EchoUser just turned 5 (!), and we’ve come a long way. What started as a small outfit of 3 focused mostly on usability has expanded to a team of 10 split across both research and design. And the projects we’re focusing on have changed as well: bigger projects with longer timelines, balanced nicely by our work with startups. But all this has to come at a price, right? More team members means a need to coordinate better (bigger projects make this even more crucial). The real question for me, though, is this: how do we as a design firm (consultants, really) make sure that the quality of our work doesn’t fade as we push our skills to the limits? It’s all fine and dandy landing the biggest project of your career, but if you can’t deliver as well as you’re used to…well, it’s something to consider. A big push for me in 2012 will revolve around the challenge of making sure we keep creating awesome work time and time again, and how to plant the seeds of a company culture that fosters this. The magic of being part of a small business is that we shouldn’t be afraid to always push one another harder/better/faster/stronger, so here’s to 2012 being a ringer!