Halite Designs

Q: What's your name and position in the company?
A: Jon Watts - Head of Strategy and Creative

Q: Describe your company in 5 words.
A: We help grow your business

Q: What's your business philosophy?
A: We listen to our clients and help them realize their brand vision.

Q: Describe your office environment.
A: We are relaxed, but focused.

Q: Describe how your team interact and work together.
A: We are like a successful band -- best idea wins and no pride of authorship!

Q: What makes you different from other web design companies?
A: A few of us come from the strategy consulting industry, so we are more than just designers. We leverage our years of experience helping companies perform better and grow faster to create unique digital personas that drive real business results.

Q: How do you get the majority of your business?
A: Right now, mostly through referrals.

Q: Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
A: We start by first learning about our client's business and growth objectives. From their we offer our initial point of view of the which services we think can generate value and those that will not. If something is easy to improve, we do it, we never oversell our clients. From there, we scope the project and schedule frequent interactions to make sure our clients have visibility and input into the design process. That being said, we don't just take orders. We always tell our clients what we think, even when it may take them outside their comfort zone.

Q: What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
A: The ability to listen and our own self confidence that we know we can make our clients businesses perform better.

Q: How do you manage demanding clients?
A: We expect all of our clients to be engaged, in other words to put some real skin in the game. Some clients start from that position, others we encourage and help them play the proper role.

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: Web design is highly personable. We know the clients we want to serve -- entrepreneurs, independent professionals, and high quality local businesses. Its hard to be all things to all people, so figure out who is best positioned to serve your particular needs.

Q: Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
A: Having come from years of work at larger design and consulting firms, we want to be something different in the market place. We want our business to grow, but not at the expense of staying true to who we are.

Q: Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
A: The technology behind the design is getting more and more commoditized every day. We think the future is in building a firm that can bring a unique creative and innovative spark into the design process. We also believe in the power of our business strategy experience. Our clients get better results because we are more than just designers or technologists, we are true business advisors and strategists.

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

Q: How was your company name chosen?
A: There is hidden beauty in the crystalline form of many elements. When you look at halite close up, a elegant design emerges and it is reflected in the design of our brand.

Q: If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
A: Recognize that it is only one part of a broader customer engagement strategy. Websites can excite customers, draw them in, but its the ultimately up to how you package and deliver of your products and services that turn visitors into loyal customers.