Flower Press Creative Studio, under the visionary leadership of founder Khaiersta English, stands as a dynamic digital product design and engineering hub nestled in the vibrant city of Seattle.
With a focus on innovation, the studio crafts bespoke solutions tailored for startups and small to medium-sized businesses. As recently discussed in an insightful interview with
Website Planet, Flower Press thrives on a remote collaboration model, boasting a cohesive team of approximately 20 talented individuals.
Established in 2001, the studio’s transformative journey—from a design-centric entity to a comprehensive full-stack firm—reveals a purposeful and strategic evolution that goes beyond mere growth.
This intentional progression showcases a commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainable practices, making Flower Press Creative Studio a standout in the competitive landscape.
Distinguished by its unwavering dedication to mission-driven companies and a unique fusion of affordability and excellence, Flower Press continues to redefine the digital product design and engineering experience, delivering exceptional results to its diverse clientele.
Please present Flower Press Creative Studio to our audience.
Flower Press Creative Studio is a dynamic digital product design and engineering studio founded by Khaiersta English. Based in the vibrant city of Seattle, Washington, our team specializes in crafting innovative solutions for websites, applications, and various digital experiences tailored for startups and small to medium-sized businesses.
Core Focus Areas:
- Digital Product Design: We specialize in creating visually appealing and user-centric designs for digital products.
- Engineering Excellence: Our team is adept at implementing robust engineering solutions to bring ideas to life.
- Startups and SMBs: We are dedicated to supporting the growth of startups and small to medium-sized businesses through our services.
- Remote Collaboration: Flower Press operates as a remote team, consisting of approximately 20 talented individuals. We cover all aspects of the digital product creation process, ensuring a comprehensive and seamless experience for our clients.
At Flower Press Creative Studio, we pride ourselves on our collaborative approach and commitment to delivering high-quality digital solutions. Whether you’re launching a new product or enhancing your digital presence, we’re here to transform your ideas into reality.
Please describe the story behind the company: What sparked the idea, and how has it evolved so far?
Flower Press Creative Studio started in 2001 when I was a full-time designer at Nike. While working in-house, I began freelancing on the side, focusing on brand identity and website development for small to medium-sized businesses. This dual role continued for five years.
In 2006, with enough freelance work, I transitioned to running Flower Press full-time and started building a team. Initially, it operated as a design studio for service businesses but gradually shifted towards developing more complex software. As complexity increased, I expanded the team to include full-stack engineering—covering UI, build, and QA.
The growth of Flower Press followed a deliberate, slow-growth model. I intentionally kept the team small during the early years to balance work and family life, as I have three children. As they grew older, I actively expanded the team.
Now, Flower Press has three engineering channels capable of handling large-scale builds and intricate software projects. The journey started with the idea of delivering better service to companies and evolved organically based on growing demand.
Working with a variety of people across industries and taking on projects with meaningful missions has made Flower Press a satisfying place to be. In the ever-evolving technology landscape, it remains a great time to be in the industry.
What services do you offer?
At Flower Press Creative Studio, we provide comprehensive, end-to-end services as a full-stack studio. Often, clients approach us with a concept, and our journey begins with early research. We kick off new engagements with what we call a discovery phase, collaborating with founders or stakeholders to shape the product idea.
During this phase, we conduct market research, identify product-market fit opportunities, and create a prototype. User interviews follow to ensure there’s demand for the product before any development begins. From physical design and build to engineering, QA, and launch, we cover the entire spectrum of product development.
Our services extend to maintaining products for clients without internal engineering capabilities. We specialize in end-to-end solutions for websites, apps, and experiences, tailoring our approach to the unique needs of each engagement.
What is the mission of Flower Press Creative Studio?
Flower Press Creative Studio is a service provider dedicated to mission-driven companies. Our mission revolves around uncovering product insights to enhance the quality of websites, apps, and experiences for these companies, enabling them to achieve greater success.
We are particularly drawn to working with companies in the fields of Health and Wellness, Education, Personal Growth, and B2B process improvement, aiming to contribute to their efficiency and overall impact. In essence, our mission is to craft exceptional products for companies with a strong sense of purpose and mission-driven goals—a commitment that may seem a bit meta, but that’s what sets us apart.
What separates you from other similar companies?
Clients consistently tell us that we operate as partners rather than mere vendors. Being a small studio allows us to cultivate close, personal relationships with each client. Even after the engagement concludes, our connections often extend to coffee meetings and ongoing interactions that span years. Personal touches, such as sending out 500 handwritten holiday cards annually, reflect our commitment.
Our approach involves a deep investment in the projects we undertake and a genuine belief in the missions of our founders and their companies. This commitment is evident in our work, contributing to our 23 years of sustained operation marked by consistently high rankings and numerous industry awards.
We uniquely focus on supporting women in business and technology, aligning with the trend of organizations seeking to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. We also attract senior talent—professionals seeking a more meaningful career beyond the traditional corporate landscape. This includes individuals like my husband, formerly an engineer at Google for 18 years, now leading our engineering division.
Our studio offers a unique opportunity for companies to access senior practitioners at a reasonable cost. This attracts professionals who desire to make a difference without the steep pricing associated with other agencies. This blend of affordability and quality sets us apart, and clients often reach out based on their specific needs and priorities.
What is your perspective on the future of your industry?
In the tech industry, the current landscape is incredibly dynamic, particularly with the advent of AI. From my perspective, AI is simply another toolset that skilled practitioners will utilize to enhance their ongoing work. Much like the initial concerns when mobile technology emerged, AI is disruptive, but it also presents exciting possibilities—allowing for more with less.
The key to moving forward is a commitment to innovation and the creation of well-adopted tools. User experience has become more critical than ever, with users having higher expectations for the tools they use. Users no longer tolerate subpar experiences, emphasizing the importance of incorporating user-centric design into software development. This involves conducting user studies, careful planning, and not merely building to a description.
While qualified developers are crucial, they may not always possess the skills needed to determine what works best for the end user. Crafting a good user experience and achieving successful product-market fit requires a unique skill set. As the industry evolves, having the right practitioners with the necessary experience becomes critical for sustained success.
Find out more at: www.theflowerpress.net
