Merger for UX Agencies Foolproof and Flow Interactive

In the UK, user experience design agencies Foolproof and Flow Interactive have merged, to create what they describe as 'Europe's largest specialist UX agency' with 70 staff and initial turnover in excess of £5.5m.

Both companies will retain their individual brands, and the expanded business will operate out of two sites - Flow's existing office in Goswell Road, EC1, which will become the consolidated London base of the two companies, and Foolproof's current Norwich location.

Foolproof's Peter Ballard and Tom Wood will be majority shareholders of the expanded business while Flow's owner Meriel Lenfestey (pictured) will join the shareholder Board of Foolproof.

Ballard comments: 'After eight years of successful organic growth, and fresh from our best-ever year, joining forces with Flow will take the business to a completely new level. It will help us capitalise on the clear trend for UX insight and customer-driven innovation to sit right at the heart of clients' decision-making processes, which gives us a key strategic role within their businesses.'

There are not expected to be any job losses as a result of the deal, and the firms say that continued high demand for insight-driven design expertise means that there are immediate vacancies within the account management and UX consultancy teams.

Web sites: www.foolproof.co.uk and www.flow-interactive.com .