Art & Science

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing communications for a public company in the insurance sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

We were part of a US company but were purchased by a Canadian company. It was time to change, and we wanted a fresh name going forward.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Although we changed our name, the business remained the same. We had a long history of name changes, and Art Science’s job was to create a fresh name that reflected us.

Their team listened and came to understand the business. While they took a lot of direction, it was an open process. They brought new ideas to the table. Their team worked on our website, collateral, and media buys. They created a name to bring high awareness of our position in the marketplace, which was quite special.

What is the team composition?

In the beginning, I worked directly with the president who’s strategic. My main day to day contact was the EVP of customer success. I worked a lot with the creative director and a multitude of people on their creative team.

How did you come to work with Art Science Digital Experience Design Inc?

We did an RFP and wanted an agency that would think strategically about the business. A lot of companies spend so much time on design and don’t think about the business. Art Science was incredibly strategic and listened to understand what we wanted. Their team understood our drivers as well as the B2B and B2C nature of our business.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in October 2019, and it will run until the end of the year. We’ll then renew our contract with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They understood our customers and were able to interpret how the customer saw us. Although it wasn’t anything that we didn’t know, they effectively presented that image. When we went through the brand journey with our senior management, Art Science made it an exceptional experience.

Their team was also able to push back on ideas and argue for what they believed. They explained the science behind marketing exceptionally well. Their team spoke openly and respectfully. Their work generated an opportunity for them to work with us not just on a brand level but on an operational level too.

How did Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They had one project manager who was on top of the project. She’s also a master of spreadsheets and doesn’t miss anything. She briefs her team and keeps everyone on track. They have deep project management skill sets that I appreciate. Their team’s great about following up too.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer client experience EVP’s understated but also brilliant in how he works with the client. He brings up concerns that we might not have because he wants to make sure that every base is covered.

Their team’s constructive and thoughtful during discussions. They have thorough premises, arguments, and support. Their team spends a lot of time thinking, which results in great tact. That makes the process flow well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think that there’s an area for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you’re working with that partnership, it’s important to know what you want. Art Science asks intelligent questions, so if you’re going to have an internal representative for the partnership, it should be someone with an incredible depth of knowledge. Also, make sure that you have a fair budget. Their team will work within that budget. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Digital Marketing Manager at Tafelmusik, a world-renowned baroque orchestra and chamber choir located in Toronto.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

We hired Art & Science to inform and implement our paid digital campaigns for our 2019/2020 concert season. We were looking for external expertise in best practices and new trends in digital advertising, as well as time savings in implementing these campaigns.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal was to increase ROI on our paid Google and Facebook ads, by enlisting the support of experts who handled this as a primary function. Our secondary goal was to save our team some time, by letting an external firm implement and deploy our digital campaigns and their respective content, optimizing for various platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had had a long standing and positive relationship with A&S, who had helped us over the years with various digital consulting projects.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We hired A&S to oversee our 2019/2020 season, which was intended to run from September 2019 through 2020. The scope of work entailed monthly larger check ins on strategy, objectives, and outcomes, as well as weekly shorter check ins regarding immediate changes or needs necessary (from both parties).

A&S was responsible for deploying new campaigns across our channels, and providing suggestions on how to optimize these campaigns, with content provided by Tafelmusik.

What was the team composition?

As a new hire in January, I inherited the relationship from my predecessor. I worked closely with Vice President Adam Green, and even more closely with Digital Marketing Coordinator Erin Oh, to touch base on deliverables, status, and outcomes.

