Contrast & Co.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of OTOT Technologies. We’re a digital transformation and monetization company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

We needed help with our branding efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re a new company that’s one been founded in 2019, so we needed Contrast & Co.’s help in establishing what sets our brand apart from our competitors. Their team helps us come up with our own brand narrative and the necessary marketing strategies we need to boost our clientele.

As a digital company, a huge part of our branding efforts depends on our website, so we need Contrast & Co’s expertise in augmenting the UX of our platform to help us define our brand identity.

What is the team composition?

We work with Carin (CEO), Dharma (Founder & Creative Director), and their designers.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

Contrast & Co. was referred to us by a similar service provider that we previously worked with. I looked their team up and found that they had an impressive portfolio, so I decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $75,000–$100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off the engagement in October 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Contrast & Co.’s efforts have elevated our website’s user engagement rate. They’ve done a great job in making our brand stand out in that our clients can also resonate with our identity — I don’t have numbers to report as of now, but that’s been our main success metric for their work.

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email and have regular virtual meetings. Contrast & Co.’s team has definitely exceeded our expectations in terms of project management. They respond promptly and stick to deadlines without troubling us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Contrast & Co. has the ability to capture exactly what we want — we have a lot of ideas we can’t execute, and their team handles that for us by bringing our vision and narrative to life. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing else Contrast & CO. can improve — they always deliver impressive results.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Plan ahead of time. You’ll be able to give them all the information they need if you visualize your goals early on, and they’ll be able to implement everything according to your liking in return.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m VP of corporate marketing and communications for SmartSky Networks. We’re a startup creating new technology for aviation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

I was brought on board to launch SmartSky into the market. In my assessment, the brand was basic and not highly professional. I saw the need for not only refreshing the brand but also refreshing the logo. I sought a branding company that could understand our innovative technologies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Contrast’s core task was to refresh our brand, specifically improving our logo, website, and how we talk about ourselves. Based on the technical language that we used to talk about the company, their team created a new language for us to use when talking about the company that succinctly communicates our innovations. They held a series of interviews with people at our company and came back with a significant transformation plan for how we should talk to the market. Their team created a new brand, which included new colors, a new logo, and a new language.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people from Contrast.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

I heard about them through their work with an airline association, which was excellent. It was a competitive process, and they won the competition.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $70,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

I hired them around October 2019, and we finished in March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new brand is universally loved inside the company. I haven't heard any negative comments about Contrast's work. They got the language right from the beginning. The team 100% accepted the language that their team created for us to use when talking about our company. Our leadership embraced their work and wants to use it.

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

To begin the project, they gave us a detailed outline. They followed through on every stage of that outline even though we were a bit disorganized at the time. It was a challenge on their side to deal with multiple stakeholders, but their team stuck to the plan and delivered on time. We had regular phone calls and email exchanges with them. They also did a whole series of presentations that were useful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Contrast marries great design and great language abilities. Their team figures out a way to communicate complex ideas in the most simplistic form. That’s why we hired them. They boiled down our ideas into succinct phrases that resonate. There are many companies that focus on design and many other companies that write copy. Contrast does both extremely well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have presented more than one core image for our logo. We ended up adjusting it after their final presentation. Contrast basically banked on one approach but I was in favor of having a choice.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Before starting the project, ensure alignment inside your company. Alignment is critical to a smooth process. An in-person meeting with Contrast will tell you that they have a phenomenal ability to understand complex issues and communicate them well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior VP of sales for HHM, a hotel management company with 120 hotels across the US. We have several large brands and a portfolio of independent hotels that we’ve designed ourselves.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

I approached Contrast & Co. to help us cross-promote our brands and independent hotels.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created customizable promotion templates for print and digital channels. Each template reflected our company’s overall brand, but my salespeople could customize the content to reflect their specific region and cluster of hotels. They developed a persona that conveys professionalism so people felt safe doing business with our hotels, but it also needed to have a creative flair that would intrigue customers.

Then Contrast & Co. put an autonomous system in place where each salesperson could access all of the content.

What is the team composition?

I worked with about four people — one on creative, and 2–3 on the process itself. I’m sure there were others working on it internally as well.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

They popped up on my radar after a hotel acquisition. They had done some of the creative for other companies and accounts in the market. After talking to them about my needs for that particular hotel, I liked their approach to creative work. They were very hands-on and seemed to work in a grassroots way. They seemed open to trying new things and they offered a solution that met all of our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began around October 2018 and we rolled out the new system in January 2019, but my hotels still utilize them for content.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Contrast & Co. created a completely seamless digital process that we were able to roll out across our hotels. There are about 200 salespeople that rely on this system, and streamlining their workflow wasn’t easy, but they delivered a scalable solution that I can build on. I’m extremely pleased with the quality of their work. They set a high professional standard, which has enabled us to showcase our brand.

