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Digital products through prototyping.

5.0
8 reviews
Silver
VERIFIED

KRFTWRK is a digital agency focused on:

Digital Products through Prototyping

Specializing in user-onboarding, digital products, and admin dashboards.

Marketing Results through Process

Growth marketing is a science. We build a mix of inbound content + outbound growth hacking for optimal marketing results.

 
$5,000+
 
$50 - $99 / hr
 
2 - 9
 Founded
2007
Show all +
Toronto, Canada
headquarters
  • 32 Britain Street
    Toronto, ON M5A 1R6
    Canada
    6479160048
other locations
  • 260 Church Street
    Oakville, ON
    Canada
    6479160048

Portfolio

Key clients: 
Canadian Red Cross Arcestra Inc. Sigma Systems Quiznos Ontario Chiropractic Association Toronto Transit Commission Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Universal Music Group Iristel Canada
Joyride Image

Joyride

Joyride is a micro-mobility platform for managing scooter and e-bike fleets. Starting in 2014 as a ride-share management system, it has evolved into a one-stop-shop to deploy an unlimited number of scooters and e-bikes as well as manage your operations and extend your fleet to new markets.
Isogen Image

Isogen

Website design, WordPress build for radioactive pharmaceutical company
Screenfluence Image

Screenfluence

Screenfluence is a digital signage solution that manages on-screen advertising through hardware that connects directly into your screen and software that helps you design your screen-based on your advertising goals.
BridgeFT Image

BridgeFT

BridgeFT is a dashboard for Financial advisors. The platform is packed full of features. We were tasked with a platform redesign and improved user experience on the dashboard.
Sensorup Image

Sensorup

IOT Website / Copywriting
Canada Protection Plan Image

Canada Protection Plan

We built a plan focused on user experience and market position. The plan included a complete web design overhaul and enhancements to navigation, discoverability, and accessibility.
Screenfluence Marketing Image

Screenfluence Marketing

TACTICS Site Refresh Inbound Marketing Paid Campaigns Chatbot RESULTS 200% overall traffic growth +250 qualified leads acquired 30% conversion rate 300% increase in organic monthly impressions
Cloud Contact Image

Cloud Contact

About

Founded in 2001, AireSpring is a privately held, profitable, and debt-free cloud communications and connectivity provider serving thousands of businesses nationwide. AireSpring has the largest national footprint in the U.S. and a partnership with fourteen major network providers.

The Challenge

Update their customer service cloud application to work with modern browsers. Enhance the user experience

…
for multi-tasking between calls, chats, SMS messages and scripted content.

Our Solution

A clean user dashboard for managing multiple calls and interactions with quick fly-down menus for switching between interactions.  Updated UI style guide. Simple navigation for call queues.

Read more...
Exactfinance.io Image

Exactfinance.io

Exact uses machine learning to find exactly what to do with your money. Working from the ground up with out client, we built a fintech product that puts the power of a financial advisor into an easy-to-use digital product. With a few questions, the user is on boarded to a simple dashboard that outlines exactly what they need to do to get optimal returns on their finances.

Reviews

5.0
8 reviews
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UI/UX Frontend Design For B2B Software Company

"The team understands what a good deliverable looks like, thanks to their expertise."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
June 2019 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

KRFTWRK provides UI/UX design support, working specifically on improving the look of a software platform. The team created a prototype and has since conducted client interviews to gauge the initial response.

The Reviewer
 
11- 50 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
Sanjay Sharma
Chief Product Officer, Bridge Financial Technology
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

KRFTWRK’s robust prototype has been met with extremely positive reactions and will soon be in production. Throughout the process, they have leveraged their sound knowledge of frontend design to provide valuable insights and ideas. The team is always accessible, making for a successful partnership.

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 chief product officer and one of the co-founders of Bridge Financial Technology, a B2B software company that sells software for independent financial advisors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRFTWRK?

I did a lot of customer-facing and data management work when I first started, but now I’ve shifted into the product side of our business. When we started, most of our developers were backend-focused, so we didn’t put too much thought into the frontend. We hired KRFTWRK to work with us on a UI/UX overhaul.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us think through the philosophy of the product and how we could engage with it. Their main responsibility was making our software platform look better. The team started off by logging into the old version of our product and then helped to shepherd the entire process. Additionally, after completing the prototype, KRFTWRK conducted client interviews.

What is the team composition?

At any given point, we work with 2–3 teammates.

