Embacy

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CMO at Slash.com— the first app in the world for creating unique discounts, which used to be exclusively a retailers’ privilege. Slash allows lowering the prices for all goods and services of our partners, among which are: Booking.com, AliExpress, eBay, Udemy, The Body Shop, Converse, and many more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy, and what were your goals?

We needed to create a brand identity, UI kit and website design that would perfectly fit Slash.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

There were several reasons: our colleague’s recommendation, outstanding projects portfolio and excellent reviews from clients.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Upon completion of the project, we received a style guide including branding materials, UI kit, web design and Webflow development for our new website.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The team working on the project was quite extensive, but the main points of contact were Denis and Daniel (project managers) and Anastasia and Margarita (design).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The majority of our team as well as our partners think highly of our new brand identity. The perception of a broader audience is yet to be discovered since we are only at the beginning of our journey.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We worked really well together — it felt like we were one team and had our own common vibe. This is very valuable. But also I want to point out how attentive the team was to our feedback and requests. I think we were a rather complex project for Embacy but at the same time a relatively simple client. In my opinion, the project went very smoothly.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

All the processes are really well-structured, I was Impressed. I used to work at agencies myself before, so I know what I’m talking about.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Yes, I think there is some room for improvement in terms of web development.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a performance marketing agency that helps companies to acquire more customers from digital advertising. My role is CEO/Founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy?

We worked with Embacy to improve our branding and web design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Our goal was to have a more professional web design and branding that will allow us to acquire more high-ticket customers.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

For our project, we decided to start with the branding in order to set strong foundations and then move with web design. Our team is pretty confident that the new design of the website will convert better and help our company to scale much faster. We are very impressed with the different versions that the Embacy team was able to create so we could have a variety of options to choose how our branding and web design will look like.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The team composition was with so many people that I am not really sure of their specific role but I would say a few people were working on our project with experience on how to craft flawless design. I'm very happy with the project managers I've worked with - Amalia & Karina, both are doing great!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I would say the design is truly impressive and I believe in our space we are having one of the best websites & branding after working with Embacy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team was super talented. No delays on calls, clear agenda on what we will be speaking about.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What is more impressive is the process and how invested the whole team was in our project. It's very difficult for an agency to build a process that works on a high level but this is something we saw that the Embacy team has nailed. Good job!

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I'm not sure if there was an area for improvement, pretty much everything was on point with our project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Co-Founder & Head of Product

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy, and what were your goals?

We hired Embacy to overhaul (and create) our brand identity. We wanted something which would appeal to a large audience, but showcase our uniqueness as a brand - while staying true to our core values.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We compared a number of companies but ultimately chose Embacy through a referral from one of our partners. Many design company portfolios tend to look homogenous. With Embacy, that was far from the case - it was clear that each brand they took on was assessed individually in order to create clever & unique designs. They described themselves as the perfect firm to create unicorn brands and based on the results we'd have to agree.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

They started by interviewing our team in depth. We went over everything from the business itself, to our core values as a team, to our aspirations for the future - and even our personal inspirations. Next we discussed in broad strokes existing designs that we liked, and shared with their team different inspiration images and brands for comparison. Embacy took this information, analyzed our competitors & the space, and iteratively prepared for us a brand vision and three potential directions for our re-design. We focused on one direction and spent several weeks reviewing new designs and refinements until we had our finished product - new logos, a brandbook, a pitchdeck, SEO images, and a preliminary website re-design.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with two or three members from Embacy's team - but time was spent chiefly with their Project Manager and their Designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Embacy were absolute rockstars. They analyzed the market to find a visual niche, developed an illustration-based concept with supporting graphic elements, designed for us a universe with illustrative metaphors, created dynamic key visuals for our website & branding, developed headshot graphics for the team, and created a brand-book with associated mock-ups. We started with a loose set of ideas and ended with a concrete brand that we can carry forward for the rest of the business.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We met with Embacy weekly, primarily leveraging Figma and email to view and iterate on designs. Timelines were clear with upfront projections on what was to be accomplished week over week. Though we needed a few extra weeks to finish the deliverables, the team was transparent about the work and fees needed and had the bandwidth to accommodate the stretched timelines.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Embacy has an incredible ability to turn loose feedback and rough ideas into compelling, unique designs that resonate with the core needs of the project. It's often difficult as customers to describe exactly what it is that we're looking for. They were talented and experienced at reading between the lines and turning our rough visions into pleasing realities. This coupled with the low cost and quick response times left us very impressed.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

It felt that 1-2 extra weeks to refine the design were somewhat inevitable given the scope and the way the project was laid out at the beginning. I'm unsure if it's often the case that a few extra weeks are needed - but if so it might be helpful to factor that into the initial estimate.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Managing Partner & COO of Nexio Projects. Nexio Projects is an international sustainability consulting firm based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy, and what were your goals?

