500 Designs

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an administrator at a surgical educational podcast and learning platform for medical students, residents, and practicing surgeons. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 500 Designs?

We wanted to improve our website’s Google search rankings increase — we needed 500 Designs’ help with SEO. We also needed to compete with our competitors on several products we offer. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We offered a robust, free podcast with a corresponding website, which housed a library of over 500 episodes of our surgical education podcast. So, 500 Designs implemented SEO efforts to improve our Google rankings to increase traffic to the site from an audience looking for content like ours. 

A course we sold, made up of audio files that serve as a study guide for a general surgery test, also needed to improve its competitive edge on the market. So, 500 Designs also implemented SEO efforts for that course. They also focused on the rankings of our book, which was listed on Amazon and also served as a test study guide.

For all those SEO efforts, 500 Designs designed subpages within our website. For example, they created an entire subpage dedicated to our book to promote it on Amazon. Creating those subpages was meant to improve our search engine rankings. As part of this partnership, 500 Designs’ team showed me how to work on the backend of our WordPress site and make changes to the metadata of our podcast episodes to improve our SEO. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates, including an SEO lead. 

How did you come to work with 500 Designs?

Someone who used to work for us found them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $6,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The main SEO project was from February 2021–September 2022. However, they’re providing ongoing maintenance services. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After 500 Designs implemented their SEO efforts, we saw a significant improvement in our rankings across our website and two products we were focused on. 

How did 500 Designs perform from a project management standpoint?

500 Designs communicated well with us, providing PDF reports via email that showed our site traffic, where the traffic was coming from, searches we were popping up in, and what users were clicking on. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

500 Designs understood our business well — they had a good understanding of our products and the competitors we wanted to compete against in our efforts to improve our product rankings. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing for them to improve — we were happy with their services. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of an advanced aviation safety and risk consulting company that also provides a leading risk management platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs?

Our company is a start-up in a dynamic safety critical industry, our clients range from small aviation operators to large multi-national technology organizations that service the advancing urban air mobility, drone, and autonomous transport systems industry. Our branding and website needed to communicate the value and solutions that both our platform and our expertise provide the industry.

SOLUTION

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

We selected 500 designs based on their visible rack record and testimonials of satisfied customers. We are now one of those highly satisfied customers.

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

500 took us through a step-by-step process to achieve our end goals. This process was designed especially for our needs, and clearly outlined prior to the work commencing. This process helped us refine our messaging, branding, logo, and even the mood we wanted to create - we could not have arrived at such a great personality for our brand without their support and expertise.

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

The team that worked with us ranged in number from 3 to six, these included the project manager, technical specialists, designers, and specialized designers - in layperson terms - in each of our meetings there was always a great balance of the technical and creative experts for each phase of the project - from the customer perspective, this means we always had the right people in the room to answer all my questions and address any concerns or gaps in our knowledge.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are a start-up, and first impressions count, so we can't think of a better partner to make that first impression with than with 500 designs. Another measure of success for us was the creativity and reflection they stimulated within our organization to refine our branding and strategy - we certainly gained more than just a great website out of the journey - we learned more about our market, our competitors, and our future clients to help us strategize.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication and workflow with the project manager and specialists along the way were excellent; the meetings were recorded and sent to me so that I could make sure nothing was forgotten, the tools such as 'figma' and google docs were a great help, and easy to ensure we were all on the same page - each step of the project.

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

Bravo to 500 designs! what a team, everyone was enthusiastic, highly knowledgeable, open to new ideas, and ensured that our preferences and perspectives were incorporated into the project. This team is unique — they are all engaged, authentic, and talented. As we grow our organization, we will be emulating the same culture.

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

There is nothing that we could suggest to do differently. For us, it was the first time we had used some of the communication tools like figma, we had to get used to using these - however - the 500 teams supported us through the whole process and promptly provided help when we reached out. It really is flying first class with 500 Designs - quality and service. Well done team, we loved working with you!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of three founders and the Chief Operating Officer of a private wealth management firm servicing high-net-worth individuals and institutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs, and what were your goals?

We needed a new website for our firm which was dawned from an existing wealth management business. Our goal was to create an extension of our brand through a website, offering additional insights to who we are for prospective clients.

SOLUTION

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

We searched online for top rated web design firms within our price range. From there we narrowed down companies based on their own website and project examples they showcased online. After this we reached out to these firms to confirm our budget would work and if so scheduled a meeting. During the meetings our primary focus shifted to their organizational structure and their outline for how the project would be managed. This led us to our final selection.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

From a high level we had an intro call and then broke out into working with the design team. There were multiple calls upfront and videoconferences to discuss our vision. We homed in on our design and moved through to the structure of the site. Once this was complete it was the UI team than saw the project through the finish line.