While we did have monthly and weekly check ins structured and timed, I was grateful that both Adam and Erin were available outside of these times, in times of need: as an example, as a performing orchestra, our social media is often active outside of normal working hours (evenings and weekends), and both Adam and Erin were prompt, helpful, and reliable if and when emergencies came up.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Working with A&S allowed our marketing team to save valuable time in implementation of paid digital campaigns. They also provided invaluable insight, such as A/B testing campaign strategy, and suggesting multi-faceted ways of targeting potential buyers: such as utilizing a "reach" approach in the early days of our campaign to get the word out, and then pivoting to a "conversion" approach closer to the key buying dates.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Adam and Erin were lovely to work with, and I very much appreciated their promptness in replies. They made any necessary changes we asked for.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found their insight into how to optimize a Facebook campaign strategy extremely valuable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the commercial director for a custom-made travel company. We send clients all over the world on complex, multi-destination trips for private clients all over the globe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

Our website and ad copy aren’t as Canadian-friendly and we didn’t have much of a brand presence. We hired them to perform a digital audit of our website and customer journey to evaluate areas for improvement as it relates to our Canadian audience. We also engaged them as our digital marketing agency. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To start, they looked at everything within our digital customer journey, including site performance metrics, conversion rates between pages, keyword analysis leading to the website, and ad locations. They wrote about a 70-page report and presented their findings and recommendations to us. 

Based on that, they now handle our paid search and paid social media campaigns, too. They’re also responsible for our display advertising. 

What is the team composition?

Roughly five people worked on the initial phase. A client lead, client manager, and execution team consisting of a VP of performance marketing and a performance marketing manager work with us. A digital customer journey executive was involved only in the first stage of the project. 

How did you come to work with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

We were introduced by a colleague in the Canadian market. We put out a tender and looked at 3–4 agencies within that market. We chose this team because they were incredibly approachable and clearly understood our challenges.

They also presented very compelling ideas before our engagement even began. The cultural fit felt right, too—they’re entrepreneurial and collaborative. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our project has cost between $50,000–$100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen a 30% improvement in our cost-per-lead (CPL) and have delivered a 50% growth in our Canadian sales within the first month of executing the project. We’ve seen a 100% year-over-year (YoY) growth since then without spending a single dollar more than in prior years. Using the same spend in our paid search and channels, we saw those substantial returns. 

How did Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done very well—they’re very communicative and organized about what they’re doing. Also, they’re willing to take feedback and make changes if there are clear opportunities to improve the service. Their outline for each approach has been clear and they report back in an organized way. We mostly use Slack as our main tool. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their down-to-earth nature and collaborative approach are the main things I’ve appreciated. Some agencies are stuck with their own expert opinions, but this team trusts our instincts and likes to have discussions together to find the best way forward.

They also have a willingness to bend over backward and do whatever is needed to keep us happy, which is not always the case with some partners. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything negative here. I’m very pleased with their services. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keeping an honest and open line of communication about your objectives will help. With agency partners, briefs are very important and need to be crystal clear upfront. Inevitably, if they evolve, be upfront so the team can be a part of the solution. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications and marketing head at an international award-winning children’s television production company. We also specialize in interactive experiences and distribution. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

We hired them to launch a new series in Canada and the United States.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They came onboard once production was complete. At that point, we were planning to go to market with the show and searching for a creative digital marketing direction. They helped execute a digital marketing strategy. 

In the engagement, we went to them hoping to optimized our reach in both Canada and the US. This was a new series, so establishing a brand was essential. That included both digital look and feel as well as ensuring that it was top-of-mind with viewers and broadcast partners. They needed to come up with a consistent campaign for both markets and develop a strategy to maintain momentum throughout the launch of the show. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of three, including a project manager, digital marketing specialist, and a creative director.  

How did you come to work with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

I was searching Google for agencies that were local to Toronto, so we could have a consistent touchpoint throughout the development of the project. Their brand also mirrored what we stood for and had a similar approach to creative thinking. We saw that they had an innovative way of working with partners, so we knew it would be the perfect fit. 

How much have you invested with them?

We were working within a $200,000 CAD (approximately $151,000 USD) budget. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from November 2019–February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re satisfied with their work and their quick turnaround time. The show’s brand has received incredible online engagement in all social channels. We saw impressive audience engagement and fan engagement. The main goals of the campaign were to drive show awareness and engagement. At this point, we are about mid-way through the campaign and have seen 4.3 million impressions and 1.3 million reach in Canada. 

