Analogy Design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Kasagi Labo

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Kasagi is a manga & anime publishing, licensing, and distribution company focused on global markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Analogy Design to accomplish?

• Branding on the packaging
• Branding on the product

SOLUTION

How did you find Analogy Design?

Online Search

Why did you select Analogy Design over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Analogy Design were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Branding Renders 
• Packaging Renders 
• Branding CAD in STEP format 
• Packaging CAD in STEP format 
• Branding techpack in PDF and EPS format 
• Packaging tech pack in PDF and EPS format

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Design standing out from competitors 
• Brand recognition and identity 
• Packaging looks good without big graphic

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

There was a misunderstanding on the project, so they needed more time to finish it, but they responded well. We did an alignment call to clarify everything.

What was your primary form of communication with Analogy Design?

Virtual Meeting

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

One idea they came up with for the packaging

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

We expected more from the branding of the product. Also, we shared important information since the beginning that they missed, and they required us to get back to them on the same day; on the other hand, they will take time to work on their side of the scope.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of an LLC firm that is planning to sell IoT device in marketplace. IoT device - which has clear point of difference and new to market. Investing in innovative and quality products based on an idea.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Analogy team to perform market research, design and engineer an IoT device - a physical product. This is wall based on an idea. Product needs to aesthetic and engineered to be competitive in the market. We hope to bring creative product that is smart and simple.

SOLUTION

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

I reached out to many design companies (some using google search and some based on referral). Analogy design company was chosen based on their proven track record in this space and most importantly, company was able to connect very well with the idea from very early on.

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

Analogy Design created a smart device that has pleasing look and creative engineering (mechanical and electrical). Design process is very methodical and thorough. It started with prioritize problem, identifying features, Design and Concept direction. It then led to creating creative brief, performing market research.

Concept Design and Prototype design for not only physical device but also for a mobile app that controls IoT device.

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

A creative design director, a project manager are my main point of contacts. There were also lead engineer for mechanical and engineering design and a mobile app designer. I am sure there lots of designers and engineers working and helping behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently product is at porotype phase and I am very pleased with the the way product shaped up. Most importantly, team has overcome lot of challenges and unknows through out the earlier phase. Once product goes to marketplace, I am sure it will be well received.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

During design and development phase we had client calls, there were other tools to connect with team via instant messaging. Also, there was another tool through which I could collaborate and patriciate as much as I like. There was a demo calls and feedback sessions too.

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

Analogy Design offers creative solutions for any challenge. They bring best result and help bring "disruptive" product to marketplace. And all this with highly professional manner.

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

Analogy team has well set process and tools. Keep up great work!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Quambio, an environmental startup based in Switzerland. We create mobile apps that enable people to think about climate change and their individual emissions

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Analogy Design?

We needed to develop a mobile app, so we hired Analogy Design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Analogy Design has designed and developed an iOS and Android app from scratch since we couldn’t reuse what had been created before. I have given them documents from a previous attempt to develop an Android app with another developer. There were some problems but they’ve offered some solutions. We had discussions upfront where I showed them what I had in mind.

They’ve supported me in designing the UX and look and feel of the app. Their team has also helped me with elements of my image, such as a logo. 

Through the app, a user could access and use their phone’s GPS capabilities to track and monitor their mobility. Based on location and tracking information, the app could calculate the carbon dioxide emissions of an individual if they were, for example, using a car.

The app also enables the creation of challenges that users can join in. These challenges aim to look at the impact of a certain priority of tasks. For example, in the next four weeks, how many times could a person use a bicycle? It also shows the users the statistics of how much effort was done during a certain period of time.

The first phase of development is complete and has gotten our product in the App Store and Google Play in April 2021. Now we’re in the extension phase.

What is the team composition?

There’s a project manager, a designer, and the CEO with whom I’m directly engaged. On the development side, there’s at least one iOS developer, one Android developer, and some others involved.