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

A project manager, two representatives from the design team and two from the UI team along with cast of support people on each team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Clients loved the look and professionalism of the site. The end result was exactly what we were looking for.

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

The communication was seamless as we went directly through our project manager who then distributed our message or request to the correct people. If needed the team specifically would reach out to me.

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

Their organization and professionalism were up to the standard we were looking for.

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

The UI development was the only area we had more hiccups than expected but this could very well be the par for the course when developing a new website. That said it was not bad at all.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing. We have multiple b2b websites in the wholesale general merchandise industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs?

We desperately needed to update both the look/feel as well as the usability of our main site as it was painfully outdated. We hired 500 to modernize the aesthetics of the site as well as improve the overall user experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found 500 on clutch and the manifest. We interviewed multiple candidates, but what won us over was their emphasis on helping our business succeed, not just giving our website a makeover. The comprehensive audit of the entire business was invaluable and led to more informed and confident design decisions.

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

To start, we filled out a discovery document. This helped 500 gain a complete understanding of our business (who we are, our values, our brand personality, how we make money, our target market, etc). Every detail in this doc was used by 500 to make a design that fit who we are as a company, from color and font choices to website copy.

After reviewing the doc, the team then started their business audit, which was broken up into 3 parts:

1) UX Audit and Strategy Pt 1 This audit dissected our brand position and personality, the visual aspect of the business, our market and audience, website behavior, and an SEO summary. This audit was 57 pages long.

2) UX Audit and Strategy Pt 2 This dove into our target audiences (including user personas and user journeys) and our Product Usability. This audit was 213 pages long.

3) Competitor Research

Lastly, this deck went over our direct and indirect competitors. Who they were, what they did well, how we could emulate some of those qualities, etc. This audit was 87 pages.

After the audits, 500 had a full grasp on where we stood and where we needed to go, so it was time to start designing. We went back and forth on the designs as it progressed, and we were able to see updates in real time on figma. We went through multiple iterations, and 500 was always happy to make changes, even when we were being somewhat indecisive and difficult. Eventually, we got what we wanted and are extremely happy with the end product.

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

My team worked directly with the CEO, CCO, multiple UX/UI designers, and Project Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everyone on the team was extremely easy to work with and responsive. The team met every deadline throughout the project. The communication and willingness to meet on short notice were extremely impressive.

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

The UX/UI design was top notch, but equally as impressive was their genuine desire for our business to succeed. They were just as excited about the project as we were, and that was very much appreciated on our end.

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

I couldn't think of anything they could have done differently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the administrator for a surgery podcast with five hosts focusing on medical training for medical students and residents. We also have listeners who are out of their training, including surgeons from all over the world.

It started as just a podcast with some YouTube videos, but we've grown globally, increasing our number of listeners and content over the past couple of years. Now, we have the free podcast, our YouTube channel, books that we sell on Amazon, and premium studying materials for tests that surgeons need to take for their specialties. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 500 Designs?

We wanted to work on our branding and needed to update our logo and website. We had a lot of content on our old website, including old podcast episodes, making it difficult to filter specific topics. Our main goal was to create a new website to facilitate easy searches.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

500 Designs developed our branding and marketing materials. We gave them some ideas about the logo we wanted, but didn't have anything specific in mind except that we wanted a knife graphic. They then gave us several different options for logos for us to choose from. We provided some feedback before their team finalized the design. 

Once we had the main logo, we decided to commission a premium logo. We wanted it shiny and platinum, and cooler than the other. We wanted to have a two-second video with a related sound in the background and a glint on the knife graphic. 500 Designs delivered on our new logo requirements and then developed new branding materials. Then, 500 Designs created two short promotional videos. For one video, they produced a five-second video with a surgeon walking into an operating room, with the logo flying in. We also asked them to create some thumbnails for social media and templates for our Mailchimp newsletters. 

They also built a new WordPress website for us from scratch that categorizes all of our 400 old episodes. We needed the site to be user-friendly — because we had different series and categories, we needed the site to be easily searchable. 500 Designs' team gave me access to the site, so I could upload our weekly podcasts and ensure they're added to the correct category and playlist. 500 Designs also linked our merchandise Printify, Mailchimp, Amazon, and Teachable accounts for users to utilize. 

Although the website was completed in September 2021, we've had them go back in and make new changes. 500 Designs has also helped us set up our Google Analytics portal. We've just signed a quarterly maintenance package, where they will check our plugins, ensure the site is up-to-date, and fix any problems that may arise.

What is the team composition?

I've worked with three teammates from 500 Designs from their website development, branding, and troubleshooting teams. 

How did you come to work with 500 Designs?

My former teammate, who developed our original website, found 500 Designs through Google. Their price was better than the other quote we received. 