We approached Embacy for a new brand identity and web design that would reflect our mission to guide organisations through their sustainability journey and support them in transitioning from compliance to purpose.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose Embacy out of a pool of 10+ branding agencies and web designers. We finally opted for Embacy due to their highly organised and professional approach as well as their 'out of the box' mentality and innovative spirit.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Embacy started early in gathering as much data from our side as possible to understand our offering, our values and overall DNA. Next, they conducted a market scan and went through 3 iterations to give space for feedback and choose an overall brand direction. The team delivered a fully updated brand identity as well as a design for a new website.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with two different teams for the rebranding and the web design stages, including a project manager and support design teams for each.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very happy with the result as both employees feel stronger connection to our brand and our unique DNA and our customers complement the clarity, consistency and professionalism of final deliverables in the new branding.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Project managers were incredibly responsive, and communicated clear and detailed notes from our weekly meetings per email. Continuous collaboration on Figma also made our work very streamlined.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We appreciated Embacy's ability and willingness to test and trial ideas based on feedback from our team. Their dedication to develop a brand identity that was unique and that truly reflected who we are as a company was also exactly what we were looking for.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Perhaps some more time could have gone into developing a deeper understanding of the context and sector we operate in.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Malaa is a FinTech company that operates in the MENA region, we develop data-driven products that support financial decision-making across saving, lending, and investing. I am the co-founder and chief strategy officer and I oversee strategy, finance, and growth at Malaa

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy, and what were your goals?

We engaged Embacy in branding and website design and implementation scope.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have drafted a simple RFP and started reaching out to agencies. We stumbled upon Embacy through their expert Webflow directory and reach them out through Webflow forms.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

The project is divided into two stages (branding and web design respectively). The branding exercise kicked off and included three steps starting with the research and understanding Malaa segments and brand pyramid overall. Then, we started the visual part and we received three different visuals and we have selected a unique direction that is most friendly with the desired brand architecture. After that, we have refined the final brand direction and received the brand book. Finally, the Web design stage started and we have defined the site map and agreed on low-fi designs. Then, we approved the hi-fi designs in Figma and received the final implementation on a Webflow.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We have worked with many professionals from Embacy side, to name a few (Denis, Asya, Anton, Banu, Amalia, Nikita, and others), from Malaa side it was only founders (Faisal & Ali).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have not launched yet, awaiting regulatory approval. But, we received many compliments (online and offline) on the brand identity and the website.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

It was fantastic — we faced minor issues with translation but everything worked well in the end.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were impressed by how original and creative they were.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Branding side (a little brand strategy incorporation can be very beneficial for better outcomes, the current branding process is conceptually driven rather than strategic.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner and Managing Director of The Cornerstone Advisory. The Cornerstone Advisory is a business advisory based in the UAE designed for forward-thinking CEOs and Leaders, helping their businesses by crafting resilience through innovative solutions.

Our differentiator is that we address the whole of business problems from a strategy alignment, people and process perspective, delivered through practical solutions that add real impact.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy, and what were your goals?

Embacy was hired to develop our brand identity which was then confirmed through a style guide and formats created for different mediums including presentations, reports and social media samples. Embacy was also hired to design and develop TCA’s first website in line with branding.

The key aims were to have a unique brand that could readily be applied to different contexts and formats. And to have a simple, effective and dynamic website that serves to inform and engage both existing and new customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Embacy was selected mainly for its collaborative yet intensive working style; keeping clients informed yet accountable through sprints made it easier from a deadline perspective. Their working style became evident through the review and negotiation stages, so it was clear for us from the start how they structure the process. Even though they were more expensive than other contenders, it was this and their practicality that won us over.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Embacy worked in two sets of four-week sprints on each project and a 2-week sprint on website production.

Brand identity:

• 1st week: a review of competitors, discussion of design references, dive into TCA and the market, develop a brand message, work on the ideas/concept metaphors for the brand and create 3 main concept metaphors.
• 2nd week: finalise and present 3 concept metaphors for selection
• 3rd week: develop the style and create the deliverables
• 4th week: brand book development and presentation

Website design:

• 1st week: dive into the product, benchmark competitors and create a sitemap. Create a prototype for the main page and create 3 styles.
• 2nd week: develop and select the style directions. Finalise homepage design.
• 3rd week: design the Services page, the Why choose us page and the About Us page
• 4th week: Design Our Insights and Talk To Us pages, create adaptive versions for mobile and the UI kit and prepare the pages for Webflow production.

