Bright Bright Great

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder of a healthcare provider company, which is a membership-based, network of integrative healthcare providers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bright Bright Great?

We needed help in developing our brand from the beginning. We need to create an online presence and establish a fully-functioning website. The website design was crucial to the public's ability to join our network, and to quickly understand the benefits of membership.

Keeping front- and backend needs running smoothly was a challenge BBG really helped with. We had a lot of information to share and needed to make sure it was delivered clearly and simply. BBG made it look beautiful on top of making it work smoothly.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted people to learn about our integrative healthcare providers and treatments, and then we wanted them to sign up for monthly memberships. Memberships from individuals as well as healthcare professionals drove the business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose BBG after a team meeting with them. They were one of three vendors we interviewed for the project.

They were referred to us through a colleague. BBG's openness to our ideas and input plus the obvious understanding they had of our goals was important. They were in the price range of the other two vendors, but their creative ideas blew the others away.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

This was a startup, so we needed help with the company brand. They created and developed the company logo, icon, and website. They also designed business cards and social media profiles.

It was a very collaborative process. BBG was always willing to listen to and address any ideas and/or additions we might have had. Communication was frequent and clear. Online project management software was very helpful.

What was the team composition?

The team was made up of BBG's creative director and three designers. Each designer was working on specific aspects of the project, and CD was overseeing it all. They also had a projected manager keeping tabs on hours and costs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Really positive feedback from both individual and professional members of our company. The design elements really helped to define the spirit and goals of the company. The design elements surpassed our expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used Basecamp and phone calls and emails to communicate at least a couple of times per week. The online tools kept the need for phone calls to a minimum. When phone calls did happen, they were direct and to the point. BBG was always open to feedback and asked questions to clarify when needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Leadership at BBG is key. Jason has a good handle on the skills of each of his team members. He also knows how much to be directly hands-on. The team's creativity is amazing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Keep up the good work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior creative director at a nonprofit company that helps students get from education to career.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We had a website that needed to updated, so we brought them in to help us with adding new sections to the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, the team conducted user research to better understand our audience. Bright Bright Great then collaborated with us to set up a new podcast section for our website.

We already had an idea of what we wanted it to look like; the team just translated it into the design and came up with the functionality of the actual pages. They also set up a resource center for our network.

What is the team composition?

We work with multiple teammates, usually more than two. 

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

After conducting a search for top web firms, we compiled a list and Bright Bright Great came up on top of the list. We then interviewed them and felt that they were the right fit for us. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in October 2019, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The feedback and data we received from the user research were incredibly helpful. From the podcast section they incorporated, we’ve received some good traction. Having that tool up has been good for our company, creating awareness and providing a channel for us to reach our audience.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done very well. We communicate via email, phone, and Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a good personal touch. It’s clear that everyone from all parts of the team is interested in helping us accomplish our goals. Additionally, we appreciate their willingness to communicate openly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be specific with your requests and know ahead of time what you want to achieve. Even if you don’t have everything outlined in advance, Bright Bright Great does a good job of handling that. Not only do they provide the design, but they also help you understand your user base very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My organization is a nonprofit charter school serving pre-K through eighth-grade scholars throughout Chicago. We primarily serve students and families in areas that are underserved, so we provide a public education option for those families with no tuition.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We performed a complete website redesign with their team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled everything from research to implementing our entire website identity. The service was really full-stack, including everything from UX/UI mapping and all of our creative assets to full development of the layout and features of the site.

We provided them with our existing brand guidelines and color scheme, but they had total autonomy over evolving that into the website. They presented us with several different options on how we could implement it and we worked together iterating back and forth from there.

What is the team composition?