How did Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was on time, within budget, and handled extremely professionally. They were thorough and present on the project, keeping us informed throughout. Their team was always attuned to our company to ensure they were performing at a high level for us. We communicated over email and phone. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their innovative ways of thinking, problem-solving skills, and availability were critical to our success. They go to know us and were willing to pivot on issues if needed. We developed a wonderful partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. It was a relief to have them on our side.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be aware of your product while trusting in their process to make it the most marketable. Working with them was a fantastic process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Toronto Biennial of Art is an international contemporary visual arts event that is as culturally connected and diverse as Toronto itself. For 10 weeks every two years, the city is transformed by exhibitions, talks, and performances that reflect the local context while engaging with the world’s most pressing issues of our time.

In an effort to make contemporary art available to everyone, the Biennial’s free, citywide programming aims to inspire people, bridge communities, and contribute to global conversations from a variety of perspectives. I am the Director of Marketing and Communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

Art & Science designed and developed our Website, from consultation and design, to information architecture, development and launch.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have a comprehensive, user friendly resource for all stakeholders to use that ultimately empowered them to experience the Biennial.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We sent a brief out to several recommended vendors and had them quote on the brief. We felt that Arts & Science presented the strongest proposal.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Built a robust public-facing website for the organization/event using Elementor and the Wordpress ecosystem, which utilizes a Content Management System based on tagging for major content buckets and an event calendar.

- Completed audit.

- Hosted discovery and planning sessions

- Created annotated wireframes employing UX strategy

- Developed Information / Content Architecture

- Designed site aesthetic

- Implemented development based on approved designs and wireframes.

- Set up analytics

- Conducted CMS training and Quality Assurance on staging site

- Supported through site launch and 3-month duration of event.

What was the team composition?

Strategy Lead - (Spencer Saunders): Overseas strategy & execution for the project.

Account Lead - (Stephanie Niven) : Overall relationship management on the account.

Project Manager - Oendrila Majumder: Plans for the implementation of the project. Ensures the Client is informed on all aspects of the project. Keeps Client apprised regularly of status on project. Manages day-to-day project operations including development of the project plan and weekly status reports. Serves as the primary point of contact for the client’s project manager.

Chief Creative Officer - Kirk Clyne: Oversees the creative and UX design of the project. Manages the design and development of all media assets used for the project.

Chief Technology Officer - Tom Auger: Oversees the technical aspects of the project and removes any technical roadblocks the team may encounter.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The website was our number one public-facing tool for all stakeholders to obtain information about the Biennial. All of our campaign elements drove there and we recieved endless positive feedback from users in regards to the tight design and user-friendly aspects of the site. Glitches were minimal and monthly traffic to date has exceeded targets.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

As the Director of Marketing, I was the point person for our org, and I dealt on a regular basis with Arts & Science's Project Manager. We had weekly status meetings, several larger team consultations/ meetings and daily contact in regards to deliverables on both sides. I found the process to be very effective and positive.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I think communication is a real strength for A&S. It was a pleasure to interact with the team on a daily basis. They were always very responsive and positive and made sure that everything was clearly outlined. Even when delivering hard news or coming upon against challenges, everyone always remained calm and respectful and we worked through it together. Overall, I just had a great relationship with their team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Honestly just a wonderful vendor experience. Nothing comes to mind. Even when I asked the team... no-one could think of anything!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the E-Commerce Coordinator for a global travel supplies manufacturer and distributor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

Our website had never really been a priority until recently, so we decided to hired Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. to modernize the platform to drive more traffic towards it. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provide them with our budget and they come up with the ads and content to distribute. Every month, they use their judgment to decide how to spend that budget, but we advise them of changes like upcoming product sales. They provide search engine marketing (SEM) support, but also support SEO efforts when needed. 

What is the team composition?

