Service · Decide before you build.
Creative & productconsulting
Short, focused engagements that turn a vague idea into a scoped plan — or stop a build that should not happen.
The problem
Building before the problem and audience are clear, which turns into expensive rework and a product nobody asked for.
Who it’s for
Founders and teams facing a large build decision who want an independent read before committing budget.
Overview
We run this as a fixed, short engagement with a written deliverable. The output is a plan you could hand to any competent team — not a pitch to hire us.
The work covers the problem, the users, the competitive landscape, the technical options and the honest cost and risk of each. Where the answer is 'do not build this yet', we say it plainly.
Design-thinking workshops are run with your actual team, because the people who will operate the product usually know where it breaks.
Decide before you build.
What’s included
Problem definition
The job to be done, the users, and what success would look like in numbers.
Discovery workshops
Structured sessions with your team to surface constraints early.
Competitive review
What already exists and where a real gap sits — if one does.
Technical options
Two or three routes with cost, timeline and risk stated honestly.
Prototype or wireframes
Enough fidelity to test the idea with users before committing to a build.
Written recommendation
A scoped plan any competent team could execute, owned by you.
How the work runs
- 01
Frame
The decision to be made and what evidence would settle it.
- 02
Workshop
Sessions with the people who will operate the product.
- 03
Research
Users, competitors and technical constraints.
- 04
Prototype
The riskiest assumption tested cheaply.
- 05
Options
Routes costed, with trade-offs made explicit.
- 06
Recommend
A written plan, including the option not to build.
Tools we use
What you get
- Deliverable
- Written plan
- Engagement
- Fixed & short
- Portable
- Any team can execute
- Includes
- 'Do not build'
Where it applies
Pre-build validation
Test the idea before committing a development budget.
Rescue a stalled project
An independent read on why it stalled and what to do next.
Build vs buy
An honest comparison against off-the-shelf options.
Roadmap definition
Turn a long wishlist into a sequenced, costed plan.
Frequently asked questions
- Do we have to hire you to build it afterwards?
- No. The deliverable is written so any competent team can execute it. A number of clients take the plan elsewhere and that is a fine outcome.
- How long does it take?
- Most engagements run two to four weeks depending on how much user research is needed.
- What do we actually receive?
- A written recommendation with the problem definition, user research, costed technical options and a sequenced roadmap — plus any prototypes produced.
- Will you tell us not to build?
- If the evidence says so, yes. That answer is usually the most valuable one we can give.
Got a project in mind? Let's make it a reality together
Looking to make your mark? We'll help you turn your project into a success story.