Clockwork Design Group, Inc

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO and an equity partner of Ligris + Associates, P.C. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group?

We wanted to build a website that was more commensurate with our business and clientele. We were looking for a brand and image. We hadn’t worked with anyone previously to develop our branding or marketing pieces. We engaged Clockwork Design Group to create the look and feel of what we were about on the website and other marketing materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Three of Clockwork Design Group’s designers interviewed our CEO and me. They asked us about our culture, background, and core values. That in-depth meeting took two and a half hours. Then, they walked around and observed the dynamic of our employees, our furniture, and design to get a sense of what we were like.

A month later, we had another meeting, and they reiterated what they’d taken from our meeting to make sure everything was in line. Then, they pitched us four options from more traditional to fresher looks. We picked one that we liked, which was the one they were leaning toward as well. 

The next stage involved telling them the specifics of what we wanted from the website and what types of marketing materials we were using. We wanted a mobile-friendly website, and we wanted attorney profile pages to be downloadable in PDF format to make them printable. We also discussed adding general information about the types of law we practice. The marketing materials we discussed were folders, pamphlets, and tri-folds, and Clockwork Design Group gave us their input based on their experience with some bigger law firms in the city.

They came back two weeks later with website templates with text placeholders. We approved their work and provided the text for those templates. They used a copywriter to clean up the text we provided and put it in place. The next stage was to do photo shoots with all the attorneys and Clockwork Design Group synced those with the website as well.

Finally, they showed us how to update the website ourselves through the WordPress CMS.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three designers and one technical expert from their team. We communicated once or twice a week.

How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group?

We knew of Clockwork Design Group because of their past work, and we were also introduced to them. We were impressed by some of the websites that they made so we reached out to them.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost so far has been $103,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Clockwork Design Group in September 2015, and the relationship is ongoing. The site was developed in around nine months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In our line of work, we get referred business from real estate agents, mortgage bankers, banks, and lenders. Usually, they give two names. Then, the consumer goes online and looks up both referrals. I can say with 100% confidence that, when that happens, we always win. The website’s look and feel, professionalism, and freshness are far superior to any of our competitors’ sites. It’s not a cookie cutter law firm website with a scale of justice; it’s clean, fresh, modern, and it never has any stability issues. 

The design option we decided on was radical and completely different from what we’d seen. It ended up creating a buzz that we didn’t think we would get. I hear feedback 3–4 times per month about how impressive the site is. We came in second place in a national advertising competition that featured our website.

How did Clockwork Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re unbelievable. They use a documented, scientific process to lay out the work. Once we picked a design and brand, they made a detailed proposal to break down each step along the way, how long those would take, what they involve, and with whom we work. It was well defined from the beginning with milestones and a payment schedule. It was extremely impressive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have to mention their project management and creative design. Clockwork Design Group made a brand for us which we never would’ve imagined. We didn’t want to be a typical real estate law firm. We believe in staying fresh with cutting edge technology, and Clockwork Design Group was able to create a look that told that story for us. The site is colorful, fresh, green, and modern. Their ability to understand the client and deliver a brand that truly reflects that impressed me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they delivered what they said they would, and their customer service is fantastic. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Someone looking for a rebranding of their image shouldn’t expect it to be done in a month or two. I recommend working with the team I worked with, which was headed by Vanessa (Creative Director and Owner, Clockwork Design Group). They know what they’re doing, so tell them what you want and trust them to do what they do best.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a financial organization. I’m in the client services group and I supervise all of our marketing efforts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group, Inc?

We underwent a rebranding late last year and planned to work with a web design agency through our branding firm. It turned out that the agency didn’t have much experience working with service firms like ours nor with creating the type of website that we wanted.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned our website, which is a custom WordPress template. We’re in an industry that’s heavily regulated, and Clockwork Design Group had a lot of experience with that. They made sure we had a good website but one that didn’t have too many features. We wanted a seamless Print to PDF functionality for a lot of our pages, and they developed that really easily. We also wanted a simplified backend. With our old website, we had to enlist the webmaster to do updates. With the new product that Clockwork Design Group provided, I’m able to do all the updates myself. They helped us save money because now we’re not outsourcing that function to a third party. The website template has SEO and design functionality streamlined within it. I can update it without worrying about modifying that.

What is the team composition?