I have mostly worked with 1-2 people from the team who took care of the interactions. I didn’t work directly with the developers. 

How did you come to work with Analogy Design?

They were referred to us by a business partner who had used their services before. I had an introductory conversation with Analogy Design, and what made me go with them was their ability to understand and translate what I was talking about. They took an interest in the topic and not just the project, so it was something they really wanted to do. They were also really structured and responsive.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2020 and the project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have a huge population of users since we only recently launched. However, I’ve had someone say that the app runs smoothly and is very much like a clean air bubble. My vision from the start was to create something very clean and simple to use, so getting feedback like that within a week of people starting to use it was a real testament. 

I’m happy with the outcome and I’m very pleased with where we are. Analogy Design has told me they could deliver in three months and they actually did, where my previous partner couldn’t. What they’ve designed is really cool.

How did Analogy Design perform from a project management standpoint?

The team’s project management is excellent. In the beginning, we would meet on a regular basis through calls just to set things up. They always would send me an agenda and link to what was discussed and would tell me what I need to review in preparation for the next discussion.

We have a direct line of communication through text and Slack, and it has been really good. It’s very rare that I send them a request and don’t hear back within 30 minutes to an hour. They keep notes of everything and are very organized, so there’s very little surprise. 

They have a project management interface where they put all the documents and notes for the meetings. We also use Google Drive. We did go beyond the timeline but that has not been a problem. The timeline was very aggressive to begin with and it is more about quality than speed. It has been a pleasure to work with them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The creativity of their design is of utmost value. I had a rough vision of what I wanted the apps to look like and they came back with three completely different mockups. It was actually difficult to choose what to go with because each of them was very distinct. It was amazing that they managed to not just come with one good one but three great designs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve already talked about the way we drive requirements through the process. I was expecting something to look a certain way and when it turned out a bit different, I realized the communication wasn’t strong enough between everyone. We need to find a way to be more precise in our communication and how we do quality control so we don’t lose track.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you are as clear as you can be on what you want and what you’re looking for. They’re really good but you can’t just leave everything to them. Be available and responsive to the team as they will ask you a lot of questions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Totamba.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Analogy Design?

We wanted to create a UVC sanitizing box that could fit all your items.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave them my ideas and requirements. I wanted to fit a MacBook pro and a certain-sized water bottle. They worked to figure out solutions to all my issues and put together a final product, including CAD and other brainstorming and aesthetic components for manufacturing.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people.

How did you come to work with Analogy Design?

I found them on Google.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $22,000­–$25,000 with them on two projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since March 2020. We’ve since worked with them on some animations and renderings as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

These people have their own way with aesthetics that I never could create myself. It’s especially true with their designers. I was very happy with how the final product came out.

How did Analogy Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was very well organized and straightforward. They made it easy on my side to get along with their schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have exceptional communication skills, along with figuring out what I want. They have a unique style and design language that looks very nice in my products.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing I can think of right now.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared and make sure you finalize what you want before you approach them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Senior Marketing Manager at Amazon India, where I used to oversee the innovation in Gift Cards; both corporate as well as the retail gift card selection for multiple initiatives

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Over the past 2+ years, we have worked multiple times with Analogy Designs to introduce a creative design shift in how gift cards are perceived by our customers and drive higher adoption in India.

Basis customer research & insights, one of the barriers in adoptions is that Gift cards are seen as a transactional purchase and not deemed suitable for every occasion (depends on occasions, relationships etc.).

Analogy design team helped us introduce an experiential element to gift cards (esp. to physical gift card selection) thereby improving customer experience at Amazon

What were your goals for this project?

Goals were

• To improve category conversion
• Improve brand/product preference and relevance for occasions
• To ensure that gift cards appear for personalized

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were introduced to the Founder by a mutual acquaintance. I went through their work and found it impressive and relevant for the Indian market.

However, I wanted to evaluate them first before on-boarding them and that's when I asked their team to work on a proposal with costing and samples for smaller events.

