CHALLENGE Studio

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Project Manager of an advertising & marketing company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Identifies anonymous website visitors and redefines the way you think about new business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CHALLENGE Studio to accomplish?

• Creating a desktop web design
• Creating an creative idea for a website branding

SOLUTION

How did you find CHALLENGE Studio?

Referral

Why did you select CHALLENGE Studio over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Perfect individual preparation and work

How many teammates from CHALLENGE Studio were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work was the creation of modern desktop web designs and a website branding based on our mobile designs and design guidelines.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Recognizability as a brand and very modern, eye-catching appearance, which is noticed and mentioned by customers.

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

CHALLENGE has always delivered on time. The project management was very individual (in contrast to other agencies in this contest) and presented a highly individual and unique concept for our very individual requirements.

We chose CHALLENGE mainly because of this extreme individuality towards us as clients!

What was your primary form of communication with CHALLENGE Studio?

Virtual Meeting

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

Individual approach. We were impressed with their extremely high level of expertise in the areas of design and branding. Very fast project management and implementation. Extremely friendly employees who understand feedback and improve it together with the customer.

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

In our case, the position of project manager could have been skipped, as we already have a high level of expertise in the field of design and wanted to communicate directly with the design department. This request was honored during the course of the project, which made us very happy.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing manager for a real estate agency. I am responsible for the company brand and website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CHALLENGE Studio?

Our website wasn’t generating enough quality leads, and our branding was outdated, so we needed to rebrand and revamp the site to be more modern. We were looking for a partner to help us rebrand and work on the frontend development of our website. We felt that outsourcing the branding and development work would help us achieve better results, so we reached out to CHALLENGE Studio.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They performed two services for us: branding and development. Our brand has been established for quite some time, but CHALLENGE Studio helped us refresh it. They organized workshops with our team members and learned about what we were looking for. 

CHALLENGE Studio considered the foundations of our brand and produced a key visual presentation. The presentation included the new vision for the brand in the form of visual elements and a style guide. They applied the new branding to our media assets, office displays, and online components.

Additionally, they redesigned the frontend of our website to improve the UX and make it more modern. They optimized the site to generate leads from property owners and property seekers, making it easier for our customers to find us when searching online.

How did you come to work with CHALLENGE Studio?

I found CHALLENGE Studio on Google while searching for the best branding agencies in the area. I shortlisted three agencies and contacted them to learn more about their services. I decided to move forward with CHALLENGE Studio because they were professional, understood our business, and their portfolio and website aligned with our vision. CHALLENGE Studio had higher prices, but they reassured us that they could help us achieve our goals. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested roughly zł180,000 (approximately $38,000 USD) in the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with CHALLENGE Studio in September 2021, and they delivered the project in April 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measure success by the new website's quality and quantity of leads. We only launched recently, so we don’t have enough data to determine concrete results. Branding is also tough to measure, but we believe in the new branding and are very pleased with it. 

Change can be difficult for team members, but we took steps to build internal excitement for the rebrand and had a pre-launch party for the website. Our team has been really accepting of the final result, and they’ve had positive comments about the new design, saying it’s much more modern. Because of our new sleek marketing design, team members are more likely to use our branded equipment, such as business cards and folders. I’m very happy with the results so far. 

How did CHALLENGE Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

CHALLENGE Studio is very organized, and we manage communication using Teamwork, a project management tool. Teamwork streamlines access to deadlines, billing tasks, and other items, which is quite convenient.

We had one issue accessing billing through Teamwork, so we had to rely on the project manager to provide costs and check the invoices, but that was a minor inconvenience.

The team kept up with deadlines, communicated with us, and met expectations. They had a very in-depth knowledge transfer process, including branding workshops. I’ve implemented some of their organizational techniques in my workflow because they were so helpful to me. They were a great partner, and we had a very positive experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with the quality of the outcome and the knowledge transfer process. They were very professional. CHALLENGE Studio didn’t just rely on our initial brief to guide the project. Instead, they took the time to understand our business goals and maintain an open line of communication, which resulted in great designs and a fantastic outcome.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they could improve their billing process. CHALLENGE Studio charges an hourly rate, so it would be nice to have more visibility into the timetable log and the work done during each hour. We receive a detailed monthly invoice, so the work is evident at that point, but it would be helpful if I could see that in real-time to keep up with the budget.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise following the work model CHALLENGE Studio proposes because their method delivers satisfying results. I can understand why clients would just want to provide an initial brief and turn the project over to the vendor, but I would encourage close collaboration instead. CHALLENGE Studio is very detail-oriented, and they do a lot of prep work, which requires some client involvement. Be open to collaborating and engaging with them, especially in the beginning stages, because it helps them to deliver great results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of JBS EUROPE, a consulting and education company. We help our customers develop marketing and sales strategies, especially in the B2B space. The main customers we serve are from the manufacturing and production segments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CHALLENGE Studio?

