to the rest of the team. In total, there were probably about four people.

How did you come to work with Guidea - A Theresa Neil Design Company?

One of my colleagues had utilized Guidea at his previous company and was impressed with their work. He spoke highly of their services because he felt that they were able to deliver for his company. 

When we did an RFP, we evaluated Guidea with two other groups, and they came out on top thanks to their knowledge within the space.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost about $95,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged them in Q4 of 2019 but didn’t start working on the project officially until January 2020. The total timeline was about 7–8 weeks, ending in early March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most important thing for us was that Guidea understood the purpose of the tests. We needed to structure the final report in a way that we would require little effort on our part to send through our FDA submission.

As with any type of human factor testing, it was also key that they understood the intricacies of our product so that they could get what we wanted to accomplish with our main features. 

Guidea did a really nice job of putting in the upfront time to review documents as well as sitting through our demos and asking the right questions. That allowed them to create a testing protocol that would pull out what we needed to focus on.

How did A Guidea - Theresa Neil Design Company perform from a project management standpoint?

We had certain timeframes for our company objectives in addition to making sure that we were maintaining our timelines for the overall studies. Guidea was able to meet those commitments well, hitting their initial estimates. Recruiting was also a similar uncertainty, but they were able to find the number that we needed. It wasn’t an issue at all. 

Even within touchpoints through the project, they were communicative. We got an informal report prior to the final, and everything was very clear.

Again, I appreciated that Karen was the face of Guidea for our account. She passed on any messages that I had and responded quickly when needed. She could also move from email to face-to-face, staying flexible enough to schedule meetings on short notice.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was the upfront effort that they took in really understanding our space and how our product was unique. Using AI to help diagnose children with autism — there’s nothing else like that. This meant that our audience wouldn’t have previous experience to reference.

I appreciated that Guidea took the time and effort to engage with us internally to build a framework before proceeding to create protocols and conduct the study.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When moving into a deal with new partners, you’ll realize that common terminology isn’t as common as you’d think. I’d suggest that both parties make sure they’re on the same page when using certain terms. A term could mean different things coming from the client side versus what they’re used to on the service side.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d highly recommend them. Not only are they easy to work with, but also I was impressed with the consistency and skill level of the team. They’re experts at what they do. My only advice would be to make sure you define the terms you use upfront so that the expectations for the deliverables are clear.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Mobile Site Optimization for Pharmacy Discount Startup

"They worked as a partner with us, and was as excited about our product as we are."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Sept. 2019 - Mar. 2020
Project summary: 

Guidea - A Theresa Neil Design Company provided baseline usability testing of a website through a mobile design. They completed design work and a prototype.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Zane Milakovic
Director of Technology, Inside Rx
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Since it hasn't launched yet, internal testing shows Guidea - A Theresa Neil Design Company's product is headed in the right direction. The team collaborated well and had an excellent workflow. They remained open and engaged at every step.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the technology director for a small startup that offers pharmacy discounts for retail and home delivery. I oversee all the technology that powers all digital channels as well as all services for B2B and B2C.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Guidea - A Theresa Neil Design Company?

Our user-based has changed rapidly over the course of 3 years since launching. Faced with the rising focus on a mobile user, we felt the best course of action was a redesign that addressed numerous problems and lowered the friction for many of the most underserved populations.

What were your goals for this project?

The biggest thing we wanted to achieve, was improve the mobile expeirence. We also wanted to solve many aspects around clarity of our program, and transparency about prices.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

This vendor was a internal recommendation. Our parent company has an existing relationship. But it was the initial meetings that really sold us it was worth pulling the trigger. They were very flexible with our desire to work cloesly with a designer during the process.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was a baseline usability test of our existing site, through a mobile design. There was design work to reimagine the experience mobile-first. This included validation with an early prototype.

What was the team composition?

