Parachute Design Group Inc.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior manager of digital content at CARAS and the JUNO Awards.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We hired Parachute to build out a commemorative website to celebrate our 50th anniversary.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them to put together our last site, which was mainly a refresher with a few functionality updates. We refreshed the WordPress site by updating the homepage, adding an emblem for our anniversary, and performing some surface-level redesign.

We wanted it to be clear that we were celebrating a milestone. We also wanted the design to be reflective of that while balancing the traditional and edgy side. I wanted a way for younger generations to come on our website. I wanted a page that would be interactive and reflected our history.

The team is currently working on functionality changes. We have a large database of information comprised of all of our award nominees over the years. Every so often, we think of a new way to organize or show that information.

What is the team composition?

I work with Jay (Founder & Creative Director) directly. He has a smaller team that he works with, including a designer and developer.  Everything is filtered through Jay.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

I met them two years ago. I believe I saw someone else’s website, which I really liked. After that, I reached out.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $25,000–$35,000 CAD (approximately $19,000–$28,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

For this project, the work started in August 2020. We’re still in the process of launching it.

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

The website allows users to go back in time. The aesthetic is visually-appealing. I’ve received positive feedback from people regarding the look and feel of the site. I’ve been part of CARAS for eight years, and this is the most acknowledged website design we’ve done. Their work has inspired other projects, including a digital production and a TV show we’re planning with our broadcast partner. People are really happy with it.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great at communicating. I’ve never met their team in-person, but we’ve had a lot of phone calls together. They’re very decent at responding to any changes we request of them.

Our deadlines are a moving target because it’s complicated. But, for the most part, they’ve worked well. They’re responsive. One time, they worked late hours because we needed to launch something in time for a TV segment.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with their flexibility. We’ve had a lot of changes come through, and their team makes sure to accommodate those last-minute requests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m pretty happy with them. They’re the easiest web team I’ve worked with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have a specific vision in mind, you should be specific in your introduction. If you don’t, then you should keep it more general and have them do the heavy lifting. In our case, I just told them that I wanted the coolest technology, and they included some cool features and designs for me. You can give them direction or give them more creative control.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of communications and marketing at a surgical center and a non-surgical skin rejuvenation clinic.  

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We needed help re-designing our surgical clinic’s website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re redesigning our surgical clinic’s WordPress website. We had a discovery phase and learned a lot about our business. They work closely with designers on our team to create the UX. The team is also integrating a marketing automation platform.

They’re also building out a new WordPress site for the non-surgical business. We decided to not go with stock images, so they’re instrumental in guiding the photographer to take images that work well on web and mobile.

What is the team composition?

I interact with one developer and their owner.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

They were a referral from another vendor that we work with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend $50,000–$100,000 per project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2018, and our work is ongoing.

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

They’re one of the best vendors I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with many. They’re always on top of any issue that we have and they’re always there for us. They really are good at what they do.

The team develops beautiful websites and their support is really great. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with them. The sites are user-friendly and easy to navigate. Our SEO team was really impressed with how well handled the whole migration was.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc.? perform from a project management standpoint?

They hit all of their timelines and talked to us realistically about what we could achieve. Parachute was really realistic about project management on our end. Hands down, they’re one of the most responsive vendors we’ve ever worked with. I’ve never felt like they’ve lost interest in us as a client. We communicate via email and Google Docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness stands out. Nothing ever gets missed or loss. In the past, we had to hunt down vendors who had great ideas but poor execution. Parachute never sends us anything that’s half-baked. They’re always on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their design sensibility could be better. We prefer our in-house design team, which they work really well with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

 Don’t be afraid to share your feedback. They never take anything to heart. They want to hear what you have to say about their work. Be open to sharing your opinion. They take feedback really well and I’d encourage anyone to share their thoughts. Go into the engagement with an open attitude; you’ll find the process to be very fun and exciting.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a portfolio director at a law firm. We specialize in corporate business law, securities, capital markets, corporate litigation, corporate real estate, and environment, to name a few. I oversee the portfolio of projects for the firm and budgeting process.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We had a very old website that was very undersized in terms of the size and scope of legal websites. Our system was completely outsourced, so it was difficult to make any changes. The structure of our site didn’t allow for good SEO performance, and the content itself needed to be refreshed.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Parachute helped us on all phases of the project. We have an internal web team, but we were looking to partner with a consultant to guide us through the process at every turn. 

