Consultative, collaborative, creative
Simpatico is a design studio based in New York City. We specialize in creating brands and visual identities, designing digital products and websites, and developing custom WordPress themes. Our approach is highly collaborative and creative. We care deeply about our clients, and partner with companies, businesses, and organizations who are simpatico with our approach.

headquarters
Website Revamp for Automotive Publication Company
the project
"They've demonstrated a level of confidence that makes us feel comfortable that we are in good hands."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Iron & Air Media. We're a culture publication and website dedicated to automotive & motorcycle enthusiasts.
What challenge were you trying to address with the vendor?
We hired Studio Simpatico for a ground up redesign of ironandair.com. We had been operating off a Shopify platform for the previous 5 years, but content suffered. We needed a content-first web platform for us to showcase and grow our user base. We had dedicated a lot of time to dialing in our print magazine and wanted the site to be of equal stature to the premium quality of the publication, offering a wide variety of design options for how we showcase the content.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Studio Simpatico handled full stack web development for the site, and also developed a design language for the site based off our current brand design.
What is the team composition?
We worked exclusively with Tamara Olson, head of operations, Bruce Viemeister, head of design, Mingwei Ma, product manager, Angela Huang, designer & illustrator, Amber Weinberg, head of development, and Evan Thompson, senior developer.
How did you come to work with the vendor?
We interviewed several companies to determine the right partner for our needs. At the end of the day, it came down to two factors: confidence and value. Studio Simpatico came in at the right price point but they outshined every other vendor when it came to their investment in our brand. It was clear right from the beginning that they had done their homework and took the extra time to understand our beliefs so they could meet our needs. We knew they were the right team because of the deep level of care they showed for our product and it shows in the end result.
What is the status of this engagement?
The website launched in February of 2022, and we are currently engaged with Studio Simpatico on a retainer basis for ongoing dev support as needed.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The page views and time on site from our visitors is way up from our previous site, and without any targeted marketing, which shows that the content is clearly communicating better and is more engaging that it previously was.
How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?
Three members of our team worked with Studio Simpatico for around four months developing the site. Since this was a ground-up build, there was a lot to do, but Simpatico made the process painless by scheduling all of the meetings and check-ins, creating a simple list of To-Do’s for our team within Basecamp, and staying on task and target during each phase. My least favorite thing to do is chase down vendors to check the status of a project. I never had to do this even once with Studio Simpatico. Their status updates were always clear, concise, and on time.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I was impressed by the genuine interest with our project and our company. Studio Simpatico always made us feel excited by each step (even the tedious ones) and they brought an infectious level of energy to each meeting. In every phase, they've demonstrated a level of confidence that makes us feel comfortable that we are in good hands. When we didn’t understand something (which was quite often), they always took the time to explain things and provide clear instructions so we never felt lost in any part of the site build.
Are there any areas they could improve?
If they could bottle their confidence and energy, I’d buy it by the case.
Focus
Portfolio
Fireblocks, Blockdaemon, AmpleHarvest.org, M.M.LaFleur, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Association of National Advertisers, AdTheorent, Microsoft, Unilever, Haven Life, Conde Nast

Iron & Air
Simpatico partnered with the founders Adam Fitzgerald and Gregory George Moore (as well as the team at York Creative Collective) to fully realize Iron & Air as a digital lifestyle brand.

SeeHer
The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) reached out to Simpatico to design and build a new website (built on WordPress) for the SEEHER initiative. SEEHER's mission is to accurately portray women and girls in marketing, advertising, media, and entertainment. The site needed to support content for supporters, partner organizations, and member organizations.

AmpleHarvest.org Site Redesign & Rebuild
The beloved original Ampleharvest.org (built in 2009) was a completely custom build that was difficult to update and failed to respond to mobile. The team was looking for an upgraded experience that would work well on mobile devices, adhere to accessibility standards, and leverage a CMS that would allow internal staff to manage pantries with ease.

Nuasin Next Generation Charter School
Nuasin Next Generation is a free, K–12 public charter school committed to developing intellectually-curious students who are prepared to succeed in college, career, and life. Simpatico worked closely with school staff and administrators to design a representative visual identity and build a new website for the Bronx based school.

