Shape Design Studio

Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: Andy Golpys, Co-Founder and Creative Director.

Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: Bespoke, Attentive, Passionate, Honest, Efficient.

Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: We are minimalists.

Q: Describe your office environment.
A: We like to create a relaxed environment so that Designers and Developers can concentrate on their work and produce quality at all times. The banter / humour between all team members is great and it really is a pleasure to come to work every day.

Q: Describe how your team interact and work together.
A: We have the same process for every project, ever team member has their role. The standard way of working is; The project manager executes Brief, Research and Theory which is then passed onto a Designer for the design work. This is then passed onto a Developer to build the website. It is vital that every team member is on the same page so the process is smooth when passed onto the next stage.

Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: Well for a starter…. we create everything bespoke, we don't use templates. There are too many agencies out there who are just re-using templates and designs. We create a website for you as a client and your target audience, so it is perfect for your needs. We also feel personality shines through on our websites, we feel it's important not only to have great design and high end technical skills, but to also provide the end user with a feel for the company and you as an individual.

Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: Recommendation.

Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: Client Meeting > Brief, Research, and Theory > Design > Development > Content Input > De-Bug > Testing > Launch

Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: To be honest and open if very important, we say what we think here at Shape from Day One. It's also good to have constant communication between designer and client throughout the process so no time is lost.

Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: The same as every client, we are always at the end of the phone and have good client relations with the hundreds of people we have dealt with over the years.

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: Look at all the agencies portfolio, if you like their work - arrange a meeting with them, and if you like the personality and ethos of that company - that is the right agency for you. The portfolio is very important. Make sure you absolutely love the work they produce.

Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: The reason I set up this company is to provide an attentive agency that deals with clients personally and is not mass produced. So in 10 years I think we will have 2 or 3 more team members but not many more. The reason for this is that I have worked at large agencies in the past and I don't like it for various reasons.

Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: Everyone knows that if you don't have a responsive website now, then you're behind your time. In the near future I see even more sales transactions through mobile phones and tablets.

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

Q: How was your company name chosen?
A: It's very simple, we wanted to create a name that was short and snappy. We are taking a brief and giving a solution, we are shaping a brand into something new…. hence the name Shape. Then we wanted something that sounded great at the bottom of all our websites and that was reflective of what we had done…. hence the 'Made By Shape'.

Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: Don't think about what you want, think about what your end users want.