Victor (Account Manager, Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.) is our primary point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

We love that they’re a Canadian company in Toronto. Our marketing manager initiated the relationship after searching for firms online. We liked them after our first meeting and began the engagement. 

How much have you invested with them?

For 2019, we’ve spent around $200,000 CAD (approximately $151,700 USD) with them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our project in August 2018 and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Year to date, our traffic is up 42%, which is what we were really looking to drive by hiring Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. They’ve been extremely successful in doing that. Recently, our Black Friday event led to a record-breaking month because of their focus on intelligent spend, which is awesome. They’re a great partner for us. 

How did Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done very well. I can email them on a Saturday afternoon and someone will get back to me. Whenever we have a project, we talk almost every day and meet as often as we can, like once every two weeks. If something comes up, there is no question that they’ll be available to talk. Even though our office is a bit away from them, they’ll come and meet with us in person to discuss goals and challenges. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their hands-on approach is impressive—everything is a team effort for them. If we have a question for them, they’ll find the right expert on their team to help us. Their advice is always great, too. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m very happy with our partnership. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep the line of communication open. If you make last-minute changes, don’t forget to tell them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing and communications manager with Pallium Canada. We’re a nonprofit organization focused on building professional and community capacity to help improve the quality and accessibility of palliative care in Canada. We provide continuing education to health care professionals through a suite of courseware called Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP).

We also focus on fostering community because the health care system is only part of the equation when we are talking about improving palliative care. We provide resources to communities across the country that help them better support people who are experiencing serious illness, caregiving, and grieving.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

We’re in the process of transitioning from a foundation to a social enterprise, and we know that the next two years will be critical in ensuring our long-term growth and sustainability.

We recognized that our website provided an opportunity to generate more leads, sales, and ultimately more revenue. So, we brought on Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. to completely overhaul our website. Our last site provided a lot of information about our organization, but now it needs to reflect how our company has evolved and focus more on growing revenue.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned the website to better meet the needs of our target audience and improve our conversion rate. Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. made the site more navigable and intuitive while revamping the site’s appearance and UX. Additionally, they enhanced functionality by improving the site’s loading speed.

They did a lot of work on both our front- and backend. They continued to use the same CMS system we already had—WordPress because it was easy for me to publish content on my own. They also integrated our learning management system (LMS), Moodle, and our CRM, Salesforce. We also sell clinical resource tools on our website, so they integrated Shopify.

Finally, they helped improve our SEO by helping us write copy. For example, our website used terminology that everyone in our company was familiar with, but no one else really used. So, we needed to alter our keywords. Now, whenever people search for training, education or courses related to palliative care, we come up.

What is the team composition?

There were 3-4 people that I contacted regularly, including their CTO, an account rep, an account manager, and an account executive.

How did you come to work with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

Our CEO collaborated with them while he was working with another organization. He had such a wonderful experience with them, that we reached out to them and gave them a brief pitch for the project. They also seemed really interested in diving into our unique challenges and solving them for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $72,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our project in January 2019 and launched the website in July. However, the project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Certain forms on our website are just blowing up, meaning we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people submitting information to us. Although we haven’t checked Google Analytics, the results have been fantastic. Our stakeholders and our team have also commented on how easy the new site is to navigate.

How did Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They created a work-back schedule with milestones and deliverables. This made it very easy to communicate when a challenge came up that could possibly delay the project. Natalia (Jr. Digital Product Manager, Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.) was incredibly on top of things and timelines were kept.

They also managed our process while we wrote new content. We needed to completely revamp our site, and introduce new keywords in both French and English, so it was a significant amount of work. We handled logistics using Google Docs. We tracked everything using Google Sheets, and then used folders to organize what else needed to be accomplished before we could post content on the website.

