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Client Charter

In addition to our own values and beliefs, CobaltNiche has special commitments to our clients in terms of our professional practice and the final product outcome.

Once engaged, this Client Charter will be a mutual guide to the working relationship we seek with our clients.

CobaltNiche will

  • Use our expert knowledge, experience and resources to best meet our client’s commercial, functional and cost targets of the product or project as outlined in an agreed proposal.
  • Help keep our clients informed and in control of the development process, project budget, product performance decisions and risk reduction strategies of the project by communicating regularly and honestly.
  • Recommend sustainable design directions and solutions that reduce environmentally and socially negative impacts.
  • Act with professional integrity and respect and follow industry best-practice standards of consulting, confidentiality and business ethics.
  • Stick to our agreed budget unless; there are new requests; or there are factors outside our control which increase our work relative to our original understanding.
  • Stand by our work by correcting any errors for which we are responsible where a project follows the tasks, approval-making and prototyping processes recommended by CobaltNiche.

You, our client undertakes to understand that all new design and product development, no matter how simple or complex:

  • Involves some risk. Risk can be minimised through strategies including additional research and prototypes for example. These strategies may only become apparent during development and may change the timeframe and development scope.
  • Is iterative. Design always involve refinement of multiple ideas before arriving at a final outcome. This iterative processes should not be seen as 'errors', but as necessary explorations to discover new solutions.
  • Plans change. Although we will always have a plan and process, sometimes factors (problems, opportunties, new developments) outside our control will emerge during development that may change objectives, outcome, scope or timing.

You, our client will also provide:

  • Prompt and open information, samples and target specifications as requested
  • Reliable and consistent decisions regarding project directions
  • Active participation and availability of necessary resources

 

 

Proposal Process

Defining a problem is the first step to finding a solution. So before we commence any design project we work hard to understand your requirements and prepare a thorough document (proposal) that clearly explains our approach, deliverables and budgets.
Typically, our proposal process includes: 

1. Initial meeting or discussion

Understand the client’s background and their needs. If the client has prepared a brief (list of requirements for the project) we would review it at this point. Either way we will ask additional questions to understand your requirements and our scope as fully as possible. In the event that we do not believe we can assist, we will suggest alternative suppliers.

2. Planning

Assuming CobaltNiche can assist, we then plan our strategy to undertake the project. Sometimes this takes some basic research and discussions with our team or specialist associates to determine tasks and stages.

3. Proposal

Based on these tasks we calculate our budget and hours required using Lynx (our own proprietary enterprise information system) and prepare a detailed written proposal. We then present the proposal and discuss any questions you may have.

4. Authorisation

If the proposal is acceptable we ask our client to sign-off the proposal authorising us to commence work.

 

Based in Australia, Cobalt Niche is a globally focused creative product design and development group. We operate locally as well as Asia, North America and Europe.
 
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