Fireblocks Identity, Collateral, and Website
We have supported Fireblocks from their launch until present with all design and marketing website needs, including brand identity, website design and development, and design collateral (social media graphics, landing pages, business cards, one pagers, white papers, conference collateral, company swag, and more)

Kurt Weill Foundation for Music Identity/Website
We partnered with the team at KWF to build a new website for the Foundation to present a strong, coherent, and self-consistent view of its two namesake artists, Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, and of the Foundation and its programming.

WireSecure
WireSecure is a newly established fin tech company with solutions that eliminate the risks of wire fraud globally. They needed a partner to work closely with their team to design an intentional, well-formed visual identity; build a marketing website to communicate their product offerings; design an elegant UX/UI for their product; and deliver semantic, responsive front-end code for their engineering team.

Muscle & Fitness
The editorial team at the storied brand Muscle & Fitness was planning a dramatic shift to M&F, moving away from its bodybuilding roots toward more lifestyle-driven content. We partnered with their team to create a new design to capture this shift.

Ten To One Rum
A contemporary and elevated blend, created to challenge expectations and reinvigorate the way people taste, experience, and talk about rum. Studio Simpatico worked closely with the TTO founders and the inspirational design team at Studio Institute to build the brand's marketing website on WordPress.

M.M. LaFleur
M.M.LaFleur was looking for an external partner to collaborate with their Creative, Product, and Engineering teams. They were specifically looking for a local studio with substantial expertise in WordPress, user experience and product design, and working with editorial brands.

Hadfield, Stieben & Doutt
We worked closely with the partners at Hadfield, Stieben & Doutt to design and develop a content-rich, visually striking online presence for the Fort Collins, Colorado personal injury law firm.
Reviews
the project
Website Revamp for Automotive Publication Company
"They've demonstrated a level of confidence that makes us feel comfortable that we are in good hands."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Iron & Air Media. We're a culture publication and website dedicated to automotive & motorcycle enthusiasts.
What challenge were you trying to address with the vendor?
We hired Studio Simpatico for a ground up redesign of ironandair.com. We had been operating off a Shopify platform for the previous 5 years, but content suffered. We needed a content-first web platform for us to showcase and grow our user base. We had dedicated a lot of time to dialing in our print magazine and wanted the site to be of equal stature to the premium quality of the publication, offering a wide variety of design options for how we showcase the content.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Studio Simpatico handled full stack web development for the site, and also developed a design language for the site based off our current brand design.
What is the team composition?
We worked exclusively with Tamara Olson, head of operations, Bruce Viemeister, head of design, Mingwei Ma, product manager, Angela Huang, designer & illustrator, Amber Weinberg, head of development, and Evan Thompson, senior developer.
How did you come to work with the vendor?
We interviewed several companies to determine the right partner for our needs. At the end of the day, it came down to two factors: confidence and value. Studio Simpatico came in at the right price point but they outshined every other vendor when it came to their investment in our brand. It was clear right from the beginning that they had done their homework and took the extra time to understand our beliefs so they could meet our needs. We knew they were the right team because of the deep level of care they showed for our product and it shows in the end result.
What is the status of this engagement?
The website launched in February of 2022, and we are currently engaged with Studio Simpatico on a retainer basis for ongoing dev support as needed.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The page views and time on site from our visitors is way up from our previous site, and without any targeted marketing, which shows that the content is clearly communicating better and is more engaging that it previously was.
How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?
Three members of our team worked with Studio Simpatico for around four months developing the site. Since this was a ground-up build, there was a lot to do, but Simpatico made the process painless by scheduling all of the meetings and check-ins, creating a simple list of To-Do’s for our team within Basecamp, and staying on task and target during each phase. My least favorite thing to do is chase down vendors to check the status of a project. I never had to do this even once with Studio Simpatico. Their status updates were always clear, concise, and on time.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I was impressed by the genuine interest with our project and our company. Studio Simpatico always made us feel excited by each step (even the tedious ones) and they brought an infectious level of energy to each meeting. In every phase, they've demonstrated a level of confidence that makes us feel comfortable that we are in good hands. When we didn’t understand something (which was quite often), they always took the time to explain things and provide clear instructions so we never felt lost in any part of the site build.
Are there any areas they could improve?