We had a customer specialized in manufacturing that helped energy companies with things like removing trees. They needed to find a company to develop their website and catalog, so we brought in CHALLENGE Studio.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CHALLENGE Studio has designed and built our customer’s catalog. They worked with a design thinking approach and involved our customers and us in workshops. Next, the team will develop the website. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with Dawid (CEO).

How did you come to work with CHALLENGE Studio?

We met Dawid at a networking session, and he described his company’s project. I thought it would be interesting to invite him to this project because they had an excellent background, and I saw their Clutch reviews. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our customer is very satisfied with the catalog’s design and wants to keep cooperating with me thanks to CHALLENGE Studio’s involvement. Working with a subcontractor can be very difficult because our brand is at stake, and CHALLENGE Studio has made us look good in the eyes of our customer. Moreover, their process is of the highest level; they work in a way in which we invest the least time. 

How did CHALLENGE Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a teamwork-focused approach. We’ve been invited into their team, where we can communicate about tasks and subtasks easily. Their approach allows us to easily see how the project is developing and what step they’re in. 

In terms of the budget, we understand where the money goes. They’re transparent, so neither the customer nor I objected to the budget. We mainly use Slack and email to communicate, though we also use phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate how CHALLENGE Studio manages the project — everything has worked well. I’ve found our cooperation very good, and it won’t be our last. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m quite satisfied. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to listen to CHALLENGE Studio and understand the process. There are many competitors on the market, so it can be difficult to find a good subcontractor because sometimes they don’t understand what will be done. 

CHALLENGE Studio communicates very precisely and prepares the budget carefully. Although they don’t have the lowest prices, listen to why they calculate the budget the way they do. You can compare that with their other calculations, and you’ll realize there won’t be hidden costs other companies might charge.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a lead product designer at Petigo, a Polish startup. We build a marketplace with pet products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed complete branding for our product. Another difficulty was fitting into a partially built web product and its design system.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Initially, we found a few vendors. The first contact with the Challange Studio was really promising, but because of the budget, we decided to hire a freelancer. That was a mistake - after a short time, we went back to the Challenge...

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

Together with the Challenge Studio, we determined which tools would suit us best, and discussed all the scope of our work. We started with 2-day workshops and based on that we developed, the main direction of the project. We received further results of the project in a few parts, and thanks to that we had a sense of decision-making at every stage of the project.

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

We worked directly with their CEO, product manager and brand designer at various stages of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a fully functional branding with key visual, on this basis we were able to rebuild our product and the whole design system as we wanted. We started to sell and hope we will have more good metrics in the future.

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

Communication was very smooth. The big plus is that they fit our timeframe.

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

We got from the Challenge Studio some additional extra ideas that we are going to implement in the future.

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

Everything was great. Good job guys!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Co-owner, Vice President, CFO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Create new freash website with new key visual, following new Tekniska marketing strategy

SOLUTION

How did you select CHALLENGE Studio and what were the deciding factors?

ielski We were looking for a local company, experienced in large web projects, and creative that would live up to our expectations. Ultimately, the remaining 2 companies, based on meetings with both companies, we had chosen Challenge studio because they had a better portfolio and cooperated with companies making creative marketing strategies.

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

We met often. We have established a schedule of activities and responsibilities. We have indicated responsible persons on each side. There are deadlines for low-fi and high-fi mockups, dates for photo sessions, waiting for new marketing materials. etc.

However, before we started working on creating a new website, we developed a new marketing strategy that set milestones for the entire project. I don't know the technical details with what development tools Challenge worked with and it didn't matter to us.

How many people from the CHALLENGE Studio team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I don't rememeber well, approx 4-6 people including their CEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's not that simple to answer the question thus we operate in the OT industry in which there are some inertia. The implementation of a new company image, a new web system, do not translate so swiftly into an immediate effect.

After almost 2 years, we noticed that the consistent promotion of the new image together with our own marketing dept.

In the area of ​​social media brings an effect, but it does not yet transform into an increase in the company's revenues, which is also the result of military agression in Ukraine, a global problem after a 2-year pandemic and the lack of sub-components for the production of electronic devices.

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

We used the available channels on a daily basis: e-mails, teamwork as the base system, whatsup and telephone for communication. We also used common data exchange and correction sheets. As a result, communication was quite arduous and difficult, and the pandemic also limited the possibilities of face-to-face contacts.

There were a lot of tension and sharper exchanges of views, but in the end, we got through it. although it took a total of 14 months due to the scale and robotic functionality of the website.

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

We were very critical about the individual steps and prioritizing them by Challenge Studio. However, the end result of the entire project satisfied us very much.

