Methodology

Six stages · Five principles

Create for humans.

Our method in one line: understand the operation, design for the person doing the work, and prove it on real data before anything is built — with AI speeding up every step in between.

  1. 01Discover
  2. 02Define
  3. 03Design & build
  4. 04Review
  5. 05Deploy & train
  6. 06Support
06 → 01 · measure what changed, then go againWorkstreams run in parallel where they can

Discover → Support

One loop, six stages

01 — Principles

Five rules we don’t bend.

Paper wireframes, sticky notes arranged as a process map and a tablet showing a user flow, laid out on a dark slate surface

We work with you, not for you.

The people who live with the system sit in the reviews. Nothing is designed behind a curtain.

Operations before interfaces.

We map who orders, who approves and what the data holds before we draw a single screen.

Real data, early.

Prototypes run on your products, references and prices — not lorem ipsum — so feedback is about the work, not the placeholder.

AI is the accelerator, not the product.

It compresses research synthesis, prototyping and content production. Judgement stays with people.

Accessible by default.

We design to WCAG 2.1 AA from the first screen, not as a fix at the end.

02 — The method

What happens at each stage, and what you hold at the end of it.

Stage 1: Discover

Discovery workshop, site visit and process audit. We learn the operation the way your team runs it, not the way the org chart describes it.

Methods

Stakeholder interviews · process audit · journey mapping · data review

AI speeds up

Research synthesis — interviews and logs clustered into themes

You hold

Audit report and priority list

Stage 2: Define

Concept and direction. We agree what success looks like, how information is organised, and which journeys matter most.

Methods

Information architecture · user flows · success measures · direction boards

AI speeds up

Product discovery — more directions explored before one is chosen

You hold

Signed-off direction and site map

Stage 3: Design & build

High-fidelity design, development and automation, in parallel where possible. You see working screens, not static pictures.

Methods

Design system · clickable prototype · front-end build · workflow automation

AI speeds up

High-fidelity prototyping, content and product imagery

You hold

Prototype, Figma library, working build

Stage 4: Review

Two structured review rounds are included. Feedback is collected in one place, answered in writing, and closed before we move on.

Methods

Review sessions · usability tests with real users · decisions log

AI speeds up

Test analysis — sessions transcribed and issues grouped

You hold

Approved design and change log

Stage 5: Deploy & train

Testing, deployment and training. Quality checks run before every release, and your team learns the system before it goes live.

Methods

QA testing · accessibility checks · go-live plan · team training

AI speeds up

Training notes and help content drafted from the build

You hold

A live system and a trained team

Stage 6: Handover & support

Documentation, ongoing support and a look at what changed. What we learn here becomes the next round of work.

Methods

Handover pack · support window · usage review

AI speeds up

Reporting and dashboard automation

You hold

Documentation you can own

03 — Three ways in

Same method, sized to the problem.

3–5 days

UX/UI sprint

Stages 01–03, compressed: a discovery workshop, UX recommendations, an interactive prototype and a design direction.

6–16 weeks

Full product

All six stages, end to end, for a portal, back-office or configurator.

Automation track

Audit, optimise, automate, report

The same method applied to a process instead of a screen.

See AI automation

04 — Quality gates

Nothing moves on until it passes.

  • Direction signed off before high-fidelity design starts
  • Key journeys tested with real users before build
  • Contrast and keyboard checks against WCAG 2.1 AA
  • A dedicated QA pass before every release
  • Handover documentation your team can work from

05 — Toolkit

What we work in.

Design & review
Figma · Adobe Creative Suite
Build
React · Next.js · WordPress
Automation
n8n · Make · WhatsApp Business Platform
Data & reporting
Airtable · SQL · Metabase · Looker Studio

Stage 01

Start with the audit. It unlocks the rest.

Talk about your project