How did you come to work with KRFTWRK?

We met KRFTWRK at a conference for advisors and saw that they had experience with doing website overhauls.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $40,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in June 2019, and it’s ongoing. The initial project is going to be wrapping up at the end of April 2020, and then, because of Coronavirus, we’ll be putting the larger project on hold.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very close to having the product fully in production. It was their idea to do a lot of customer interviews early on and throughout the process. When we’ve talked to clients and shown them prototypes, they’ve been incredibly excited. 

This has been a good way to make the process collaborative and make customers feel like they have an influence on the road map and the final product. Overall, we’ve received very positive feedback, even before the launch.

How did KRFTWRK perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication has improved. There was a little bit of a lag in feedback time when we first started because we would only meet once a week. As soon as that situation was resolved, the process got better. 

We use a project management tool and we also have a channel with them on Slack, and KRFTWRK is always available, which is great. They’re very easy to get a hold of.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I haven’t worked with too many other designers, but what we appreciate about KRFTWRK is their experience in frontend development. They are able to put together a solid prototype that isn’t just a few screenshots or an image in Adobe. The team understands what a good deliverable looks like, thanks to their expertise. Our frontend developers have valued this.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would’ve been helpful if, from the get-go, they had set recurring calendar meetings.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use the prototype that they put together. Internally, KRFTWRK uses a tool called Figma, so the more you interact with it and leave comments, the better. This will be very helpful since the design process is much more iterative than other aspects of software development. 

Giving as much real-time feedback as possible also makes the weekly calls much more productive, because you’ll have something tangible to look at. 

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They could’ve scheduled more meetings.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would absolutely recommend them.

Web Redesign for Advertising Agency

"The design work is really sharp and the team is great to work with!"

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Oct. 2018 - Mar. 2019
Project summary: 

KRFTWRK redesigned a website for an advertising agency. The team moved the website to a WordPress platform and provided UI/UX designs for the platform.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Toronto, Canada
Jennifer Yang
President, Stryker Media Group Inc.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The internal team has received positive feedback from customers on its professional design. KRFTWRK responds in a timely manner and is easy to reach, ensuring a smooth workflow. The team is organized, hard-working, and timely.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Stryker Media Group Inc. is a Canadian advertising agency and I am the Founder and President.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire KRFTWRK?

We hired KRFTWRK to help us redesign our website to not only modernize it, but also to help with functionality.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a website that represented our brand better and help us engage with potential clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team and I had worked with Pedro and Justin on previous clients of ours. I knew that they not only had a great process in place and strategy for building out great websites, but that they also had the technological know how and design acumen to create beautiful work.

Describe the project in detail.

The project included creating our website on WP. Previously it was done on WIX. KRFTWRK created the design and build fo the site. They helped us rewrite some of the content, created a video for the homepage and also hosts our site.

What was the team composition?

We had approx. 4 people work on our project. There was a project manager, coder, designer and content writer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our site does not currently get a lot of traffic, but that isn't because of the work KRFTWRK had done as part of the website redesign. We get a lot of our business through referrals so this isn't particularly an appropriate benchmark of success. However, we have received compliments on how professional our site looks and feels and I do believe that as a result of our redesign, the brand is now much more inline with our core values and services that we provide.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everything was organized and it was easy to get feedback from the team when needed. Response times were good and we enjoyed the processes that they put in place to keep us on schedule and on target.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They utilize a lot of different planning programs to show prototyping and the look and feel of the sites they are building. The design work is really sharp and the team is great to work with! I would highly recommend them to others looking to create or work with online apps and the development of websites.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is a bit of jumpiness to our website that came with the design that I wish wasn't there, but understand is part of the higher end design look and feel which cannot be removed as a result.

Also, I wish that they had installed a hubspot or other email management program on the back end (even as an add-on cost) so that emails or contact us forms coming in didn't go straight to my email box. Discussions regarding contact management platforms from the beginning would help add a lot of value. This is something that we could've worked out, but I failed to mention it to them at the time.

5.0
Overall Score Great company to deal with and would use them again.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Scheduling was easy. They use Google Hangouts, trello boards, etc. to manage workflow and meetings. It's very effective.
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They are cost effective.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Excellent work. Was very happy with the team and the process to redesign our website.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would definitely recommend them and have already done so to others.

Paid Media, UX & Collateral Design for Healthcare Tech Firm

"They don’t work like a typical agency; they are very nimble and always willing to adapt to our needs."