They helped us test, evaluate, and select the correct hosting facility and CMS, ultimately deciding on WordPress. They also built out our QA and testing plans.

The team also helped us in terms of discovery of our current traffic, such as what clients were viewing on our current website. From there, they used data analytics to look at our competitor’s websites and understand where our clients and potential clients are going.

Parachute put together two design concepts which they followed with wireframes and keyword search terms. They also helped us select the best content writers to rewrite some of the copy and content on the website. 

What is the team composition?

I personally worked with Jay (Founder & Creative Director), though there was a larger team involved.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We looked at five different design firms after getting some recommendations and referrals. We selected Parachute because they were really accommodating and able to work with us in terms of pricing. 

When we brought them in to present and pitch to our executive team, they had a way of really showing their knowledge and expertise in the space. They have a great ability to speak about highly technical information using layman’s terms, so everybody feels comfortable. 

Parachute also had a detailed plan for the project, unlike a lot of the other design firms who just showed us examples of designs. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2018–January 2021.

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

We don’t have any metrics because the website is so new. However, our staff is very happy with the style. That kind of design can be very subjective, and overall, Parachute picked the right design for our industry and our firm. We’re quite pleased.

No matter where we were in the project, Parachute was our go-to for understanding everything we had to do.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very patient in terms of all the questions we had throughout the process. We were really impressed with their overall plan of attack and how they organized the different phases of the project. We had some key timelines and milestones and they never missed a single opportunity to deliver.

I’ve been in business for about 20 years and I usually deal with about 30 different vendors a year. I can honestly say Jay is the most professional, fantastic, client-centric vendor I’ve ever worked with. He’s really outstanding in terms of the overall experience

What did you find most impressive about them?

Parachute is extremely calm, cool, and collected. They have an amazing ability to explain things and be patient when we’re not understanding something in the project. They’re very good at calming everything down when the project starts to get chaotic. Working on a high stakes project like this with a lot of time, money, and voices involved, it was great to have Parachute to defer to for guidance.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. Working with Parachute is one of the best project experiences I’ve had in 20 years.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t underestimate Parachute’s laid back demeanor compared ot other design firms. They know what they’re talking about from a technical delivery perspective.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a physiotherapy company with four locations. We provide physiotherapy, among other rehab services. I’m one of the co-owners.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We needed to update our website to increase conversions. We also wanted to make the website more functional to allow our patients to have improved interactions with our company. Then, we had SEO and search-ranking goals.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had separate websites for our different locations, and Parachute Design Group combined them to make one WordPress site that addresses the whole company. They redesigned the site to be more contemporary and conversion-focused. Another deliverable was a faster site in terms of page speed. They also integrated content that we had and are looking to add in a way that was aesthetic and functional.

We did a discovery process so that Parachute could understand our needs. I’d say most of the creative and direction was from their end. We definitely guided that, but they came up with the concept.

What is the team composition?

I probably had contact with four people, but much of my work was with the owner himself.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We found them through a Google search. We did phone interviews with 15–20 companies and looked at their portfolios. We went with who we thought was the best fit, which was Parachute.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent just over $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together officially began in early January. We officially launched three weeks ago, in July 2020. There are a few odds and ends to pull together now.