There was one main project manager, though that person changed during the course of the project. After that point, we worked with Amy (Creative Director), and she was absolutely fantastic.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

We were looking for a vendor who could refresh our website and bring it into the 21st century. In the process, we narrowed down from many different options to three and ended up going with BBG because of the portfolio of projects that they had and the fact that their team followed up quickly and were really engaged from the beginning.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around March 2019 and are continuing the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Overall, the amount of traffic to our site significantly increased due to the work that they delivered for us, including in total number of users, number of sessions per user, and average duration of sessions. They hit all of our goals, and we have been totally pleased with the quality of the work that we have seen from them.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

Even with the turnover that we had in the project, they always communicated clearly to us about what to expect and how to move forward. After that point, things only improved over the course of the process.

Working with Amy is one of the biggest reasons I would recommend BBG so highly. She was very intelligent, very well-spoken, understood our needs and point of view, and was able to advocate for us in every way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The artistry they bring to their work stands out as truly unique among other companies in their space. They have amazing creative ability when it comes to the designs they deliver.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m not sure that there’s anything that sticks out to me that they could really improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear about your expectations for the project and what they can expect from you. That will set you up for the most successful project possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of Hummer Mower Associates. We’re an investment advisory financial planning firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We started a new company and needed a creative agency to set us apart in an industry where everybody looks, talks, and acts the same. We had to create a whole new image but also needed to maintain the feeling of our legacy firm. Rather than a rubber stamp, we wanted creativity poured into the project to be proud of our website and collateral pieces.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We tasked Bright Bright Great with creating a unique message for our new company. Their team created the look and feel to appeal to a whole new generation of investors. Their team designed our website, logo, and collateral. We created the copy for the site, but they came up with ideas that we smoothed over. Their team was responsible for all of our website’s creative elements, which another service provider built out.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager and Jason, who’s the head of the organization, was involved. They had a larger team of 8 or so people but I felt that we worked with a team of three.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

The organization that manages our middle and back office worked with Bright Bright Great and recommended them. It made it easy for me to work with an existing team. We interviewed them and checked their work, which we liked. We saw that they had the creative talent that we needed but it was nice to know that the firm that does our middle back office recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $45,000–$50,000 for their work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Bright Bright Green in June 2017. They completed the project in early 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Bright Bright Great provided outstanding graphic design work. Their team developed an iconic logo that has worn well. We get compliments on the logo and the website all the time. The company that does our middle back office manages 90 teams and they’ve told us that we have the best website.  Bright Bright Great really delivered and their work has stood up well. Our clients really like our image. Their team put a lot of time and effort into the project. They gave us a lot of choices, which they helped us narrow down. Their team helped us make the right one. We were really happy.

How did Bright Bright Green perform from a project management standpoint?

Bright Bright Great had us on a good timeline and kept us on track. Their team was competent and patient with us. This is a creative team dealing with a bunch of financial folks and they went above and beyond to get us to understand the process. Their team ensured they got what they needed from us because we had to give our input along with compliance. This was a disruptive time for us and Bright Bright Great delivered. I didn’t have to worry about them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bright Bright Great had a high standard of professionalism. Their creativity and project management skills were strong.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they delivered at a good price. We’ve had no complaints about their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be patient. Listen and understand what they’re doing. It’s important to understand what they’re doing because people tend to think they know everything. They’re trying to understand your business and bring a creative element to it. Their team was patient when helping us to understand the process. We had to take a leap of faith, which they managed well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at Ardmore Roderick, a civil engineering and consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We recently went through a merger and had done some rebranding with another agency. However, we were unhappy with their work and hired Bright Bright Great to take over.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’d already created a new logo, but we had Bright Bright Great redevelop and redesign our website and help with some marketing collateral. They led the work; we didn’t provide any wireframes or sketches. They made the site and collateral cohesive, all fitting under one brand and style. The new website has the same functionality as the old, but it looks a lot different. We worked together to decide what features we wanted, then Bright Bright Great created a resume template and case studies for showcasing our different projects.

They had a photographer take professional headshots of our executive team and pictures of our office to reflect our company culture and identity. The graphic designer worked with our team, and we provided a few edits to her designs. Bright Bright Great also developed an internal portal for company employees, allowing them to easily access their emails, human resources documents, etc.

What is the team composition?