Website development: 2 weeks development, shared site for testing and review. All comments were resolved within 4 weeks.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Both teams were led by a separate Project Manager; the branding team had a design director and supporting staff. The web design team was overseen by two PMs and supporting staff. Production led by production lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The brand identity looks fantastic. The team articulated the various and at times opposing ideas into a great look and feel for the brand. This has translated well in online mediums such as the website and the initial look of social media channels (although these are yet to fully launch at the time of writing this review). The website also fulfils its objectives; the brand identity is well-used – it is simple yet dynamic and different from typical management consultancy websites.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The structure of communication was particularly effective during the branding stage of the project; the team was proactive and responsive. They had clear objectives for every session, and they were on top of their PM and design game – every query was dealt with effectively. They reviewed requests/comments/ideas, they effectively considered what would work and what wouldn’t work, they found alternatives that worked better. This was a complete dream team – Denis and Anastasia were brilliant.

The web design team was structured the same way and discussions were productive. At times, they didn’t always hear what was being requested and didn’t respond with solutions. We had an intervention in the second week where this communication barrier was understood and predominantly resolved through the rest of the project. Web production: Nikita was a star. He delivered with minimal interaction as this was a conversion of the design into Webflow and when it was time to review, he responded quickly and got things done.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We like their working style and output. They delivered and kept us accountable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I suggest that they also translate designs into the non-Figma form so that they can be effectively utilised elsewhere. This was really difficult for PPT presentations as we have a number of existing files we would have liked to adapt but we either had to put more effort in to get them into Figma format, or more effort to get the Figma designs into PPT format. The web design team could have been more effective by addressing queries, as I sometimes had followed them up with some queries. Probably this was so palpable in contrast to the Branding team, which had set the bar real high.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Nadya Blau. Since April 2021, I have been working as Head of Tech Brand Development and Internal Communications for the Digital Tech department Magnit company. Magnit is the largest Russian retailer with the largest geographic presence.

Now our trading network has more than 22,000 retail outlets - Magnit, Magnit Cosmetic, Magnit Pharmacy and others. It is also the largest private employer in Russia, more than 300 thousand people are employed here. Inside Magnit there are more than 600 information systems and services, the technological stack includes more than 200 technologies, the number of employees in Tech teams is more than 3500 people

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy?

Embacy was our partner in two tasks: the development of a brand book and a brand platform and the development of an HR website. After successful cooperation, we engaged the Embaсy team to develop the concept of corporate merch.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

For us, it was important that the partner be set up for the result at a limited time, just like us. Embacy team moved at high speed, showed interest in quality solutions and ensured 100% project transparency. Figma of our project was available to us from the first step. One of the most important criteria is scalability and easy support of the created base of both branding and website.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The project began with a detailed task brief and a definition of the scope of work. In the first week, together with the agency, we reviewed the UVP of the Magnit brand and collected the positioning of our competitors. In the second week, the Embacy team developed 3 concepts, then we chose one on the basis of which the brand book was developed. The fourth and fifth weeks were devoted to the development of the website.

Then the website was launched. After a while, we returned to Embacy with the website backlog to develop new pages. Embacy adjusted to our limitations each time - due to remote work, our teams have a meagre photo bank of professional photos. These are mainly photos taken with a phone. We made it our feature - no photos from photo banks.

A separate project was the development of merch. Here we also thought out 3 concepts and checked each step with production, so that the creative could be guaranteed to be embodied in a physical medium. In three weeks, we finalised layouts for five mediums.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with the project manager, design and web teams - 4-5 people all in all.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a result of the project, we were able to launch not only a website but also our own blog on habr.com, emailing and a Telegram channel. The number of responses from candidates has increased, which we receive not through cold searches and agencies. Our speakers perform at IT conferences with a recognisable presentation style.

The website has become a source of relevant and reliable information for everyone who talks about vacancies in the Digital and Tech teams of Magnit

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was 100% effective. Guys are ready to work as one team with the client, they always think about how to solve the problem and are ready to help 24/7.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The speed of delivery of the result, the quality of the solution and communications, clear and transparent pricing

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Embacy works only with Webflow, but paying for an account there is difficult for a public Russian company. And another limitation - it is not possible to make integration with our internal CRM systems. Therefore, we began to develop our own backend - while we are doing it, our vacancies will be processed on the website in a manual mode.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Rowi offers products for financing small and medium-sized businesses quickly and to the point. I am a project manager for the creation and development of Rowi brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy?