How much have you invested in them?

We've spent about $22,000 with 500 Designs. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with 500 Designs began in April 2021, and it's ongoing. We've just signed a contract with them for SEO and marketing services. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I regularly check Google Analytics, and since working with 500 Designs, our site traffic has increased every month and user feedback has been positive. We're really impressed with the logos, 500 Designs' creativity, and the new website. The site is easily searchable and has been well received by users. 

How did 500 Designs perform from a project management standpoint?

500 Designs uses monday.com for project management — we can submit requests via that platform. Their team is very responsive to our changes and is available via video call or email if we have questions or need something explained. 

The website development process took longer than initially estimated, but we understood it because of the complexity of the podcast categorization. 500 Designs underestimated how much work it would take to categorize the episodes and ensure they were properly labeled.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were the most impressed by the logo and promotional video ​​500 Designs created. Everything they delivered looks very professional. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some bugs when the website was released, and while they did fix them quickly, they should've been taken care of before the site went live. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to have clear expectations about what they want to include on each website page and where they want each link to go. Also, customers should give 500 Designs some leeway for branding and logo design because they're a very creative team, and their options can really open doors. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO. Personal training, fitness and nutrition platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs, and what were your goals?

We set out to create an online subscription service where users could access high quality personal training services, access step by step fitness and nutrition education, and to help the members reach their fitness goals.   We hired 500 Designs to create the brand identity, design the user experience, the website and website development.

SOLUTION

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

I met the founders, Steve and Vivienne, through my training. They volunteered to give me feedback on an old website and they blew me away with their assessment as to why the site wasn’t converting as well as it could be. I didn’t need to be convinced any further.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

• Discovery – we started with a discovery call which was incredibly well organized and fluid. We explored possibilities while focusing in on success factors to be considered in the design of the brand. Their team quickly identified the white space in the market and we all felt confident in the direction.
   
• Research – 500 Designs then took the starting point and put it to the test. Their team researched competitors, persona, market, digital strategy, SEO, success factors, positioning and visual identity, presenting the findings in a beautiful presentation.
   
• Branding – From the research, they created stylescapes to show some concepts for the visual identity. It was hard to choose which to go with but we landed on one I felt captured my personality best and felt confident it was modern, slick and thoughtful.
   
• UI/UX – Their team followed up soon after with wireframes which showed the proposed layouts for my new site. There was nothing to edit, they nailed what we had talked about.
   
• Website Design – A few weeks later the website design was completed keeping more or less in line with the layouts from the wireframes and the style created for the brand. To say it was super slick would be an understatement.
   
• Development – Their team then moved to the development of the website which was done on WordPress. The site was fully checked for high-quality accessibility and functionality; and ready to launch on schedule.
   
• Communication – Sophie was my project manager, and she was amazing! Very communicative, responsive and a pleasure to work with each step of the way!

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

I worked with 2 people. Sophie, the project manager and Steve, founder and strategist on my project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

It’s too early to give numbers since the project is just going live. But I am feeling extremely confident and know they are there in support in both strategy and performance!

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

From the discovery call, I was clear on the steps. They shared a detailed timeline which we stuck to pretty close. Sophie, the project manager, communicated with me at every step of the way and I trusted the process.

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

500 Designs is more than a ‘design agency’. They really cared about the outcome and brought a ton of real-world experience to the project. Their design is very impressive but what impressed me more was the thinking behind the design. Their work is strategic, really well thought through and looks like a million bucks!

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

Nothing comes to mind. I am so happy with how everything has gone start to finish!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a software as a service company, providing financial solutions to small businesses. I am the CEO & Founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs, and what were your goals?

We hired 500 Designs to help us with

1. UX/UI design of our software
2. Branding and naming of our product
3. Website Design
4. Logo design
5. Develop prototype of our software
6. Develop an animated video on our software

SOLUTION

How did you select 500 Designs and what were the deciding factors?

We interviewed and had a score card for the (3) agencies we were comparing. We chose 500 Designs because they outscored the other agencies in our requirements and impressed us with their speed and quality.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Logos and Product Naming: - 500 Designs presented their approach to product naming with a presentation.

We discussed options and determined best approach as a team. Once we decided, they delivered packages of logos in various formats, including PDF, JPG, etc. We collaborated on colors and styling.

Competitive Analysis: - 500 Designs prepared a comprehensive presentation covering all competitors and the market.

Website: - 500 Designs used PHP to develop a website for our product. We were able to provide feedback through Figma while they were in the development phase.

Project Management was done using Monday, which was helpful for visibility.

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

There were three people from the vendors team that worked with us. However, the project manager was our main point of contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We don't have any results yet, because we just launched the first phase of our website. However, they have been helpful with connecting us with potential leads for investors.

