One of the main reasons that businesses choose to hire a creative agency like Crafted is because of the challenges they face when trying to assemble their own internal team for development.

No doubt, the prospect of developing an app in-house can be exciting. Your project is the only one the team is working on and you can make modifications when business requirements change or evolve without changing the scope of your project or contract every time. You also “save” the costs you would have otherwise spent on outsourcing to an app development company. (Note: The cost of hiring a quality developer is significant. Talented developers are often paid above industry standards as a retention strategy.)

On the flipside, it can be difficult to hire & qualify programmers as well as manage and maintain a custom app over the long run. Even after the initial build is complete, that expensive developer still needs to be paid top dollar to stay on board. Otherwise they will likely move on to another project or company and you will be stuck with their code and no one to manage it.

But what if you could get those top end designers and developers while also getting the long-term support your development project requires?

That’s where we come in.

Crafted is an NYC App Development partner that provides support and upgrades to ensure the continuing development and compatibility of your app, as well as its versatility on newer platforms. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate the complexity and time expenditure associated with app maintenance and evolution.

Whether you choose to work with Crafted or another app design and development group, the following tips will come in handy when choosing a partner for development and design.

Create a crystal clear requirements document

Your desire to develop an app likely sprung from certain marketplace insights or personal experiences. Define and deliberate on what your app must do and how exactly it will affect users and the marketplace. Document the technical specifications, features, budgets and timelines. Put together a list of similar apps or other programs that you aspire to model yours after.

The best app design and development partners provide assistance in the planning stages and will help guide you through the steps it takes to get your project live. This is the most complex and important process that sets the roadmap for the design and implementation of the application. The ideas and opinions of skilled app designers will enable you to fine-tune your requirements and expectations more judiciously.

Perhaps your app doesn’t need to do everything you think it needs to at first and it makes sense to split it into two phases… maybe not! This is where a good partner will help you make good decisions based on your requirements, goals and budget.

A good application design partner will always help you put together all the pieces of the puzzle, helping you determine how your mobile app will fit into your business strategy, and advising you on the best solutions that meet your needs. Consult the agency on project feasibility and requirements to inform your own understanding more thoroughly. At the end of this effort, you should have a requirements document that will guide the development, stages and cost of the project.

Put potential partners through the test

It is imperative to vet app development companies properly. Invest some time in due diligence to ensure your project’s success and know as much as you can about the team who is working on your project before starting.

1. What kind of partnership are you aiming for?

Do you want the company’s engagement to end soon after the implementation/integration of the app? If that’s the case, then you’re pretty much on your own if you encounter problems after the app has gone live. It’s the same for app maintenance, costing you time and money in keeping the application updated and troubleshooting issues as and when they arise.

It’s in your best interest to seek out a mobile app design company interested in forging a partnership with you as opposed to helping you manage the project scope and just doing what needs to be done to deliver the product. Crafted, for instance, handles clients’ ongoing app needs, and supports the app’s development into the future. We collaborate with you to chalk out a long-term strategy for your app, enabling you to squeeze maximum business value from it.

2. Create a project-specific Request for Proposal (RFP)

No two iOS or Android app design and development projects are the same. The RFP you create should reflect the nuances of the app development program you want implemented. State the specifics with clarity to give developers the full idea about requirements and expectations. You can always discuss the matter in further consultations, but you need something to start with, and that should accurately reflect the project on-hand.

Also state the role and responsibilities your potential partner will need to assume. This will depend on the extent of your resources, how much time you can spend on the project and the communication model most feasible for your business.

3. Evaluate reputation and service quality

Even as you get responses from app design and development companies, you can conduct your own research to get a sense of their service and customer reviews. Their website is a good place to begin; here you can find customer testimonials, learn if they have received any industry rewards or glowing media mentions, and check out management profiles. Some businesses may be partial to developers with relevant market experience. While familiarity with your market and customer segments is a plus point, it should not be the deciding factor.

4. Gauge them on design and tech capabilities

What kind of design and technology prowess can the company boast of? Do all of their projects look the same or are they all unique? This is a critical consideration that will directly affect the success of your project. Some aspects you want to review include:

• The approach taken by the IA and UX teams to make the app user-friendly
• What kind of device and platform experience they bring to the table in terms of Android and iOS app design and development?
• Will they seamlessly integrate the app into your CMS and other business systems?
• Do they have a quality assurance team to run tests before taking the product live?

Crafted has dedicated user experience, design and development teams who attack clients’ specifications with precision and skill to deliver a value-focused product. Our optimization and marketing team also brainstorms on strategies to improve the ROI of your app over time, or help you monetize it in today’s crowded, competitive marketplace.

5. Dig a bit deeper

When you hire an app design and development agency to help develop your application, you must enter into a written agreement that assigns the ownership of the app to you. In the absence of a written agreement, the developer will own the app or the portion of the app that they developed. The contract must also state and protect your intellectual property rights, as well as bind the app designers to confidentiality obligations, as appropriate. Talk to potential partners about the kind of legal contracts they enter into with clients.

