Why We Design Before We Build
Changes are cheap on paper. They're expensive in code. The Design phase exists to make every significant decision — technical and visual — before the build clock starts. A week of design work can save four weeks of rework.
We don't separate UX from engineering. Our designers and developers work in the same room (or the same Slack channel). That means the interfaces we design are buildable, the architecture we choose supports the interactions we've promised, and there are no nasty surprises when the two worlds meet.
What Happens in Design
What You'll Have at the End
- Complete technical architecture documentation
- High-fidelity design files ready for handoff to development
- An interactive prototype you can share with stakeholders or users
- A component library / design system
- A confirmed sprint plan for the Deliver phase
How Long Design Takes
1–3 weeks depending on product complexity. Simple internal tools may need only a week. Consumer-facing products with multiple user roles typically need 2–3 weeks to design properly. We don't rush it — a day of iteration on a prototype is worth a week of rework in code.
Our Design Principles
- Function before form: The interface has to work before it has to look good. We start with flow and structure, then apply visual polish.
- Design with constraints: Every design decision is made with the budget and timeline in mind. Beautiful but un-buildable is worthless.
- Show, don't describe: A prototype is worth a thousand requirements documents. We get things in front of people early.
- Design systems over one-offs: We build components, not screens. Consistency is built in from the start.
Want to see how we design?
Talk to us about your project. We can walk you through what design looks like for your specific situation.
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