We were mostly engaged through the designer. A VP of Strategy was present for many meetings that involved larger topics, like budget or direction. Additionally, the design worked with a researcher during the studies. It also sounded like everyone had larger resources they could pull from when looking for alternate ideas or solutions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Unfortunately, the redesigned product has not launched yet. That being said, all internal testing shows it is the right direction. And everyone loves the new approach to our critical flows.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was excellent between the teams. They were willing to jump into our Slack and integrate as much as we needed. This greatly reduced any friction, or "throwing" assets over the wall at the end of the project. Because they were open to us being so engaged at every steps of the way, we were able to hone in on the perfect vision quickly, as a team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were able to understand a complex problem within a short timeline. The fresh ideas they brought really keyed us into better directions. Overall they worked as a partner with us, and was as excited about our product as we are.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Looking back, we may have wanted to see desktop comps a little sooner, as there was some large delta between the mobile and desktop flows we had to resolve. But overall it was really minor and to be expected given the timeline.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Extreamly easy. They were very flexiible with us, given that we had to juggle enterprise meetings.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Very fair for the quality and timeline of the work.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The designer was one of the best I have worked with, across 9 agencies through my career.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    One of the best agencies I have ever worked with. I would easily refer them in the future.

UI/UX Design & Research for Consumer Goods Company

"They’re one of the best partners I’ve ever worked with."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
May - Sept. 2019
Project summary: 

Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company designed an app. Once the app was ready to launch, they did a general usability test and conducted research to make sure it was right for the market.

The Reviewer
 
5,000-10,000 Employees
 
St. Louis, Missouri
Digital Product Lead, Consumer Goods Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company’s design received a lot of positive feedback and contributed to the app’s significant improvement in metrics. Having great communication skills, they were in contact frequently. They put a lot of thought into all aspects of their work.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a consumer goods company and I’m the digital product lead for a new mobile application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company?

We hired Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company to do a general usability test of the app to determine if we had put the right version in the market. We partnered with them on the design prior to the launch of the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were rebuilding an already existing app from scratch with a new design and tech stack.  We took some of the insights and analytics from the previous app and then started building out user stories and MVP requirements to put the product to market. I provided them with our user stories and some of our goals and they did the initial design for the app. Once the design was approved, we built the app and launched it. Then they did usability research to make sure the design was automating with consumers.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from their team including a UX/UI designer, account manager, and researcher.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–September 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

By putting the MVP version of the app on the market, we doubled our organic monthly active users and increased our ratings almost right away. We’re seeing significant improvements in our metrics just based on their design. Everyone was really happy with the new platform.

How did Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company perform from a project management standpoint?

They were wonderful, especially from the design side. They were very proactive and we rarely had to ask for anything because they anticipated what our needs were anyways.

When we got into the research phase, it was similar in that they never brought us a recommendation or anything that wasn’t thoroughly researched or vetted, so we felt confident in approving things quickly, which helped us move faster. During the eight-week design period, we were in contact multiple times a week and then during the research period, we were in contact about three times a week for about six weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The amount of thought they put into anything before it even came across my desk was really helpful. They just took the lead and ran with it and didn’t need attentive feedback along the way. They were doing things readily and surely, which was really great. They’re one of the best partners I’ve ever worked with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there isn't anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Having a good idea of what you want to learn and how it supports your business would be helpful because that’s really all they need to get started.

5.0
Overall Score I don’t have any negative feedback to give.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They never missed a deadline and were even proactive about keeping us on track.
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They were a little on the pricey side, but you definitely get what you pay for.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They were thorough with research, so we felt really confident with everything they delivered.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    They were absolutely integral to our success and I would definitely use them on another project.

UX/UI Design for Forest Carbon Offset Company

"Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company delivered beyond our expectations."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Apr. - July 2019
Project summary: 

Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company was hired by a carbon offset company to design their app. The team, working under a strict timeline, placed particular emphasis on user experience. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
San Francisco, California
Mary Kallock
Coordinator, Forest Carbon Works
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Though the app is still in the development phase, internal stakeholders are extremely pleased with the team’s work, which has paved the way for future stages. Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company was exceptionally passionate about and engaged with the project, meeting each of their deadlines.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the coordinator at Forest Carbon Works, a company that creates forest carbon offset projects.

We work with landowners who are seeking to quantify and sell the carbon sequestration value of their forests. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company?

