Creative Mules

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Associate Professor of AI4Science @ University of Amsterdam

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The University of Amsterdam is a leading academic institution that fosters cutting-edge research and innovation. Collaboration between science and society is at our heart, playing a pivotal role in advancing knowledge and promoting interdisciplinary cooperation. As the Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences and the AI4Science Laboratory, we have a strong interest in Artificial Intelligence applied to tackle scientific problems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Creative Mules to accomplish?

The specific goals and objectives for which we engaged Creative Mules were to create a compelling and engaging landing page for our new event, ChemAI, with the aim of effectively promoting and representing the event's mission, vision, and significance.

As part of the Faculty of Science, I sought Creative Mules' expertise to design a visually appealing, simple, clear, and informative web presence that would resonate with our target audience, including researchers, startups, and businesses. It was important to effectively convey the essence of ChemAI as a groundbreaking platform for AI in chemistry, with the bigger goal of creating a platform that stimulates interdisciplinary cooperation within the scientific community.

SOLUTION

How did you find Creative Mules?

Referral

Why did you select Creative Mules over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Creative Mules were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Creative Mules was hired to support the ChemAI organizing committee in developing a strategic and visually appealing online presence for our event. The primary objective was to effectively promote and represent the event's mission, program, and brand. The following is a detailed description of the scope of work and key deliverables:

1. Website Strategy and Development:
   • Establishing an information structure for the website. It had to be simple, organized, and intuitive, to facilitate access to different sections, such as the program, keynote speakers, venue, and other details.
   • Adapting the provided input, adding to it elements of marketing and strategy, to obtain an engaging and compelling webpage. Being the first edition, it was crucial to effectively communicate the event's mission and vision, including the University of Amsterdam's role as a key sponsor and organizer.
   • Ensuring responsive design for optimal viewing on various devices (desktop, mobile, tablet).
   • Developing a flawless website using Webflow
2. Branding/ Graphic Design:
   • Design of marketing materials, including a roll-up banner, LinkedIn post designs, social media banners, and a showreel for a video stand, all reflecting the ChemAI branding.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While the ChemAI event has not yet taken place, the project's success can be measured by the positive feedback and engagement it has already attracted. Thanks to the website the traffic and user engagement increased both on our LinkedIn page and on the Eventbrite page, with a growing number of event registrations.

Social media content has seen high levels of likes, shares, and comments, and the marketing materials, including the roll-up banner, LinkedIn posts, and showreel, have contributed to enhanced brand recognition and awareness. Overall, the feedback was extremely positive, with a general perception of high professionalism.

Additionally, improvements in search engine rankings indicate improved online visibility. The project has been executed efficiently, meeting established timelines, and showcasing a promising path toward a successful ChemAI event.

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

Creative Mules effectively managed the project, consistently delivering items on time and responding promptly to our needs. They were patient with the committee response, sometimes slower than their pace, and we had good communication among the parties involved. Their team often runs the extra mile to offer its best service. Their responsiveness and adherence to timelines ensured a successful project outcome.

What was your primary form of communication with Creative Mules?

Virtual Meeting

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

What we found most impressive and unique about this company was their ability to think outside the box, their proactive approach, and their consistent over-delivery on our project's requirements.

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

There are no specific areas for improvement, and we would happily hire them again for our next event.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of skybow AG

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

At skybow, We build the no 1 low-code tool for workflows on SharePoint.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Creative Mules to accomplish?

• We were on a journey to revamp the skybow identity and website, breathing new life into a dated appearance that we've held onto for quite some time. Our primary objective was to craft a visually captivating evolution of our brand, all while avoiding the need for a complete overhaul.
• In pursuit of this, we requested the expertise of Creative Mules to provide the essential visual elements for our website. A significant challenge we faced was effectively conveying our product's intricacies without overwhelming our audience with visuals.
• Additionally, we sought assistance in refining our logo and enhancing our app icons to elevate our brand to new heights.

SOLUTION

How did you find Creative Mules?

Referral

Why did you select Creative Mules over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Creative Mules were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We required a total of 10 visuals to be crafted for our website, each representing our software products. Armed with the essential information and guidance, we collaborated with Creative Mules to bring these visuals to life, engaging in several rounds of revisions to ensure they seamlessly integrated with both white and dark backgrounds. 

Moreover, approximately half of these designs were not only static but also brought to life through animations, strategically placed in key communication areas of our product. On the branding front, we received a thoughtfully refined new logo that maintained continuity with our existing brand while introducing a more contemporary typography. 

As for our application icons, we were presented with seven distinct design directions, each exploring various graphic approaches for these products. After careful consideration, we selected the option that resonated most with us and proceeded to implement it consistently across all our touchpoints.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our brand has gained consistency, recognisability, and we have been able to more precisely and clearly communicate what the products do through the supporting visuals.

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

Everything was delivered on time, and the communication was clear, direct, and transparent. We were able to easily to see the work progress directly on figma during the process, where designers were also able to directly ask us questions which kept the communication line short and efficient.

