Project management
We create and manage execution of the project plan to implement a defined scope of work, manage timelines, talents, and communication. A project manager ensures the project follows the planned schedule, stays within budget, and meets its defined goals. The service is best suited for overseeing the operational aspects of the project.
Requirement management
We transform business and user requirements into detailed documentation for design and development teams, using diagramming and elicitation techniques, and manage changes in requirements.
Product ownership
This role combines both project and requirements management. A product owner not only gathers requirements but also manages the backlog, sets priorities, and oversees execution of the project.
Product management
Depending on your product's stage – whether it's a new or an existing product – we lead product discovery and research, define the product vision, roadmap, and key milestones, or focus on improving key metrics, optimizing performance, and enhancing the user experience.
Teams work much more effectively when they know what needs to be built and why. A well-defined project roadmap with milestones and deadlines, a structured team backlog, and clearly assigned responsibilities set the foundation for productive work. Clear documentation in the format best suited to a team, along with regular updates and transparent communication, makes the process run smoothly and efficiently.
With a well-planned roadmap, clear milestones, deep understanding of user needs, motivations, and pain points, along with regular usability testing and design reviews, we will minimize iterations and rework. This approach also optimizes costs and delivers a higher ROI for design management and leadership.
By gathering and understanding business and user requirements, thoroughly researching market demand, and predicting potential blockers with continuity plans in place, we will accelerate your time-to-market and create a product users need and love.
By identifying vulnerabilities and risks early and developing continuity plans, we effectively minimize risks, accelerate product development, and ensure your project is delivered on time and within budget.
Factors impacting the need for each role
CTO at RivaEngine.com
Cieden has met the outcomes from each of the project's milestones. They bring an outstanding balance of skill sets, from project management and ideation feedback to requirements definition and deep knowledge of user expectations. The team is open to feedback and leads an effective workflow using the Agile methodology with weekly meetings and demo sessions. Their balance of skill sets and deep knowledge of user expectations stand out.
CMO at Fiksu Ruoka Oy
With their in-depth understanding of the brand's goals, Cieden was able to navigate the project without a hitch. Their new designs had a strong impact on the brand's visual style, and customers also responded positively.
Product Manager at Gridics
Interactions with them are wonderful. They’re extremely responsive and easy to get along with. They anticipate our wishes and translate our business needs into the design. They often deliver exactly what we want in the first round.
Founder of TMA
Within just a few weeks, Cieden had conceptualized the entire project with detailed UX designs, user flow diagrams, and detailed user stories. This provided the developers with a complete picture of the project, allowing them to initiate development with minimal friction.
VP Engineering at BeBop Technology
Within just a few weeks, Cieden had conceptualized the entire project with detailed UX designs, user flow diagrams, and detailed user stories. This provided the developers with a complete picture of the project, allowing them to initiate development with minimal friction.
CEO & Managing Director at Openiq
Project management was perfect. They were spot on with the budget and product delivery predictions. Organizations are often open-ended with the budget, but Cieden was excellent at tracking the budget. Communication was also excellent; there wasn’t a time when I couldn’t get a hold of them. We can’t praise their professionalism enough.
Education Startup Founder
They were enthusiastic about the product and excited to give suggestions regarding features and subtleties of the app that I hadn’t considered. The project manager was incredibly responsive to my emails and kept me updated on the progress. They shared a tool that allowed me to see everything they were working on, as well.
CEO of Whim Technologies
My business partner and I are both quite impressed at how Cieden is providing way more than just business analysis or designs for us. They’re fundamentally improving the way we do business and in ways that we’re already able to act on.
Discovery as a service helps you understand user needs and identify market opportunities. It validates assumptions, enables informed decision-making, and ensures solutions align with market demand.
During discovery, we also define the project's scope, requirements, deliverables, and objectives to ensure all stakeholders are on the same page.
Typically, discovery takes two to ten weeks but can extend up to six months for more complex projects, so we tailor the timeline to each project.
Consider this service when planning to build an MVP, launch a product, enter a new market, add a new feature, or redesign an existing product.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with Anastasia, Head of Product Management at Cieden. Discuss your project and discover the value we can add as a vendor.
Guided by facts and numbers
Not a gut feeling. Our team is all about numbers and facts, using data-driven insights to identify and resolve issues, validate hypotheses, and enhance the performance of product design.