If they could bottle their confidence and energy, I’d buy it by the case.
the project
Web Redesign for Arts Nonprofit Agency
"I have never worked with a contracted firm on any project with as attentive, efficient, and enjoyable workflow."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Kurt Weill Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the perpetuation and promotion of the legacies of composer Kurt Weill and singing actress Lotte Lenya.
For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Simpatico?
We were looking for a full stack development firm to do a ground-up rebuild of our website. A central challenge of the project was the organization and presentation of extensive and widely varying content for a broad range of users.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We collected referrals from colleague organizations as well as consulting online reviews, including those on Clutch. A number of firms offered strong skills and a small few competitive prices as well. The deciding factor was Simpatico's willingness to be flexible and responsive from the start, and to go the extra mile in making sure the project was a success.
Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.
The staff of our organization had already developed an extensive outline of site content before the project began. Our work with Simpatico proceeded in multiple stages: Content Preparation, User Experience and Visual Identity Work, Sitemap and Wireframe Sketches, Site Coding, and Quality Assurance & Launch.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We worked with six people in total; the CEO Tamara, two designers, and three coders.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The new elements and cleaner navigation of the site they designed and built for us have drawn many positive comments from our constituents.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
This is an area of stellar performance for Simpatico. I have never worked with a contracted firm on any project with as attentive, efficient, and enjoyable workflow.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
See above regarding workflow. I'd add the words collaboration, partnership, commitment, buy-in. Truly exceptional in all of these ways.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
One of our technical requirements was a challenge, but Simpatico didn't hesitate to engage additional expertise to build what needed to be built.
the project
Website Design & Development for Food Waste Nonprofit
"They’ve managed our expectations well and kept to the budget."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder and executive director of AmpleHarvest.org, a one-of-a-kind hunger and food waste nonprofit. We work in 4,200 communities in all 50 states in the US. We educate and enable home and community gardeners to be able to donate their surplus harvest to one of our nearly 8,000 food pantries across the country.
What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Simpatico?
When we launched AmpleHarvest.org in 2009, we launched with a website, which had been the center of our operations. Up until recently, we were still using that old platform.
That was a huge problem for us, since our entire existence revolved around a website created before people used mobile phones and tablets. It was also made using technology that has become outdated and almost impossible to maintain. Additionally, the old site failed to explain what AmpleHarvest.org is and how it’s distinct from other programs in the country.
We needed help in rebuilding our website.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Studio Simpatico conducted a deep dive to our old website. After that, they proceeded to develop our new site. They used Sonic for the wireframes and collaborated closely with our team throughout the process.
They incorporated effective storytelling to our platform. One of our biggest problems was that people didn’t know what AmpleHarvest.org did or does. People mistake us for being a food bank or a gardening program. Studio Simpatico took the time to simplify our messaging so our site’s visitors can clearly and simply see what AmpleHarvest.org is all about.
We’ve been using Liquid Web as our hosting service, and we wanted to remain on it. Although Studio Simpatico was not familiar with Liquid Web, they learned it and built our new site around that.
We told Studio Simpatico that a significant portion of our users are senior citizens and gardeners who are always out on a sunny day in the garden. They designed the page layout, fonts, colors, and other elements with our audience in mind.
Studio Simpatico has already finished the website, and we recently launched it to the public. Going forward, we intend to keep them on a monthly retainer for ongoing maintenance and support.
What is the team composition?
I work primarily with Tamara (Owner & Head of Operations), and her team - a mixed bag of specialists. Some of them are technically oriented, and others are artists and designers.
How did you come to work with Studio Simpatico?
We put together an extensive and indepth RFP. Studio Simpatico bid on it, and they won because they did a fantastic job fleshing out 95% of what was needed to be done.
Additionally, Studio Simpatico’s proposal matched our budget. Others vendors offered five times their offer, while others just didn’t get our project. I knew from day one that Studio Simpatico understood our goals and requirements.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent $50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in January 2021, and it’s ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It’s too early to provide feedback. I’m expecting 1–2 months before our numbers go up.
However, from a design and SEO perspective, the new site is significantly better than the old one. Previously, Google couldn’t find any of our food pantries — the pantries didn’t even have their own URL. On the new site, Google is indexing each of our 8,000 pantries’ URL.
Our staff and stakeholders love our new website. In fact, the new site has given us the confidence to talk with a big-box retailer. We wouldn’t have been able to do that before; we would have seemed an unprofessional program. The new site presents us as someone a corporate partner would want to work with.