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

At first it was a little bumpy in terms of project management. We didn't have a system established or a meeting series set up, which left us wondering. However, as soon as we expressed some confusion/questions about things, they quickly reached out with timelines and created tools to make it easy for us to understand.

Eventually, they gave us access to Monday, which is their internal management tool and this made communication/visibility much more apparent. We were not privy to the hours used, but we we were very happy about the services provided and believe they went above and beyond.

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

We enjoyed their collaborative style and also their friendliness! It was always a pleasure working and meeting with them! Also, the design choices they made were always on mark.

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

I think if they could improve anything, it would be their project management from end to end.

Establish a mutual understanding of what to expect during the duration of the project in terms of meeting frequency, tool to be used, level of transparency (i.e. hours) and an explanation of the overall process to expect.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a co-founder and marketing director for a CPG startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs?

We hired 500 Designs to help us concept and design for a new product launch. We had the name and formulation of a product, and we needed 500 Designs to help us bring it to life within the constraints of our existing product portfolio.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have a product that spoke for itself on shelves but also still fit in with our initial product and USPs.

SOLUTION

How did you select 500 Designs?

We had worked with 500 Designs previously on a rebrand for one of our other product lines. After reviewing a bunch of agencies, we found them to have a firm understanding of how we wanted to move forward, and they also brought wonderful new ideas to the table.

Describe the project in detail.

We had a super short timeline for the new design of our product + launch. 500 Designs was in constant communication. We had a kickoff meeting, where we all shared important information to move forward and made sure we were all on the same page. From that point, we had near daily touch points to make sure things were moving and sign-offs were happening.

They presented our initial round of options in about a week, and we iterated from there. They were always super accepting of feedback, and in the end, I think we ended up with something we were all super proud of. In just a few short weeks they designed new packaging for us + extended it across packaging sizes + flavor varieties.

What was the team composition?

We primarily worked with two people at 500 Designs, who were both very well-versed on the scope of the project, timeline, and deliverables. We worked with the same team for the duration of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At the end of this project, we decided to adjust our hero SKU to better match the design of our new product, because we loved what 500 Designs had done. They really have an eye for how things fit together.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Every piece was on time, or even ahead of schedule. Their team was prompt with feedback and making sure we had virtual checkins to talk through any issues.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have the ability to merge so well with our team. They step in and try to fully understand the industry and issues, and they make suggestions from a place of understanding. We've begun to turn to them for all sorts of branding, design, digital / web work that comes up that our team can't get on top of, and they bend over backwards at times to make sure everything is getting done, and that it's right.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Perfectly Tea is a tea brand designed to empower women to become the best version of themselves

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs?

We needed help with the overall strategy and look of the brand, especially UI/UX design and web development.

What were your goals for this project?

To unleash the real potential of the brand by creating an out of the box web design focused on women empowerment.

SOLUTION

How did you select 500 Designs?

One of my co-founders referred us to 500 Designs. Seeing the team's expertise and passion on our very first meeting made us immediately sign into the project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We shared with 500 Designs our overall vision for Perfectly Tea, which was to empower women. Their team then wanted to create a brand that would immediately resonate with our target market. From there, 500 Designs came up with a lifestyle-focused brand story that is reflected on all channels, from product packaging to the website.

What was the team composition?

We worked closely with a Creative and Strategy Director, as well as a dedicated Project Manager, but there were several designers, writers, and developers also involved behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With their strategic help, we sold out in our first month!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very easy to work with. Whenever we have questions or requests, they are on it straight away. They are also very transparent and always communicative.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team is inventive every step of the way. They really go the extra mile, delivering more than we expect.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything worked perfectly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CliqueMJ is the leading loyalty app for the cannabis industry offering consumers cannabis deals and rewards.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 500 Designs?

We looped in Steve and his team in order to enhance the look and feel of our mobile apps.

What were your goals for this project?

Completely redesign the mobile applications to make them easy and fun to use.

SOLUTION

How did you select 500 Designs?

We searched online for about two months. We landed on 500 designs and had an initial meeting with them. What we took from that meeting was that their team is very well experienced and wanted to come back to us with a plan of their own. It was great.

Describe the project in detail.

500 designs sent us a couple of options to choose from before we went ahead with the green light and redesigned the mobile applications. Once that was done, they kept in touch with us every week in order to make sure the work they are handing over during the sprints was exactly what we wanted.

What was the team composition?

We were directly in touch with a product manager and the owner himself, Steve. Who is wonderful to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our users love the new look and find it was easier to navigate.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless. We had no problem reaching out to their team and when we did they would respond promptly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The work, clean and straight to the point. They are not expensive in regard to their offering either.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Can't think of any. We wish them the best of luck.