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

We request everything digitally and their turnaround time is very quick.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their ability to think outside the box. I deal with several comparable firms, but Contrast & Co. stands out because of their ability to look at something objectively and propose an extremely creative solution.

It was just so easy to work with them. They stuck to the process and delivered exactly what I needed. I definitely received what I was looking for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There wasn’t anything they need to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They didn’t have direct knowledge of the hospitality industry, so I provided an overview of what we were looking for. Going into the project, I think that really helped. So it’s important that new clients articulate their overall goals for the project and provide background information on the industry

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of an international leadership organization that tackles some of the most challenging problems facing the world. The fund works to get more women elected by investing in organizations that are breaking down barriers and then training and recruiting women.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

Prior to my joining, the company had done a very rudimentary internal branding process and we needed more of a professional brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We connected with Contrast & Co. to do that. As part of that process, we also asked them to design a fundraising prospectus that we could use with potential donors. They designed a logo and theme for us, as well as supporting collateral that goes with it. More of their work included a memo template, report template, and PowerPoint template, complimenting images, and provided the brand standards for all of our material.

What is the team composition?

We work predominantly with four people.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

They were recommended to us by a fundraising consultant that we had worked with previously after going through an RFP process and thought they did excellent work. Contrast & Co. did a pitch for us and showed us their previous work, which was compelling. Also, they connected with us on what our mission was and they were equally committed to that which was important. A combination of those things is why we decided to move forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2020 and the relationship is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received really positive feedback from those who have seen the collateral they designed. It’s such a sharp contrast to what we had before and it’s just visually stunning and attractive. We loved their first idea right out of the box but tweaked some of the colors. 

The branding process was very smooth and straightforward. We were immensely impressed with how the brand captured both the feeling of our organization and the emotion behind it, but it’s also very clean and professional. They were responsive to what our vision was.

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent from a communication standpoint and they keep us up to date with the timeline. We actually gave them a pretty short deadline for the first round of work and on the second round, they put additional designers on it to deliver faster, which was helpful. They’re also always great about getting online since we can’t meet in person during the pandemic. They walked us through their vision and where we were. We just used email to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only were they excellent at putting together our logo, but they also showed us how we could utilize it across various pieces. This really helped us envision it as something bigger than we had originally anticipated. It's their passion for their work, their vision for a project, and how they connect the two that’s most impressive. 

I could tell by their initial pitch all the way through to the end and the quality of their work and commitment to us being happy, that they shared our passion and wanted us to have the best tools at our disposal to be successful. Knowing that we have a partner makes it all the better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In our initial contract, we were to provide the written content for the prospectus and they got so excited about the project that they ended up writing all of the content, which led to having to do a lot more revisions and back and forth. I loved their enthusiasm, but that process was a little sticky and slowed us down a tiny bit. Having a little more communication on both ends would have been more helpful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Contrast & Co. had a really thorough deep dive process upfront, so I think that the more your organization can commit to that process, the more they will absorb and soak up every bit of information. Don’t be afraid to give them the kitchen sink and let them work through it because I think you’ll get better ideas and better outcomes as a result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Head of the Knowledge Management and Communication Unit at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, an 8-country intergovernmental organisation working for the environment and the wellbeing of the people of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. With one foot in research and one foot in development, ICIMOD is an organisation unlike any other.

For over three decades, we've worked tirelessly across the HKH to create a prosperous and environmentally secure region where people thrive. And with an incredible network of partners and peers around us, we continue to seek new solutions to the challenges that face the people and mountains of this region.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Contrast & Co.?

With the world-wide release of one of our major research reports, we realized that we needed a new look and some new branding that would help position us and our issues more centrally on the global stage. With a highly successful branding process, we then engaged with Contract & Co. for a complete make over of our website. Contrast & Co. have exceeded our expectations throughout both processes in terms of their individual attention, fabulous listening skills and superb design talent.

We felt well understood as an institution and were deeply impressed with the team's attention to detail, willingness to engage any and all questions, thorough and clear planning and implementation processes and their honed ability to keep the projects on track. The clear language, classy designs and attractive layouts have improved the look across all of our products including our website and all publications.

What were your goals for this project?