In the planning stages, we talked with their president/creative director and an account manager. In the execution stage, I talked with their CEO/production director. Overall, we all kept in contact throughout the process. They funneled the work to the developers and the design group.

How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group, Inc?

I come from a legal background, and Clockwork Design Group was one of the top web development agencies recommended for law firms. They’ve won awards for web design from the Legal Marketing Association. They had exactly the background and knowledge needed to build the site that we wanted. I contacted them and they responded very promptly.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2017–March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They ended up being a really great find. They were wonderful from the beginning. They were very prompt, listened to what we needed, and offered insightful suggestions for our needs based on their knowledge. My company was new to the web design process and they guided us very well in creating a website that addresses everything that we needed. They also left room for us to expand in the future.

Everybody loves the new site. It was very well received by employees, board members, and clients. I’ve met with various contacts in the PR industry and they felt the website was done very well, too.

The site’s functionality is 10 times better than our old one. It better explains our business, and it’s more visually appealing. The tone was right on point.

How did Clockwork Design Group, Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

Throughout the process, they all stayed updated on what was happening. When one went on vacation, another was able to seamlessly step in and keep us running. That also meant that I didn’t have to give instructions to their developers or the design group. They did all of the project management themselves. It was very helpful to have one main point of contact for getting things done.

They were very good at keeping their deadlines and managing expectations. There was a point where we were dealing with a lot of year-end details, and they were very understanding. They touched base regularly so when we were ready to move forward again, they were too. From the project management standpoint, they were excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Above and beyond the quality of services they provided, everyone I interacted with was extremely nice and helpful. They were very thorough in getting answers. If they didn’t have answers, they’d get them. They were very congenial to work with. We’d be happy to work with them again, and we definitely recommend them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only area is to keep refining the custom template that they used with us. They typically work with law firms, consulting firms, and architectural companies, and we were one of the few financial services companies they’ve worked with. There learned some lessons working with a different type of company, but they picked up on things really quickly. I’m sure they will integrate what they’ve learned into their system going forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and business development for the law firm Bowditch & Dewey.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group, Inc.?

There are only three of us working with 60 attorneys, so we needed an extension of our small department. We wanted to outsource design services for rebranding and a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned and modernized our website and the look-and-feel of our identity. Being a 104-year-old firm, we didn’t want an old and stodgy identity. We asked them to create something young with gravitas. We wanted a competitive, easy-to-use website. They also redesigned our stationary.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Vanessa, who is the President & Creative Director, and the entire clockwork team. They managed additional professionals on the project, such as copywriters and programmers.  

 How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group, Inc.?

I met Vanessa (President and Creative Director, Clockwork Design Group, Inc.) at a conference close to 15 years ago. I used them at different firms for different projects. This is the second time I’ve used them for a rebranding.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The attorneys are overwhelmingly pleased with the website. The executive director sees it as one of our most successful projects last year. My marketing manager finds the CMS they built the website on as fairly simple to use. The website is much easier for people to use and to navigate through. It’s much broader with a lot more pages, and you can get to every page within one click, which was part of the goal. We receive frequent feedback from clients saying that they love it.

They also designed really cool business cards for us. The attorneys get a lot of feedback on how hip, cool, and modern they are. They help us reinforce what kind of law firm we are today. This has been a really successful project.

How did Clockwork Design Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They met all their deadlines, and they’re extremely responsive. They asked us to include their whole team on our requests. Then, someone on the team responded within 20 minutes almost every time. Our project manager was very good; every time I asked for something, she sent out an updated timeline. Mike (CEO and Production Director, Clockwork Design Group, Inc.) was also extremely responsive to every question that we asked. One of our primary designers was our main point of contact at all times.

They like to collaborate with their clients, and I felt I was a big part of the design process. The project went really well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Vanessa is really good with the lawyers. She knows the industry really well, and she can answer any questions. She anticipates their questions, and she’s a great person to have in a room full of lawyers who are skeptical about a website project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You can’t plan too much before you get started. It pays to speak with all of the people who care about the project and to show them what you’re doing every step of the way, one on one. Every time we designed a home page or an internal page, I made sure that people either loved it or didn’t hate it. It paid off in the end.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of business development and marketing at G. Greene Construction. We renovate and construct new buildings in Boston and surrounding areas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group?

