Modelate

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the production designer for Uber in Amsterdam. I do production, design, and marketing, and work on banners, ads, landing pages, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Modelate?

We wanted to create an internal tool that would help automate the work and make it more efficient for myself, our marketing managers, and for other designers unfamiliar with HTML5 technology. The tool is meant to allow stakeholders to build banners based on templates and preapproved copy. We couldn’t build the tool ourselves, so we decided to hire a third-party agency to help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The tool they helped us design allows the user to create or select a template to copy all the necessary assets to an ad or a banner. It can pull in copy, headlines, colors, graphics, and photography.

What is the team composition?

We communicated with Glib Kutepov [Technical Co-Founder, Modelate] and Alex Axenov [Creative Co-Founder, Modelate]. They were our two peers at the company.

How did you come to work with Modelate?

I knew about them from my previous work. I looked through their portfolio and discussed the task with them. We considered another company, but Modelate had good ideas for UX/UI, and their prices were better. They also had good ideas to optimize the interface. We decided they’d do the best job with the development.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June or July 2017. The basic tool was shipped to us in August, and we added several features later on. The overall project took about three months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re currently testing the tool internally, so will have results within about six months. We’re planning on filling this tool with our latest templates, and will A/B test elements to add to the stack.

We’re absolutely happy with their work. They did everything we agreed on and shipped ready-to-use products we like. We will probably use them again to work on phase two of the project later this year.

How did Modelate perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, responses were quick. Since we were working during the summer, we did lose a little time in communicating with the developer, who was away on a holiday for part of the time we were working together. That slowed down the process a bit, but it was good overall. We communicated mostly via Skype and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The strongest suit is in UX. They’ve provided complex UX solutions and helped us add features I didn’t know how to implement. I have less expertise in development, so it’s a little like magic to me. They helped us come up with a solution, and we really like it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, and give Modelate the freedom to offer you their solutions. My ideas could have improved from day one if I had given them creative freedom right away.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior consultant at a boutique health care consulting firm, where I work on business and clinical strategies, and health economics and outcomes research. We also do medical communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Modelate?

We needed third-party developers to design and app and help demonstrate the value in the prevention of pressure injuries and their downstream implications.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This project was my second engagement with Modelate. We wanted our client's sales reps to promote this app and its value propositions to stakeholders in various hospitals. They built the app for Windows 10 tablets based on the reference information and calculations we entered in excel, which created a fully-functioning model for them to use. They were tasked with understanding the problem, graphic design, and structuring the model to optimize usability and user interest. The app launched September 2017.

What is the team composition?

The project manager – who I worked with previously – interfaced with me directly; I did not have direct contact with the app developers.

How did you come to work with Modelate?

They were hired before I started at the company. I know that they participated in a competitive bidding process.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ranged from July 2017 to September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a boutique firm, we don't have any pre-defined metrics in place. Rather, we use subjective assessments on an individual project basis that reflect my standards as a product manager. We look for high levels of detail and technical accuracy, and they held up to that.

How did Modelate perform from a project management standpoint?

Since I’d worked with the project manager before, I felt comfortable letting him take the reins with greater artistic license for graphic design and usability. That decision benefited my team because he streamlined the process. Based on prior experience micromanaging vendors, I believe the hands-off approach is more effective.

As a whole, the team was very flexible and worked in a timely manner. While they were not as responsive as we’d like, they did alter timelines and shift resources to meet set deadlines. Most delays, however, were due to our end, not theirs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity and design capabilities exceeded my expectations for visual appeal and user-friendliness. I think giving them less creative freedom would have detracted from the final results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, because they delivered on-time and charged us appropriately.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s the client’s responsibility to provide them with a full context for the model, including the challenge and objectives. Emphasizing those key requirements up-front is the most important part of the engagement.