For rowi.com website design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

First of all, we were impressed with the portfolio. We appreciated the high level of work, extensive experience of cooperation with b2b clients, including complex ones. Secondly, a high-quality communication. The response to the request came very soon, a meeting was quickly organised. As for the questions at the meeting, we realised we were on the same page as they understood quite well the specifics of the project. We could see their enthusiasm. The ability to negotiate, a friendly attitude and an active position were very appealing. Also, a high speed and convenient format of work. We appreciated the willingness to work under tight deadlines along with the development of the Rowi brand. Last, but not least, Adequate cost of services. Transparent working conditions. It is clear how much the project costs. If the cost increases, it is clear why and by how much.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We needed to create a design of 4 pages for rowi.com: the main page with information about all the company's products, 2 product pages and an About Us page. The task was to adapt the brand's style for the web and the copyright of all pages.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with Anton, Roman and Leonid. The team is active, promptly solving issues. They are easy to communicate and negotiate with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There is no outcome in numbers yet. The main result is the launch of the brand on time and the qualitative solution of the project tasks.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I can say it was a high-quality partnership interaction. I can point out the attentiveness to feedback and the joint search for solutions, the desire to meet halfway.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Efficiency, quality of project management on the agency's side, recommendation of a developer.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Attention to smaller details (sometimes artefacts remained on the layouts), text editing (there were some grammatical errors), preparation of source codes/materials (fractional values in positioning, working with components).

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Kaspersky Lab is an international company specializing in the development of protection systems against computer viruses, spam, hacker attacks and other cyber threats.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy?

Kaspersky iHub Innovation Center supports a systematic innovation management process within Kaspersky Lab. The team focuses on finding new business growth opportunities and working with external startups. All this helps to create new high-tech but unconventional products and services for Kaspersky Lab.

Within the Innovation Center, there is a Startup Factory direction, which is engaged in the development of innovative projects: working with ideas at the early stages and a quick process of validating hypotheses. For this project, we used the services of Embacy.

It was important for us to develop a landing page builder in which we could change information by testing our hypotheses. It was important to focus on design that would match the target audience of the product.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were interested in the format of work on sprints. During the negotiations, Embacy team told us about the advantages and effectiveness of this format. Deadline was also important for us because we needed to run the product MVP and test hypotheses. We were surprised by the short term of the project that the guys from Embacy promised us at the negotiations.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The whole project lasted three weekly sprints. The first sprint went into analytics, market and competitor research, prototyping, and copywriting. At the end of the first sprint, the guys from Embacy presented us with three concepts of our project. We decided to combine the first and third options, taking the best of them.

The second sprint went for revision of the visual and the text for the landing page. At the end of the second week of work, our project was handed over to the layout team. The third sprint was completely occupied with the layout and final setting of the landing page. We got the finished product on time and it was great!

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

First, we communicated with the account manager and the head of web design team, and then the project manager joined the work and managed the design team and the layout team. How many people on the teams I don't know, but the work process was clear and accurate, like a Swiss watch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At this stage, it is too early to talk about the results, since the project is in the active stage of hypotheses testing. However, we are very pleased with the process of cooperation with Embacy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was a very efficient process! I liked that the guys clearly adhered to the deadlines and sent daily letters with a report on the work done. At any moment I could see in Figma what the team was doing. Everything was as accessible and transparent as possible.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were impressed with their quick turnaround time, effective communication, and unique workflow. They delivered a result within the agreed time frame. It was very easy to work with the Embacy. Guys was catching the meaning at once our wishes and quickly made edits.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I have no wishes for improvement. All perfectly!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and COO of a parking mobility startup. We work with cities and provide real-time curb data.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Embacy?

We hired Embacy to do our company's re-branding, and also design / development for our website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected this vendor by reviewing several agencies - their timelines, budgets, and quality of work. We ultimately chose Embacy after all 3 requirements were met by them and we were confident in their ability to deliver what we were looking for.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The team conducted research on our competitors, saw and understood our vision. Once they understood more about our business model and exactly what we needed, they setup a timeline and the exact deliverables that we would be receiving. They took a hard look at the moodboard, our previous branding, as well competitors and came up with a few different plans. Once our team agreed on the approach, they began working on the designs / branding. Once the branding component was complete, we worked on establishing a wireframe / copy for the website. Once the content was all ready to go in the wireframe which we collaborated on, the design team began working on the designs. Once designs were completed, the development team began converting the design files on webflow. Overall, the process and transitions were very smooth.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked directly with their project manager, account manager, UI / UX designer, and developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have not yet released the website so are unable to share the exact outcome of the project; however, the work that was done was incredible and we are excited to launch our new brand and website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was extremely effective. I spoke with the team at least 3 times a week where they shared the progress that was made and we gave feedback. The workflow was very smooth and we communicated over email / Google meets.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their ability to understand concepts and our vision and converting it to a beautiful graphic or design blew me away. The UI / UX team was also surprisingly fast with their output. When feedback was given, their team was able to act quickly to make changes and the project manager ensured that all comments were taken into consideration when developing the work.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

It would be nice to have a slack or other alternative to email for regular communication; however, I can understand how emails have everything in one place so there is not any confusion.