Spigot Design

BACKGROUND

Could you give some background information on your company?

After serving a period in training, civil engineers graduate and then apply for certification. This qualifies them as a professional engineer (PE), Usually a four or five years after graduating. Part of that certification is that they have to take an HR examination. It’s like the bar exam for lawyers.

Was this an idea that you had on your own, or was it part of a larger organization?

No. It’s just my own thing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What were your goals when you looked to improve the site?

Redesign the site so that it could be modified easily by me, and not just a Web specialist.

What was your selection process when you were looking for a new developer to redesign the site here?

Mostly contacts, such as local contacts. Spigot Design was about 20 miles away, so they were local. It was just word of mouth for the recommendation. I have dissatisfaction with the previous Web developer.

What was it about Spigot Design that really made them stand out?

The attitude. Just the approach when I talked to them. It’s the openness and flexibility.

SOLUTION

What stages of the project were they involved in?

Both design and development.

If you’re comfortable sharing it, do you think you could give an estimate for the project?

About $10,000 but since then, there’s been a constant flow of work. Not only maintenance but innovations and development since, and I suppose I could estimate that at about probably about $10,000 a year.

How long has it been since they initially redesigned the site?

I’m only guessing, but I would say four years.

If you have any idea about it, do you know what technologies were used in the site, such as what programming languages, server, or database?

Just something called WP. I’m not very smart in this. I know it was great. Whatever they used, it was way better than before.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How do you feel about the results of the project now?

Really good.

Have you received any feedback from your users or partners, things like that about the site?

Yes, from the engineers who used my site who were around when it was being switched to the new design. They were very impressed and since the early improvements of all of the incremental search, not that dramatically changed but the site is always moving. It’s always changing, so it’s constantly getting up to date.

Compared to the other people you’ve worked with do you find anything unique or special about Spigot Design?

They’re just so responsive. So communicative. When my wife goes to have her hair done, she’s sits down there and says to the hairdresser, I’d like it kind of sort of, you know, and the hairdresser seems to get it. Spigot Design is like that. I’m not a Web guy. I use it. I have no interest in learning that myself, but what's really outstanding about them is that they listen and interpret, and they work on increments, such as let’s try this how this goes. You get to where you’re going.

Do you think there is any area that they may be able to improve upon a little bit?

If there are areas, none of them come through to me. I know that glowing recommendations are not useful. You have to be critical, but, truly as far as I’m concerned and what my needs are, I really can’t identify anything.