FROM DEFINITION
TO DELIVERY

There is no one-size-fits-all design process; we expect variation in the following phases and will do what’s best for the project and the team.

BUT FIRST,
LET’S CHAT.

when you start working with ARE TOO, we’ll agree on a check-in frequency (bi-weekly is common) along with a primary contact.

These are common checkpoints to provide feedback or align during the design process:

  • our initial call

  • our follow-up call

  • project definition (the define phase)

  • discovery alignment and workshops (the discover phase)

  • design direction (the design phase)

  • delivery sign-off (the delivery phase)

  • check-ins based on our check-in frequency

DEFINE

This is the initial phase that sets the strategic foundation for the rest of the project. During this phase, our goal is to understand and align the problem and team.

We do this by performing tasks like:

  • conducting interviews with stakeholders to gain insights on business goals and the customer problem

  • reviewing the existing roadmap, personas, technical constraints, mission, and vision (should these exist)

  • understanding the team, their roles, and responsibilities

  • concretizing check-in frequency and the main point of contact

  • facilitating workshops (prioritization, empathy mapping, etc)

  • running a UX audit

The outputs of this phase are:

  • a clearly defined customer problem

  • written alignment on what’s in and out of scope

  • a list of hypotheses, assumptions, dependencies, and risks

  • the business impact of undergoing this work

  • existing customer journeys and ideal customer journeys

  • jobs to be done, assumed customer goals, and assumed value

  • how the work fits into the broader strategy

  • project investment and urgency

  • team alignment on moving forward

DISCOVER

In this phase, we’re expanding on the initial project definition to challenge the assumptions, and validate (or invalidate) the hypotheses and customer goals. Our goal for this phase is to answer any unknowns for the project and understand what success for the business and customer looks like.

We do this by performing tasks like:

  • planning and gathering customer feedback (as related to the goals of this phase above)

  • synthesizing customer feedback

  • deep diving into product data

  • running competitive analyses specific to the customer problem

  • getting comfortable with the product design library

  • collaborating on success metrics

  • (brainstorming and producing preliminary sketches/wireframes)

  • running a UX audit

The outputs of this phase are:

  • research synthesis and reframing of any outputs from Define

  • success definition

  • team alignment on moving forward

DESIGN

In this phase, we’re designing. We’re taking all the outputs from the prior stages to produce breadth and post-validation, depth of designs. Our goal for this phase is to arrive at the final designs for the project.

We do this by performing tasks like:

  • re-organizing the prior outputs in the Discover phase

  • componentizing UI elements

  • sketching a breadth of ideas and tying them back to the strategy

  • prioritizing stronger ideas with the team

  • wire-framing stronger ideas for prototypes at low-fidelity

  • performing a customer research usability study and aligning on final designs

  • revising and creating high-fi designs

  • getting feedback from the team

  • reviewing for accessibility

  • testing the final design

The outputs of this phase are:

  • an organized hand-off document with finalized designs and all prior outputs

  • team alignment on moving forward

DELIVER

In the delivery phase, we’re successfully and thoughtfully handing off the project to the team. Our goal is for a caring and smooth transition of assets, with a mutual understanding of the work ensuring no knowledge gaps.

We do this by performing tasks like:

  • producing success criteria for the rollout

  • running a workshop with the developers

  • making image assets exportable

  • performing a visual QA

The outputs of this phase are:

  • a recorded hand-off meeting

  • A big cheers to the team for a successful collaboration and a job well done!

WORKING WITH ARE TOO.

You can look through our work and see who’s trusted us to produce their apps, logos, signage, identities, websites, and everything in between. We hope you’ll see that we know what we’re doing after 10+ years in this industry.

But, the thing that sets us apart is our value of kindness, real Canadian-bred, how-can-I-help-you, let-me-make-your-day type of kindness.

In between our collaborative sessions, our revisions, our check-ins, and our hand-offs is space for a healthy partnership. This space is equally as important as the quality of work we produce.

We really are committed to treating our clients with kindness, care, and enthusiasm, since each great partnership makes this work fulfilling and fun.

Excited to work together? We are too.