We first reached out to Clockwork Design about five years ago when we needed to redesign our website. We were using a different company at that time, but we were not entirely satisfied, so we were looking for a new vendor.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They're redesigning our website (our first redesign project was five years ago and now they're working on the second one). We had a number of meetings and discussed our ideas and things that need to be updated or changed. Our old website had some bugs because the software was outdated, so they're updating the software as well. They also developed our brochure and marketing materials and created the invitations for our 50th anniversary gala.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with Vanessa (Schaefer, President and Creative Director, Clockwork Design Group), who is in charge of the creative side and Mike (Fleischner, CEO and Production Director, Clockwork Design Group), who handles the development side.

How did you come to work with them?

We found them through an online search. After we had a meeting with Vanessa and Mike, both of whom were very nice, we chose them for our project.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $40,000. They're not the most expensive, but their prices are definitely competitive.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in January 2018 and we're still working on it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We like the design they've come up with and we're planning to launch the site in early April.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They deliver everything on time and we haven't had any issues with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very pleasant to work with. We've built a great relationship with them over the years and like their reasonable and rational approach. They work quickly and don't charge us for smaller things, which is something we do for our clients as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Marketing Associate at Drummey Rosane Anderson (DRA) responsible for marketing, communications, and digital media. DRA provides planning, architectural, and interior design services to public and private clients, and specializes in academic, civic, library, public safety, athletic, and performing arts projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group?

We wanted to redesign our website for our firm's 95th year anniversary. Its design was outdated, the portfolio photos were too small, the descriptions were not visible, and the blog needed to be integrated as it was on a separate WordPress site. We desired a more contemporary looking website, that was easy to navigate, easy to maintain, and that would attract new employees and clients. The new site design needed to be responsive for visitors to view on all platforms (laptop, tablet, and mobile).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They evaluated our existing website and listened to understand our goals and objectives. They developed three different designs from which we chose the final one, as well as making suggestions and recommending improvements for the new site.

They then did a total redesign of our website using WordPress. Their design allowed for large images, with a focus on our processes and people. We had professional photos of all employees taken, since we have a firm with less then 40 people. We wanted to have an interactive page, where you can hover over a person’s photo and it would change from a black and white image, to a more casual, color photo.

Although we didn’t intend to rebrand during this project, using an outdated logo on our new contemporary website didn’t look right. Clockwork came up with a few new designs, and we chose a simple orange square logo, which we’re happy with. We also had them redesign all our stationery items, mailing labels, and pocket folders, so they look great.

How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group?

I was familiar with Vanessa and Clockwork Design through an organization we both belong to, the Society of Marketing Professional Services in Boston. I had also worked with Vanessa while with a previous firm.

However, we wanted to interview some website design firms to ensure we had the right match. I researched potential website designers and sent an RFP to them. Out of five firms we interviewed, Clockwork was the perfect choice. We liked their portfolio, their proposal was clear and organized, and their own stationery, proposal, and marketing materials was well designed. We had an instant chemistry with their team and found them to be friendly and easy to work with.

How much have you invested with Clockwork Design Group?

We had a total budget of $50,000 for the website. We engaged them for other add-ons along the way, such as the logo, stationery design, and pocket folder design.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in April 2017 and launched our new website in January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We were able to complete the website and launch it in time to kick off our 95th anniversary year, which was exactly what we wanted to achieve. The new website design meets all our objectives and strengthens our brand in the industry. The final design is bright, contemporary, and easy to navigate, while offering a user-friendly experience across multiple platforms. It’s easy to maintain and update.

Since our website launched, we’ve received all positive feedback from both clients and staff. I checked Google Analytics and there’s been a substantial increase in the number of visitors and traffic coming to our website. We hope this continues as we add fresh content. The stationery is also nicely designed and looks great. It’s all a significant upgrade to what we had previously.

How did Clockwork Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is very impressive. They’re organized and managed our project well. They had efficient meetings, maintained a project schedule, stayed within budget, and kept us on track. They’re also knowledgeable and helped us with any questions we had.

What did you find most impressive about them?

All of the Clockwork team members are talented and excellent in their roles. They have impressive project management skills and succeed at delivering—on time and on budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants a new website.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Before anyone embarks on a website project, I recommend having an internal discussion with key team members or leaders to gather ideas and expectations on what they want on their new website, as well as mapping out the timeline and budget. That will help guide the initial meeting and help the project to move forward.

