Analogy Design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for a global consulting group based out of Mysuru, India that specializes in Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics to find business solutions. From core data analytics, strategy, and problem-solving, we use a multi-disciplinary team across technologies, applied and behavioral sciences and mathematics to focus on human-centric, data-driven, foolproof solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Analogy Design?

The requirement was to create a strong identity that conveys our farsighted, data-centric approach, while also upholding the importance of culture in tech and vice versa. The idea was to reflect AI in its most distilled form while closely reflecting the roots from where we began - the city of Mysuru (aka, Mysore in Karnataka, India), that is not only known for its rich culture but is also one of India's educational hubs especially for science and technology.

What were your goals for this project?

Complete package of brand design:

1. Logo
2. Merchandise
3. Business templates
4. Company color palette et al.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose Analogy Design based on our assessment of their brilliant work done in the past and strong recommendations on Vyastejarao through our business circle.

Describe the project in detail.

Analogy Design has truly worked as a partner on this project. They understood the requirements of the project and put forth a clear plan and schedule. The execution was based on the coming together of math and Artificial intelligence with the cultural significance of the city of Mysuru.

The final brand logo form was inspired by the iconic Mysore Peta - a colorful turban that symbolizes tradition, accomplishment, and respect. It was designed to visually appeal and we chose to represent this in our brand logo.

What was the team composition?

The team was composed of the Creative Director, Graphic Design lead, and a Client Service person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

AI is a concept that all of us hear about but do not necessarily understand. With our logo, Our brand design and identity humanized technology and emphasized on the symbiotic relationship between Mysuru’s culture and AI for the end-user. They have also won the Bronze in Branding by Indigo - an award ceremony held annually in the world’s most cutting-edge cities.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team was very effective, transparent, and prompt. Analogy Design with its results-driven team gave us multiple options to choose from. Their attention to detail is something that we really appreciated - like bring in the story of the Mysore Peta which is represented in our logo. 

As for the visual representation of Mysuru, there is no better symbol than the Mysore Peta that epitomizes what the city stands for. The Peta is a traditional headgear which uses a long silk or cotton scarf wound around the head. It is a symbol of tradition, accomplishment & respect.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by the design skillsets, keeping to time and meeting deliverables. Helping us with clear, objective-oriented and relevant feedback on what can work and what cannot whilst diligently explaining the thought process behind their design.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None. Extremely satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and head of R&D at Agnisumukh, a startup working to make gas fuel technology more efficient. All of our technology has been created as a commercial platform, which launched almost three years ago.

If someone walks into any commercial kitchen, they will find carbon soot and extreme heat. The current technology—which is powered by gas fuel-producing blue flames—heats the entire environment and produces a lot of soot because the combustion isn’t done fully. This is a global problem, and this is exactly what we’ve addressed.

Our devices are based on an innovative gas burner system, and there are no emissions of carbon soot, nor is there any heat outset. All of the heat is more focused toward the food that’s being cooked. It’s powered by butane propane natural gas and biogas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Analogy Design?

We had only two applications when we deployed the system, but we have more than 16 applications, all powered by our gas burner. During this time, we were trying to go global, and it was vital that we develop our work through intellectual property, branding, and product design. We sought a partner who could provide design thinking, and we came into contact with Analogy Design for that work. For us to become a global brand, the product look and feel would have to be improved. Admittedly, we didn’t have a good-looking product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve acquired quite a few large clients in niche markets, and it was necessary to give a matching visual experience. This is where Analogy Design’s contribution came in. They provided design thinking for almost a year and a half and transformed our product branding.

At the start of this project, we didn’t have a good feel for our logo or color scheme. Analogy Design created a design document and a new design. They also made three different design concepts and linked attributes, names, fonts, and color schemes to each one. We selected an idea that depicted five elements—earth, air, water, space, and fire. We deal with fire, of course, so we wanted to make it prominent in our visual elements. Understanding the alchemy element and the entire concept, Analogy Design gave us a schematic presentation of how the brand should look and what should go to our website, collateral, letterheads, and so on. They designed everything from end to end.

Analogy Design applied the same attributes to product design. They studied the entire burner platform industry and identified where our products stood in the landscape. They proposed steps based on performance data, which they collected over 10 weeks visiting our users’ kitchens. We had a round of meetings after that, which included discussions that drove several corresponding designs.

What is the team composition?

Vibha (Head, Business Development, Marketing, and Operations, Analogy Design) worked from Hong Kong, and she had a team of 5–6 people. I always interacted with Vyasateja (Founder, Creative Director, Analogy Design) and his designer.

How did you come to work with Analogy Design?

We worked with a few other product designers before I was referred to Vibha by an associate, who spoke highly of her track record of creating fantastic product designs. She had a presence in Hong Kong and also had experience in the U.S. We set up a meeting shortly after the referral.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent approximately $600,000–$800,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Analogy Design in October 2017 and wrapped up in September 2018. The initial project finished in 12 weeks, but we had to extend it by more than 60 weeks so that we could make designs for a product that hadn’t been released in India before. I also extended the timeline because I wanted to make sure we were well-prepared when bringing the product into a global marketplace.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our branding efforts have already received positive feedback, but we are excited to introduce the new designs and prototypes—which have yet to be completed. Once those have been finished and launched, I expect our revenue to grow quickly.