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Apr. 2019 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

KRFTWRK has provided various services in their ever-evolving role, including managing digital paid media campaigns, determining target audiences, redesigning a mobile app, and creating marketing collateral.

The Reviewer
 
11- 50 Employees
 
Wilmington, Delaware
Marketing Director, Technology-Based Healthcare Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

KRFTWRK helped the internal team to achieve their goals of increasing app installs and decreasing cost per install. Throughout the partnership, they have been adaptable and diligent, making for a successful working relationship. In addition to being talented, they work quickly to produce results.

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 marketing director at a technology-based healthcare firm that builds technology to expand access to quality healthcare. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRFTWRK?

One of our technology products is a mobile app that connects healthcare providers to end-users. So, one of the challenges we were trying to solve was to generate qualified leads to get to our goal of monthly app installs, user registration within the product, and, ultimately, purchases.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They primarily manage all of our digital paid media campaigns, which involves managing and implementing media buying and planning, optimizing the cost for install, cost for enrollment, and cost for purchase. 

We did have campaigns running before we brought them on board, but KRFTWRK now helps us to hone in on our targeting capabilities within different social media channels. They also brainstorm new creative concepts and conduct testing and micro growth experiments. This allows them to determine the target market that interacts the most with our campaign with the aim of eventually converting them. 

The team has also redesigned one of our products — a mobile app — by improving UX and providing content writing services. The marketing team also collaborated with the product team to develop a new look and feel for some of our marketing collateral overall. Their role has evolved throughout our partnership.

What is the team composition?

We have two main points of contact, but when we need more design, product, or UX expertise, it’s always available to us. Our engagement is à la carte, so we have multiple points of contact. 

How did you come to work with KRFTWRK?

Our whole team works remotely, so I used to go to a coworking space near me, and the KRFTWRK team used to work in that same office. We put out an RFP to which I invited them to pitch along with other companies that we interviewed. 

The CEO and I both met with KRFTWRK in person to understand their work ethics and to see if they’d match our culture. They came up on top among some of the other companies we spoke to, so we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $3,500 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in April 2019 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen significant growth in our monthly install numbers and have managed to drive our cost per install down. We used to see anywhere from $7–$10 cost per install, which KRFTWRK has been able to bring down to about $3–$5 cost per install.

They don’t work like a typical agency; they are very nimble and always willing to adapt to our needs. We are a very fast-paced company and sometimes projects come unexpectedly. KRFTWRK is always open to taking on the projects and turning them around as quickly as they can.

The marketing collateral they created was on point and on-brand. In my experience working with various creative agencies, their response time and work ethics are amazing, which is why we continue to work with them.

How did KRFTWRK perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very flexible. Internally, we use Slack to communicate, and we were able to add the KRFTWRK team to our Slack channel. This has made working with them very easy. They do have their own project management tools which I have access to. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designers are very talented. Our mobile app is somewhat complex because it deals with the healthcare industry, which varies per state. But the team was able to grasp that and design flows and UX that made sense, all while making it simple. Overall, on the product side, their UX expertise is on par with what we were looking for. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The team is very good at keeping up with the latest technology trends. However, that can sometimes be challenging because the client has to switch over to whatever new technology they're trying to use. 

The tools are not difficult to use; it’s the frequent changes in the tools that have been challenging. It has happened a couple of times which means that we have had to remember to keep up with them. Other than that, they still do a good job of keeping us aligned.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t think of projects in silos; think holistically about what you want to achieve. One of the reasons why our relationship has been successful is that the product and marketing teams have been able to collaborate. Additionally, the more you keep them informed, the more helpful they’re going to be to you. 

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

Website Redesign for Micro-Mobility Software

"...they captured our ideas with great ease and in an extremely timely manner."

See More

5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Oct. - Dec. 2019
Project summary: 

Based on provided copy, KRFTWRK redesigned a micro-mobility company's website to better reflect the brand's services. They presented several mood boards before creating the mock-up with little direction.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Toronto, Canada
Wendy Goldman Getzler
Head of Marketing, Joyride
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The new website featured a modern look while being easy for the internal team to manage on the backend. Following the launch, there was an uptick in contact forms, and sessions will continue to increase as the blog grows. KRFTWRK impressed with their ability to realize client ideas in creative ways.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Head of Marketing at a micromobility software startup based in Toronto. Joyride's software is used by scooter and bike-share operators in more than 60 markets worldwide. I manage all marketing and content strategies for our company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire KRFTWRK?

