AUBRENNE DESIGN PARTNERS

Build better business systems with us

Aubrenne works with a small number of businesses more closely while developing new operating systems, tools, and approaches for small businesses.

Design Partners give us greater visibility into how their business operates and provide candid feedback on what we build. In return, they receive substantial hands-on support and early access to tools developed through the partnership.

A CLOSER PARTNERSHIP

Selected businesses. Deeper collaboration.

Design Partners are not test businesses and the program is not a general discount on Aubrenne services.

It is a professional collaboration with businesses whose operating environment can contribute to the development of better systems for small companies.

Aubrenne works more closely with these businesses than a typical project may require. That additional access allows us to understand the interaction between people, systems, customers, vendors, technology, and day-to-day decisions rather than evaluating one issue in isolation.

In exchange, Design Partners receive a level of access, support, and product involvement reserved specifically for the program.

PARTNER BENEFITS

More access to the work behind Aubrenne

Benefits are structured around the partnership and may differ by business. Design Partners can receive access to work, tools, and support beyond the scope of a standard engagement.

Hands-on operational support

Direct help evaluating and improving selected workflows, systems, reporting, staffing structures, customer processes, or other agreed operating priorities.

Early access to Aubrenne tools

Partners may receive early access to dashboards, internal applications, templates, diagnostics, or other tools developed by Aubrenne.

Greater customization

Where appropriate, systems and tools can be shaped around the realities of the partner's operation rather than designed only for a generalized use case.

Preferred partnership terms

Depending on the collaboration, partners may receive complimentary work, reduced pricing, extended access, or other benefits agreed before the partnership begins.

AUBRENNE INSIGHTS

Real businesses reveal what theory cannot

Small businesses rarely operate exactly as a clean process diagram suggests. The value of a Design Partner is access to the conditions where systems actually have to work.

Real operating constraints

We see how staffing, customer expectations, budgets, software limitations, timing, and competing priorities affect implementation.

Better edge-case understanding

Partner environments reveal exceptions, unusual workflows, and practical problems that are difficult to anticipate without operating context.

Direct feedback

Partners tell us what is useful, what creates friction, what employees actually adopt, and what should be changed before a system is used more broadly.

Better future products

What we learn helps Aubrenne build resources, software, systems, and operating approaches around the problems small businesses actually encounter.

THE ARRANGEMENT

A partnership has to create value in both directions

Aubrenne does not select Design Partners simply because a business needs consulting.

The strongest partnerships exist when the business has meaningful operating complexity, is willing to provide enough access for the work to be useful, and is open to candid discussion about what succeeds and what does not.

In return, Aubrenne commits real operating attention to the partnership. We are not asking businesses to participate in research while receiving little in return.

The specific scope, expectations, access, benefits, and duration are agreed before the partnership begins.

ELIGIBILITY

We keep the program intentionally small

Design Partner applications are reviewed individually. There is no requirement to fit every characteristic below, but the strongest candidates generally share several of them.

An operating business

The business has active customers, employees, vendors, systems, and established operating activity. The program is generally not intended for idea-stage businesses.

Relevant complexity

There are meaningful questions involving workflows, reporting, staffing, customer flow, software, vendors, expansion, pricing, or other operational areas.

Appropriate access

Leadership is willing to share the information reasonably necessary to understand the problem and evaluate whether proposed changes are working.

Candid feedback

The business is willing to provide direct feedback on systems, tools, recommendations, and implementation rather than simply agreeing with them.

Willingness to improve

Leadership is open to changing an existing process when there is a clear operating reason to do so.

A strong mutual fit

The business presents problems or operating conditions relevant to work Aubrenne is actively developing, while Aubrenne can provide meaningful value in return.

PARTNERSHIP TERMS

There is no standard Design Partner package

Each partnership is structured around the business, the work involved, and what both parties expect to contribute.

A partnership may include complimentary services, reduced pricing, extended product access, early access to new tools, or other preferred terms. Those benefits are determined individually rather than promised through a public package.

Design Partner status does not require a business to adopt every recommendation or continue using a system that is not useful. Candid feedback is part of the arrangement.

Design Partner relationships are limited and are not offered to every business that applies.

APPLY

Apply to become an Aubrenne Design Partner

Tell us about the business, what you are currently working through, and why the Design Partner arrangement is of interest.

Applications are reviewed for mutual fit rather than in the order received.

Submission does not create a consulting relationship or guarantee acceptance into the Design Partner program.

Design Partner Application

Applications should provide enough context for Aubrenne to understand the business and the operating areas that may be relevant to a partnership.

Place your Squarespace Form Block here.

Use the field structure listed below and configure form storage to send submissions to designpartners@aubrenne.com.

Participation in the Aubrenne Design Partner program is subject to a separate written agreement defining scope, confidentiality, responsibilities, ownership, access, fees or benefits, and any applicable terms for tools or software used during the partnership.