Our previous branding process was essentially a design process for our publications. Although we wanted a bit more from this branding project, we were initially unsure what it could be. We were a bit concerned about losing the gravitas of our mission if we adopted more PR-like approaches.

But Contrast & Co. helped us to see the high value in adopting a rally cry for the institution, which has served us extremely well. Beyond that, in all of the design for the new branding, it is clear that Contrast well understood our basic need to communicate gravitas while also allowing ample space for using our vast repository of visual photo assets. This is also reflected in the web design that they provided for us, which is extraordinarily flexible, adaptive to our needs and user-friendly.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Through a very rigorous international request for proposals process which was also supplemented by our use of some branding search firms and some initial exploratory interviews with prospective agencies, we eventually shortlisted 4 companies for presentation to our senior management. From the initial presentation, it was clear that Contrast & Co. had done their homework, understood much from their review of our public information, communicated very effectively in strong, simple and persuasive language and managed to do all of this with huge doses of humility and authenticity.

From the very beginning of the process, we felt that they took their relationship with us very seriously and were committed to ensure that the relationship was open, transparent and positive, just as the work was professional, on time and so well captured what we needed.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We began with an extremely effective discovery process based on an analysis of the main stakeholders for our institution. In-person sessions were coupled with online surveys and Wes and Kayla traveled all the way to Kathmandu from Maryland for the exceedingly well managed process where colleagues from across the institution participated in focus group meetings. From there, Contrast demonstrated incredible synthesizing, analytical and marketing skills in the branding presentation that they put together. The design elements they proposed were reflective of their innovation, creativity and design talent. After that highly successful project, and based on their demonstrated understanding of our mission, we invited them to apply for another contract for a total overhaul of our website.

Having won that competitive bidding process, we were again amazed at the depth of Contrast & Co.'s experience as they guided us through a step-by-step process including a massive information architecture review and revision. Having emphasized promotion of our richness of photographic assets in the branding process, they also brought that into our website design. The navigation, user-friendliness, built-in redundancy, and ease of backend management have been particularly effective for us.

What was the team composition?

Senior management worked initially and for all approvals with Dharma, and a small core team from my unit worked administratively with Carin and then operationally with Kate and mostly with Wes throughout. Kayla and Wes made a visit to us, which was an important face-to-face meeting. Since we are located half a world away from where Contrast & Co. are located, we had assumed that we would need more visits from members of the Contrast team. But the communication was so pro-active, open and the team were always immediately responsive, so even just a 3-day visit was enough to solidify an excellent working relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our branding has met with resounding success and our rally cry has been cited in global arenas such as the United Nations' High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July 2019 and the World Meteorological Organization High Mountain Summit in October 2019 and across multiple fora in our eight member countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Our website has seen a dramatic increase in engagement and length of time spent on the site, as well as increases in the reach of the site outside our region especially to the US, Australia and Europe. The new design for our publications have also been well received by our Board of Governors, colleagues and external audiences.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

This is one place where Contrast & Co. demonstrate honed expertise and professionalism. The project management was openly communicative, clear and extraordinarily well designed such that it all appeared effortless. Contrast colleagues took the time to introduce us to some new tools so that we could review work together and were always immediately responsive to any questions or feedback that we presented. Wes, with whom we worked very closely, has a positive and appreciating personal communicative style that helped everyone on the team to feel well appreciated and understood.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Everything about working with Contrast & Co. was impressive - from the manner in which the entire company gave attention to our project, to the effective communication, to the vast artistic and design talent, to the efficiency of all administrative work, to the friendliness of everyone on the team. We have been deeply appreciative of their bringing to bear their significant expertise to help us in our mission and we're more than happy to provide very detailed recommendation to anyone who might seek it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We have been totally satisfied with every aspect of work with Contrast & Co.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is Altum, Inc, and we build a grant management software for the research community. We host a platform that lets research funding organizations post their funding opportunities so that people can apply for research grants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast Co.?

We’ve been in business for about 23 years and have done many different things over that course of time. Our goal in hiring them was to take a step back and develop a new brand positioning and website to go along with the new direction that we were taking the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project kicked off with a brainstorming meeting where we really dove deep into what we cared about as a company and what was on the table for the refresh. In the end, we decided we wanted to really rethink the company from scratch, and ended up going for a whole new logo, branding, messaging, typography, and everything around our image as a company.

After that, we moved on to rebuilding the website from the ground up as well. They provided all of the design and development for that process and have helped with a variety of small projects with relation to the site since getting it off the ground. We are planning to do more branding and marketing work with them for a conference and our platform UI in the future.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a relatively small team on their end, but I know there were more people in the background working on the project. Our main point of contact was Dharma (Founder) throughout all of the work.