How did Studio Simpatico perform from a project management standpoint?
We had weekly video meetings and occasional phone calls, with nearly everything "documented" through email and Basecamp.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I’m most impressed with Tamara — she’s a delight to work with. She has managed our expectations well and kept to the budget. Her whole team is also great, but Tamara is the kind of person you’ll want to be friends with. There’s pleasantness and professionalism about her.
In addition, Tamara understands what AmpleHarvest.org is. She has understood who we are on day one, and that’s really important for me.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Studio Simpatico had a preference for emails and Basecamp but not telephone calls. I would’ve liked being able to call a bit more frequently. Additionally, because they were forced to work with our budget, there were minor things that didn’t get done. However, those were things our team could easily fix.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure you know exactly what you want — put it down on paper and have it reviewed by other people. Ensure your RFP is as explicit as possible and contains both nitty-gritty details and big picture perspectives.
the project
Web Design for Capital Venture Firm
"Top notch. We would come back again for similar work without considering other teams."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
We are a venture capital firm and I am part of the investment team.
For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Simpatico, and what were your goals?
We wanted to create a new website that captured the identity and culture of our firm.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We spoke with 6-7 web design/development agencies before choosing to work with Simpatico. We were looking for a team that i.) had a track record of delivering great bespoke work, and ii.) did not outsource either design or development to a third party. There were few other agencies that met our criteria, but Simpatico really stood out in terms of communication and process management early on.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
Scope included visual identity, storyboarding, wireframes, design mockups, full development, testing, and release. We used basecamp as our primary project management tool, invision for design review, and wordpress for hosting, admin work. We also had evolving needs in terms of overall timeline, and Simpatico was very engaged throughout the process to help us figure how to best move forward.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
Roughly five team members from Simpatico. Tamara was responsible for the overall engagement. Sinan/Bruce were leading design efforts, Amber was the main person on development and testing.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
New website came out really great. We initiated this project with high expectations and Simpatico delivered.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Top notch in terms of both communication and timeliness. I walked away thoroughly impressed with Simpatico's professional caliber. This is a lean and mean team.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Throughout the entire process, Simpatico felt like a strongly entrepreneurial team. Everyone was creative, resourceful, and overall committed to delivering very high quality work.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
I attribute this partially to the short timeline and tight deadlines, but overall QA process could have been managed better. While Simpatico conducted quality assurance post initial development, there was no dedicated QA person thoroughly testing finished and new elements as the website evolved into its final form. This resulted in a lot of time required from our end for testing.
the project
WordPress Design & Dev for Media Coalition
“Their design was intentional and it turned out beautifully.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the executive advisor for SeeHer, a media and marketing coalition dedicated to accurately portray women and girls in marketing, advertising, media, and entertainment. Our mission is to help women see themselves as they truly are and in all their potential.
We represent marketers, media companies, and agency holding companies that have come together and have identified the elimination of gender bias in media and entertainment as a critical need. We have a gender equality metric, which is a proprietary tool that actually measures bias in advertising as well as media content.
We've also done research to prove that, by eliminating gender bias from your ads and the programming environment, they can actually drive sales.
What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Simpatico?
Our website was outdated, unsophisticated, and wasn’t user-friendly. It didn’t represent who we were or what we were about. Consequentially, we couldn’t drive members to it. Studio Simpatico helped redesign and develop our website so it would be helpful for members and would elevate our brand.
We were in the midst of releasing a marketing essential tool kit. And we wanted to share that with our members.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They took the time to go through all of our assets, brand guidelines, and color palettes. From there, they came up with two design options. I liked pieces of one and pieces of the other. Then they melded the two and brought our mission to life. After solidifying the design, they developed the site on WordPress.
What is the team composition?
Tamara (Owner & Co-Founder) was my main point of contact and she brought in other people at different points in the project.
How did you come to work with Studio Simpatico?
The executive VP of our parent company found Studio Simpatico. We were interested in working with a woman-owned business and wanted a partner that shared a passion for our mission.
We had one meeting with the Studio Simpatico team and knew they were the right fit. They took on our mission with care and intent.
What is the status of this engagement?