Our company's website required a total refresh to better capture our services, partners, pricing plans and incoming leads. We hired KRFTWRK to create an entirely new site design and user experience based on the copy we provided.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a website that could be easily managed by Joyride's small marketing team. We also wanted a site that was easy to navigate and spoke to the constant movement of the micromobility industry.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was given a number of recommendations for Toronto-based web developers and designers in addition to my own online research conducted through Facebook and LinkedIn groups.

After speaking with several of these companies, I received a wide range of quotes and project timelines. After meeting with KRFTWRK and seeing the company's portfolio, they quickly became a frontrunner for the project.

After considering their enthusiasm for our company and the work itself - not to mention their very agreeable budget and timeline - it became clear that KFTWRK was the top choice!

Describe the project in detail.

We met with KFTWRK to go over our goals for the project and what we envisioned for a design concept. They presented several mood board ideas, which were then used as a basis for the final homepage mockup.

Joyride provided the copy for the website and KRFTWRK designed the homepage and sub-pages accordingly with very little direction, they captured our ideas with great ease and in an extremely timely manner.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager with whom we closely worked, and their lead designer was also readily available to make changes based on our feedback. On Joyride's end, our team for the project was comprised of myself (Head of Marketing) our CEO and COO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our team was beyond pleased with the outcome of project. In addition to the website looking completely refreshed and modernized, it has been so easy to manage on our back-end.

While we only launched the new website last week, we have already seen an uptick in contact forms. And we expect there to be longer visit times on the website as we continue to boost our offerings in the Resources and Blog sections.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was seamless and completely enjoyable throughout the entire two-month process. They were quick to respond to our inquiries and had insightful suggestions to make, too.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were completely thrilled by the speed at which the project was completed - without any details spared! KRFTWRK delivered everything we were looking for within budget and within a very tight timeline.

Most impressive was their ability to take an idea and see it through to fruition in highly creative ways.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of any at the moment.

5.0
Overall Score Overall a wonderful company to work with and we now have an amazing new website.
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    No major delays in terms of scheduling and team accessibility.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They provided a budget that worked for us and managed to stay within it throughout the project.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    We were so impressed with the highly skilled design work and site usability.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We are happy to make a referral for this company anytime.

Digital Marketing for Software Company

"We knew exactly what they were working on each day."

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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. 2019 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

KRFTWRK provided digital marketing services to generate leads for a software company, redesigning their website and making it more SEO-friendly.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Toronto, Canada
Eric Cappell
CEO, Screenfluence Inc
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The project tripled traffic to the website and significantly increased leads. KRFTWRK communicated daily, making them a great partner to work with.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a Digital Signage Software company. We are based in Canada and work with organizations worldwide

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire KRFTWRK?

We wanted to expand our reach through specific digital marketing avenues. KRFTWRK took the time to set up goals and a pipeline to drive more leads and business to our website. They also redesigned our website to make it more SEO compatible and continually manage the site.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals are to drive more people to our website, which is turn will lead to more inquires.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Initially met through a work colleague - Had several meetings to plan our pipeline for success together.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

SEO/SEM Management A/B Testing for Facebook/Google Campaign. Managed our lead sources Managed Social media accounts Created content for blog posts

What was the team composition?

Communication is fantastic, we speak daily and trust each others work explicitly

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a increased numbers in all fields. Website traffic had tripled as well as leads and business inquires.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective, we spoke daily and had a detailed plan on what we were doing. We knew exactly what they were working on each day.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication, attention to detail and turnover time on new ideas and content.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope!

5.0
Overall Score Fantastic company with strong values!
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    We have never had an issue with scheduling in person or over the phone.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Fair and consistent with the market value
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    We have been working together for almost a year and there is nothing I would change
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    Already have multiple times

Branding & Marketing for Sustainable Development Charity

"The branding and website are absolutely phenomenal."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

KRFTWRK rebranded and redesigned a website and logo to improve visibility. The team now provides digital strategy, email marketing, and social media services.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Canada
Steve Lee
Executive Director, Foundation for Environmental Stewardship
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The new designs have improved sales and enhanced the website’s professional reputation. Future positive results are likely. The team is personable and accommodating. They meet deadlines and communicate clearly over a variety of platforms.

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 executive director of the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship. We’re a youth-led and youth-serving sustainable development charity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRFTWRK?