Furthermore, having a point person from both our firm and one from Clockwork was an effective way to keep communication flowing and to keep the project on track. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing and communications specialist at Tighe & Bond. Our firm provides comprehensive engineering and environmental services to public and private clients across the northeastern United States, with an emphasis on water/wastewater, education, energy, government, healthcare, industrial, and real estate markets. We have over 300 people working in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Westwood, Pocasset, Worcester, and Westfield, Massachusetts; Middletown and Shelton, Connecticut; and Red Hook, New York. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group?

Our firm’s strategic plan emphasized greater thought-leadership visibility and development of content marketing/blogging, so we needed a new website to support this vision. I researched potential website designers and managed our website upgrade. We wanted an engaging, modern-looking web presence with an easier and more flexible flow of information. We needed to draw website traffic and edit and maintain the site easily.

Since our business had entered a rapid growth phase, we also wanted a website that would help us attract the best talent, which is pivotal to our ongoing success. For us, this meant offering visitors a glimpse into our company culture and corporate personality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clockwork evaluated our existing website and sought to truly understand our goals and objectives. They provided a thorough brand analysis, which included employee interviews and surveys, client interviews and surveys, competitive analysis, and a defined brand strategy. They also recommended improvements and designed our website. They focused on providing valuable and rich website content in an engaging format to support our brand positioning.

They did a total redesign of our website using WordPress for the background, which was not the case before. Clockwork added large images and gave the site a spacious feeling and interactive approach with a lot of cross-linking. The new site has visual appeal in the way we structured the content. For example, we now have a whole section about our people, which we never had before. Visitors to the site can review staff bios, which are connected to the projects that we showcase. I think this setup offers a nicer picture of what our people have to offer and what our projects entail.

How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group?

Our marketing team reviewed websites of similar firms to evaluate how they position themselves in the market and structure their websites. We also brainstormed our objectives and preferences and came up with several website examples that were helpful when collaborating with Clockwork.

Next, we researched designers to determine who we would ask to respond to an RFP that we created. We selected Clockwork after interviewing our top 3 choices.

How much have you invested with Clockwork Design Group?

We had a total budget of $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We had our kickoff meeting in March of 2016 and launched our new website in February of 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We accomplished our goal of having a new website ready within a year. The website sets us apart from our competitors and helps us accomplish our strategic goals of increased visibility and thought leadership. It builds a strong brand image for our firm and does a great job of showcasing key staff and projects. Clockwork created a vibrant website that gave us a solid platform from which to launch our content marketing and thought-leadership initiatives. It’s much more engaging and informative than our previous 5-year-old website.

Clockwork designed our website to provide a comprehensive, user-friendly experience across multiple device platforms. Unlike our last website, this one is easy for us to maintain and edit internally, which means we can keep the content fresh and responsive to our evolving needs.

Beyond the positive feedback we received from customers and staff, the new website has also boosted our web traffic. We’ve noted other substantial increases in visitors, traffic, sessions, and page views. The significant increase in page views is likely tied to the amount of “related” content cross-linked throughout the site.

How did Clockwork Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Clockwork was extremely organized. They laid out a schedule and connected with me when we were coming up to a key milestone. They made it easy to go with the flow. It made sense. Gathering all my information ended up taking longer than I had anticipated, but they were amazing about keeping us on task while remaining flexible with timing.

Different people came to the forefront in different phases. At the kickoff and the design phase, Vanessa [President and Creative Director, Clockwork Design Group], Danielle [Accounts Manager], and Bonnie [Designer] were very involved. As we got closer to the website launch and had more technical questions, Mike [CEO and Production Director] was great. He was accessible whenever I had a question about some technical aspect. They’re easy to work with and very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about Clockwork Design Group?

Throughout the entire branding and design process, Clockwork showed dedication to understanding our needs and working closely with us to achieve our website goals. Their entire team was exceptionally easy to work with, responsive, and knowledgeable. Even though the website has launched, I still occasionally call them with questions and experience the same high-quality responsiveness.

Are there any areas Clockwork Design Group could improve?

No. They were dedicated to staying on schedule and within budget.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Clockwork Design Group?