One of the tools we’re working to develop is a downloadable app that can be used by landowners and other users who don’t have much knowledge about forestry or forest collection methods.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first met with Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company, we worked together on a series of capacity building exercises where the team was able to learn about our company, carbon projects in general, and our goals for the app.

Next, they helped us create wireframes and to storyboard our desired user experience. A palatable, accessible design that easily guides landowners through the process of collecting information about their property was one of our primary concerns.

The team created some initial designs and put together an orientation package before transitioning into beta testing with former clients. That process helped inform some of the decisions we ended up making about the final product, allowing us to see which of the design aspects were really strong and which weren’t. 

From there, we went into the final design stages and actual creation of the app. Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company implemented some of our desired functionalities that they’d helped us choose.

What is the team composition?

I worked primarily with about four people. We were in contact with Theresa (Founder & Creative Director, Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company), Jessica (Content & User Experience Design, Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company), Ryan (Associate Director of Strategy, Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company), and their project manager. 

How did you come to work with Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company?

We reached out to several different design groups, and Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company responded very enthusiastically. They were excited about the opportunity to do something fresh and new that also serves a greater purpose in terms of environmentalism and land conservation. Ultimately, given their passionate response and quality of their portfolio, the decision to partner with them was easy.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from April–July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still working on the functionality of the app. However, having Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company’s design work completed has allowed us to make significant progress in the development process. It’s helped to influence some of our updates, and we’re overall quite pleased with the deliverables they provided. 

How did Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company perform from a project management standpoint?

Throughout the project, we were working within a timeline based on our grant funding, so we had some really strict deadlines. Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company was extremely flexible, always making sure to deliver on time. 

Early on, there was heavy communication between our teams multiple times per week. We eventually scaled it down to weekly or biweekly meetings, which were very content-heavy and engaging.

Overall, they managed the project really well. The team was in touch with updates, deliverables, and any changes to the budget or scope as they arose.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were quite impressed with the amount of effort the team put into the conceptual phase before even launching into design. We were able to sit down together and comb through everything that was important to us as a company that we wanted to see replicated in the app. The entire process was very robust.

Also, the quality of their design was incredibly high. We really appreciated watching them create such a great product in such a short period of time. They weren’t just concerned with creating the product, they really wanted to achieve a positive experience for the user. Guidea- A Theresa Neil Design Company delivered beyond our expectations.

Along the way, everyone on the team was extremely enthusiastic, immersing themselves fully in the details of our project and industry. Our platform is niche and complicated, but Ryan and Jessica especially were dedicated to understanding all aspects of the process to tell our story through design as effectively as possible. Their attention to detail and enthusiasm really stood out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we enjoyed our time with them and would happily work with them again on future design projects. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared to share what you want to achieve in detail. Whatever you’re willing to put into the engagement with the team, you’ll get back ten-fold. The more you can provide, the more they’ll be able to accomplish.

5.0
Overall Score I really enjoyed them. They delivered great work and they were really nice people. They were interested in what we were doing.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They really worked with us in our time constraints.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    The value for what we got was great. It was a considerable investment for us.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Everything they delivered was on point and beyond our expectations.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I'd definitely recommend them to colleagues looking for design work and a well-rounded product and experience for their clients.

UX/UI Design for Cloud-Based Software Startup

“Guidea’s commitment to their customers, and their craft, is contagious.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
2015 - 2017
Project summary: 

Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) ventured to create a seed-funding deck for a cost-management startup. Their team distilled complex ideas to form, then visualize, an effective corporate narrative.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Menlo Park, California
Asim Razzaq
Co-Founder & CEO, Yotascale
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Guidea delivered an effective slide deck which contributed to the generation of $2.6 million in the seed-funding phase. They empathetically understood users’ pain-points to deliver a successful solution. Demonstrating the expansive scope of their expertise, the team was competent and communicative.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of a company called Yotascale, which offers collaborative cost management for AWS. We help businesses gain insight into their cloud spend, which, based on unique circumstances, varies for each company.   

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)?

We were looking to create a deck to present to potential investors. To make a successful seed-funding deck, we needed to solidify and effectively visualize our corporate mission. Our solution is rather complex, so we sought to distill that sophisticated concept into something powerful but digestible.   