Our website lacked a professional design, and many of the schools we had reached out to questioned our organization’s legitimacy. We hired KRFTWRK to redesign our branding and logo with a new color palette. This project coincided with one of our national initiatives. Second, we needed short-term marketing solutions to increase our visibility among Canadian high schools.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

KRFTWRK completed the branding in a few months. The team then delivered our new website and took responsibilities from our other outsourcing partners. They now do our marketing, social media, and digital and email campaigns based on the new branding.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact. We talk at least once a week.

How did you come to work with KRFTWRK?

The KRFTWRK team and I both occupied the same shared co-working space. I explained our challenges and they generated ideas for the logo. We met other design firms as well, but being in the same building was an unbeatable advantage. What’s more, they were nice people that we wanted to partner with.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The branding and website are absolutely phenomenal. Before the engagement, we had trouble reaching out to schools. Now, schools approach us. We rarely have to send more than one or two introduction emails; we regularly get follow-ups. The team also helps us manage the improved interest and sales flows. This year is big for us, and KRFTWRK is focusing on digital marketing to ensure great results.

How did KRFTWRK perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is highly responsive and professional. We communicate via video calls and email. KRFTWRK usually uses Slack, but we prefer email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

KRFTWRK adapts to customers’ needs and keeps iterating to find the best approach. I’m a difficult client and I have specific things that need to be communicated a certain way. My organization targets climate change topics to rural parts of Canada. KRFTWRK can translate our technical jargon and explain it to our audience in an accessible manner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set up a video call and talk to them. That will usually do the magic time that I was captured by.

5.0
Overall Score I'm one very satisfied customer.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They always meet their deadlines.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’ve been great with price and have considered are financial constraints as a nonprofit.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Their deliverables completely changed the way we do our program and our business.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I've Already recommended them to two of my colleagues who are also working in the nonprofit sector.

UX Design & Marketing for Cloud App Consulting Company

"We liked the fact that they're a young company with a fresh perspective..."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Using agile approach, KRFTWRK provided UX design for client-facing projects and internal websites. They also managed website marketing.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Calgary, Canada
CTO, Cloud App Consulting Dev Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Being a young and creative team, they bring a fresh perspective and are not afraid to try new things. While they don’t have the experience of a large agency, they use various design languages and provide appealing, modern designs. 

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 at a cloud app consulting development company. We develop data-driven applications, primarily on Amazon Web Services, for a wide variety of businesses and NGOs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRFTWRK?

We were looking for UX design support for one of our projects. We wanted to find a Canadian designer with good portfolio and flexible availability. We have one designer in-house, but we outsource for specific talent or for capacity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we worked with them on one client-facing project. Later, they did more client-facing projects as well as internal websites for us and our subsidiary products.

I will provide more details about our first project, which was done for a Canadian NGO. We met with KRFTWRK and completed a week-long design sprint at the client's office. We used the feedback to develop a series of user experience designs, ultimately leading to follow-up phases of development work. In addition, we see them as our marketing department – they support most of our website marketing and presentations.

What is the team composition?

We usually work with 4–5 people. Our main point of contact is their founder Justin Wood, but we also deal with designers and web marketing resources.

How did you come to work with them?

I found them through an online posting.

How much have you invested with them?

We would prefer to keep the cost confidential. We have a master services agreement with them that sets out the rates, and after that, it's ad hoc.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, we've been very satisfied. As with any working relationship, it hasn't been perfect – some projects have gone perfect and for others, there's room for improvement. They've provided modern design patterns, using material design and some other design languages. We’ve liked the modernity and enjoyed working with them.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn't have any problems with their teams and the deadlines were acceptable. We use Slack to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We liked the fact that they're a young company with a fresh perspective that is adopting and implementing nice design practices. They're not too set in their ways – they're still adapting with the industry. That has some analogies with how we do development in-house, so their agile, fairly modern approach appealed to us.

We worked with larger agencies in the past and found them fairly administrative, constrained, and not very creative. A small firm like KRFTWRK is less administrative, so there is a lot more room and time to try new things and ultimately deliver more creative end products.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Being a small, young, and talented team, they don't have the experience of a big design firm. They almost exist in some space between freelancers and an agency, so you have to source them into your team a little to facilitate the work process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Understand your design process and your needs. Agencies have an excellent way of doing it, but they can be fairly expensive. If you move towards a smaller firm like KRFTWRK, you can usually afford more iterations and more time to experiment. They're a small creative shop, but a lot depends on what you’re looking for.