We worked with different people depending on the phase we were in. We had one main point of contact and also worked with a photographer, graphic designer, and project manager who oversaw all tasks.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

One of our employees referred them. I looked at their portfolio and reviews, liked what I saw, and hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve received nothing but positive feedback about the site. Our employees love the internal portal, saying it’s much easier to have all of their resources in one place.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

They directed us well and kept the project running smoothly and on time. The project manager set an aggressive but possible pace. We used Asana for QA and general communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bright Bright Great is much better than our previous partner. They listened to what we said and found solutions to our problems, developing product that exactly met our criteria. I trust them whole-heartedly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they have excellent communication and customer service.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Trust their process and follow their lead. They’ll keep you going in the right direction.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director of a computer software firm. We provide our clients with sales enablement software. I oversee the website and manage our brand identity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

Our company has been around for six or seven years and recently gained a lot of momentum. Having just launched a U.S. headquarters, we decided it was a good time for a global rebrand. We have a lot of in-house designers, but wanted to find a partner that could lead the rebranding project and focus their efforts on building a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we researched user personas to define our audience and tone of voice accurately. Then, we came to Bright Bright Great with our findings to create the project’s foundation. They built upon that foundation to establish new design systems like fonts, colors, photo libraries, icons, and other illustrations. The project went through a few rounds of design iteration where they presented five options to our leadership team. We already had a new logo, so they worked to build elements that complemented our vision.

Ultimately, Bright Bright Great delivered our website’s frontend design. Their efforts included designing a custom font for our brand. They’re responsible for defining the different design aspects we moved forward with as the project progressed.

What is the team composition?

We worked with both owners of the company, one of which functions as the creative director. An account manager was also attached to all of our correspondence and would help schedule everything. Additionally, we interacted with a senior art director and serval graphic designers. They later handed the project over to their WordPress developer.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

We engaged an extensive RFP process and sent it out to companies all over the world. We sourced agency recommendations from 10 of our internal designers and vetted them thoroughly. We specifically looked for firms that had experience working with companies similar to ours. Eventually, we found Bright Bright Great through the American Institute of Graphic Arts. They fit our needs in terms of size, location, and experience. We were impressed by their portfolio and saw how their work could be translated into our brand. We considered five candidates in total, but our leadership selected Bright Bright Great because of their thorough response to the RFP document.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to $100,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The bulk of the project took place between April and August 2018. While essentially complete, they’re still helping us polish a few minor things before the site’s official launch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The site hasn’t launched yet, so I can’t offer any specific metrics. However, I can safely say that Bright Bright Great’s work has been positively received throughout our agency. Our executive-level staff considers the rebrand a new era for the company. The new designs put us above our industry competitors. We’re incredibly excited to unveil their deliverables to the public.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

Like any project of this size, some things are going to fall through the cracks. But they always correct their mistakes within a matter of hours. We use Asana to communicate and organize the QA process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bright Bright Great really stood out to us in terms of responsiveness and flexibility. They go above our expectations and respond to daily emails within seconds. They also adjusted to our needs as the project evolved and worked on deliverables outside of the original scope of work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like to see them acquire a wider variety of full-time resources. It would’ve been nice to have an assigned UX designer and illustrator. Luckily, we have a lot of internal resources at our disposal, so this issue didn’t negatively impact our engagement in a meaningful way.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They offer a cost-effective way to build a new website. For maximizing the engagement and results, you may consider bringing in additional resources for things like specialized illustrations as needed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the COO of James Dwayne, a marketing, communication, consulting firm based in Chicago. I am also the head of operations with another Chicago-based management software firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

Our main challenge was that our brand was stuck in the past. We needed to establish a new identity that was aligned with our goals moving forward. In doing this, we wanted a website that established our company's mission. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, the Bright Bright Great team performed a full audit on us to discover who we really were as a company. They developed a core mission vision for us built around our goals. They established a style guide, built us a website, and performed, essentially, an entire brand overhaul.

What is the team composition?