They started working on the project in October 2020 and we launched in December.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve received incredible feedback internally, but we also get compliments all the time from marketers, media companies, and agencies. I really love the floating frame they incorporated in the design and used throughout the website. It has a lot of meaning — it’s about reframing women in the media. Their design was intentional and it turned out beautifully.
On our old website, our members couldn’t access their own accounts. Now we have over 100 accounts.
Internally, we also use the website a lot — it’s already embedded into our workflow. We use it to upload and distribute assets.
How did Studio Simpatico perform from a project management standpoint?
They were very collaborative. I began having meetings with them regularly and they listened to our needs. By the end of the project, I felt like they were family. They were wonderful.
They trained me on Basecamp, which was amazing. It was so easy to communicate with them. They would reply in real-time, they were so accessible. We also used Google Docs and Google Meet.
They were so responsive to our team when we have a question. They were willing to make changes to the design later in the project when they were working on development.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were collaborative and delivered a thoughtful design. Everything they did, they did with intent. They clearly understood who we are and what our mission is. As a result, the creative aspect and the functionality of the website are superb.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Overall, it was such a positive experience. We never had a problem.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Share your company information with them upfront. They will pay attention to your story. When you do that, it expedited the backend. They will do the work to accurately reflect your company’s story.
the project
WordPress Web Dev & Design for Communications Consultancy
"Their creativity was their most impressive quality."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a director at Montieth & Company. We’re a global communications consultancy that provides marketing, crisis, and litigation communications as well as PR, issue management, and public affairs services for B2B clients.
What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Simpatico?
We needed a new website as ours was slow. It also didn't include a great sales trail. There wasn’t an obvious call to action or channel for people to contact us. The design was also confusing. We wanted a design agency to create a more sophisticated platform, particularly in terms of lead generation and SEO efforts.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Studio Simpatico designed and developed a new WordPress website. Their team listened to our challenges and tried to understand our business. From there, they came up with a design and practical solutions to resolve our issues.
Their team brought us two design directions — both of which aligned with our business identity. They helped us to think through the different ways that people would use the designs — how they would work through our website and what they would click.
What is the team composition?
We communicated directly with Tamara (Owner) and Sinan (Creative Director). In total, about 3–4 people worked on this project.
How did you come to work with Studio Simpatico?
We found them through Google searches.
How much have you invested with them?
The project cost between $25,000–$30,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Studio Simpatico in November 2019 and finished the project in June 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They delivered beyond our expectations. Studio Simpatico was collaborative and creative, pushing us outside of our comfort zone.
Throughout the design process, they communicated what decisions needed to be made to my whole team including our CEO. Their team also told us what to take into consideration for the site's design, which was beneficial.
Studio Simpatico patiently explained the rationale behind the design to our team. At the same time, they took our feedback into consideration. If we didn’t like an idea, they came up with another one.
It was great to work with Studio Simpatico. Their team was flexible, patient, and knew how to design a website to yield the best results.
How did Studio Simpatico perform from a project management standpoint?
Their team effectively used Basecamp and delivered the project on time. At the last minute, we decided to make a couple of changes, which slowed the launch. Otherwise, their team was able to meet deadlines. They made sure to deliver materials on time throughout the project.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their creativity was their most impressive quality. They came up with great designs, which didn’t just include an attractive front. Their team also had the technical skills to implement a solid backend. That makes all the difference in terms of the website’s usability and ability to drive leads.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They were fantastic from start to finish. We couldn’t have come up with a better end result. We’re really pleased with how the project turned out.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Clients should provide their deliverables on time to ensure that Studio Simpatico can start effectively and efficiently. We proactively sent them the website's content.
Before the project started, we had all the website copy and a rough layout of the pages we wanted. That made the process smoother because Studio Simpatico had a rough idea of what we wanted. They were able to spend their time on the site’s design and usability instead.
the project
Web Dev & Design for Remote Strength Training App
"Studio Simpatico did an excellent job of interpreting our brand positioning and bringing it to life."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of CALIBER Fitness. We offer a remote, app-based strength training program to help people build muscle with the assistance of a professional personal trainer.
What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Simpatico?
We hired Studio Simpatico for a refresh on our marketing website that we had built. We wanted to upgrade the website to reflect our new brand positioning.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We provided the team with a brief about our positioning and objectives for the engagement. They then worked with us based on our brief to design the product – a robust marketing website with about 15 different pages. Studio Simpatico moved with us from ideation to design to development, going through wireframe, iteration, and engineering stages.