I found their involvement in the process and eagerness to deliver on the promise impressive, thus respected them for their customer obsession. This gave me the confidence to on-board them and partner with them for multiple projects

Describe the project in detail.

• Introduce new designs for email gift cards to bridge the selection gaps across multiple occasions/recipients. This project focused on creating 200+ new designs across 6-7 months
• Introduce personalized and quirky (business insight relevant for certain age group) physical gift card designs to improve uptake

What was the team composition?

We usually speak with either the Creative Director or the Head of Business Development to brief them about our project requirements.

Once the investment and timelines have been finalized, we work with the design team comprising of Graphic designers, Branding specialists, Product & packaging designers as well as UX Designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, through the new selection (which Analogy's work) we have observed significant increase in category conversions, improvement in customer reviews and size-able improvement in the share of the physical gift cards sales

This has happened across multiple campaigns like Diwali, Mother's day etc. I can't share the exact numbers as they are confidential.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Analogy team had created a share-point on Google that made the tracking of work easy and made the implementation of feedback faster. We synced up weekly once to discuss overall progress on deliverables and track any deviations (from timelines/brief) - this made our meetings more effective and fruitful.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I strongly believe their design knowledge be it in graphic design, packaging design, material knowledge and the ability to go beyond the brief is what sets team Analogy apart from other design studios.

That results in high quality deliverables with an actual impact on the business. Their customer obsession is really commendable, and they raise the bar on ownership and bias for action.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Optimizing costs basis client requirements is one area where I would like them to work on. However, I do understand the trade-off between quality and cost of the project but when working on multiple projects they should consider bringing in economies of scale to provide satisfactory costing to their customers.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for the world's leading data, insights and consulting company. We are engaged by clients to provide data driven insights to help their businesses grow through a variety of tools including traditional surveys, social media monitoring, measuring advertising effectiveness, consumer and shopper behavior and public opinion. I am a Senior Account Manager at my organisation. My role is to design and deliver multi-market projects with a view to addressing specific business questions that clients come to us with.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed help on designing and developing a dashboard to showcase the findings of a project we handled for a global financial services company. At the heart of the issue was the fact that this project has a huge volume of data with multiple kinds of interlinks within it. We needed a dashboard to present the findings which is easy and intuitive to navigate and balances the volume of data with a smooth user interface without compromising on data loading speed.

What were your goals for this project?

The intention was to provide our client with a smooth and intuitive user experience on the dashboard. We wanted to make a significant improvement on the experience that our clients had from previous work we have delivered to them in a similar fashion.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was introduced to their Head of Business Development by a mutual acquaintance. And we invited them to do a small pilot run. On successful appraisal of that we decided to on-board them for the main project.

Describe the project in detail.

The project involved key things -

Design - information architecture, designing the user flow, the user interface interactions, charts and graphics

Development - transforming the design into a PowerBI dashboard / report

Based on a briefing call to go through the details of our project to enable understanding of the data structures that needed to be put up on the dashboard the team had to design the information architecture and the user flows that would be best suited for our purpose - a clean and intuitive dashboard.

The next step was to design the UI, the user flows and the visual interactions between elements that would be implemented in the dashboard. The team adhered to branding guidelines on colours and logos we provided. They used specific template inputs we provided and uplifted them to create neat effective visuals using simple charts. The design prototype built on Adobe XD was very nice.

The next stage of work was to transform the designs into the PowerBI platform. This stage required the team to do extensive rounds of data modelling and trial and error loops to come up with the final output.

This stage involved almost continuous feedback from my team and revision to tune the output. And we closed the project with a final handover of the PBIX files and the design assets to my team.

What was the team composition?