Since they are such a lean team, we aren't shuffled from person to person as the project moves along. Our main contact is Jason Schwartz, the managing director and partner at Bright Bright Great. He was involved every step of the way.  We also worked with Amy Schwartz (Creative Director, Bright Bright Great) and Josh Stoik (Web Developer, Bright Bright Great) throughout the process. The director of technology, Tiffany Stoik, was one of the key people we work with because she didn't leave a single stone unturned. We also communicated with their art director, Mackenzie Freemire.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

They were referred to us and I have used them for multiple projects with other companies I've worked with.

What is the status of this engagement?

I am looking to continue working with them on future projects. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

After working with them, we’ve been able to get more meetings with companies than we were before. Because we had a brand identity problem before Bright Bright Great, we had to spend large portions of our meetings describing who we were. Now, we have established our voice and mission so people know who we are. We couldn’t have done that without the help of Jason’s team.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

The Bright Bright Great team are detailed, tenacious, and stay on track throughout every project. His team let us know their thoughts on our ideas and informed us of services we should take advantage of. They stay on budget and on time. We primarily communicated through Asana and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

While some people could find their frankness and honesty to be off-putting, I welcome it. They will always point you in the direction they believe is best and make sure they are an open partner, which I think is awesome. They always have your business’ best interest at heart and they are good people.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve worked with him for over four years and I wouldn’t say there isn’t really anything they could improve on. Though some might not like their frankness, I appreciate it.

Any advice for potential customers?

If you’re looking for a quick solution, find a different company. Bright Bright Great are going to be a partner for the long term that will move the needle over time. They will be the ones you lean on and rely on to see a project through to the end.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and co-founder of a natural snack food company. We make tortilla chips, snack mix, trail mix, granola bars, and cold cereals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We needed to establish a presence on social media. My partner and I have been in the food business for our entire careers. However, neither of us knew much about social media or online marketing. We needed a partner with that expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bright Bright Great led social media ad campaigns, primarily on Facebook. They geotargeted consumers in zip codes where we had distribution. They pushed out our message in order to increase traffic to stores. They also set up our Instagram and Pinterest sites.

We used a different team to build our website, but Bright Bright Great provided advice on how to improve it and make it more user friendly. They also developed content for the site as well as our social media channels. They helped create distribution plans for our brands and products.

What is the team composition?

Our initial contact was Jason, Bright Bright Great’s Managing Director. We had an account executive that focused on the business side of things. Our main point person coordinated all of the project activities. There was a larger team doing the work, but we didn't communicate with them directly.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

We were referred to them by one of our investors who knew their work and spoke very highly of them. My partner and I met with Jason, and we were very impressed.

How much have you invested with them?

I think we spent between $200,000–$250,000 over 18 months.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in late 2014 and wrapped up in 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They sent us weekly reports on how our social media performed and who was seeing the ads. Our Facebook page got 26,000 likes during one campaign, which was a big win. Getting us on Pinterest and Instagram was a big accomplishment. Those pages are still up and we continue to use them as we launch new products. We’re still using their social media strategy as we plan for 2019.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

The Bright Bright Great team was terrific. They did exactly what we asked them to do and more. They really served as our strategist and our teacher.

We primarily used email to communicate but they also had a great project management platform. It had a dashboard to keep track of everything going on with the project. We’d get a message to log on to the platform to review and approve something, which was very convenient. I liked that it gave us an instant picture of what was going on with the whole project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team had great energy. Jason is very sharp and knows what he's doing. He had great confidence in his team's ability, but wasn’t arrogant. He was a mentor for us and really helped us get up to speed on social media. We enjoyed collaborating with the team.

Any advice for potential customers?

They have an office in Chicago. I would suggest any potential client go visit them there for the initial discussion. It would be an advantage to meet in person with Jason and your future account lead. You'd also have the benefit of meeting the rest of the team and learning who does what aspect of the work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work on the marketing team for an entrepreneurship and innovation center at the University of Chicago.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We wanted to launch a new website that addresses the needs of the various constituents and audiences we serve. Bright Bright Great was brought on to help us house our newly merged organization’s content in one place.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began by benchmarking what other competitors in the industry were doing and pulling things that we liked from the different sites. We also had to take into consideration input from leadership and our navigation needs. Bright Bright Great provided initial sketches for wireframes, and we collaborated on them from that point.

