# fwdc > fwdc is a full-service product design and consulting studio helping startup teams design, validate, launch, and scale AI applications. Canonical page: [https://frameworks.design/](https://frameworks.design/) ## Overview We frame what matters and design what works. Product strategy, design, and implementation for startup teams building AI applications. ## Why founders work with us ### Velocity We move fast by designing with AI (but intentionally). Our AI-enabled prototyping workflow compresses lengthy design iterations. ### End-to-End Partner We support the full product lifecycle, from early opportunity framing and UX strategy to scalable systems and marketing materials. ### Quality as a Baseline We don't ship work we wouldn't defend. We hand off work engineering teams can execute confidently, or implement the front end ourselves. ### Lean Cost Access flexible design capacity without the overhead of recruiting, HR, payroll, or benefits. Scale the right mix of talent up or down as priorities change. ## Our services Use design to unblock your product growth throughout its lifecycle. ### Seed stage We help you validate early-stage ideas before you overinvest in development. Through fast concept framing, rapid interaction prototypes, and evidence-based feedback loops, you get clarity on what is truly worth shipping first. - Design strategy discovery - AI-enabled rapid prototyping - Design validation - Pitch deck design ### Launch stage We shape your launch experience to improve first impressions, comprehension, and activation. From the hero story to product touchpoints, we help teams find product-market fit with a sharper and more coherent UX signal. - Product feature design & craft polish - Landing page design & development - Video design & production - Brand & visual identity - Launch communications design ### Growth stage We turn growth into a repeatable design system instead of isolated campaign work. By connecting experimentation, product analytics, and brand consistency, we help teams improve conversion without fragmenting the experience. - AI-native design system - Data-driven UX iteration - Conversion & acquisition design ### Maturity stage We harden quality, governance, and workflows so mature products can scale sustainably. We support accessibility, compliance, and DesignOps practices that keep execution reliable across teams and releases. - Accessibility and compliance - DesignOps consultation - UX audit and experience debt - Responsible AI design guidelines ## Our talent network Bring in senior- or staff-level experts across complementary disciplines on demand, without repeating the sourcing and contracting process. - [Zhibang Jiang](https://zhibang.design): Product Designer, Owner, San Jose, CA - Bolt Wang, PhD: Staff User Researcher, New York, NY - [Abel Zhang](https://abelzhang.co/): Brand Designer, Los Angeles, CA - Yida Zhang: Front-End Expert, Suzhou, China - [Can Liu, PhD](https://liucan.me/): HCI Researcher, Singapore ## Our talent is trusted by - Y Combinator, backed companies - Red Cell Partners, backed companies - Cornerstone Research - Providence - Ro - WhatsApp - Airbnb - LinkedIn - Chase - Microsoft - Comcast - Boeing - Nike - Tencent - Alibaba - Hisense ## Pricing Both models offer the same services, talent, and quality standards. Each includes a free consultation call and support for client vendor registration. ### On demand **$200/ hour** Focused expertise when your team needs extra momentum. Variable billing for lighter or unpredictable monthly usage. - Pay only for aggregate talent hours used - Best for fewer than 60 hours per month or variable demand - $200/hour, invoiced monthly in arrears via ACH - Signed services agreement required before work begins - No recurring commitment; pause new work anytime - Optional estimates, approvals, and task-level budget caps #### On demand terms and conditions **Agreement.** A signed MSA, SOW, or hourly services agreement is required before paid work begins. **Rate and time.** Talent time is billed at $200 per hour. We support estimate and approval workflows, including a not-to-exceed budget for an individual task. **Billing and payment.** Actual time used is invoiced monthly in arrears and paid by ACH. Invoices are payable Net 30 unless the signed agreement or an approved vendor process states otherwise. **Scheduling.** On-demand work does not reserve recurring capacity. Start dates and working sessions are confirmed according to talent availability. **Pausing or stopping.** The client may pause or stop new work at any time by written notice. Completed work and previously approved commitments remain billable. **Consultation and vendor onboarding.** One introductory consultation call is provided at no charge. Client vendor registration and procurement workflows are supported. Billable work begins only after required contracting and onboarding steps are complete. **General conditions.** Confidentiality, intellectual property ownership, approved expenses, taxes, and other legal terms are governed by the executed agreement. Fees exclude applicable taxes and pre-approved third-party costs. These terms summarize the commercial model. If they conflict with an executed agreement, Order Form, or Standard Terms, the governing document controls. ### Monthly subscription **$12,000/ mo** Reserved capacity for teams that want the responsiveness of an in-house designer with the versatility of a design generalist. - Reserve up to 100 aggregate talent hours per billing cycle - Best for 60 or more hours per month - Approved overage is $120/hour, subject to availability - $12,000 billed monthly in advance by ACH or online payment - Month-to-month under Standard Terms; cancel renewal anytime - Unused hours do not roll over or receive credits #### Monthly subscription terms and conditions **Subscription and included hours.** $12,000 is billed in advance for each monthly billing cycle and includes up to 100 aggregate talent hours. **Reserved capacity.** Capacity is reserved throughout the active billing cycle. Priorities and allocation across talents are planned with the client. **Overage.** We can establish utilization alert benchmarks with the client for each billing cycle. After 100 hours, additional time is billed at $120 per hour with prior written approval and subject to talent availability. **Unused time.