I worked with the following people - Creative Director, Head of Business Development, Visual Design Lead and PowerBI Developers. Different people were involved at various stages of the project beginning with the Head of Business Development and the Creative Director to start the process followed by the Visual Design Lead who took up the UX/UI development. PowerBI developers were then brought on board and under the continuous monitoring of both the Creative Director and the Visual Design Lead, the developers created the dashboard on PowerBI.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project has been a success. We achieved our purpose of getting a significant improvement in the user interface in terms of intuitiveness, ease of use and speed of loading against the last version of this type of report that we provided to our client.

Our client has expressed great satisfaction with the output. They have been able to get buy in from a wider group of their organisation on the dashboard because of the great work that has been done with it.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There was a continuous collaboration to make things work, to find solutions and to keep things moving. The earnest effort made to deliver an output of high standards was absolutely exemplary.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to produce neat and efficient information architecture and then to transform that into an intuitive and smooth interface is a key strength.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Transforming the designs from the prototype stage to the final PowerBI platform is an area that needs a little more work. A clearer process flow with granular details of exact steps and time estimates for each step at the development stage is needed.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at Kantar as a Senior Account Manager in Hong Kong. Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data, insight and consultancy company. My job involves working with clients from different industries to help them understand their market data and customer better.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

At Kantar, we work to drive market research across the Asia Pacific. As is common in market research, we collect a lot of data and displaying this data in a clear and organized fashion while keeping the overall interface pleasing to the end customer is a challenge.

With one of our client's dashboards, we realized there was an opportunity to improve the user experience and migrate the dashboards to an environment that is conducive to our internal development teams.

What were your goals for this project?

While creating the dashboard we were looking the following things - 1. Clear and concise presentation of data 2. Enhanced look & feel 3. Enhance user experience

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Analogy Design had done another dashboard design for another team. We were quite impressed with their output and hence decided to work with them

Describe the project in detail.

We were looking to enhance the current version of our dashboard. We briefed Analogy on the draft designs we had created and explained them the expectation from the output. Analogy come up with compelling designs which looked quite slick

What was the team composition?

We were mainly working with UX designer and the creative director closely after the initial objective discussions with the business development head.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall our end client was quite happy with the output - all the information presented was nice and tidy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I think we collaborated quite well. The team was proactive in setting up calls every 2-3 days to understand the requirement and showcase the designs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found the design options quite appealing and user friendly. Their team was quite responsive and was able to make desired changes on time. Their proactiveness and follow up ensured a smooth timely delivery.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work as the Group Head handling mobile design and development across all functions for Panasonic India. I lead a team of dedicated design, developers, technologists and interface with the top leadership at Panasonic to plan and initiate key development projects in various fields.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Analogy to work on a confidential project related to consumer products which are part of our ongoing efforts for the 2019-20 product roadmap. We hired them to design the UX design for the mobile app and also create a universal & Modular UI design for the app.

What were your goals for this project?

The Main goals for this project was to create a design vision and also implement a simple system that could consistently deliver great results across the entire user experience and user interface of the mobile app, integrating both physical and digital interactions in a clear and concise design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We evaluated a bunch of vendors before selecting Analogy design. We visited their studio in late 2018 with a top tier leadership team comprising of leaders from India and Japan and evaluated a bunch of their work.

Through further discussions and conversations, we felt that their skills and work ethic were well suited for what we were looking at for this project and future projects as well.

Describe the project in detail.

The project is of a confidential nature so i cant reveal much details here. However I can add that this is a project that involves a deep understanding of UX methodologies where user research, mind mapping, user persona development and UI design and animation is a must.

We have used all these techniques to work on creating solutions that are entirely user centric and also region specific focusing on our key demographic towards the Mid tier Indian consumer.

What was the team composition?

The team was comprised of the creative director at Analogy and a Senior UX Designer, augmented with a senior UI designer. They were assisted by a group of junior illustrators, animators and UI designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Right now the project is in a final testing phase and will soon be launched. I am submitting this review after our first engagement with Analogy was done in the month of August 2019 and we renewed it for another term.