Do as much researching and planning as possible prior to embarking on a new website project. Although Clockwork does a great job of guiding the process, internal preparation is vital. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of business development and communications for one of New Mexico’s largest law firms, Modrall Sperling. We have about 60 lawyers who specialize in business law, natural resources, and litigation. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group?

The RFP we issued was centered around building a new website, focusing on a new backend with minor frontend changes. Branding was not initially a part of the project. Although we felt we knew who we were, it turns out we did not. We couldn’t agree internally who we are, or even who our audience is. Through Clockwork’s consultative approach, we grew to understand how they could give us a great new website that would have to be changed after we figured out who we are. They recommended we get it done in the proper order to save us time and money. We turned the branding work over to them at that point.

We wanted them to start from scratch on a new platform. We had worked with another vendor in 2010 and 2011. It was a proprietary backend, and the version that we had was no longer going to be supported by 2015. We knew we needed a new backend, and we thought we could get it cheaper by putting a slightly modified frontend on a new backend. We quickly realized that’s not the way it works.

I had my own list of 35–38 items that needed to be fixed on the existing website. For instance, we have a lot of content, and our pages tend to be long. The previous solution had been a scroll within a scroll mechanism, which did not work. There were a number of other issues, so we decided that we needed to scrap our current site and start over. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with branding, beginning with client interviews conducted by Clockwork’s team. They asked questions along the lines of why they use Modrall Sperling, whether they’d use us in another state, how long they’ve been a client, the qualities they like about us, and the qualities they look for in any outside counsel. From that, they built a branding platform by helping us with the language and an angle. Their end of the process took 4–6 weeks; however, it took us 4–6 months to agree internally that they were right about what we needed.

Once we settled that, Clockwork gave us 4 distinct concepts for a home page. We talked about what we liked in each of them and came up with a plan. The committee and Clockwork had a screen-sharing meeting to decide the concept and language that worked for us and how we could merge aspects from other options. We ended up with a fabulous website because of that. They really heard us, and that’s key. Every time we had a concern or question, I didn’t have to belabor the point; they heard it the first time. Clockwork really listened to us and heard what we needed as their client. We also walked through the painful process of developing our list of practice areas. Of course, each of our attorneys thinks that the areas in which they practice must have top-line visibility on the home page. Clockwork was extremely diplomatic and helpful through that lengthy process.

Once we got everything ironed out, I developed most of the content, but they gave me guidelines about what works, what people search for, and how a website really functions. When I turned over the content to them, they came back with a fully formed beta site that we tested for about 4 months. It went live April 19th, and people from all over the country have emailed and called to say what a fabulous site it is. It works well, it navigates well, the search functionality is tremendous, and every technical aspect that they suggested was perfect.

They used WordPress to build the website. Four people from Clockwork were dedicated to the project and worked with me closely. The interviews were conducted by a close vendor who was used exclusively for client interviews. She seems to be remarkable at it, but I think she was a subcontractor and not an employee. 

How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group?

I issued an RFP to 12 vendors, Clockwork was among the ones who rose to the top. Clockwork was very consultative, which I appreciated over the past 2 years.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in December of 2015, and the site was launched in April of this year. The delay was completely our fault. It took us 4–6 months to agree with their branding platform, so a process that could have taken 2 months actually took 8. Once we had the beta site, it should have been an easy 30–60 days to review everything before sharing it with the world. However, it was another 5 months before we pulled the trigger.

The project is mostly completed. I am still learning how to post new content, edit existing content, and that sort of thing. The website has been up for about 30 days now. I’m not a technical person, though, so I do have questions. They send an answer immediately, which is terrific. They will probably not go away anytime soon; they’ll always be my safety net for questions. I also just requested and received a proposal to create branded materials, such as a PowerPoint template. So, the relationship is ongoing, although the website project is pretty much complete. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I have not pulled any Google Analytics yet. The biggest feedback I have is qualitative and primarily internal. We’ve gotten a lot of compliments from clients and judges. Last week, everyone in the firm took a mandatory security training. The consultant providing the training complimented the new website and said that it was fabulous and easy to navigate.

There are many ways to find an attorney, which is usually why someone goes to a law firm’s website. Before, you had to find someone alphabetically, which is great if you could remember the person’s last name. If you couldn’t, you were dead in the water. We now have a multitude of ways to help you find someone on our site—through their area of practice, where they went to law school, or some other information. It’s much more functional, which was recognized by this outside consultant.