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Theresa (Founder & Creative Director, Guidea) worked to represent our company’s vision. She first helped establish our corporate narrative. Then, conducting research on different icons and concepts, she worked to visually represent that story in a cogent way. They focused on UX/UI design to accurately convey work permutations and resource shifts in our business model.

What is the team composition?

My primary point of contact was Theresa, but I also worked with Jon (Principal UX Designer, Guidea).

How did you come to work with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)?

I’d interacted with Theresa before, during my time at PayPal. We shared many mutual connections. She has extensive experience working with both enterprises and startups, so her wide breadth of knowledge led me to start working with her.

How much have you invested with them?

While I don’t have an exact estimate, we spent somewhere between $50,000—$100,000 over the years of our engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2015 and wrapped up in 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered an effective seed deck that raised $2.6 million in investments. Their visual designs received stellar feedback from our customers, and their contributions were key capabilities that differentiated us from competitors.

Jon really put his heart and soul into consolidating the design components—he worked diligently on updates until the very day of the demo launch.

The finished product allowed our customers to gain a deeper understanding of their cloud spend. Their team internalized customer pain-points to deliver an extremely effective solution. Guidea’s commitment to their customers, and their craft, is contagious. They’re clearly passionate about problem-solving.

How did] perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent. Everything was delivered on time, and they understood the fluidity of our corporate situation. They were collaborative, engaged, and always available.

Theresa always ensured that their services were effective, by consistently inquiring about feedback. She demonstrated great responsibility and ownership of her work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would emphasize the scope of Theresa’s experience and knowledge. She’s extremely qualified and has worked with many different domains. She has an almost-uncanny ability to attract the right people by having the right professional mindset; I was very impressed by that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While I can’t think of anything significant, I would’ve appreciated a greater degree of engagement and participation. I invited her into conversations that I felt were relevant, and I think more of those discussions would have been helpful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re not the cheapest solution out there, but you get what you pay for. They’re reasonably priced for the very high quality of work that they provide.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

User Experience Research & Design for Healthcare Company

"Our previous perspectives were way off, so their findings have been tremendously valuable."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
May - Aug. 2018
Project summary: 

Guidea conducted user experience research, including genitive and evaluative research. They interviewed stakeholders and various members in the process, providing training as needed. 

The Reviewer
 
10,000 + Employees
 
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Lisa Westra
Customer Experience Research & Strategy, Priority Health
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Guidea provided top-notch, thorough research that's significantly improved the company's approach to presenting information to members. Their customer-centric team has helped train and implement best practices internally, so their work continues to pay off. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work on customer experience research and strategy for Priority Health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea?

We reached out to Guidea to conduct user experience research to help us gain deep insights regarding our members. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Guidea conducted user experience research, including a deep-dive into genitive and evaluative research. They also taught our team some best practices and helped us find and champion those approaches internally.

They initially conducted a lot of stakeholder interviews in order to fully grasp our goals and challenges to help us redesign our member experience. They also interviewed about 30 members across all four of our segments and made recommendations to help inform the evaluative research component. They proposed a new information architecture based on member feedback and analysis to help us restructure our website. 

What is the team composition? 

For the generative research, two people worked in the field and two people worked remotely in addition to some external recruiters they hired. During the second round, they had one person in the field and two people working remotely. Theresa (Founder and Creative Director, Guidea) also worked directly with us throughout the project.

How did you come to work with Guidea?

Someone in the design community recommended them to us and we liked them more than another vendor we were considering. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested at least $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from May–August 2018 and plan to work with them again on more research projects next year. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Guidea established an important platform for approaching consumer research at our company, succeeding in proving the value of their work to our executives in the process. After a 16-week engagement with their team, we decided to establish a dedicated team of researchers internally to continue to focus on member feedback. Our previous perspectives were way off, so their findings have been tremendously valuable. 

How did Guidea perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great to work with. I didn't have to micromanage them at all. Although they have project management tools they use internally, we're somewhat limited in our industry so we mainly communicated via email and tracked work in spreadsheets. They were in touch with us every day, sending summary reports and hot notes at the end of each of their long days of field research. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Compared to other research firms I've worked with in the past, Guidea is more specialized and thorough in their approach. They've really honed their skills around the customer experience aspect of research. They also continue to grow and expand their understanding of our industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although they do a decent job of managing it, there's some room for improvement in the way they present qualitative research, which is vastly different from quantitative research. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I just recommend working with them–they're amazing. 