The website was built in WordPress and they optimized it on different platforms, which was one of our major requests. They also made sure that all of the branded elements were aligned, such as logos and colors, so that everything was cohesive.

What is the team composition?

They have a team of six or seven people, and over the past two years doing photo shoots, fixing bugs, changing designs, and making sure contracts are up to date, I believe I’ve worked with everyone. Originally, we worked with the owner who was the point person for contracts and backend functionality. We’ve also worked closely with their designer, who offers a lot of expertise.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

We went through a full RFP process, but Bright Bright Great had been recommended to us by a colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

I don’t have the exact number, but I do know that we have ongoing monthly maintenance fees that are billed on an annual basis. Our ongoing maintenance and initial website launch would bring us to about the $50,000 mark.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in the summer of 2016, and the site launched in September 2017. We also have an ongoing maintenance and support contract with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

From an analytics perspective, we’re getting more traffic to our website and we’ve seen improvement on almost all of the metrics we’re tracking. Everything is listed under one URL now, which has been helpful in directing people to our site.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

There were a few hiccups with turnover on their end, and a few things fell between the cracks because of that, but that happens sometimes so it’s not anything I hold against them. Overall, the deadlines and timeline goals were met. We communicated mostly through email and used Asana as the project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had a variety of people and expertise on their team. I worked with different people based on the phase of the project. It was nice to have different resources available.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing major comes to mind. There was a time when the project slowed down due to turnover with their staff and the process of hiring new people, but we recognize that happens. It’s not something I would call out as an issue.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We were able to work on a shorter timeline by providing them with key examples of what we were looking for. Sending those ensured that we were on the same page from the beginning of the project. I would also advise keeping the lines of communication open; they’re very receptive to feedback or changes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Muse for You. We allow people to build and design their own website without having to work with the backend or coding. They can incorporate opensource scripts into AdobeMuse, and we provide an interface for them to change some of its options, without touching the code.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

I built my website myself, but my UI was lacking a little bit, so I was looking to get a professional design. When users visited my website, I wanted them to be impressed and for the site to make sense. Overall, I wanted to have a good design, a good brand, and a good representation of my business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After we played a game to determine how I saw my business, my brand, and how I wanted my customers to see me, they set up a Pinterest board, which let me show them what I was going for with my design, in terms of visuals and color. They then moved into the actual design process, creating a new logo, brand, and website, in addition to any assets I would need for social media, Facebook Ads, or promotional materials.

What is the team composition?

In the beginning, I communicated with a project manager, but, unfortunately, she had to leave the firm. From then on, I mostly talked with their Managing Director and Creative Director. I’ve also connected with their web developer.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

I went to BBG’s website and I liked what they offered. They were also nearby, in a sense, just three hours driving, so I could go down and communicate with them if I needed to.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2017 until April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Because I haven't launched the site yet, I can't really measure the impact, but I know it's helped me to seem own brand a bit more clearly. It’s also been good to see how they work – they organize by brand – and how they develop their sites.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

A lot of our communications were through Asana, so it was very easy to send messages, or to coordinate revisions, questions, and comments. They’d listen to what I’d send and then quickly respond and get me feedback. We’d also use it to breakdown tasks, so I could see what needed to be worked and what was actually being worked on.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

We worked in different phases throughout the project, which they wrote out, so I could get a big-picture view of where we were. It was a really great process. I learned a lot just by working with them. They were really organized and smart.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing would be I wish could've had more communication with their Managing Director. I know he must be busy talking to a lot of clients, and he did pick up when I called, but that’s the one thing.

Any advice for potential customers?

Because I work on the computer pretty much all day, whenever they had a question, I would be able to answer very quickly, which made the whole process easier for both of us. So quick communication would be my tip.