Holman Design Associates

Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: Michael Holman, Director

Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: Friendly, creative, professional, client focussed

Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: By listening, understanding and then thinking creatively, we ensure that our clients requirements can be met or surpassed, on time and at the price that we all agreed.

Q: Describe your office environment.
A: Easy going, relaxed and inspirational.

Q: Describe how your team interact and work together.
A: By gaining an in-depth understanding our client's needs and then demonstrating ideas and frameworks for the delivery of designed solutions that meet those needs in full. In other words we brainstorm, design and finally deliver solutions that work.

Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: We were trained at the London College of Printing (now the London Institute) to HND level in Typography, Printing and Business Management in the mid 1980's. We have a wealth of experience working across a range of media which helps us to make a web project an integrated part of the client's overall brand and identity.

Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: The majority of our business has come from client referrals.

Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: An initial face to face meeting, then as requested or desired by the client.

Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: Understanding, honesty and the building of a problem solving, goal oriented partnership are all key to a good working relationship, along with accountability and a flexible and adaptable attitude with regards to the client's needs.

Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: By being honest and realistic regarding what can be achieved, particularly in respect to timescales and budgets. We try to remain project focussed and emphasize the need to work in partnership for the benefit of the project as a whole.

Q: If a client was trying to decide between a shortlist of web design companies, how would you recommend they go about selecting the right one for them?
A: By having a face to face meeting with the people who will be working upon the project and getting a feel for how the working relationship would be in practice. Basically finding out if you would work well together to deliver the project's aims.

Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: Designing 2020 style answers for our client's problems.

Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: On the leading edge of all communication based design. Web content will be available in virtually every location. It is the job of web designers to ensure that this content is presented and delivered in the best possible way.

Q: What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?
A: Both PC and Mac

Q: How was your company name chosen?
A: After two days solid and having looked at numerous options ranging from the quaint to the absolutely bizarre we decided upon something plain, honest and simple. Our name and what we did for people.

Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: Try to think what your target audience would want to see and do when they visit your site. Make it focussed on fulfilling the needs of the user, quickly and easily.