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

These sorts of metrics take time to collate. We’re doing a lot of other things to improve the experience, so there are various factors. However, I can say that our Google Analytics show that there is more time spent on the site and pages per session. We’ve seen an uptick in traffic and an improvement in our search ranking for a couple of our largest keywords.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They did great. That was probably one of the things that I liked most about the experience. They were very clear with the outline at the start. They kept to their schedule — we were the only thing blocking them. The team addressed issues in a way that made sense in terms of priorities, and they also addressed them quickly. I’ve worked with lots of companies that have to deal with project management, and Parachute didn’t disappoint at all.

A lot of our communication was through email. We used a Google Doc and Sheet. Our teams had Zoom meetings, as well as in-person before COVID. I think they had project management software on their end, but there wasn’t any need for me to be part of that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’d say the quality of their work and results distinguishes them. That’s the easiest way to distinguish between one provider and another — you can simply look at their portfolio and the websites they’ve developed. Parachute clearly outclassed all of the other companies that we looked at, and we considered 15–20 companies that do this work relatively well. Beyond that, their thought to design and functionality is a nice mix.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were probably among the priciest companies that we looked at, but I felt that we got what we paid for. We expected it to be a great experience, and it was.

Any advice for potential customers?

Take the designer’s advice to heart over your own biases. I think that will really help.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Content Marketing Specialist at Escher Group. Escher is a leading global software company that provides retail software for courier and postal operators.

For what projects/services did your company hire Parachute Design Group Inc.?

Parachute was hired to overhaul our website and to create a consistent and contemporary look, feel, and concept for our brand.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a website that not only better reflected our company, but to also act as a hub for all our marketing endeavors, and be fully integrated with our CRM systems.

How did you select this vendor?

Parachute was recommended by a partner and was subsequently shortlisted with another two web design companies. Throughout the decision process, Parachute consistently stood out for the ability to talk simply and concisely about our needs.

Describe the project in detail.

Parachute walked us through the entire process. Initially, we went through a discovery process, where they laid the foundational concepts for the build. From there they created mock-ups based upon the discovery phase. Then a build phase, and finally delivery. We are currently being supported by them.

What was the team composition?

We had one point of contact, with specialist help when required.

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

At the time of writing, we have received positive feedback on the aesthetics, speed, layout, and logic of the site. It is too soon to comment on performance metrics and we are still making adjustments and tweaking, so a true picture cannot be given now. However, from what we have available at this time, all indicators are pointing towards a substantial improvement over our previous site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Simple, clean and productive

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They made everything easy and were calm and focused throughout the entire process.

Are there any areas for improvement?

At times there may have been an assumption that we knew more than we did, which may have led to misunderstandings when we were reporting on progress. But this is being very picky.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Growers Retail. We’re a chain of recreational cannabis stores.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We hired them to build out our web platform while following brand guidelines.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built an information-based website on WordPress.. Subsequently, we implemented an e-commerce function as well. They came up with a design based on our logo, color schemes, and font.

We relied on them from a web layout. They designed something that met our needs, was modern, and user-friendly.

What is the team composition?

I had one point of contact, but there were two other individuals on the project.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We found them through an online search of local design companies. We reviewed some of the work they posted on their site and they sent us links to a few other sites they worked on. We made out final decision after our budget was put together and agreed upon.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000­–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in October 2019. They started development in January 2020, and our engagement is ongoing.

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

Internally, we’ve been happy with the design of the website and how it came together. We’ve received positive feedback from customers. They like the functionality of the site and the incorporation of the e-commerce features. It’s easy to use and navigate. There have been no technical issues so far—it hasn’t crashed, there are no loading errors, and no linking issues.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they were upfront and created a detailed timeline. They outlined deliverables on both their end and our end. For the most part, they delivered on time, and they held me accountable to deliver what they needed as well.  

