1. Let's start with some personal questions. How are you and your family doing in the COVID era?
We are fine. Thanks for asking. We are trying to stay on the safe side and reduced in-person gatherings to essentials, but otherwise, we are ok.
2. Can you tell us about how you founded or joined this company?
I founded Durran in 2020 - during the Covid era - transitioning from freelancing, which I've done for the last couple of years. Also, I wanted to do something more fulfilling because I wasn't that happy with how things were going back then. I even wrote a short article about the whole thing here: https://www.durran.co/blog/goodbye-freelancer-say-hello-to-agency-owner
3. What makes your company unique from others in the field?
What makes Durran unique - that's an excellent question. Durran is a product design agency focused on helping startups go from a product or feature idea to validation with real users in just a few days and design awesome digital products by running workshops like the Design Sprint.
Our target is to partner with our clients and create successful digital solutions that solve their users' needs. So, when somebody reaches out for an app or a platform design, we won't go away for two months, jump straight into one of the cool UI Design apps to do something. We'll work closely with the client to make sure that everything is clear, and both of us know why we do what we do, what we try to solve with this solution, and how success looks.
Also, I'm still 100% involved in client work - so there is that personal touch as well. Having a good relationship with my clients is really at the core of how I like to work, so if there isn't a good fit or can't help, I'm very open about it.
4. Has the coronavirus pandemic affected your business and if so, how are you adjusting?
Well, it affected my freelancing business but also pushed me to move in a different direction and set up the agency. If we talk financially, 2020 wasn't my best year - I lost some projects due to the pandemic - but there were some exciting things as well, like Durran.
5. What do you think are the major trends in your field?
Given the whole Covid pandemic, everybody moved remote, which in a way was a plus for us. I think this trend - of working remotely - will continue in a way in the future as well. This trend can be a massive boost for companies that are not located in those major cities.
6. What are the keys to customer success and satisfaction and has that changed in the era of COVID?
Given the whole Covid pandemic, everybody moved remote, which in a way was a plus for us. I think this trend - of working remotely - will continue in a way in the future as well. This trend can be a massive boost for companies that are not located in those major cities.
Also, given the financial situations, I guess some people rethought what they are paying for, so creating meaningful solutions and helping the end-user is even more critical.
7. How would you see your company ten years in the future?
I want to build a place where we can deliver real value for both the clients and their users while working on meaningful projects that positively impact our lives while promoting innovation.
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