How did you come to work with Contrast Co.?

They were referred to us by another company that we work with who vouched for their abilities and professional approach to their work. Once we started talking through the process with the, there wasn’t really anyone else we considered working with. We felt very comfortable with them from the beginning.

How much have you invested with them?

Both projects have cost around $35,000, so we’ve spent closer to $70,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together started in August 2017 and we have collaborated on a number of projects since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was a huge success. We were all thoroughly impressed with the team, their work, and the creative that they were able to provide for our brand. I had somewhat medium expectations going in because I knew how hard it would be to find alignment on an entirely new identity. From the beginning, however, we were all blown away by their imagery and designs.

How did Contrast Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re a relatively small company, so we haven’t implemented any specific project tracking tools to stay on top things, but we touch base on a regular basis through both calls and in-person meetings. They are always timely in sticking to the deadlines that they set and keep us very informed of how the process is going throughout.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The thing our team kept talking about was how well they were able to grasp the subtler nuances of our business and industry within such a short time. It was clear that Dharma especially, but also his whole team had taken the information we gave them and studied it. They researched other websites on their own to learn about the industry and figure out how to make us most stand out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing in particular that they could have improved. We have had a good relationship with them throughout our work together.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think face-to-face meetings are one of the best things you can do for your engagement. Our offices are not that close together, but I had no problem going up to their offices to discuss the more important topics throughout the project. For the initial discovery and presentations, it really helps to have everyone on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO and co-founder of Bixal. Our company provides communications, design, and technology support to the federal government.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

We were having trouble effectively positioning our company within the federal sector. We worked with them to clearly differentiate ourselves and make our branding reflect our values and why clients should select us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Contrast & Co. team started by gathering small groups of people within our company and doing brand research to ask critical questions about the core elements of our brand. They honed in on our key trends and values and were able to pull those together and present them back to us as a leadership team.

They did a draft iteration for the branding solutions, starting with their initial ideas and going back and solidifying them as we provided feedback. They developed the messaging first and then when that was settled built the visual branding on top of that

We also worked toward a number of other small deliverables to go along with the brand assets, including general guidelines and support for the brand rollout. They’ve helped develop the first iteration of our new website, as well as content for our social media, a presentation deck, and strategy for our newsletter announcement of the new brand.

What is the team composition?

At various times, we have worked with between 5–7 members of their team.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

We’ve known them and Dharma (Founder) for a number of years and have worked with them before, so we knew that they would be able to provide high-quality for us.

What is the status of this engagement?

The branding project with them ran from May–November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because of the recent developments in the business world, we haven’t been able to run a lot of the launch operations that we were planning to, but our public-facing version of the website has received highly positive feedback so far.

I also wrote and shared an article on my LinkedIn profile that served as a sort of smaller brand announcement, and that has generated a lot of engagement and a positive response from everyone who has seen the new materials.

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

They do an excellent job of staying on top of all of the work and deadlines that you establish for each milestone. Carin (CEO), in particular, is extremely effective in her job. She’s a drill sergeant, but in a good way, and is always diplomatic in her approach. She’s very good at keeping everything on track, so we were always confident in their ability to hit the deadlines we established for them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to listen, dig deep, and then come up with absolutely brilliant recommendations is second to none. They were able to embody everything we were trying to convey, and I cannot express how proud I am to be able to share that work with the world. It exemplifies our diversity, our mission, and our focus on people perfectly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they just need to keep growing, and I am excited to see them go through that process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re an undiscovered gem in a pretty big space, so whoever runs across them now and takes advantage of their brilliance is getting a truly fantastic deal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of Mymee, Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

We were embarking on a rebranding process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Contrast & Co. guided us through every step of the rebranding journey, beginning with a discovery process. The team was responsible for everything from a new logo design, positioning statement, and other underlying aspects like a new website and updated stationary, business cards, sales materials, and PowerPoint templates. They took an iterative approach to redesign during the feedback phase. 

What is the team composition?

I’m in touch with several members of the team, including Dharma (Founder & Creative Director). We have a dedicated point of contact depending on what point in the project we’re in.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

I’ve worked with them before and have been very pleased with the results. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from June–November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Contrast & Co. has a skilled, versatile team, which makes the project very efficient and pleasant. Each element of their ideas is thought through.

The team played a huge role in refreshing and presenting the essence of our company. Their efforts made us stand out much more clearly in the market; we received a lot of third party validation.