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

In such long and complicated projects, precise communication is the most important. This one failed, but it was always the fault of both sides. I think that the cooperation could have been different if it had not been for covid 19.

However, face to face meetings are the basis in such projects. The Internet is flat, the information sent has time inertia, the parties then get along with the difficult ones.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an e-commerce manager at Pitbull Promotion Sp. z o.o. Our company specializes in online and stationary sales. We run four online stores. Pitbull.pl Pitbullcity.pl Pitbulloutlet.com and Skullhead.pl which Challenge Studio designed.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CHALLENGE Studio?

We were encouraged to cooperate with challenge studio by the company's previous projects. Their experience and presented creations. Due to the planning of opening another online store, we needed an experienced team of designers who would develop the graphic form of both the website and the entire Skullhead brand. Our goal was to create a website unlike any other. Matching the customers to whom it will be addressed. Of course, the website, its usability had to be user-friendly.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We decided to choose the Challenge agency on the basis of their previous great projects.

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

The first stage of cooperation were talks regarding the valuation and time frames of the project. Then we smoothly moved to a two-day workshop at our company's headquarters. The next stage was the presentation of Hi-Fi mockups and brand logos developed during the workshop. In the next stages, visualization of subpages, presentation of graphics made for marketing purposes and stickers. Then the Blog, newsletter design, video recordings of interviews, a photo session from the opening of a stationary store and cooperation with a developer implementing the developed graphic form into the website store system.

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

DAVID CEO. EXPERT IN BRANDING AND INTERACTIVE SOLUTIONS PRZEMYSŁAW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR & PROJECT MANAGER. EXPERT IN PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO AND ANIMATION. and ŁUKASZ COPYWRITER

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The best example of our cooperation is the skullhead.pl website. In addition, the agency has developed for us the skullhead brand logo, keyvisual, visualization of a stationary store, marketing branding, branding of shipping materials and future clothing projects. Additionally, we used the services of a copywriter and photographer. In the future, we have already produced but unpublished video interviews with the ambassadors. Below, in the links, graphics with the challenge agency. https://challengestudio.pl/preview/skullhead/skullhead_keyvisual_final… https://challengestudio.pl/preview/skullhead/skullhead_www_stronaglowna… http://challengestudio.pl/preview/skullhead/skullhead_www_listaprodukto… http://challengestudio.pl/preview/skullhead/skullhead_www_marka_1680_v3… http://challengestudio.pl/preview/skullhead/skullhead_www_produkt_1680_…

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The form of cooperation with the challenge agency was very well organized. In addition to stationary workshops, at the beginning of cooperation and exchanging e-mails, we used the teamwork tool. Periodic Skype video meetings helped us to improve the project.

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

The most impressive for us was the professionalism of people cooperating with us and their unlimited creativity. Understanding the needs and the speed of implementing them.

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

In retrospect and cooperation, I do not see any areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am PR and branding specialist working at Rage Quit Games, mobile games developer from Poland, specializing in creating graphically advanced online games.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Rage Quit Games has grown by about 40 employees over the past year, and one of the main problems in recruiting has been the company's low visibility in the market. One of the ways we solved this challenge was to prepare a new visual identity that strongly distinguished us from our competitors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found several companies whose portfolios met our expectations. The choice fell on Challange because of their experience in projects for other companies in the game industry and the quality of the work done so far.

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

The work was divided into several stages including design thinking workshops with key employees of our company, during which we defined the challenges, needs and expectations of Rage Quit Games in relation to the new identity.

First we worked on a new company logo, where during the process we initially based on moodboards prepared by Challange based on the workshops, and then we got 5 logo proposals. The next step was to prepare key visuals for the new identity and here, too, the process was similar. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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

I worked directly with the company owner and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are currently working on implementing a new identity for the company. Partially it has already been consulted with external partners and PR agencies that we work with on a daily basis. In each case we received very positive feedback and assurance that the new logo meets our basic assumptions - it strongly distinguishes us from our competitors.

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

Communication with Challange in my opinion was exemplary from the beginning. We received very accurate and specific pricing and a work schedule. We were provided with a communication tool (teamwork), all changes in the project and next steps were consulted during Skype calls.

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

The most impressive thing about working with Challange was the ease with which the company was able to find its way in the complicated world of games and they present such creatives that met our expectations and at the same time were not cliché.

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

The only challenge was working during a pandemic and not being able to meet live. This is not the contractor's fault, but I think it would have made the process even more efficient.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am co-founder of estruktorzy. We build successful ecommerce businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CHALLENGE Studio?

On behalf of our client, LaMania, we invited CHALLENGE to design (both UX and UI) new version of LaMania Fashion online store.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have checked different studios but CHALLENGE caught our attention with great e-commerce projects they did (Koszulkowo, 8a.pl)

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

The project started with discovery and research stage which was held alongside with specialist from Estruktorzy. We moved to conceptual works which resulted in lo-fi and hi-fi wireframes.