5.0
Overall Score We plan to work with them again.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They never missed a deadline.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    The investment in their services greatly paid off.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They conduct highly ethical research.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I loved working with them.

Android, iOS, Web UI/UX Redesign for Transport Company

“The quality of the work doesn’t suffer for the speed at all, so the speed is kind of mind blowing.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
June - Oct. 2012
Project summary: 

Guidea helped a car rental company design the initial version of their mobile and web product from start to finish. They helped provide UI/UX for features from registration and booking through managing a vehicle remotely using the app.

The Reviewer
 
201- 500 Employees
 
Austin, Texas
Allen Darnell
Former CTO, Silvercar
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The work contributed to the project by Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) allowed the product launch to carry the company through three rounds of funding to selling the company to a major auto company. Their team operated at remarkable speed without sacrificing any quality in the final product.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the CTO of a company called Silvercar, which was a car rental startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)?

We were building the first version of our product, a rental car company, built from scratch, that would offer a single make and model vehicle you could access with your phone. We needed somebody to help us with experience design and UI/UX.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started by defining the customer journey. We wanted to highlight all of the things that were wrong with airport car rental and come up with ways to apply technology and human-centered design to remove friction from as many of those pain points as possible. We did some user research that was very generative, and then Guidea’s team focus-grouped a bunch of the initial concepts we had with paper prototypes.

From there, we moved to low-fidelity digital prototypes to high-fidelity digital prototypes and then eventually to actual interface designs that the engineers on my team were able to implement. That version included every feature we had envisioned for the product, not just with the MVP but beyond—the final product consisted of a native iOS, Android app, and website all tied into a vehicle renting process.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three members of their team, specifically Theresa (CEO, Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)), Paula (Advisor, Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)), and one other woman as well.

How did you come to work with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)?

I ran a search process over the course of a month or so, looking at every product and experience design team in and around Austin. It was important for us to find somebody local because we needed a partner who we could spend time with and who would be able to understand the hardware aspect of the products we were designing.

We interviewed 6–8 companies and through that process whittled it down to a couple of places that had a bit of a competition which Theresa’s team won. They were much more aligned with the philosophy of our company at the time because we were both just getting started and felt like kindred spirits from that perspective.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together for 5 months, from about June–October 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We implemented most of what they came up with to create the very first version of Silvercar which launched in January 2013 at DFW airport. That product helped us raise three rounds of funding and then sell the company to a luxury car manufacturer who continues to operate it in 25 locations across the US. It took us about five and a half years to raise all the funding and then sell the company, and we used the version of the product that they designed for us probably three of those five years.

How did Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management worked really well for us. They kept on top of each aspect of the project flawlessly—in fact, if anything, our team had trouble keeping up with their pace of development—but they always made sure we were all on the same page.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the things that still stands out to me when I do reference calls for them is how fast they are. Everybody on that team who I’ve ever worked with has been extremely fast and super focused. The quality of the work doesn’t suffer for the speed at all, so the speed is kind of mind-blowing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I think for any kind of product or experience design they are as good as companies get.

5.0
Overall Score They do great work and are easy to deal with.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were always on time and helping us to push a really aggressive schedule of development.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They were definitely not the most expensive option we considered.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The quality of the work and the final deliverables was excellent.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I often do recommend them.

UI/UX Redesign for Digital Banking Platform

“They are one of the most creative vendors I’ve had the opportunity to work with.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Jan. 2017 - Mar. 2019
Project summary: 

Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) completely redesigned a digital banking platform in the midst of system migration. The team collected data, ran user testing, and created a foundation for the site.

The Reviewer
 
201- 500 Employees
 
Olympia, Washington
VP Member Experience, Banking Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The redesigned site was created through a collaborative process, resulting in a product that aligned with the original vision. The team accurately estimated the budget, deadlines, and resources throughout the project. Their flexibility and adaptability make them a valuable ongoing partner.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the vice president of member experience at a credit union for state employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)?