You also want to quiz them on the ‘big O’ to confirm if they keep development in-house or outsource some of it to subcontractors. If they are indeed outsourcing some tasks, concerns about quality and confidentiality will naturally arise. To be on the safer side, avoid partnering with app design and development companies that lack the expertise to handle all the work in-house. (We never outsource!)

6. Visit the company in-person

As you will be collaborating with the company beyond the implementation of the app, you will need to consider how well their work culture complements your own. Complementary collaborative cultures can go a long way in ensuring smooth two-way communication and proactive responses to queries and concerns.

A good way to assess the company on such softer aspects is to visit them in-person and speak with the app designers who will be handling your project. Do they seem enthusiastic and present their views openly? How do they engage you? What kind of email and phone support can they guarantee? How do they update clients on milestones? See how well they perform on these parameters to determine whether or not they are a good fit for your company.

7. Test them out

It doesn’t hurt to put potential partners to the test, especially if you’ve shortlisted 3-4 companies with dynamic and savvy professionals. You can kick-off with a small pilot project, and depending on performance, choose to go with the most impressive of the lot. Of course, this is better suited for companies with a bigger budget and ability to take the time to go through this exercise, as you will inevitably only choose one partner.

8.Cost

While it’s perfectly fine to reject a prohibitively expensive quote that you cannot afford – especially if it’s not justifiable – cost should be the least of your priorities. Top-notch quality will pay for itself into the future, so focus on leveraging the skill and expertise of your app design and development partner to make the best application possible.

A reliable app design and development partner can serve as your one-stop resource for future projects. Our unique approach to establishing partnerships instead of traditional client to agency relationships is what separates us from other app design companies in NYC.

If you’re looking at a multi-faceted company like Crafted, you can have technology and digital marketing needs fulfilled under one roof. Crafted is one of the top ten interactive agencies in NYC, and has been featured in multiple media outlets. Our senior management has previously worked on award-winning projects for top brands across diverse industries.

The post What Makes a Good App Design and Development Partner? appeared first on Crafted..

Crafted was established in 2011 by Peter Mendez and Greg Valvano. The partners had previously worked in the large advertising agency world as Creative Directors, handling fully integrated campaigns for clients such as BMW, Nike, NFL and Visa.

We caught up with Valvano to talk about his views on the industry and how he works.
Father of twin daughters, Valvano is a music and art lover, who, when it comes to creativity, puts its trusts fully on intuition. “Creativity is being able to do what your mind tells you, without thinking twice about it. You’ve gotta trust your gut and give it a shot, regardless of what others may think,” he says.

Since launch, Crafted has grown to establish itself as a successful, full-service digital shop. With an extremely talented and experienced core creative team, Crafted continues to work with the industry’s long-established brands, as well as some really promising startups on the rise.

Can you describe your agency in three words?

Quality. Experienced. Different.

How did you get started in the industry?

I actually majored in both 3D and photography during my college years. I always saw myself working for an animation studio but then I realized I could create really compelling digital experiences through a blend of each artistic skill that I’ve acquired in my life. My backgrounds in 3D modeling, lighting and traditional painting still play a large role in what we create every day at Crafted.

Are there online publications, professionals, industry leaders you follow?

I draw a lot of my inspiration from all types of artists but music is really my greatest outlet for creativity. Although I enjoy some relaxing mood setters from time to time, my roots are honestly in the Indie/Punk rock scene. There’s just something about that genre that appeals to me. Maybe it’s the honesty and energy involved, or just the concept of “thinking for yourself” that truly inspires me.

Which cities outside where you live interest you creatively?

Outside of NYC, Palo Alto is an obvious one. San Francisco is another creative, free thinking city where art thrives. Having spent so much time on the east coast, the west side coastline has always been appealing to me.

Please list a few of your favorite digital brands:

I always enjoyed working on Nike and BMW. Those brands really push the limits and allow their creative teams to explore emerging technology and the unique cultures within their brand’s history.

What do you like doing in your free time?

When I’m not enjoying my time at home with my beautiful, two-year-old twin daughters, I also like to get out for the occasional run or pick up the guitar for a few minutes of some downtime. Basically, anything to clear my mind from the daily grind.

How do you work out your design taking into account your target audience or users?

Before we create a User Interface, we always work to establish an Art Direction. This allows us to create the visual language that aligns with our audience and the brand’s personality. Being able to produce the right visual feel is essential in building out a compelling, yet simple UI that’s universally understood.

If you can build an authentic relationship with your viewers/visitors, you’ve created a successful marketing experience on both sides of the spectrum.

Which web tools you use?

For starters, we couldn’t live without PhotoShop. It all begins there. When it comes to prototyping, we usually run everything through the InVision platform to get a feel for the overall User experience before we start coding.

Can you tell us about a project you worked on and that was especially successful?