We did use a project management tool that allowed me to review changes, leave comments, and edit comments in a web platform. Rather than searching through emails and asking questions, it was super helpful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everything I’ve said so far accurately describes them. They deliver quality work and the team is reliable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Initially, we weren’t able to meet face-to-face because they don’t have a physical office. We met with them over the phone. That was challenging at first, but there was no real need to meet in person.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate consistently. Feedback is very important in any project, and it’s predicated by the project plan their team puts together.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Workbench Energy, a software company in the power sector. We help large industrial power users achieve cost savings.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We were looking to amalgamate two brands and professionalize our online presence.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Parachute Design Group Inc. rebranded our company, coming up with a name that worked for the two businesses. They also redid our logo and redesigned our website completely from scratch, working from images that we provided. We also provided them with a general framework which they then turned into a wireframe for the website. 

What is the team composition?

We had one primary contact and worked with one other teammate.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

I had done some work with them in the past and had a good experience. While we looked at a number of firms, it was clear that they would be a good fit for us. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested a little over $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

On this project, we worked together from December 2019–April 2020.

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

The website, which we launched last week, looks exponentially more professional than it did before. They did a good job of taking a complex service and industry and explaining those concepts in a visual, easy-to-understand way. The website flows smartly and intuitively. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback on it.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Parachute Design Group Inc. was able to deliver the project on time and within budget. We also didn’t face any scope changes. While there were small adjustments made, we never found ourselves in a position where we were renegotiating any elements of the agreement.

They did a great job of delivering what they said they would deliver when they said they would. We communicated with their team through a software program called InVision, as well as via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most unique aspect about Parachute Design Group Inc. is that they get right to the important elements of the project. They don’t put too much weight on big, lengthy, upfront, nebulous exercises around exploring your inner self.

Instead, they get right down to what the project is and what you want to get out of it. The team is practical and doesn’t waste time on exercises that ultimately don’t bear fruit. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

A lot of the interaction was online, which made the process efficient and quick. Call me old school, but I still appreciate more frequent voice communications. I did get some of that but would’ve preferred a little more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Being able to check references is very important. I had a good experience with Parachute Design Group Inc. before so that greatly increased my sense of comfort embarking on a time-sensitive project with them where there was no room for mistakes.

Parachute Design Group Inc. is good at what they do and can deliver an excellent product on time and within budget.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing lead for Kohl & Frisch, a pharmaceutical distributor that operates in Canada.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

Our website was built in 2008 and hadn’t been updated since. It was time for a design refresh.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Parachute Design Group Inc. redesigned our website using a customized WordPress template. We didn’t want the new site to look like every other WordPress, and they nailed it. The theme is clean, simple, and unique to our brand. We’re using similar content from our old site, but now it has a fresh, new look.

What is the team composition?

I worked exclusively with Jay (Founder & Creative Director, Parachute Design Group Inc.). I occasionally emailed with another person when Jay was out, but we tried to stick to a single point of contact on both sides to streamline communication.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

I searched for Toronto-based web design companies on Google. I checked out 50 firms’ websites and looked at their portfolios. After contacting 20 companies and meeting with four, I was really sold on Parachute Design Group Inc. Their site had an excellent portfolio with working links so that I could explore each example thoroughly. That’s a big part of why we ended up going with their team.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May until September 2019.

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

The website has only recently been published. We’ve heard positive feedback from employees, and we’re satisfied with the design and the way it reflects our brand. Parachute Design Group Inc. did a great job.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?
The team was highly responsive. Much of our communication took place over email. I have no complaints about any of it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Parachute Design Group Inc. gave me two options on the design, and they were both so good that I was spoiled for choice. They incorporated elements of each into the final template, and they pushed back whenever a design choice wouldn’t make sense from a user perspective. I appreciated their willingness to customize the site however we wanted.

Are there any areas they could improve?

A lot of our customers use Windows and older browsers. While the website is beautiful on my Apple computer, it doesn’t look as good on Windows. I think Parachute Design Group Inc. could improve their ability to test their designs across multiple platforms. That way, it looks the same to every customer, no matter their browser.

Any advice for potential customers?