Eyes on the prize
We always keep our eyes on the bigger picture, ensuring our insights and design-related efforts are perfectly aligned with your business objectives.
Impacting, not just doing
We won’t just execute tasks; we will actively shape the product strategy, driving changes and innovations to keep your product in a leading market position.
No need for micromanagement
Our team takes a proactive and self-directed approach, ensuring an independent and seamless workflow that aligns with your project goals and timelines.
Enterprise-level experience
We have experience collaborating with industry giants like Apollo, MedEntry, and Blizzard, managing complex enterprise business processes and structures, uncovering new opportunities, and helping them scale.
Well-established processes and scalable resources
At Cieden, our well-established processes ensure efficiency and consistency in project execution. We adapt seamlessly to your project's needs, scaling our resources up or down as required. This flexibility allows us to handle projects of any size and complexity, ensuring timely delivery and optimal outcomes.
Faster turnaround times
With Cieden, you benefit from our streamlined workflows and efficient management, leading to faster turnaround times. Our specialists are usually dedicated to one project and specific areas of responsibilities, ensuring quicker and more efficient work without the distractions of juggling multiple tasks.
Expertise in diverse domains
We have successfully delivered projects across various industries including healthcare, edtech, BPM & ERP, real estate, fintech, and more.
Choose your model of cooperation
What is design management and leadership?
Software design management and leadership includes various roles and areas of responsibility to ensure your project runs smoothly from start to finish.
It involves project management, where we create and manage execution of a detailed plan, manage timelines, resources, and communication, ensuring the project stays on track.
In requirement management, we gather and document all business and user requirements, providing clear instructions for the design team.
Product ownership combines both these areas, where we also prioritize the backlog and oversee the project's execution.
Finally, product management or design leadership focuses on either defining the product vision and roadmap for new projects or optimizing key metrics and user experience for existing products.
During our consultation, we’ll discuss your product, needs, and challenges. Based on that, we’ll recommend the most suitable service for your project.
Why should I consider using design management and leadership services?
Design management and leadership services provide a clear roadmap, defined milestones, and transparent communication, ensuring your team knows exactly what to build and why. This structure leads to more productive work and smoother processes.
By thoroughly understanding your business needs and market demands, we accelerate time-to-market and create a product that truly fits the market.
With a well-planned design management approach, we reduce the need for multiple iterations and rework, ultimately saving time and costs.
Plus, by identifying risks early and developing contingency plans, we ensure your project stays on time and within budget.
How can I determine which specific service my project requires?
The service your project needs depends on several factors. For complex products, a product manager is essential to provide strategic direction and align with market demands. In specialized industries like healthcare or fintech, a product manager with domain expertise ensures relevance and compliance.
If your requirements are unclear or subject to change, a requirements manager helps clarify and formalize them for the design team.
For crowded markets, a product owner is vital to assess market demands and competition, ensuring a standout user experience.
In B2B settings, a requirements manager helps align multiple stakeholders, while in B2C products, a product owner manages fast-evolving user expectations.
During our free consultation, we’ll listen to your needs and recommend the most suitable service for your project.
Do you work with both new and existing products?
Yes, we work with both new and existing products. Whether you’re launching a startup and need help understanding the market and setting up processes, or you have an established company looking to grow and uncover new opportunities, we can support you.
For new products, we help shape a product vision, create roadmaps and guide you through the early stages.
For existing products, we assess your business processes, identify gaps, and help you expand your market share while improving key metrics.
What options do you offer if I’m not ready for a long-term collaboration, like product management?
If you're not ready for a long-term collaboration, we offer flexible microservices. You can start with discovery as a service, which helps you understand user needs, identify market opportunities, and validate your product assumptions. This service is perfect for planning an MVP, launching a product, entering new markets, or adding new features.
Another option is scope definition, where we help outline your project’s boundaries, requirements, and objectives to ensure all stakeholders are aligned. This service is ideal when project requirements are unclear, or you need to plan time and budget efficiently.
How can an outsourced manager be as effective as an in-house employee?
An outsourced design manager can be just as effective by bringing specialized expertise, well-established processes, and clear communication. We work closely with your internal team, ensuring a smooth integration, setting clear goals, and maintaining regular updates. With a focus on efficiency and accountability, we take a proactive approach, minimizing the need for constant supervision. Our experience across various industries enables us to adapt quickly to your needs and deliver results that align with your business objectives.