The overall outcome will be that of a mobile app that seamlessly blends digital and physical interfaces and the various interactions that go along with it and this will enhance the daily functionalities and interactions with Panasonic products.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a great interactions with Analogy team starting with overall project understanding workshops to get a big picture of the work involved. This was followed by regular interactions on brainstorming and review sessions on different set of UX/UI proposals.

Analogy team also us updated with monthly, weekly and daily updates on progress through email/slack tools and face-to-face meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by their depth of user centric approach for blending designs for digital and physical aspect of the product. Analogy showed great collaboration and stepped beyond to go through multiple iterations to fine tune the UX/UI for mobile app journeys to bring in a world class experience.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything can be faster and immediate but, we were satisfied with their work as they stepped up the output whenever we asked for. And in the end, we ended up with world class experience for Panasonic Mobile app.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Established in 1983, today Eastern has the finest grip on the Indian spice market,( a feat achieved with the hard work of Mr. M. E. Meeran). Take a moment and dive into the history of being India’s No.1 Spice Exporter

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We worked with Analogy Design to develop a design for our new range of products.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted Analogy to develop an artwork that will be appealing for a niche online market, so as to register our Brand in the minds of customers who are keen on online shopping.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had finalized Analogy after looking at their current work with other clients like, Cafe Coffee Day, Nissan etc.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The team had to study the market to find out what is the best suited design that can be adapted.

What was the team composition?

Team working on this project had done a thorough market study to suggest us options to choose from. They made sure that the were keep us updated on all the activities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There had been constant followup from the team to complete the task as early as possible

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their coordination and followup have been great.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Response from Analogy was quite fast. There was constant communication happening to make sure that we are on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Eurotronic Germany GmbH— an electronics distributor. We’re the main retailer in the electronics market for mobile phone and gaming accessories. We sell our products in about 10,000 outlets including drug, book, and fashion stores. While we mainly operate in Germany, we also sell in Austria and Switzerland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Analogy Design?

We wanted to create a fashion brand based on mobile phone accessories, but needed product designers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Analogy Design had conversations with our team to understand our audience and market. After gaining an understanding of our business, the team recommended we focus on branding before our product line. They managed the work that had to be done before we could start building the merchandise, which we weren’t aware of; it took ages, but it had to be done that way.

We’d already had a brand name, but their team suggested changes to develop a more professional aesthetic. They helped define our brand identity, defining our mission and vision. Their team created guidelines, which inform our language, product design and packaging. They designed a new UX for our website and supported our digital presence. Now, we’re planning a new project with Analogy Design.

What is the team composition?

For this project, we worked with several team members including CMS and print designers, engineers as well as teammates who developed our brand. We used a retainer model with them, so their team worked fulltime.

How did you come to work with Analogy Design?

We came across Analogy Design while looking for professional designers on LinkedIn. We looked at other candidates, including some based in Germany, but weren’t satisfied with their offering. After looking at Analogy Design’s previous work, which included several different fields, they became our number one choice. Their team introduced us to a full product line to consider such as mobile phone cases, chargers, and cables. They were not only familiar with the material, but also with design.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $10,000 per month with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Analogy Design in November 2018, and the collaboration ongoing. We’ve just renewed our contract.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve finished all of our product designs and branding; everything’s perfect.

How did Analogy Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Analogy Design is professional; they stick to timelines. We have a WeChat group but mostly communicate by email and WhatsApp. All of our suppliers and the Analogy Design team have an online group to use whenever there’s a technical issue. We also hold videoconferences, which are helpful for discussions. Their team provides quick and consistent updates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Product creation is their greatest strength. Analogy Design has good knowledge of products and their timelines. We’re building a necklace case, and their team was able to give us 4–5 options, describing the advantages and disadvantages of each. They're always impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We requested Analogy Design create some additional prints and patterns beyond the branding and the product itself. It wasn’t in the contract and we didn’t pay for the service, but it took longer than we wanted.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have a clear plan and give it to Analogy Design. Before starting, their team can discern what will and won’t work. I recommend them, but not to someone in my field and in my country.