What was your primary form of communication with Creative Mules?

Email or Messaging App

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

The time and clarity with which they understand your business and needs. They don’t just design for the sake of design, but really explain why certain decisions can work better from a user perspective. We also received suggestions which were not initially given as input, which was a nice touch and gave us new ideas. Overall their balanace of creativity and deep understanding of the project was what made this go so well for us.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Operational Director of Open Kitchen Labs

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We offer flexible lab space for start-ups active in biotechnology and chemistry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Creative Mules to accomplish?

• Create a brand design for our new company
• Create a website

SOLUTION

How did you find Creative Mules?

Referral

Why did you select Creative Mules over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Creative Mules’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

We hired Creative Mules to develop our start-up's brand design and website. Creative Mules were given guidelines on our wishes regarding website content and ideas for a brand logo. They considered our wishes and the project started with presenting their recent case studies. Based on our input, they developed several draft versions of the brand design. We have chosen our preferences and they respected our wishes. Key deliverables:

• Brand design
• Brand logo
• Website design

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Draft versions of brand design and website outlook.
• Final version of brand design and website.

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

The team was incredibly collaborative, creative, and attentive to our wishes throughout the entire process. From the initial consultation to the final product, they were always willing to listen to our feedback and make any necessary changes. One thing that really stood out to me was their fast pace in responding. Whenever we had a question or concern, they were quick to get back to us with a helpful and thoughtful response. This made the entire process run smoothly and efficiently.

What was your primary form of communication with Creative Mules?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

Their creativity and ability to transfer our ideas into tangible results.

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

We were very happy with their working pace and creativity.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Entweder

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Entweder is a Twente-based venture studio. We start, scale, and sell companies innovating the office.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Creative Mules to accomplish?

• New brand identity for HOLD
• Design and develop a new Webflow website for HOLD
• Create first batch of brand assets for HOLD

SOLUTION

How did you find Creative Mules?

Referral

Why did you select Creative Mules over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Creative Mules’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Creative Mules helped us create a new brand identity for one of our companies called HOLD. In addition to the brand identity, they also helped us design and develop a new Webflow landing page and the first few brand assets for HOLD.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Quality
• Ease-of-use
• Brand perception

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

With a dedicated project producer tightly managing the project, working with the team was very easy and deadlines were met every single time. They even went beyond on a few items, which we really liked. Jumping on a short call never was a problem. Communication was also clear and strict.

What was your primary form of communication with Creative Mules?

In-Person Meeting

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

The Creative Mules team truly tries to dive into the subject matter, which is clearly visible in the end result.

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

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a food-ordering platform. Our organization has three teams: marketing, sales, and software development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Mules?

We needed help with our branding. Although we had good branding, we wanted to take it to the next level.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Creative Mules provided us with branding services. Initially, we had a conversation for them to understand what we were trying to accomplish and our essence. They interviewed us, and we filled in a tailor-made questionnaire. From there, Creative Mules created different versions of our logo, typography, and how we could use our assets. 

What is the team composition?

I talked to at least three teammates from Creative Mules.

How did you come to work with Creative Mules?

We participated in a competition to support innovative startups and won the branding award, which paid for Creative Mules’ service. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July 2022–January 2023. Currently, they still give us advice and help us if we need them to. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we haven’t fully launched the branding yet, the brand has done quite well in testing and has helped us get a large amount of funding. 

This engagement was life-changing for us. We’re trying to build a brand and a movement; without the assets Creative Mules created, that wouldn’t be possible. Overall, this was a really good journey, and the final product stood out to me — Creative Mules did an excellent job. 

How did Creative Mules perform from a project management standpoint?

They had a flawless workflow and incorporated our ideas well. For example, one of the fonts they proposed was too expensive for us, and Creative Mules found another one very quickly. 

We communicated through frequent meetings. Since we became friends with their team, we formed a personal connection. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Creative Mules’ creativity and connection with clients distinguished them from other providers. They provided personalized treatment; the team understood and invested in our brand because they believed in us. As a result, they went the extra step. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their speed. However, as this was an award, I understand why they were busy with other projects. Moreover, the timeline worked out because we weren’t ready to launch the brand yet. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Explain your vision to Creative Mules and focus on that more than what you’re doing now. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Global Product Manager of Exicom Power Systems

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Exicom Power Systems develops industry-leading electric vehicle charging solutions for homes, workplaces, and public spaces.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Creative Mules to accomplish?

• Website development
• Achieve a clean, fresh look for global exposure.

SOLUTION

How did you find Creative Mules?

Online Search

Why did you select Creative Mules over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Creative Mules’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

• Website strategy and design & testing
• CReate new UX/UI for the site with focus on our specific markets
• Develop new product marketing material
• Icon and visual content design

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Delivery of the site pages and project within reasonable timescales
• Error free site on 'go live' day.

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

The Creative Mules team were always responsive, willing and able to respond to queries, help requests and provide the outcomes required. They provided feedback and updates by various and appropriate means (e-mail, Loom, video conf, etc) and ultimately delivered what was required.