How did Analogy Design perform from a project management standpoint?

It has been a challenge to implement the designs, as the project timeline and launch frame are on different scales. We communicate easily through email and shared folders on Google Drive. We’ve also created a WhatsApp group with the product design team and our company’s stakeholders.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Analogy Design has been able to take our product design to the next level. Compared to other vendors we’ve worked with, we believe we’ve gotten much better value for the money. They’ve added a lot to our designs, and we’re looking forward to launching them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we intend to approach Analogy Design in the future.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief product officer of Cellairis. We are the largest mobile accessories and repair company in the world. Our products and services are offered through our franchise stores and online presence, but we also manufacture items for very large companies. In my role, I oversee the ideation, design, manufacturing, and execution of all of our products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Analogy Design?

We were trying to create multiple new product lines, including an ecosystem of interconnected products to handle a variety of scenarios for our enterprise customers. We needed experienced professionals to help meet specific manufacturing requirements.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided Analogy Design with clear directions for both what our customers needed and what we needed for manufacturing purposes. They internalized that information, then created a strategic product design plan that included schedules, branding ideas, market trends, and user research. They considered our customers’ trends when building this plan to bring our product to life.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a creative director, a product design lead, an industrial designer, and a design engineer on the full project. There was also a client services professional who acted as a project manager.

How did you come to work with Analogy Design?

The owner of the company is pretty well known in the industry. I’ve known him for many years through previous work experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $8,000–$10,000 each month for six months.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project lasted from December 2018–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our manufacturers understood Analogy Design’s branding and tooling designs very quickly, which is critical to our process. They were able to meet all of the manufacturing requirements and develop a product ecosystem for a diversity of customers. Internally, Analogy Design’s work help improves our team’s overall efficiency and productivity.

How did Analogy Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I’d give them a perfect score. We scheduled weekly phone calls and communicated intermittently over email and WhatsApp. They used more comprehensive project management tools, but I’m not sure which ones. Their team even interacted with our remote team to make sure we were all on the same page with the product. Everyone from Analogy Design did a phenomenal job, approaching our project with hands-on involvement. They consistently provided clear and relevant feedback and took the time to explain their work, which made collaboration smooth.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand everything about bringing an idea to life. We needed specific products that addressed a large audience, and Analogy Design did research and brought ideas of their own to the table. It was a collaborative effort. Their also team boasts a wide skill set. In looking at their design talent, engineering backgrounds, research skills, time management, and dedication their wide range of capabilities stands out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so; they went above and beyond with their designs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Lay out your expectations, then let Analogy Design do their thing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO of the design firm

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Analogy Design?

Design development for a device

SOLUTION

How did you select Analogy Design and what were the deciding factors?

Online and network

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

N/A

How many resources from the Analogy Design team worked with you, and what were their positions?

10

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Design development

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Good

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

They provided excellent working experience.

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

NA

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Start up founder

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Analogy Design?

We hired them to help us develop a kitchen automation product

SOLUTION

How did you select Analogy Design and what were the deciding factors?

We were introduced via a mutual connection and we felt Analogy presented themselves professionally and could relate to our home market extremely well given the teams international experience

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

N/A

How many resources from the Analogy Design team worked with you, and what were their positions?

5

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Extremely thorough CAD designs and great communication throughout using Slack. Very professional and efficient.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Project manager was easy to communicate with and the wider team at Analogy were extremely professional and always made themselves available even thought they had to be available across 4 time zones.

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

I was blown away by their knowledge of electronics and the quality of their deliverables. The fact that they could relate to and understand us without us having to explain to the nth degree.

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

I think occasionally there could be better warnings when third party costs are out of line with what was initially estimated. When this happens, there should be more frequent communication. Having said that, I realise it’s a tough time for a lot of people at the moment given how COVID has changed all of our lives.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a founding member of a company investing in creating a patent pending platform for the Gig Economy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Analogy Design?

UX & UI Design

What were your goals for this project?

UX Research, Journey Design, UI Designs & Logo

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referred to by a contact in the network; reviewed some of Analogy's prior work.

Describe the project in detail.

It was a one scrum engineering team with a delivery lead. The founder played the product manager role. Analogy had a UX designer assigned - was impressed by the fact that senior leaders in the company engaged on some of the calls to get the effort mobilized. The deliverables were broken down for 3 milestones.

What was the team composition?

It was a one scrum engineering team with a delivery lead. The founder played the product manager role. Analogy had a UX designer assigned - was impressed by the fact that senior leaders in the company engaged on some of the calls to get the effort mobilized. The deliverables were broken down for 3 milestones.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Great alignment with Engineering. Good sequencing of UX and Engineering work. Seamless interactions between all facets of Product Development.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless interactions between all facets of Product Development.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Insightfulness in discovery. Creativity in solution options. They were meticulous in execution.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None - they have a great methodology.