** Unused hours expire at the end of each billing cycle and do not roll over, create a credit, or have cash value. **Billing and payment.** Payment is due at the start of each cycle by ACH invoice or approved online payment method. Vendor billing requirements may be documented in an Order Form. **Renewal and cancellation.** The subscription renews month-to-month. The client may cancel renewal at any time before the next billing date. The current paid cycle remains active and is not prorated or refundable. **Standard terms and procurement.** The client may start by accepting the Standard Terms and applicable Order Form electronically. If vendor registration or mutually executed customer terms are required, the signed documents control. **Consultation and vendor onboarding.** One introductory consultation call is provided at no charge. Client vendor registration and procurement workflows are supported. The first billing cycle begins only after required contracting and onboarding steps are complete. **General conditions.** Confidentiality, intellectual property ownership, approved expenses, taxes, and other legal terms are governed by the Standard Terms, Order Form, or executed agreement. Fees exclude applicable taxes and pre-approved third-party costs. These terms summarize the commercial model. If they conflict with an executed agreement, Order Form, or Standard Terms, the governing document controls. ## FAQ ### Do you use AI in your design work? Yes. We do not just use AI. We use the strongest models available, which are usually also the most expensive, such as Claude Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol. AI helps us synthesize research, explore concepts, build prototypes, draft and refine copy, accelerate implementation, and review work for gaps. It makes production faster, but judgment, direction, and accountability remain human. ### Is time spent by AI billable? No. I only bill for time when the work has my active attention. So the better AI gets, the less I earn. When an AI system is running a long task, I usually pick up another pending task for the same client instead of repeatedly pausing and restarting the timer. I never bill the same minute twice. ### Who pays for the AI models you use? fwdc does. Model subscriptions and usage fees are business expenses. They are never passed through to the client or listed as a separate invoice charge. ### Can you provide auditable time records? Yes. On-demand invoices aggregate time by day or week and show the time spent on each task. On request, I can also provide an hourly spreadsheet exported from Toggl. Monthly subscriptions are prepaid, so the invoice itself is not itemized. At the beginning of each month, we provide a summary of the previous month's work and usage. ### Is my business a good fit for fwdc? We do not restrict ourselves to a particular industry, but our strongest focus is enterprise products that shape how people work with AI and data. Consumer and entertainment experiences are generally not a good fit. We focus on product design and the related needs that emerge across a product's lifecycle. We do not take on standalone landing pages, branding, visual design, or video production as isolated engagements. ### Who does the actual design work? I do most of the design work, and I am the point of contact for every design engagement. You can request a specific talent, or I can recommend someone when specialized help would improve the work. You can work with that person directly, or I can manage the collaboration for you. ### What collaboration tools do you use? Embedded partnership only works if the collaboration feels native. I do not ask clients to adopt my preferred stack. My tooling follows theirs. For two current clients, that means Slack, Zoom, Notion when needed, Gmail, and our own model subscriptions. For another, it means Teams, Fibery, Outlook, and only client-approved LLMs because of compliance requirements. ### What does your design process look like? We do not make clients pay for a rigid, performative design process. The real loop is simple: understand the problem, form a hypothesis, build a prototype, validate it, use the evidence and feedback to build consensus, deliver continuously, and repeat. The methods change with the problem. The underlying discipline does not. ### Doesn't this business model have a structural scaling problem? Yes. One possibility is that I am not trying to make as much money as possible. This is not a scalable agency model, and I do not intend to turn it into one. This practice gives me a durable way to keep creating value for different teams while I stay selective about the next long-term direction I commit to. I value the control it gives me over my time, so I deliberately limit capacity. I accept no more than two monthly subscription clients at a time. ### What kind of studio is fwdc? We are a pragmatic, output-focused practice for serious products that need to be highly usable. If you have the budget and need expressive art direction, a major branding program, or another specialist discipline, I am happy to recommend a top studio or agency that is better suited to it. That recommendation is a billable service too. ## About us fwdc is a product design and consulting studio focused on early-stage and scaling technology teams. We partner with founders and product leaders to clarify product direction, structure user experience systems, and accelerate execution across the full lifecycle. Led by [Zhibang Jiang](https://zhibang.design) with experience across enterprise, research-driven, and AI-enabled environments, fwdc was built to operate differently from traditional agencies. We work as embedded partners who integrate directly into product teams to strengthen decision-making, reduce iteration waste, and improve long-term product coherence. ## Contact - Email: [hello@frameworks.design](mailto:hello@frameworks.design) - LinkedIn: [Frame Works Design & Consulting](https://www.linkedin.com/company/frame-works-design-consulting/) ## Canonical links - [Human-facing website](https://frameworks.design/) - [Services](https://frameworks.design/#services) - [Talent network](https://frameworks.design/#talents) - [Pricing](https://frameworks.design/#pricing) - [FAQ](https://frameworks.design/#faq) - [About](https://frameworks.design/#about)