Step Labs

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and chief editor of J3TZINE, a multimedia publication platform geared at platforming underexposed creative talent.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

Despite having big plans for growing the platform, I didn't have the resources or expertise to reflect this adequately through the website. I needed Step Labs to give me a website that successfully bridged the gap between having a strong artistic UI whilst effectively delivering information to those browsing.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Through a recommendation - I knew I'd be using Step Labs after our first meeting. The team listened closely and attentively to my vision, offering valuable perspective and input on how they could bring the vision to life.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Webflow, the project was a from-scratch build of the platform's website, incorporating multimedia galleries, an e-commerce platform, and blogging platform. The team delivered before deadline, and remain in touch regarding small changes and adaptations.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Two, designer and founder.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Feedback on the new site has been amazing. Operationally, the deliverables have been such they can't be measured quantitatively, but the website has been very well received, especially by those who saw the previous site.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Extremely timely. They incorporated workshops into the build process, which not only helped them understand the remit, but helped me to understand my business. We communicated regularly through both instant messaging and scheduled audio/video calls.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their attention to detail, but not at the expense of their thoroughness. From the beginning to the end of the process, the team meticulously navigated the build and in doing so, used their creative license to deliver an amazing product.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I have no qualms - any revisions and adaptations have been addressed as the project progressed, thanks to their availability and transparency.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Hey I'm Victor. I'm the founder of CHU Digital - a Shopify centred web development agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs?

So we like to design customized Shopify stores instead of cookie cutter default Shopify blocks. However our real talent lies in the development side of things so we consulted Step labs to take over the Design side of the website build for a client.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We're looking 3 main things when it comes to who we choose to collaborate with. Strong communication, talent at what they do and understanding us. Matt and his team checked all 3 boxes.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

So we only need to get on 1 call initially to discuss the the scope and requirements of the project. Step labs was very observant and had this incredible attention to detail when listening and asking further questions about what we're looking for. After this call they got the designs back to me in a few days and I was thrilled with the outcome. They even went as far as to join us on the call with the end client to explain the design created. Communication through this entire process was 10/10 - I was able to send the Step Labs team a message/email and he would respond with a couple minutes/hours.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I spent most of my time with Matt, the Founder of the Step Labs agency.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was very thrilled with the outcome of the project, and so was my client, who owns a streetwear brand.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was perfect. One thing I'd like to praise them for is understanding the structure of websites and responsive web development when putting together their designs. This ultimately saved us a lot of time when it got to the building phase of the website.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The ability to capture the exact style/look we were going for, sticking to the end clients brand guidelines and out-of-the-box creative thinking to improve the current design.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There isn't anything I can fault about their service. I will definitely be working with them on future projects!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Checkmates; a mobile app ending loneliness within the mental health space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

Step Labs designed and developed an entire rebrand on our website from scratch. As an early stage start up we are constantly developing and expanding our audience and targets. Our branding, images and website were not reflective of our current achievements and focus.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I have worked with the founder Matthew Attalah before on similar projects and knew not only that him and his team would be reliable and organised but also that they would fully capture the story and ethos behind Checkmates.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

From start to finish Step Labs captured the meaning behind Checkmates and put it into action. We had workshops to fully dissect what aspects we wanted to highlight of the brand and why. I then gave Matthew full creative freedom and the outcome exceeded all expectations.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I was in direct contact with 3 team members who worked on different sides to the website and all offered excellent communication and strict deadlines.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We launched yesterday! General buzz surrounding our rebrand has been unbelievable. Finally Checkmates is being represented online in the same way it is in the mental health space.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

This project was very hands on from all sides meaning this project was completed in 1 week. I have never had results to that standard produced that quickly.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Step Labs looks at the full picture to capture the brand image and story. They dive deep into the whys whos and whats to ensure their work reflects all aspects of the company. Each project they work on has produced personal, unique results.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Step Labs have a fantastic team of developers that work so smoothly together, their choice of business tools allows communication to be fluid and responsive. Nothing obvious stands out for improvement at this stage.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Oceanus Swimwear, Director

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

Set labs were hired to improve the website performance. We are a e-commerce company doing over 1 million revenue a year and our website was always very slow with lots of problems such as SEO and products not showing up.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected this vendor by interviewing a number of potential candidates and being very impressed with their pitch and process.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The scope of work was improving the performance rapidly, working on conversion rates optimisation, improving web core vitals and maintenance work

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with several developers from the vendor team and web developers who ensured we were kept in tune with the progress