How did Contrast & Co perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was very strong. They have a process behind everything, but we never felt like we were going through a cookie-cutter experience. Despite the orderly system Contrast & Co. offered, there was still a lot of creativity. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with a lot of branding agencies over the past 20 years, and they’re one of the only companies that’s been able to interpret our business from the get-go during the discovery process. After one meeting, Contrast & Co. was able to return with a powerful, crisp distillation of the basics of our company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Contrast & Co. really knows their stuff. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing consultant and have been an interim CMO for multiple startups. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

I’m brought into multiple startups to help them build up their organization and move quickly. Contrast & Co is my go-to agency to contract for branding. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Contrast & Co. does branding work for each company I work with. We work together to try to bring a brand to life. 

We worked with a 20-year-old company that had a solid product, customers, and employees, but needed some “sex appeal” to make that brand better known. Contrast & Co. did a great on that. Another company was a data company. All their competitors looked and sounded alike, so our challenge was to differentiate them. The third company was in the telecommunications space; they’d been acquiring companies and holding different brands. They needed a clean overall umbrella brand for the new company.

After Contrast & Co. worked with them, two out of the three companies were bought within a year. In each project, I start the project, and Dharma (Founder + Creative Director) would work with the company after I’d leave.

What is the team composition?

Dharma, the lead there, has the best mind in the industry. He has the ability to really capture things. He has a team of people that work with him, help him brainstorm, and execute the brand materials. But he does the real heavy-lifting when it comes to capturing the brand.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

I originally met Dharma when he was working at another company. I brought him in to do a project, and he did an awesome job. After he left the company and started his own agency, I continued to work with him.

I used to bring 3–4 agencies for each company to pick, but Contrast & Co. would always win out every time, so I stopped the bidding process altogether. Why waste 3–4 weeks when I knew who the client was going to pick anyway?

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Contrast & Co. in January 2015. I haven’t used them in two years, however.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Right now, in my current company, I have a really strong branding person in-house, so I’m not planning on using any agency at all in the short term. However, as time evolves, the next time I need to bring anybody in, Contrast & Co. is going to be the first call I make.

The brands that Contrast & Co. created changed how people thought about each company. They’re able to capture that piece that shows who each company is. That’s really important.

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

Over the years, they’ve used different tools like Basecamp to communicate, but I’m not sure what they’re using right now.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really like that they have no attitude. They don’t force their ideas on a company that’s not willing. Dharma is able to work with what a company can absorb, which is as important as determining the right creative and branding work to be done. I really appreciate that flexibility.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think they’ve done as much business development as they should for themselves. Their brand is all word-of-mouth, and they haven’t taken the time to do blogging or marketing themselves. I want them to grow their own brand even more. 

Any advice for potential customers?

The only thing I would tell people is to trust your agency. They’re pros at this; be open to the options they give you. If you’ve found Contrast & Co., you’ve already made the right choice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of strategic communications for Hogan Lovells, a global law firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

Because our brand is so strongly associated with law, I hired Contrast & Co. to help create a brand image that was consistent with the law firm’s brand while making it look like a brand that you would expect from a PR agency — we didn’t want to give up any of the creativity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Firstly, we brainstormed with the team. They then came up with a name, logo, a new look and feel, and a way to represent the brand differently but consistently. Additionally, they provided other branded materials such as poster boards and paper cups along with iconography that would go to different services within the brand.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about three teammates, including Dharma (Founder & Creative Director), who served as our project manager.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

Dharma had been my creative director at a previous agency.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from September–December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered exactly what they were asked to deliver. After we got the finished product up the ranks, the law firm decided that they weren’t comfortable with having a separate brand for strategic communications. However, the work was met with extremely positive feedback and the global head of regulatory affairs was so impressed that she hired Dharma to do some other work on the existing Hogan Lovells brand. 

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was extremely easy to work with. They also worked quickly and were open to feedback, intuitive, and self-starting. We communicated via phone and had some in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by the team’s ability to take a loosely articulated concept and bring direction to it, achieving and exceeding our hopes. They were a pleasure to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions. Dharma is the most creative, easy-to-work-with designer. A lot of designers need more direction to get the work done. He’s self-driving, flexible, and really wants to make the customer happy. He offers ideas and is responsive to the client as well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell Contrast & Co. your hopes and ambitions, and let them give you second options on how to get there. There’s no need to micro-manage the project because they’re really good at figuring out what you need and can take you further than you might get on your own.