Build for the unknown

Most leaders knew what needed to be done. The real question was how fast their teams and priorities could be redirected to new challenges and opportunities. The theoretical business benefits of being an agile organization became a stark reality.

Last year we heard from clients, past and present, that the flexible infrastructures we had implemented for them enabled their impact in 2020. It allowed them to quickly adapt, evolve, or scale their operations and offering – sometimes with us, sometimes without. The result was not only good for their business but also good for the people they serve.

After helping Marketing Derby relaunch of their booking portal last year, we continued our partnership to calibrate the overall product vision as the rollout continued across the web and native apps. Then there was COVID-19.

The hospitality industry was hit hard, our efforts were redirected to new challenges and opportunities. Marketing Derby's outdoor catering offering became a priority.

United, we rapidly created the booking site. Powered by the group’s APIs and using the design system we developed, we built a robust and scalable client-side application. One that not only helped address short-term challenges but also fit squarely into a future vision.

Realise digital potential

As much as this year was about agility, it was about character, marrying purpose with its expression. An organisation’s unique value in the world is measured by its particular impact on people’s lives. In crisis and out, how you show up matters. We believe that an organisation’s success depends on its ability to put people first, and digital happens to give us the ability to do so at scale.

Realising an organisation’s potential is rooted in its ability to serve people at scale. To do so requires a fundamental shift in the role of digital from a communication platform to a service delivery platform. To deliver services online, not only talk about them.

We aim to use our skills to improve life, not distract from it. Hence, we measure our impact by our ability to help clients realise their digital potential. While 2020 accelerated the transformation speed, our focus remained the same, an organisation's ongoing journey with its users, its function in their lives, and its perceived character.

Engage with inclusivity

Making digital products accessible has been a hot topic, even if often driven by web accessibility-related litigation. However, accessibility is not only the right thing to do, but it is also good for business. Roughly 25% of the world’s population has some sort of Internet access difficulties. Meaning, if your product is inaccessible, you’re obstructing a significant segment of your potential audience from engaging with you.

As craftspeople, we want our products to be used to their fullest degree. That’s why accessibility and performance are core principles of our offering, and we’re constantly learning to ensure our ability to deliver impact.

The path to universal accessibility is long and complicated, requiring mitigation and governance along the way. Today, more than ever, we’re proud of the contributions we’ve made and are dedicated to a deepened commitment to design, build, and incrementally release design systems with significantly improved compliance.

Staying power

This past year has been remarkable, demanding both compassion and courage as we navigated adversity and uncertainty. Our accomplishments didn’t just move us forward; they revealed the core of who we are. Month after month, our team stayed true to our purpose, steadfast in our commitment to our clients, and adaptable in the face of constant change.

Despite the widespread impact of the crisis on our daily lives, we continued to share moments of laughter, learning, and connection, drawing strength and inspiration from one another.

The pandemic accelerated a global shift toward digital services, transforming many experiences that once took place in person.

At the same time, it reminded us of the irreplaceable value of nature and human connection to our overall well-being. We've seen how digital tools can both enrich our lives and, at times, pull us away from what matters most.