When working with any outside vendor, have a single point of contact. Otherwise, having multiple chains of communication going on at once will cause confusion. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of ASPIRE at Toronto Finance International. We’re a membership organization and an industry partner for financial services in Toronto. We promote Toronto as a global financial center and develop talent initiatives for our industry.

We’re currently running a work-integrated learning talent initiative to attract, upskill, and retrain student talent from outside of the traditional finance and business majors.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

Our website for ASPIRE was static and only had one page. We received $2.1 million in government funding to build out the program, so we needed help making our website a dynamic, informational hub.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the website using WordPress. From there, we were impressed with their skills and extended the project to include improving backend functionality. Their developers created features that allow students to download materials, apply to programs, upload documents, etc. They also built tools so we can access important site information, including the total number of applications and where individuals are in the process.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is Jay (Founder & Creative Director, Parachute Design Group).

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group Inc.?

We searched online and reached out to four firms. Jay’s RFP application was more detailed and aligned with our expectations than the others. We knew exactly what their vision was and what the timeline would be.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent around $70,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in April 2018, and the work is ongoing.

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

We’ve been able to advance our projects because of the fully functioning website they produced. Everything runs smoothly, and we’ve had no concerns.

How did Parachute Design Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Having Jay as a project manager is useful—he motivates his team while holding us accountable. His team ensures we’re updated and not falling behind. If something needs to be approved, Jay reaches out and keeps us informed. They take responsibility for their role in the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a team, they’re efficient and insightful. Parachute Design Group Inc. don’t rush their work–they produce quality work that is worth its price. They always let us know if there is a more cost-effective, productive way to achieve our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Though they’re highly skilled, their team is small and can’t provide as many consistent resources as a larger group. When Jay was unavailable, we knew his skill set was unavailable. However, we prepared for this when planning the project, so it wasn’t a big challenge.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If your project requires both design and technical skills, Parachute Design Group Inc. are the right people for the job. In retrospect, I would have liked to use their team for more of the design work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m partner at a firm that does both insurance defense litigation and personal injury work.

What challenge were you trying to address with Parachute Design Group?

Originally, for our first redesign, we were looking for modern and clean website to promote our firm’s “high tech” insurance defense practice. Later, with our second redesign, we wanted to continue to promote our firm’s core defense practice while also promoting our personal injury practice which was a challenge.  In addition we wanted our site to be mobile friendly.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Parachute Design Group has redesigned our website for us twice, first in 2010 and then in 2017. The latest version is mobile-friendly. They set the design and we provided the content. The site includes information pieces like the different things you should think about if you’ve been injured. We may have them develop content for us in the future. They currently manage maintenance for us.

What is the team composition?

One designer was always our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Parachute Design Group?

I was introduced to Parachute by my brother-in-law. He was working with a retail consultant who had hired Parachute to help rebrand his retail company. When I first went to Parachute’s site I was immediately impressed. The web designs and print work were visually stunning and I decided on that first visit they were my firm’s new web designer.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent at least $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The second redesign wrapped up in July 2017.

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

In the latest iteration, Parachute Design Group was able to find a design that effectively promotes both, somewhat contradictory, sides of our business. There’s a real challenge to promoting two things that aren’t supposed to be done at the same time—which is what we wanted them to do. They succeeded and it’s been very beneficial to us. The design entices people to call us. We’ve gotten more referrals since this redesign.

How did Parachute Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We worked through email and had face-to-face meetings, especially on the second redesign. They worked well with us even when we—the partners at the firm—were arguing amongst ourselves and struggling to build consensus. They would give us different options and explain what would work well or not.

They always had things done right away, within a couple of days. They responded immediately if we had a question or concern. Their pricing is reasonable. They were fantastic.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really know what they’re doing. Our designer’s advice was always razor sharp and right on. They know their business very well and I find that impressive. We're going to keep using them and I recommend them to people all the time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have been a little bit more forceful with us at times but I’m not sure that we would have listened.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want a fantastic looking website, go to them. Their designs look amazing. That's what drew me to him.