We just recently wrapped up the launch of MusicFolio, a revolutionary sheet music authoring iPad app. We went through an extensive UX exploration before nailing down a seamless, cloud-based workflow for casual and professional musicians. Everyone was really happy with how it all turned out.

How do you imagine the UX concept to work in the future?

I think the prototyping aspect will continue to become a larger part of the UX process. It’s all about how a new User reacts to a product the first time. There’s nothing more substantial than first-hand feedback from someone physically finding their way around the product you’ve just built from scratch.

How do you organise your team and their tasks to guarantee quality assurance (QA)?

We have a pretty solid process from start to finish. Each phase of the project receives undivided attention and focus from the respective team members, assuring that we hit all of our marks, while allowing time for our team to push the limits and try new things. Along the way, there’s constant communication between team members and the client. It’s always an ongoing conversation that can pivot at any moment to make sure we’re getting the best results possible.

Name a challenge your team is currently facing.

Lots of work, ha. We’re always keeping busy but we’re constantly on top of it all. It just means a few extra hours here and there but we never let the quality of the work become compromised. We pride ourselves on artistic integrity in everything we create.

What piece of advice would you give a recent grad looking to work in digital marketing?

Don’t worry about impressing others. Do what you love and the success will come with it. If you fail, keep trying until you get it. In the famous words of the painter, art instructor and TV host, Mr. Bob Ross, “Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.”

By Geny Caloisi. Original article ran on topinteractiveagencies.com

The post We pride ourselves on artistic integrity in everything we create appeared first on Crafted..

Crafted is a full service digital creative studio located in New York City. Greg Valvano and Peter Mendez, Co-Founders & Creative Directors of Crafted, spoke with TIA about their more important projects, the importance of manual skills, digital marketing’s future and the advantages of leading a team. “We’re big thinkers with a passion for creating beautifully crafted, digital experiences”, says Mendez and Valvano.

In your opinion, what is the strongest digital marketing channel and why?

Branding is more important than we’re consciously aware of these days. A strong brand can make a statement about who you are and where you’re going. It can captivate an audience through a beautiful visual identity and well-defined, relatable voice. A brand’s perception will usually make or break your trust in their product or service. First impressions go a long way.

What advice do you often give to people who are starting to work in your same field?

Don’t give up, no matter how difficult it may seem. There’s a lot of ups and downs and constant sacrifice while starting a creative agency. Just know that if you keep at it, it all pays off in the end.

Which are your principal words of motivation to your team when you start a project?

With each project, we always want to push the creative forward. We say to ourselves, “let’s make this one better than the last”. If there’s an opportunity to try something new or implement the latest technology out there, we’ll make it happen.

Do you have any tips to guarantee a project’s success?

We’re always looking out for the best work. When we collaborate with our clients, we want to make sure both sides of the equation are feeling comfortable and excited about where the work is going. At the end of the day, if the client is happy with the performance and we’re happy with the creative, then everybody wins. That’s success.

What are the advantages to leading a team and why?

Our team is everything. Without the awesome talent that we’ve built around us, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do every day. Over the years, we’ve handpicked only the best Creatives to join our team. Each member brings something new to the project as it makes its way down the pipeline. We’re very close with our staff here. It’s like a family that speaks one language when it comes to the work.

Making a reflection and imagination exercise, how do you think digital marketing is going to be in 10 years?

Based on where it is now, it’s looking as if digital marketing will become more and more interactive and less and less disruptive. People really don’t want ads forced down their throats anymore. They want to engage with a brand and feel some sort of payoff or purpose. Social will definitely continue to be a huge part of marketing with smart applications that bring people together.

Which brands do you think are going to be the most important in the future?

Well, there’s the obvious ones, Google, Apple, Facebook. The best thing about digital today is that you never know what’s going to pop up next. We’re all on a level playing field now. If you have a great idea, you can get funding, build and MVP and be on your way to becoming the next successful brand out there. That’s what is so great about this industry. Anybody can be somebody.

We know you have managed a lot of projects/clients, could you tell us which one represented the hardest challenge and why?

We just wrapped up a redesign of Sean “Diddy” Comb’s Revolt TV. This was both exciting and challenging at the same time. While we knew we’d knock it out of the park on UX and UI, we had to make sure we were reaching a diverse audience of socially active teenagers and millennials in their 20s to early 30s. This is the sharpest, most tech-savvy, digital crowd out there today. We knew we had to nail this one or else they’d be on us about it right away. All in all, when the dust settled, we think it turned out pretty well.

How important are the manual skills in this digital world from your point of view? If they are, in which way do you apply them in your daily work?

Having an understanding and appreciation for the traditional arts is huge. Although we’re in a digital age, being able to understand the dark room process in photography or the 3 dimensional space in a 2 dimensional medium is so important. These instincts act as a base to our craft in everything we do. All of our team members have a background in the studio arts, music or photography and it really shows in our work.

Original article ran on topinteractiveagencies.com

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