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

UX/UI for Commercial Real Estate Marketing Startup

“I have nothing but good things to say about them.”

See More

5.0

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

KRFTWRK collaborated with an in-house team to revamp the UI and UX of an existing platform. They redesigned the basic SaaS web page frontend and the platform’s backend, which was the core application.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Toronto, Canada
Alain Cohen
President, Arcestra
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

KRFTWRK worked well with the in-house team, successfully integrating work the client had already done and interpreting additional needs. The team understood the business priorities of the project and communicated seamlessly. They are professional and experienced with broad-reaching skills.

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

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a technology company providing a data-driven marketing platform for commercial real estate. We currently have 40% of the Canadian office market on our platform and manage over 300 million square feet. I am the president of the company, responsible for operations and performance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRFTWRK?

We wanted to change the user experience and user interface in order to drive business. I wanted to start fresh.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We are a Software-as-a-service company providing each customer with a web page for their properties. This was one element of the UI/UX. The other one, which is more unique and complex, is managing all the information in the backend of the platform, which we call the core application. It has multiple variables, use cases, and business users.

We had a senior product manager who created a very good spec, something which was appreciated by KRFTWRK; they were not used to clients coming so prepared. They interpreted our needs and all the work we’d done and executed diligently. To me, this was key, since it was not just a matter of creating a UI/UX design, but of working with a team which understood that we were a tech company which had been in the market for over five years and not a first-stage startup. Everything was driven by business and had to align with the output, return on investment, and client retention.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked primarily with three people from their team, including Justin Wood, founder of KRFTWRK, who coordinated everything in a hands-on manner. One person was primarily dedicated to the backend of the platform, and another, to the frontend. They collaborated well as a team and stayed on-target.

How did you come to work with KRFTWRK?

We met casually at a trade show, while I wasn’t really looking for anything. I saw a screen that caught my attention and went to one of their people, who turned out to be Justin. I asked him who was responsible for the user experience and interface design on that screen, and he told me it was him. We met quickly afterward and connected well. I gave KRFTWRK a first project, and they performed well, so I gave them a second and third task. I liked how the team listened, analyzed business goals, and translated them into an appealing UI/UX.

In my past, I have worked with many designers and I am one myself with more than 25 years of experience in tech. I have seen my fair share of designers, content providers, and so on. The interaction with KRFTWRK clicked for me from the beginning, and I hope it continues.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost was competitive and reasonable, but I cannot mention the exact figure. It was between $50,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with KRFTWRK in May 2017. So far, we have worked on two large projects with them and are starting a third one shortly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have worked with prototypes, which is typical for most people in the industry. I was able to use those successfully for client retention and new sales. We are currently working with two different software development teams separate from KRFTWRK, which was a part of the challenge. We wanted to find a partner who could work with different engineers, making sure that we provided the right prototypes so that the engineers wouldn’t have too many questions and could execute to the specs. This was achieved through the quality of the prototypes.

How did KRFTWRK perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was seamless. We knew what we would be using in terms of communication technology from the beginning, but some of the platforms were suggested by KRFTWRK. The scheduled meetings were on time and the deliverables were met. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had in-house UX at one point, but it wasn’t working that well. We partially hired another marketing and UI/UX company, which worked well but didn’t make us their top priority. With KRFTWRK, it was very different—we connected well at a human level, and I liked the idea of working with professional and experienced people who saw the project as a new challenge. KRFTWRK is not a well-established firm, but, to me, it has a lot of reach. We will continue to do quite a bit of work with them.

5.0
Overall Score I see us having a long-term relationship.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would prefer to keep them for myself, but I would refer them.
Verification

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Verification Level
Silver
VERIFIED
Business Entity
Business Entity Name
KRFTWRK Inc.
Status
Active
Jurisdiction of Formation
Canada
ID
1009447-1
Date of Formation
Feb 6, 2017
Payment & Legal Filings
International Credit Risk Assessment

Per our methodology, the International Credit Risk Assessment rating is determined by our analysis of a credit report and third-party data.

Very Low Risk
Source
Creditsafe
Last Updated
May 11, 2020
Client Reviews
VERIFIED CLIENT REVIEWS
8
OVERALL REVIEW RATING
5.0
Source
Clutch
LAST UPDATED
April 7, 2020