What was your primary form of communication with Creative Mules?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They had fresh ideas and were incredibly willing to accommodate our changing requests.

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

Copywriting of content was a challenge however for a new or technically specific product, it is difficult to make this a negative point.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the managing partner of River Venture Capital, a Venture Capital Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Mules?

We needed a brand identity for our new company because we were attending a Roadshow in Israel and had nothing but our brand's name.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We called Creative Mules and told them we had four weeks to create a full brand identity. Although it was a very short timeline, they agreed to deliver it on time. 

To jumpstart the process, we only gave them our name, and they made the logo, a landing page, and a pitch deck for us, including the full layout. The content came from us, but they delivered everything with a more impactful look through their expertise. In addition, Creative Mules provided us with a LinkedIn page with the content to present ourselves to the market. They put everything into a concept using brand positioning and identity tools.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Corbinian (Co-Founder & Project Strategist), Gleb (Co-Founder), and Rafael (Graphic Designer).

How did you come to work with Creative Mules?

Someone from our management team that knew about their work referred them to us.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around €9,000 (approximately $9,600 USD) with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September–October 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The presentations we did with the pitch deck that Creative Mules made were very positively received, and people clearly understood what our objective was, who we were, and what we wanted to achieve. The pitch deck only has five slides, but these five slides could transmit the message we wanted to give. Overall, the impact of the presentation was great and easy to understand by our audience.

How did Creative Mules perform from a project management standpoint?

Creative Mules' communication was excellent. Moreover, they delivered exactly on time and didn't miss a deadline, including the timeframes we set for conferences or deliverables. Regarding tools, we used Zoom and Microsoft Teams — the meetings were very short, concise, and efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team executed the project extremely professional and with very high efficiency. Creative Mules provided excellent value for money. It is a truly amazing team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

A friend is setting up a company, and I told him to call them if he needs something efficiently delivered without lengthy meetings.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founding producer of Flywheel Film, a media production company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Creative Mules?

We needed someone to redesign our logo and website to portray us as a more creative agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Creative Mules is our primary web development and design partner. They create mock-ups through Figma and provide us with graphic design services for logo and web page iterations.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with a project manager, graphic designer, UX specialist, and web developer.

How did you come to work with Creative Mules?

We found Creative Mules on Clutch.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested somewhere between $10,000–$12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched the website yet so it’s hard to gauge the success, but they’re able to clearly communicate and provide a comprehensive breakdown of the process, timeline, and budget. The team is confident in executing their objectives and adhering to our requirements.

Moreover, they creatively resolve our issues thanks to their experience and design knowledge.

How did Creative Mules perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform well from a project management standpoint because they consistently stay on budget and make their timelines.

We typically communicate through email and virtual meetings and guide us using walkthrough videos to explain some aspects of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like the fact that they’re intelligent people who know exactly what they’re doing. They’re also competent, creative, and technologically proficient.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Maybe they could improve on the rigidity of their process, such as making smaller scale changes and implementing our feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise you to have a clear vision and objective and communicate openly to make the partnership run smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the manager of a brand consulting firm. We advise clients on brand related topics to help them grow.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Creative Mules, and what were your goals?

We had a DIY website in place for the starting phase of our business. This year was the time to adapt the appearance of the website to our company growth and bring it up to level.

SOLUTION

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

We searched online for suitable firms and found a project we really liked on bechance. For us it was important to see that the company we choose would understand UI & UX design and we could align with their process of work.

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

We had a kick off meeting, wireframes, UI & UX, web development. We were updated at all times through figma and loom recordings, as well as meetings for crucial discussions.

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

• A project manager
• an account manager
• a UX designer
• UI designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Its only a day after launch so we can't see any measurable results yet. But the initial feedback has been positive.

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

Straight forward, clearly structured, kept us informed at all times. (Email, Figma, Loom)

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

We got a site that is easy to manage for us moving forward and the whole team was very professional throughout the process.

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

Not really. We were happy with what we got and especially how we got it. The process was actually enjoyable.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Belassi is the manufacturer of the personal watercraft Burrasca - with its high quality, the Burrasca is a true marvel of modern marine engineering. This hypercraft was designed by people who love the sea.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Creative Mules?

We had the need to have a digital solution to share our Events and give the chance to our clients to get in touch with us and reserve their presence.

SOLUTION

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

The deciding factors were timing and clear understanding of the needs and also clear understanding of what the result should be. The whole communication was very efficient.

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

Likely for the project the process was pretty straight forward - in a few meetings we had the final page online.

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

We had communicated only with one contact person, behind were involved UI / UX Designers as well as graphic designer. We also get some extra suggestion on how to organize the next events and how to structure them under in a smart way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Visitors were happy from the simplicity and good design of the page.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The overall workflow was maybe the most efficient and least complicated project we had.

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

Beside delivering an excellent product, they keep in focus the overall picture of the project and give advice and not only concentrate on the execution.

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

There is always room to improve - but in our case, we were totally happy with the result.