We wanted to launch a complete overhaul of our digital banking platform. We needed a team that had experience working with some of the tools we planned to use to build a more advanced UX design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) was responsible for the foundational information architecture as well as the primary navigation for our site. We started with a kickoff meeting where we shared our objectives with their team. After collecting data, the Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) team ran multiple phases of rapid iterative testing and evaluation (RITE). The process was primarily a collaboration, and they handed the final product off to us after creating foundational pieces for our navigation and some core design tenants. Later, our internal designers propagated the work throughout all of the pages of our site. We found this cooperation to be very effective, and it’s the primary reason we continue to go back to them.

What is the team composition?

At any given time we were working with two to four members of their design team. Although, depending on the phase of the project, they would pull in user research experts or analysts to assist.

How did you come to work with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)?

Because our internal team didn’t have the right expertise for this project, we decided to pull in an outside resource. After reaching out to a couple of firms, we received a referral for Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) from the vendor who supplies the new platform we were migrating to. It was still relatively new in the US, so we were looking for a team that already had the experience. We spoke to the team and after a couple of meetings, it became clear that they had detailed knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of the platform. Their team did the primary UX for its out-of-the-box offering so we selected them for the project.

How much have you invested with them?

Altogether we’ve spent $250,000–$350,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in January 2017 and the website launched in March 2019. The work by Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) was wrapped up in the middle of 2017, but we had some execution issues on our end. They continued to work with us on other projects while we finished up the digital banking platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have really productive discussions with their team. Any work we’ve done with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) has been high quality, and we always end up with an outstanding product. We are able to bounce ideas back and forth and this creativity allows us to produce something incredible.

How did Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always on point. The team was consistently accurate in terms of their estimations for project length and resource utilization. They always came in at or under budget and there were never any surprises

What did you find most impressive about them?

Every time we have worked with them, their methodology has been different—but in a good way. The team is flexible and adapts its approach to suit the individuality of the challenge. Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) does not rely on scripted approaches and instead addresses each project on a case by case basis. It always felt as if they were highly engaged and thinking about the problem as thoughtfully as we were. They are one of the most creative vendors I’ve had the opportunity to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are no areas that come to mind. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would encourage as much transparency and honesty as possible at the beginning of the process. The more you share with the team, the better they are at delivering solutions that will work best.

5.0
Overall Score We have enjoyed every experience working with them and will continue to reach out to them in the future.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Their scheduling and timing has always been perfect.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Their pricing is extraordinarily reasonable considering what they deliver.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They’ve never disappointed us on their deliverables.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I have referred them in the past and will continue to do so.

UI/UX Research & Design for SaaS Company

“They took time to learn our domain and provide a tailor-made solution.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Nov. 2017 - May 2019
Project summary: 

Guidea conducted market research to update the UX/UI of numerous products. Most recently, they worked on a SaaS product, collaborating with the internal team to create a design that met end users’ needs.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Austin, Texas
Mike Lunt
VP of Engineering, Zenoss, Inc.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Guidea maintained constant communication, providing regular status updates and utilizing various project management tools to track progress. The team clearly outlined the project milestones and created a functional and modern UX/UI. Their work received national recognition and has been successful.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of engineering at Zenoss, Inc., an IT company that mainly focuses on the Global 2000. I’m in charge of our on-premise and software-as-a-service (SaaS) products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea?

We initially needed a partner to do a UI refresh for our on-premise product. It’s been a few years since that project, and we’ve since changed our focus to SaaS products, so we engaged with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) again to form the new UI.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Guidea team met with our internal stakeholders to get an idea of our project scope and where we wanted to take the project. We gave them a list of about ten clients that they contacted to interview and determine what the customers wanted out of our product. From there, Guidea came up with a few ideas and presented a proposal. We approved the design and then iterated back and forth on the navigation, layout, and wireframes of the SaaS product. This resulted in two different options, and we chose the one we liked the most.

After that, they began implementation, and we provided regular feedback and clarification on the design. Guidea created a full HTML-ready sample with all of our colors and images to provide a guide for how the UI would be laid out. They then continued implementation until the final product was developed.