During our user acceptance testing (UAT) process, we also used Trello to track priorities. While they owned the board, my team was able to add new tasks as we uncovered issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were always ahead of the curve and on top of everything. We threw a lot at them, but they responded with some great solutions. They communicated constantly with us, which made us feel like we were their priority. I can only sing their praises at this point.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We faced a few challenges that we hadn’t anticipated. However, I don’t think they dropped the ball on anything. In fact, they resolved those issues as quickly as possible.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep everything moving on your end and provide timely feedback.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was assigned as a Project Manager for the Chapman's new website. I’ve conducted a vigorous vendor selection process and multiple interviews before choosing Art & Science as a vendor for this project. I worked closely with A&S team to complete all required tasks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

Our goal was to design a mobile-first, modern and easy-to-navigate website with an accurate Store Locator and integrated MailChimp for various campaigns.

What were your goals for this project?

Main objectives included brand consistency, creative and captivating design, SEO optimization, mobile-first design and an accurate Store Locator.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Art & Science offered strong creative, development and SEO teams that have all contributed to a successful outcome of the project. A very skilled project manager on A&S team was a key to bringing the entire project together and recognizing the best solution to our pain points.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Initial diagnostics of the existing website and our ongoing needs. Assistance in developing Product Database and Store Locator Database with information required for the website. Creative web design to accommodate existing Brand parameters, while adding modern and unique web experience. Development of the website based on our SOW. Assistance with content upload and guidance on using WP-admin tools.

What was the team composition?

Our Chapman's team included IT and Marketing. A&S team included the project manager, designer, web developer, tech support, as well as input from the SEO team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

http://chapmans.ca This is the final product. The most feedback from consumers was very positive. Common feedback included terms like "impressive", "easy to navigate", "trendy", "captivating."

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

A&S project manager was always available for questions and discussions. She effectively acquired answers and solutions to our concerns, as well as mobilized her team to resolve any issues. Trello software was very helpful during the content uploading phase, as we could submit tickets / questions as we went through the website and keep track of them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

A&S capability to patiently guide us through the process and resolve all problems in a timely and efficient manner was the most impressive. Their creative team did a fantastic job with the design.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We could have used more training on WP-admin at the beginning of the "Content Upload" phase. Some of the WP-admin functions were confusing. However, with A&S help, we've learnt it as we went through it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the manager of social media and digital strategy for Shaftesbury. We are an award-winning creator and producer of original content for television, film, and digital media.

Shaftesbury's branded division produces original entertainment projects for brands while our technology division works with leading healthcare institutions and researchers to explore and develop clinical applications for immersive media experiences (e.g. AR and VR). 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.?

Shaftesbury hired Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. to create a thumb-stopping digital marketing campaign for the third season of our Netfli series. This would include campaign ideation, asset creation, and execution by way of a multi-platform media buy.

What were your goals for this project?

When approaching the launch of the third season, Shaftesbury was looking to make a splash. Our aim was to entice and excite existing fans of the show as well as reach out to new fans of horror, gore, and genre content to increase awareness.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team searched online for ad agencies in the Toronto area. We ended up interviewing two companies and asked them to provide a high-level concept document to get an idea of their thinking. 

We selected Art & Science because the proposal they came back with was truly inspired, but also kept our budget firmly in mind. They also provided examples of what they could create further if incremental dollars became available, and we appreciated that they took the time to think outside the box and dream big when promoting our show.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

After we selected Art & Science, their team went into the ideation phase, which was presented to our team and the producers of the show. Once we all agreed on the direction of the campaign and the creative assets that were to accompany the media buy, the team started turning the proposal into a reality.

Finally, the campaign went live. The team worked over a long weekend to ensure the media buy was optimized and running smoothly. After the media buy ran its course, Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. presented our team with a wrap-up document that clearly outlined the campaign’s success.

What was the team composition?