What is the team composition?
We worked directly with three teammates, and there was a fourth teammate who did the engineering work.
How did you come to work with Studio Simpatico?
A mutual acquaintance referred Studio Simpatico to us. We talked to several different firms, but we thought they had the best understanding of what we wanted to get done. Additionally, we had a good rapport with them from the get-go, and their pricing was reasonable.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about $20,000 in total.
What is the status of this engagement?
This particular project ran from November 2019–February 2020. Since then, we’ve engaged with them on smaller incremental projects.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Qualitatively, Studio Simpatico did an excellent job of interpreting our brand positioning and bringing it to life in a visual identity that was very much in-line with the three founders’ perspective on the brand.
Dealing with founders isn’t the easiest thing to do, but they listened well, really understood the brief, and worked with us to create a design that we’re really happy with. We’re using the product to inform other parts of the business beyond just our web presence.
I’ve worked with many agencies over the years, and this is one of the best engagements I’ve personally had. Beyond the visual aesthetic and understanding of what we wanted to accomplish, the quality of their work was excellent. They exceeded our expectations.
How did Studio Simpatico perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management was excellent. The project was organized, they met the timelines, and there were no surprises.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Our favorite part about working with Studio Simpatico was our collaboration sessions. We sat down at the table and brainstormed what we wanted to get done. They did a good job of helping us build on our ideas. Working with them on the brief and nailing it was a lot of fun.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I have no suggestions. It was a great engagement, and I have nothing but positive comments about them.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Studio Simpatico is a smaller shop, so be ready to roll up your sleeves and collaborate with them. You’re not going to deal with a bunch of different teams; you’re going to be dealing with the principles at the agency, which is something I really enjoyed.
the project
Branding, Web & App Devs for Secure Transaction Community
"Their team knocks it out of the park every time."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CTO and co-founder of WireSecure. We create secure transaction communities for exchanging banking information.
What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Simpatico?
Originally, we contacted Studio Simpatico to build our corporate website. We didn’t have any branding and weren’t interested in doing it ourselves.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Studio Simpatico built our website. Their team learned about our audience and brought examples of appropriate websites for them.
They also built our brand including our identity. Their team led a branding exercise to capture our company’s essence.
Their team did well with those projects, so we expanded their engagement. They designed our entire web application too. Their team created the wireframes and the UX of the platform.
What is the team composition?
In the beginning, we worked with three people. Once we switched to the app project, we worked with three other people.
How did you come to work with Studio Simpatico?
We heard good things about Studio Simpatico from colleagues and the industry. They worked with other fintech firms that we’re close to. We evaluated one alternative.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent about $40,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in November 2019 and it’s an ongoing relationship.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Through the branding exercise, their team captured the soul of our company better than we could at the time. When asked what we do, we would ramble on for an hour. Studio Simpatico pulled our ideas together and captured our story. They captured the heart of the product and that’s why we had them build our web application. Their team understands our goals, our audience, and our challenges.
How did Studio Simpatico perform from a project management standpoint?
We have a lot of team-to-team communication. They’re good at communication and managing expectations. They’re also fast. We need changes every once in a while, and Studio Simpatico has them done by the end of the day.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re fluid and easy to engage. Their team also works quicker than us. They send screens for us to approve before we’re done implementing them. Their team knocks it out of the park every time. Their attention to our audience was extraordinary. They’ve been fantastic and the quality of their work's outstanding.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Honestly, I can’t think of anything. It’s always a joy to work with Studio Simpatico.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would let them do what they do. If you go in with a specific set of ideas, you’ll constrain them and paint them into a corner. Let them show you their process to get the best out of them. Be receptive to their ideas and how they work.
the project
Web Dev & Design for Machine Learning Co
"Their customer service has been invaluable."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I run the marketing team at a machine learning company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Simpatico?
We needed to establish a presence on all of our owned properties. We worked with another agency to redesign our website but weren’t satisfied with the results. We weren’t able to edit our backend.
What was the scope of their involvement?
