The not-for-profit's guide to working with agencies

So you’re beginning a website build, or perhaps you need a new feature for an existing site. Working out what you want is a pretty good place to start - and we’d like to start there too. The earlier you share your vision with us, the better.

Digital is a crowded market. There’s plenty of techniques, tools and solutions out there, and the factors that determine which ones we choose will come out of our shared insight and expertise, whether that’s picking something that’s right for the project, or aiming for the cutting edge.

An added bonus is that this lessens the chances of running into surprises later on. You’ll get maximum value for the time we spend, and we’ll be delivering exactly what you want.

We need to figure out not just what you need, but also why you need it. Always make decisions for good reasons. They should be based on clear goals that are not only relevant but specific.

We can hone and refine those goals by revisiting your organisational objectives, or investing time modelling your key user journeys. Either way, you’ll definitely find that justifying your choices will yield surprising and helpful insights.

At the start of a new build, we ask the core project team ‘What are your main concerns?’ The answers are always illuminating! Sometimes the risks to the project are not always obvious, and may not be made explicit unless they’re directly addressed. Obviously, if you know the risks from the outset, you can plan well in advance for mitigating them.

Every project has constraints. Sometimes, they produce the most inspired solutions. Do less is the principle made famous by gov.uk that captures the benefits of quality over quantity. Prioritise what you’re trying to do. That way, both sides can keep needle-sharp focus.

Digital work is changing. We’re moving out of the era when organisations revamp their entire website every two to three years. Iterative web development is the way forward - and that means every piece of work is an opportunity to find a better, more timely solution.

Don’t narrow your vision to the task in hand. Think future-proof.

One of the most fascinating parts of digital work is seeing how a collaboration of designers and developers with a problem to solve and a handful of ideas can result in truly excellent solutions.

Flexibility is just as important as clarity when it comes to innovation. We might start out with a path in mind, but sometimes a great idea is worth changing direction for.

Need help with your new, exciting project? If so, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.