We worked with principals of the firm during the pitch and ideation phase, and then we worked with a project manager and their digital marketing manager to complete the project. All members of the team were highly collaborative, open to pivoting when necessary, and very pleasant to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When the campaign went live, we saw a significant positive reaction from fans. The Art & Science team was even able to pinpoint a new segment of fans to reach out to in the future. We saw our show trend on Netflix in over five countries and experienced a 173% increase in engagement on Facebook alone.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager ensured that both teams had the most up to date information, shared assets, managed approvals, and maintained an open line of communication. We had weekly status calls, which our team found very helpful. We were updated each step of the way, and stakeholders could make changes as necessary. We thoroughly enjoyed the ease at which this campaign came together despite a shorter than normal turnaround time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by their ability to pivot when faced with significant design and thematic challenges. The Art & Science team takes an innovative approach to content creation that truly speaks to the intended audience. They were willing to tackle a large project on a shorter-than-normal timeline.

Are there any areas for improvement?

A VR filter was an experimental aspect of our campaign. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, the filter uploaded quickly to Facebook before it was approved for Instagram. We learned together that Instagram needs a much longer runway when it comes to approvals. In the future, I believe both parties will be more aware of this fact.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I'm the marketing coordinator for Arconas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.? 

We needed to update our website. It was 5–6 years old and quite outdated, so it wasn't working for us anymore. There were a couple of specific things we needed to address, such as create a design around our new branding and keeping our SEO intact. Ultimately, we wanted to increase conversions and the number of quote requests. We also wanted to reduce our bounce rate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. provides both website design and backend development. They started with a process to understand us, our priorities, and our struggles. They also sought to understand our industry and our clients. Then they built the new WordPress UX around what they learned. They developed a unique feature so that users viewing our website from different countries would only be shown products that are relevant to them. We have some products that not everyone can purchase due to distribution rights. The geolocation sorting function will get rid of that confusion of users coming to our site and requesting products they can't actually get. 

They do a lot of work to make sure that we didn't lose any of our SEO or backlinks when they made the switch to the new website. They also worked to identify the best keywords to use on our website to make us more relevant to our target audiences.

What is the team composition?

I met at least five people in our initial meetings. I work directly with a project manager. I don’t know exactly how many people she has working behind her on our projects.

How did you come to work with Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc.? 

I can’t remember exactly how we found out about them. I think it was a recommendation. We interviewed and reviewed proposals from at least five companies. Ultimately we felt that Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. had both the design and technical expertise that we needed. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$100,000 CAD (approximately $38,000–$75,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started in September 2018 and the website launched in May 2019. We're about to enter into an ongoing maintenance agreement with them for the rest of the year. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. did a great job. The geolocation component of the new website works well. If a user is from Asia, the products that aren’t available in their region do not appear when they view the site. The site has only been live for three weeks but we've seen big improvements in a short amount of time. We've seen a 30% increase in requests for quotes compared to what we used to get. Our bounce rate previously was around 40% and now it's just below 16%, which is fantastic. Visitors are staying on the site longer and viewing more pages as well. 

How did Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team is great. Everything is super organized. They facilitated all of the transfer of data and gathering content and information through Google Docs. They set up a bunch of Google Docs for me with specific titles and headers. All I had to do was go in and fill them in and then they did a data dump/transfer over to the new website. For content of the site such as image sizes, they gave me a complete breakdown in Google Sheets so that I could see exactly what I needed to do. It was so helpful to have all of that information in one spot.

Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. used Trello to manage the QA of the new site. We used it for all of our correspondence while looking at the devsite. I could address any issues that I found, and then they would respond in a timely manner. We could see exactly what tasks were ongoing or approved. Our project manager was really easy to work with. I liked having one person as my point of contact and having her facilitate the work with the rest of their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. took time to understand us as a client, and understand who our clients are. From the beginning of the process, it was clear that they’d done a significant amount of research into our brand. The work they did to delve into our needs is reflected in the features of the new website. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, nothing negative. While it was overwhelming how much content we had to provide, they were supportive about managing the workload. They appreciated how much work we put in, and they were always available with suggestions on how to minimize our stress. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Do your own due diligence in terms of understanding your brand and goals. Art & Science Digital Experience Design Inc. really hones in on those aspects. The better grasp you have on your corporate identity, the better the project will be.