First, Studio Simpatico acted as a consultant to our team. We sat down with them, explaining our business. From our point of view, we walked them through our biggest challenges. Without having full access to our site, they did as much as they could. Once we talked with them more and felt comfortable with how they work as well as who they were, we gave Studio Simpatico full access to our backend. Their team assessed all the wrinkles on the platform and made a diagnosis. Then, they gave us a proposal about how their team could fix the product. Lastly, their team executed the plan working in WordPress and Flywheel.
What is the team composition?
We worked with two people on a day to day basis who we contacted through a Slack channel. There were other people who also supported the project.
How did you come to work with Studio Simpatico?
A colleague recommended Studio Simpatico. In an interview session, I appreciated Tamara’s (Founder & Principal, Studio Simpatico) ability to understand our problem. She was able to diagnose the technical challenges and explain them to me in an understandable way. This helped me feel comfortable that the solution provided would work for us and enabled me to communicate the problems and solutions internally.
How much have you invested with them?
Up until this point, we’ve spent around $20,000 on their services.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in April 2019 and are going to continue working with them through 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve had nothing but positive feedback. For example, we have a conservative organization in terms of information security. Internally, Tamara helped us get our information security and technical teams comfortable giving third party access to our backend. Studio Simpatico helped us navigate internal objections to help us meet our marketing goal.
Their team did beautiful work. Not only did they clean up our backend, but they have also made our frontend look better. We’ve liked their work so much that we’re moving into 2020 with them to manage a full redesign of our website.
How did Studio Simpatico perform from a project management standpoint?
Primarily, we’ve communicated with Studio Simpatico through e-mail. We have a Slack channel that both sides use for day to day contact. They’ve collaborated with our IT team that way. We’ve also had a couple of remote hang out sessions or in-person sessions that have been awesome. Their team has been incredibly easy to work with and responsive.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their customer service has been invaluable. I’ve been able to treat Tamara as a partner, which I’ve appreciated. She has worked with me to create a project that’s based on solving my problem not on what I’ve asked Studio Simpatico to do.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They’ve been a great partner. I only wish I had more access to their time.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Instead of telling them what you need, give them context for your problem. Be open to their advice because they have different ideas about how to approach challenges, which is helpful. Ask upfront how many other partners’ projects they’re working on so you know where you fall in terms of timeline.
the project
Web Redesign for Architecture Firm
“The most amazing thing about Studio Simpatico is their design aesthetic.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the former marketing director for MBB Architects, an architecture firm in New York City.
What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Simpatico?
We had a website that the partners of the firm liked but wanted to freshen up. Instead of going through the exercise of creating an entirely new website, we wanted to take what we currently have and make it more current.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Studio Simpatico redesigned our website to be more user-friendly. Our original website was custom made and their team rebuilt the site in WordPress. They created an amazing and easy back-end that would allow us to make updates.
The team ensured that the site would work across different platforms and devices. Additionally, they made sure the platform was more accessible. Studio Simpatico made us more aware of where we were meeting accessibility standards and helped us move towards them. Their team ensured that the UX of the site was improved while keeping the design largely in line with the previous site.
What is the team composition?
We worked with four members of the Studio Simpatico team. We primarily interfaced with the designer and programmer.
How did you come to work with Studio Simpatico?
We did a Google search for WordPress developers in New York City and looked at several different firms. Studio Simpatico’s site stood out because it was friendly and they looked like nice people. It made me want to work with them. Their office was very close to us, which also helped.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our engagement with Studio Simpatico ran from June–August 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It was such a great experience working with them. It went smoothly. Their team is well-organized and good at what they do. Studio Simpatico created an amazing backend and did a marvelous job at refreshing the frontend. The designs are clear and easy.
How did Studio Simpatico perform from a project management standpoint?
Our teams primarily communicated through Basecamp, which was an easy platform for us. Their team set a very clear timeline which they adhered to. They never pushed back dates and were always on top of things. We met every major milestone. They were great to work with.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Studio Simpatico is smart and articulate, impressing the partners at our firm with their knowledge and energy. They have really strong programmers and a great understanding of how people interact with the Internet. The most amazing thing about Studio Simpatico is their design aesthetic. They’re the full package, a real triple threat.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I thought they were great. I had such a good experience with them.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
They’re so supremely creative, just let them create.
Studio Simpatico has revamped an automotive publication company’s five-year-old website. They’ve used the client’s current branding in redesigning the site. They’re currently providing site maintenance.