---
title: "Low-risk onboarding consultancy projects"
author: Garrett Winder
date: 2014-06-30
source: Good Work
weight: archive
url: https://garrettwinder.com/simplygoodwork/low-risk-onboarding-consultancy-projects/
first_published_at: https://one.simplygoodwork.com/blog/2014/low-risk-onboarding-consultancy-projects
---

# Low-risk onboarding consultancy projects

> From the archive. Shows how Garrett got here; not his current views, services or prices. Written June 2014, Good Work. For what’s current, see https://garrettwinder.com/agents.md.

Before jumping into a long-term relationship with a new client, I like to start with a small week or two long onboarding consultancy to test the waters. It's a low-risk way to introduce our potential client to user-centered design and really see the value in working with us.

It's also a great way for both parties to ensure the relationship is a good fit.

## A quick lesson on user-centered design

At Good Work we practice a design methodology called [user-centered design](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-centered_design), which is really just a fancy way of saying that all decisions we make during the project process are on behalf of the project's target audience -- which doesn't always turn out to be the same as our client's initial requirements. That's a good thing though, as it ensures we're making the _right_ thing, not just _a_ thing. And it ensures we're building something of value for our target audience!

Taking a user-centered design approach means we typically have a chunk of research, early prototyping and validation to do at the start of every project. Yes, our potential client probably already came to us with a specific set of wants and needs, but we have to validate them for ourselves before we can move forward.

> While it is common practice in the creative professions to prescribe solutions without fully and accurately diagnosing the problem, in almost every other profession such a sequence would render the professional liable for malpractice.
> 
> Blair Enns, [The Win Without Pitching Manifesto](http://www.winwithoutpitching.com/the-manifesto/)

## The onboarding consultancy process

This whole process of up-front research, validation and using our expertise to figure out the right way forward works as a great, low-risk onboarding project with our potential clients.

Our onboarding consultancy process is a one week project to advise, validate and scope the needs and goals of the potential engagement. We focus on the humans that the project is for – figure out who they are, their experience levels and what they potentially expect to get out of the finished product. We brainstorm and prototype ideas, and come up with a solid plan to make the _right_ thing, a road map to move forward and a prototype to reference for the future of the project, whether that's with Good Work or another digital agency.

## To summarize

Taking a user-centered approach to our work ensures we're creating the _right_ digital product or service for our clients. The work involved in our onboarding consultancy needs to be done regardless in order to create a successful digital project, whether during its own project or as the first phase of a larger one, but by unbundling it from our potential primary engagement we can make the purchasing process a lot less daunting for potential clients, and ensure our relationship is a good fit.