The new store designed by CHALLENGE was developed on Magento 2 by a group of specialists from MONOGO. To maintain the appropriate proportions and readability, CHALLENGE based the website on a dedicated grid, which allowed to scale the store very freely at different resolutions. The previous problem of LaMania was almost zero conversion on mobile devices, which was caused by scattered RWD and a poorly conducted shopping path.

An important new feature in the new store was the use of product mapping to increase conversions. According to research, customers were more willing to add products to the basket having a preview of how they look at the large and accurate photo of the model.

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

Project manager, Art director, UX/UI designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The first results a month after the implementation of the new LaMania online store: - Conversion Rate +96,5% - Average session time +36,5% - Page / session ratio +35% - Increase in mobile conversion +398% - The number of transactions carried out in the first three days after the visit increased by 39%.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We did not encounter any major problems. We used CHALLENGE Studio Trello as the main communication platform. We also had regular Skype calls.

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

They have an extensive understanding and knowledge of e-commerce.

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

Nothing comes to mind at this moment

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Chief architects on the investor's side. ReShape is an innovative, user-centric fitness and wellness facility located in Zabrze, Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

The ReShape project involved revitalization of the post-industrial area and designing a new interior both of which were done by me. CHALLENGE Studio was responsible for brand design covering naming, visual identity, web design and print materials. The goal was to design modern and professional visual identification that will go along business and architectural concept (Gym / wellness facility where a person is transformed / reshaped).

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were looking for local companies in Silesia and CHALLENGE was the best of them.

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

The story of this place dates over a hundred years back. In the 20th century it used to be a part of thriving meat processing facility "MAĆKO". At the very beginning of the 21st century the company declared bankruptcy and from that moment the slow process of the area's degeneration begun. In 2021 the area became a property of MULTUS company. New owners decided to breathe a new life into an old, derelict space. Due to their deep interest in sports and fitness they have decided to transform a significant part of the area into a place which launched in 2012 as the most innovative widely available fitness and wellness facility in Poland.

The investor teamed up with me and CHALLENGE to develop a long-term revitalization plan that would the initial vision. My task was to create a design which would incorporate new functions into existing urban tissue and give it a new character. The goal was achieved by interlacing heavy and solid industrial elements such as pillar grid, ceiling joists and roof construction with light, delicate and round elements inspired by a curled sheet of paper. Warm colour scheme refers to both brand strategy as well as original interiors of the meat processing facility.

CHALLENGE Studio was invited in order to design a name and visual identification system which would appropriately represent the brand in physical and digital space. After initial exploration of concepts CHALLENGE decided to emphasize the transformation road theme due to its presence across every level of the project. After accepting the name (ReShape) proposed by CHALLENGE, the designers from this studio started work on: logo, key visual, dozens marketing materials and finally UX and UI design of our website.

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

The CHALLENGE team consisted of project manager, art director, copywriter, brand designer and UX/UI designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the lunch of ReShape we won plenty of awards in architectural, design and digital competitions. Not only brand image designed by CHALLENGE was top-notch, but it helps to get international recognition.

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

Communication was flawless, not only because of the fact that CHALLENGE Studio office is in the neighbour city. Project manager Iwona was always available and took care of our interests well. We have used: - phone calls and skype for quick chats - Active Collab for overall project organization

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

Creativity. We were impressed and convinced that we made the right choice from the moment we saw the proposed name and first projects.

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

We wish the whole project could take less time but in the same time we knew how big a deal it was.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

At that time I was Vice President of the Board and CEO at Toyota Bielany. Toyota Bielany is authorized Toyota Showroom and Service Center. We service and sell new, used and fleet cars. As a five-time Dealer of the Year 2014 - 2018, we know perfectly well how to respond to the needs of our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CHALLENGE Studio?

UX design of website for the sale and purchase of used cars

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with CHALLENGE on the different project in the past so that they were my first choice.

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

After initial calls we have established the scope of work:

• UX workshops in order to define business goals / needs (including target audience) and design lo-fi wireframes.
• Analysis of google keywords / SEO
• Preparation of hi-fi wireframes for the home page, product card, product list and wishlist
• Preparation of detailed report / documentation of the entire result of the work

After the workshops, we went according to the plan. Everything was smooth. We were using the CHALLENGE Studio Teamwork project management platform.

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

Project manager, Art director, SEO specialist and UX designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to the workshops and Challenge studio expertise we were able to define new killer features for our website. It was definitely the key moment of the entire cooperation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There were no communication and cooperation problems.

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

They have great business knowledge in general, which resulted in significant improvements for our initial ideas.

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

Not for the moment