Kind+Human

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the chief product officer at a company in the automotive space.

What challenge were you trying to address with Kind+Human?

We are trying to create a new shopping process that is transparent and meets the shopping needs of today's consumers, specifically focused on millennials and members of Generation Z. A lot of the current user experiences have a feel that's stuck in a legacy paradigm. Kind+Human helped us to think through what that user experience needs to look like, so it's more akin to what a modern application would be.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We work with JR (Director of UI Design, Kind+Human) to create different prototypes to help us conceptualize what we are trying to achieve. JR has guided us throughout the process of finding a new website experience that appeals to users from discovery through a transaction. Together, we have conducted multiple rounds of development for a prototype demo that we’ve used in our sales process. JR also led the creation of two other iterations of the site that have different designs, so we managed to explore several other dimensions. JR has also worked in tandem with another firm to develop an AI chatbot, which we prioritized as a means to introduce a new level of interaction on the site.

What is the team composition?

JR serves as our project manager and lead developer.

How did you come to work with Kind+Human?

JR worked for me in a larger organization before I helped found this startup. I had five years of experience working with him, and I was familiar and comfortable with the quality of his work. Our initial designer was not the right fit, so I contacted JR after that partnership fell through.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $70,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in October 2018 and remains ongoing.

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

JR’s been very creative in his approach, and it shows in the final deliverables. Kind+Human focused on finding newer ways of approaching UX, as opposed to settling for an older standard. We’ve worked with another firm to outline our chosen UX approach in a video demonstration, and we’ve received exceptional feedback from individual consultants and leadership at large manufacturers.

How did Kind+Human perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve always found it more worthwhile to work together iteratively so that we receive exactly what we’re looking for. Kind+Human worked well with that approach. They are receptive of feedback and make swift attempts to implement it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity stands out. When I had problems to solve, JR presented a few approaches that I always found pretty unique. JR inspires us to go in new directions, which is precisely what we were looking for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their team is much more oriented toward the creative side of the products, so we’ve had to QA test their work to pick up on small content issues they might not have noticed, which can slow the process down. I’d encourage them to demonstrate more attention to finer content details.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure there is a high level of communication.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Syntex, a software development agency based in Thousand Oaks, Calif. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Kind+Human?

We reached out to Kind+Human to do the UI/UX design for a mobile app we were developing for a client. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kind+Human worked directly with our client to develop design proposals, using a rough site map of the screens and functionality required for a mobile app. From there, they created a mood board, developed a direction, created wireframes, and provided full design of the UI/UX. 

What is the team composition? 

We work mostly with Jean-Roux (Director UI Design, Kind+Human), who is in direct contact with our client and engineering team.

How did you come to work with Kind+Human?

We posted a job description that Jean-Roux responded to directly. After speaking with him and looking over his company's portfolio, we felt comfortable giving them a shot. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since May 2019. They're finishing up the final design of the MVP, but just waiting on some additional requirements from the client.

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

Kind+Human's creative designs have definitely helped the app stand out in the market. We're so happy with their designs that we intend on working with them on all of our future projects. 

How did Kind+Human perform from a project management standpoint?

The whole process has been relatively seamless. We mostly handle project management on our end, but they've been good about clearing out tickets, keeping detailed notes, and keeping us up to date on everything. We mostly communicate with them through web conferences and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity and organization sets them apart. Nothing ever falls through the cracks, and they're very detail-oriented and motivated to deliver unique, innovative designs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go into the relationship with an open mind and trust the process because they know what they're doing, especially when it comes to designing something different that will stand out from the crowd. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of marketing for an early-stage startup in the technology space. Our mission is to transform the car-buying experience.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kind+Human?

We hired Kind+Human for rapid prototyping and UX design.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to attract potential partners and investors.

How did you select this vendor?

We’ve worked extensively with the principal of Kind+Human in the past. We decided to work with him again based on our prior experience.

Describe the project in detail.

Aside from helping us create our product prototype, Kind+Human has also designed our one-pager documents and other collaterals.

What was the team composition?

I work directly with the principal of Kind+Human and a team that helps with collateral design.

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

Because of Kind+Human's work, we’re able to visually share our product vision and make inroads with potential partners and investors.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our teams is streamlined. We collaborate via Slack and phone.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kind+Human is more of a partner than a vendor. Not only are they fully engaged in the collaboration process, but they are also innovative, helpful, and insightful. They are passionate about seeing their clients succeed.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything can always be done faster, but our collaboration has been successful so far.