The greater impact has been internal. Clockwork pointed out that we are a firm in the small state of New Mexico, not a New York or Washington DC law firm. However, the cases we work on are phenomenal and nationwide. Now, instead of a random platitude on the home page, we get right to the case stories showing what our lawyers have done. Internally, people are now excited about getting their work on the homepage. Before, it was pulling teeth to get a lawyer to tell me about a case or write something up. Now, I get emails from their legal assistants telling me they’d like to meet with me, and that’s great. Your internal audience is everything.

How did Clockwork Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were terrific. They not only managed their end of the business, which is expected, but they helped me manage mine as well. Every time we had a meeting and changed the practice areas yet again, I had a new site map by the time I got back to my desk. This was critical because we changed so many times. People would ask me about the changes we implemented, and without these site maps, I couldn’t have kept up with all the changes.

They had a rolling timeline, which was very helpful. They helped keep deadlines in front of me. They never went above what they said they would charge, so I never got a surprise bill. They were always on the money and never went above what they said. For a 2-year project, that’s quite unusual.

What did you find most impressive about Clockwork Design Group?

They are very quick to respond. If I sent Mike, their main technical person, an email with changes I wanted or questions I needed answered, I would get a response quickly, even though we had a 2-hour difference in time zones.

Are there any areas Clockwork Design Group could improve?

I can’t think of any. They’re very responsive and quick, and the work is fabulous. There is nothing I would have changed about the project. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of marketing for a business law firm based in Akron, Ohio, with 2 other offices. We have approximately 125 employees and 75 attorneys, serving 12 practice areas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group?

We were attempting a full rebrand of the firm and a complete revamp of the firm’s website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clockwork Design Group was hired to partner with myself in designing a new brand identity for the firm. We met with firm leadership to set the strategy, and then Clockwork also assisted me in creating buzz, buy-in and engagement from the firm, in part by helping to organize a firm-wide branding committee. Clockwork assisted in introducing firm strategy to the committee and help lead brainstorming sessions with the committee around possible concepts. The end result was an exciting new logo and the website. Clockwork continues to produce all of the firm’s collateral and advertising, as well as any graphic design projects, updates or revamps that are needed for the website.

How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group?

I typically hire vendors through an RFP process, but I had heard of Clockwork Design Group through the Legal Marketing Association, in which I am highly involved. I had heard of Clockwork through an annual conference and was able to reach out to them through some of my contacts in the organization.

How much have you invested with Clockwork Design Group?

We have paid $50,000 to $200,000 for Clockwork Design Group’s services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was completed in a timely manner, in January 2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

It was a major undertaking since this was the first revamp since the website’s inception. Aside from a minor update a few years prior, it was the first major full-firm rebrand. We met some resistance, but Clockwork Design Group made it very easy to navigate everyone through the process. We received great feedback from both —attorneys and clients.

How did Clockwork Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style was excellent; things went very smoothly. I’ve worked with many vendors on similar projects with other employers. The Clockwork team was extremely knowledgeable and kept the project moving, delivering on time. If anything came up, they let me know in advance that it was going to alter the timeline or an outcome. We worked with another subcontracted vendor for the programming piece. That relationship was also very streamlined. I would recommend Clockwork to anyone.

What did you find most impressive about Clockwork Design Group?

They do a wonderful job getting to know your business. I chose them because they know the law firm industry very well. Most of their clients are in the professional services arena. It is extremely important that the vendor knows your industry and its nuances as well as you do. I had a very positive experience working with Clockwork Design Group.

Are there any areas Clockwork Design Group could improve?

I don’t think so. Like any project, there are highs and lows. Some things end up taking a little longer than you set out. But sometimes, that has a lot to do with changes the client makes along the way. I thought they managed our relationship and the re-brand/re-design in a professional manner, treating me more like a partner, than a project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

OBP Medical is a manufacturer of single-use medical devices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clockwork Design Group?

We approached them for design and creative consultation regarding our product brochures and website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We came to them with a basic website that we'd been using for our first year in business. We came to them looking to completely overhaul the website and create something that would speak to our customer and present our brand in a more professional way. We worked with them collaborative through the design process. We were able to implement everything that we had discussed at a reasonable budget. We still use the basic design of the website today. As far as our product brochures, we came to them with a basic design that we had done internally. We were looking for something more professional that conveyed the brand messaging in a more concise and visually appealing way. They really understood. They spent time digging in and understanding what we were looking for as far as what we were trying to convey. They presented us with two or three different design options. We still use the layout after three or four years now.