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

They decreased our website load speed from 12.9 seconds to 1.9 on desktop and achieved a very similar outcome on mobile which we were incredible happy with as this was starting to have an outcome on our conversion rate.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They kept us up to date very frequently, and gave us access to an 1 hour phone call every 3 days to discuss the progress. They ran a very tight deadline and exceeded they're turnaround time

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The attention to detail, speed and constant commnunication. I never felt worried from day one

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I wouldn't change anything ad they exceeded in all areas. I'll be working with them in the future again.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder of Kurogo, a personal branding agency for founders and executives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

We hired Step Lads to redesign and develop our website, to create an online presence that more accurately reflected our brand and quality of work.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We shortlised a selection of agencies and decided Step Labs were the best fit in terms of process, quality of work and experience. They seemed to understand us better than anyone else.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a kick off meeting and discovery workshop to determine our brand and the look we wanted to create. We then received a design in Figma which we were able to feed back on easily and conveniently. Once the Figma designs were approved, Step Labs covered our Webflow development before final sign off.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2 - Founder/Director and a Developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We're over the moon with the new look of the website. It is a mile better than our previous version and finally does our brand justice. The feedback from clients and prospects has been brilliant.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Communication was timely, concise and clear. We were able to communicate via whatsapp and email - which we decided was most convenient, as well as providing feedback in Figma. We've always had clear responses in good time from the Step Labs team.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

How quickly they managed to understand our concept, take on ideas and implement design changes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I wouldn't have asked for anything different.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Founder and CEO of Authority Agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

We hired Step Labs to redesign and develop our main website. It was a very simple and basic site, which didn't reflect the level of our services or the type of clients we wanted to attract.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The offer that they presented and the quality of their previous work.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The entire website needed to be redesigned and developed.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2 people. CEO and Developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

A superbly finished site delivered with simplicity and on time.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Very proactive and efficient.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The quality of their work was of the highest caliber.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

All was very pleasing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner of a branding and web development company for startups

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

Step Labs developed my website pixel perfect based on a Figma file and worked the elevate the design by adding their own creative suggestions.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I met the founder in a technical Slack channel and wanted to work with them because of our skill level, communication, and person ability.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a discovery meeting to go over the project details, moved on to working on a collaborative Figma file to create the designs, then the team developed the site in Webflow. Everything was streamlined, quick and efficient.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2 - Founder and Developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The site from Figma to Webflow took a few mere weeks thanks to their top notch communication and skills.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We communicated via Figma and WhatsApp, which was our preferred method of communication. All communication was prompt and efficient.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were true professionals, prompt, easy to work with, personable, and experts in their field. What more could you ask for!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and Founder of New Age Emails. An Email marketing agency helping the most forward-thinking brands disturb the inboxes of Gen Z!

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

I needed a converting landing page for my agency.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I searched on Linkedin and found Steplabs. heir work was phenomenal, and the turnover time was shockingly good.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

I had a kick-off call explaining what I wanted and in 1 hour I had a template of what I wanted sent.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

After launching the site the feedback I received was incredible. I already converted 2 prospects from the landing page.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We used Whatsapp. The site was done in less than 24 hours of requesting it.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The turnover time and the quality of work.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None, Amazing Job and an amazing team. Will highly recommend them to others.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Step Labs, and what were your goals?

We needed an online platform to go alongside our client's app build we completed; Step Labs managed to produce a really nice, clean homepage that app users could interact with in terms of learning more about the platform and company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We looked on LinkedIn for relevant agencies and Step Labs were one of several we shortlisted.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We wanted an accessible web platform for users to be able to learn more about the app, the company, and any other points of inference. Step Labs liked using Webflow for an all-in-one product which would incorporate sleek and fast-loading elements of UI design and functionality. Potential React integration down the line is another big plus of Webflow. Step Labs managed to deliver the website in a very quick timeframe, far faster than estimated.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Several independent designers, developers, and the CEO themselves also were involved in discussion.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We are recalcitrant in divulging too much information, especially as 'measurables' aren't really relevant in this case, but the performance of the website (speed scores, focus group opinions on design, etc.) has been remarkably positive.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Generally Scrum/Agile (with planning via Atlassian platforms ie Jira, Confluence), using comms such as Slack and Discord, online communal servers ie G-Drive, etc. Morning standup, bi-weekly overviews.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They had an incredibly good work ethic and production by all parties involved. Delivered far ahead of schedule. Very flexible and quick at point of contact.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Potentially incremental design schema updates, or machinations of such, more often in the early window, but as the product was delivered so quickly, these complaints aren't really relevant in this particular instance.