How we work

A pragmatic four-phase process.

We don't romanticize process. The shape below is what we land on every time, regardless of engagement type — it just runs over different timelines.

Northwind team collaborating on a project plan

PHASE 01

Listen

Two-week immersion: stakeholder interviews, audit of brand & performance assets, competitive landscape, customer research. Output: a 10-page point of view doc.

PHASE 02

Frame

Strategy & positioning workshops. We align on the audience, the promise, the proof, and the territory we're going to play in. Signed off in a single working session.

PHASE 03

Make

The bulk of the engagement. Weekly working sessions, two creative routes minimum at every major milestone, daily Slack contact with the partner running your work.

PHASE 04

Launch & learn

Go-live support, 90-day measurement plan, and a no-cost executive review at day 90. We tell you what worked, what didn't, and what we'd do next.

What working with us actually looks like

Mondays are for standups (30 min, recorded, no agenda required). Fridays are for working sessions (90 min, agenda mandatory). Slack is the day-to-day. Figma and Notion are the source of truth.

Every milestone ships as a Loom walkthrough plus written notes. No meeting required to approve work — but partners are always one tap away if you'd rather talk it through.

Northwind team running a Friday working session with a client

A typical 10-week brand engagement

Week 1–2 · Listen
Kickoff, audit, 8–12 interviews, customer research synthesis.

Week 3 · Frame
Strategy workshop. Positioning, audience, promise locked.

Week 4–8 · Make
Verbal identity, visual identity (2 routes 1), system build-out, application across launch surfaces.

Week 9–10 · Launch & learn
Final files, guidelines, launch toolkit, handoff session, 90-day measurement plan.

Process FAQs

How many people will we work with day-to-day?

Two to four — a partner lead, a strategy lead, a design lead, and (on campaigns or growth work) a media or production lead. No layered approvals.

What's your revision policy?

Two formal rounds at each major milestone. Beyond that we'll keep going on T&M — but we've only hit a third round twice in the last three years.

How do you handle scope creep?

Change orders. Always written, always signed. We've never had a billing surprise on either side because of it.

Will the partner who pitched us stay on the work?

Yes — every engagement is partner-led from kickoff through launch.