How did you come to work with Clockwork Design Group?

I had worked with Clockwork at a previous company. I liked the fact that they were a smaller local business as opposed to working with a bigger or national agency. You got that personal touch. They always pick up the phone and answer emails. They're very responsive to our needs. When it came time for me to source the website and the brochure, I went to them. I looked at a couple other companies but I just liked their vibe. They seemed to understand what we were looking for and the parameters of our industry.

How much have you invested with Clockwork Design Group?

It was from $10,000 to $50,000

What is the status of this engagement?

It was three or four years ago. We have just met with them again recently to refresh some things. We want some multiple product brochures. They still do some product photography for us. There might not be ongoing work all the time but I'll definitely come back to Clockwork if there were things I needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I don't have any metrics. Internally, I can tell you we've been happy with the deliverables. We've worked collaboratively with them for years now. They're reasonably priced especially for the quality of work they produce. As far as customers, we have a website that is far superior to the original website. The same is true with our product brochure. We've taken it up quite a few notches as far as our brand appearance and brand presence.

How did Clockwork Design Group perform from a project management standpoint?

I've never had a problem. They communicate effectively. They've hit the deadlines that they put out. They've always come in at or close to the budgets that they projected.

What did you find most impressive about Clockwork Design Group?

For me, it's the fact that they're smaller and the personal touch you get with a smaller company. You talk directly to the principal and the owners [president and creative director Vanessa Schaefer and CEO and production director Mike Fleischner]. There's an open flow and channel for communication. Not everybody is looking for that but, as a small business, I value that. They seem to care about my business.

Are there any areas Clockwork Design Group could improve?

I can't think of anything. I've been happy with the business relationship and the work they produced.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We’re a Boston-based firm and we’re about to open a second office in Worcester. We provide services related to development and infrastructure projects. That includes civil; transportation and structural engineering; and land surveying, planning and storm water management.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m a marketing and communications specialist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Clockwork Design Group?

We initially worked with Clockwork to refresh our brand, particularly our color palette, and to do a direct mail piece for us.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They worked with us to understand our message, and they did a great job of distilling that understanding into both copy and graphic design for a direct mail piece. At this point, they’ve done three or four direct mail pieces for us, and they revised and updated our website.

What was your process in selecting Clockwork Design Group with which to work?

We met them through the Society for Marketing Professional Services and were impressed with some of their other work.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We have spent somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 working with Clockwork, which includes printing costs.

When did the project begin, and are you still currently working with them?

Our relationship with Clockwork started in 2010 and is ongoing. They actually just updated a direct mail piece for us in November [2014].

Do you have any statistics, metrics, or general feedback to show the quality of their work?

We’ve loved working with Clockwork. We look at them as an extension of our company. They really spent the time to understand us – what we stand for and what our goals are. They tailored their ideas to our graphic design, templates, and website. Their work really fits with who we are and what we represent. They take the time to know their clients and make sure what they’re doing works for them.

It’s not a struggle to have them do what we feel needs to be done as was the case with other agencies. They’re a pleasure to work with as people but, beyond that, their skills are just amazing. They have great capabilities, particularly in graphics and Web design. We have gotten great feedback from our clients, which is really the goal. After we send out the mailers, we get great feedback, with people saying that they looked great, even amazing. I have competitors telling me that they have principals in their firms telling them to copy our pieces because they look so good. Working with Clockwork has been amazing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Is there anything unique about Clockwork Design Group that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

To me, it really is their dedication to understanding their clients. They aren’t about just providing trendy things or just providing some template idea of what their favorite things are at the time. They take the time to understand their clients and make sure the marketing materials, website, and everything else fit the company. They’re very original, and they do very customized work.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

No. Clockwork has always been on schedule and on budget.

What advice would you give to a future client of theirs?

Believe that they are going to do what they say they’re going to do. There’s a tendency, when hiring consultants, to assume things are going to take longer or not go as smoothly as you hope. Although that is too often true, it really hasn’t been the case with Clockwork.