What is the team composition?

I had one main point of contact, and there were about four people in total on the team.

How did you come to work with Guidea?

We’d used them in the past and knew they were familiar with our domain. However, we also got bids from two other consultants but chose Guidea because they were creative and their past work aligned more with our domain.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $200,000–$400,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership lasted from November 2017–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received national recognition for the product by being named a leader in the intelligent IT operation space in the Forrester Wave report. Within a year, the pipeline for our product has grown and now makes up between 60%–85% of our sales.

How did Guidea perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated multiple times a week and then daily when we began implementation. They provided documentation before each meeting, giving us time to review it. They clearly explained the various project phases and gave status reports along the way. We used Basecamp and a few other project management tools to make sure everything went smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took time to learn our domain and provide a tailor-made solution. They were creative and found a good balance between making the product both modern and functional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of any ways they could improve. They’re in high demand, so it may take some planning to partner with them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Let them work their process, even if it seems elongated. They know what they’re doing and will create great results. Make time to give feedback on their work and build a constructive working relationship.

5.0
Overall Score We’ll probably use them again for another project we have in mind.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    We met all the deadlines we set.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They offered a reasonable price. We couldn’t have done the work for the amount they charged.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    We got everything we needed to execute immediately.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I've referred them to many people already.

UI/UX Redesign for Map Software Company

"Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) was the best."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Feb. 2018 - May 2019
Project summary: 

Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) helped redesign a GIS website to boost overall functionality, with the primary new feature being a new UI design.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Dallas, Texas
Steve Roberson
Managing Partner, MapRIght
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

User feedback has been positive. Their ability to understand GIS made them a valuable partner. Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) accepted constructive input well but also brought creative ideas to the table. The team’s quality deliverables set them up for potential future engagement.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the managing partner and founder of MapRight, a web-based GIS program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)? 

We needed help on a major redesign of the way we handle users. As our interface gets more complex, the challenge is to make it seem easy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) led an overhaul of the UI on our website. They helped redesign about 70% of the site. To start, they flew into Austin, Texas, for a multi-day in person meeting with our design team. Their process required them to interview our users, but generally, they worked directly with me. They provided design mockups, and then our internal team developed out the design changes. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with three members of their team.  

How did you come to work with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)? 

One of my business partners actually had Theresa (Founder & Creative Director, Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company)) 's design book on his shelf. So he knew of them and the quality of their work. We reached out to them and they were nice enough to work with us. 

How much have you invested with them? 

To date, we’ve spent $80,000–$90,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from February 2018–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We released their design in mid-March, so it's only been out for a few months. All of our users are very happy with the improvements. We got positive comments right from the initial release, which is rare. Usually, people are unhappy when you change the interface. The fact that it rolled out so smoothly, and been so well-received right from the start, is really exceptional. I would definitely use them again. Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) will be one of the first groups that we contact to design the third major component of our site.

How did Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) perform from a project management standpoint? 

I was very impressed with Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company). I've been thinking about this redesign for years, and they were able to help me produce the vision I had in my head. We're a specialized niche. Their designers came in completely unaware of GIS yet were able to catch up quickly to my thinking. They always delivered what they said they would, and did so on time. They used Basecamp as a communication tool and to host designs. We had weekly meetings, and I could contact them on Slack or email at any time in the process. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

I've worked with several marketing and design groups in the past and I've always been thoroughly unimpressed. I felt like I was just telling them what to do, but I wanted more of a collaboration. Guidea (A Theresa Neil Design Company) was the best. Their people could keep up with me and had thoughts on the way things should work. Not only did they have ideas that I’d never thought about, but they were also an improvement to my thinking. Not many people can do that in this realm.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I really don't. They're the best design team I've ever worked with, and it's not even close. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

They're really good at what they do, but you also need to have an understanding of what you want to accomplish. It’s your responsibility to convey your vision to them. They’re good at giving suggestions on how to improve ideas. As with anything, you have to still run the show and make sure things get done efficiently.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They always hit the deadline.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’re on the higher end of costs, but it’s worth it.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    I'm extremely happy with the product.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’m very likely to recommend them.