Clarity and direction before anything gets built. Strategy sets a shared sense of direction and guides every identity, web and product decision that follows. It’s where most partnerships with us begin.

(01)

Strategic Research & Discovery

Grounding decisions in insight, not assumptions. We investigate market position, user needs, and competitive landscape to identify what’s actually possible and establish direction before anything gets built.

(02)

User Experience Research

Understanding how people interact with digital systems through testing, observation, and validation. Research that reveals friction points, validates assumptions, and guides design decisions with evidence.

(03)

Workshops & Facilitation

Collaborative sessions that align teams, surface insights, and build shared understanding. We guide stakeholders through strategic decisions, turning complexity into clarity and conflicting perspectives into unified direction. Often the starting point when a team knows it has outgrown its brand and doesn’t yet agree on what comes next.

(04)

Brand Strategy & Positioning

Defining how the organization shows up in the market — usually because the business has moved forward and how it shows up has not. Clarifying what it stands for, who it serves, and what makes it distinct. Strategy that informs every decision across brand, web, product and development.

(05)

Product Strategy

Shaping the thinking behind what gets built and why. Roadmap planning, prioritisation frameworks, and strategic direction that connect user needs to business outcomes — keeping teams aligned and focused on work that moves the product forward. When a product has outgrown its original story, this is where the new one gets decided.

(06)

Digital Performance Strategy

Planning for measurable impact. We establish KPIs, identify optimization opportunities, and create frameworks that connect digital initiatives to business outcomes, ensuring systems perform and prove their value.

FAQs

Your questions, answered.

How does strategic research inform both brand, web and product decisions?

We treat strategy as a shared foundation. Strategic research and discovery shape how brand communicates, how website structure supports goals, how product flows address user needs, and which technology choices enable scale. When brand, website, product, and development build from the same foundation, they stay aligned as the business evolves.

How do you decide where to invest strategically at our current stage?

That depends on where the business is. Early companies need clarity on positioning before building. Scaleups need team alignment and narrative that supports expansion. Established organizations in transition need to understand what to evolve and what to protect. Through workshops and facilitation, we match strategic scope to the moment.

We’ve had strategy work before that didn’t lead to change. What makes the difference?

Usually the gap between where strategy ended and execution began. When strategic thinking is handed off rather than carried forward, it loses influence on decisions. We close that gap by staying involved. The digital performance strategy and brand positioning we establish become the reference point the entire partnership works from.

Can strategic work be shortened when timeline is tight?

It can be focused. Strategy works like a compass—it sets direction for decisions ahead. We scope strategic research and discovery to match the timeline: sometimes a workshop and clear brief, sometimes deeper validation. Shorter strategic work addresses immediate priorities. Longer engagement builds foundations that inform choices as complexity grows and the business evolves.

How much does brand positioning and strategy work cost?

It depends on scope, and we price engagements, not hours. A focused positioning sprint for a scale-up and a full strategic discovery for an enterprise with several products are different investments; most strategy work sits within $20,000 to $50,000, and it is usually the first phase of a broader brand, web or product partnership rather than a standalone purchase. Tell us the situation and we will tell you the model that fits. When Descartes rebuilt MacroPoint with us, conversion rose 18.1% in the year after launch and inbound pipeline from the sites grew 54%.

What does strategy work actually produce?

Direction the rest of the partnership builds on. Depending on stage: research and discovery findings, positioning and messaging frameworks, user research, product strategy and roadmap priorities, and the KPIs that will show whether it worked. Every output is written to be used by the brand, web, product and development work that follows, because the same team does that work.

What’s the difference between a brand strategy agency and a marketing agency?

A marketing agency generates demand for what you already are. A brand positioning and strategy agency decides what you are going to be, before brand, web or product get built around it. Marketing works best after that question is answered; run it before, and the campaigns amplify the confusion. At Afternow, strategy is the first pillar of one team, so what gets decided here is what the designers and developers then build.

Partners

We understand the demands of digitally focused organisations navigating change inside and out. From startups finding their footing, and scale-ups building momentum, to established enterprises reshaping their digital foundations, our most rewarding partnerships are with ambitious leaders who are seeking clarity, craft, and a true partner.

Our partnerships

Kristen Juven, Head of Brand and Digital Experience

Afternow is extremely authentic, and their subject matter expertise speaks for itself. They are highly process-oriented and very flexible in their approach to different customers. Over the past year, we have tackled three major projects together. What stands out is their ability to pivot, their effective communication, and their respectful and helpful nature. They talk us through possible scenarios, making the collaboration feel seamless and truly authentic. We continue to work together with Afternow!

Maria Merkulova, Director of Growth Marketing

Afternow took us through a complete rebranding from scratch, including logos, design system, and website, and has been evolving it with us ever since. Their team is perceptive, dependable, and delivers technical excellency. Rebranding is a tough process, and having a partner that listens, suggests new directions thoughtfully, and grows with you as the market changes is important for success. We are glad that we found this partner.

Tom Nolan, Head of Product

Had the pleasure of partnering with Afternow across multiple organizations over the past 7+ years. Every time they bring passion and a curiosity that has always been able to unlock design solutions that deliver.

Skylar Roebuck, Chief Technology Officer

It’s been about 7 years that we’ve partnered together, and those 7 years have been wonderful to watch both our companies grow and flourish and i’ve really appreciated the entire team and the stellar work.

Baptiste Jamin, Founder and CEO

We have enjoyed working with Afternow for years now. We’ve worked together on redesigning our complete product offering, including mobile apps, chat widget, helpdesk, and web app. Our collaboration has been effortless as they can provide excellent solutions with minimal direction and feedback, almost like having an internal team.

Kim Wright, Senior Brand Project Manager

We needed a complete rebrand—new name, positioning, messaging, and identity. From day one, Afternow proved to be the right partner. Their portfolio impressed us, but it was their flexibility, deep expertise, and collaborative approach that sealed the decision. They delivered a full transformation on a tight timeline with significant market impact. Highly recommended and excited for our next project together.