DBC

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an Architect and Partner at an architecture and Design firm located in NYC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DBC?

We needed help with our branding and messaging and standardizing it across all platforms.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create messaging that could communicate our company's core values Our core values include incorporating simplicity in our design approach, integrating sustainable practices, providing innovative solutions using technology and materials and fostering an interdisciplinary approach, to our target customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select DBC?

DBC was highly recommended by an acquaintance who had worked with them previously.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We worked with StudioDBC to develop a visual identity that could express our core values. They began the process by interviewing the partners to understand our backgrounds and stories and why we started our practice. DBC developed a style guide and messaging materials to standardize our identity across all platforms.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with Carlos Williams who was very insightful and helpful in helping us understand the process and return on investment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our updated website, presentations and design materials have received many recommendations from clients and other professionals. We have also seen our visitor traffic increase on our website and Instagram pages.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

DBC provided a schedule for the work and we met biweekly to review and provide feedback. They were very prompt in getting back to us with helpful suggestions and pivots when necessary.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

DBC has very creative team that is able to think outside the box and provide innovative solutions. The also took to time to understand our industry and the target market that we wanted to address. They had a unique approach; they used data to substantiate the designs and solve problems.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Studio DBC did not have a lot of experience in the architecture & interior design industry. We wanted a company that could provide a fresh insight and hoped they would bring their experience and insight from other industries. We were not disappointed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an associate architect and partner in progress at Forte Architects, Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DBC?

We needed someone to design a logo for one of our clients. This was a unique project that went beyond our regular scope and we didn’t feel comfortable providing that for them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Not only did DBC design the 2D logo for us, but they also provided 3D integration work. So, they integrated their design right into the work we were already doing for the client.

What is the team composition?

Carlos (Founder & Creative Director, DBC) and one other teammate were my direct points of contact.

How did you come to work with DBC?

A company I used to work for hired them, so I was familiar with their work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $2,500 on design services. They gave us a really good deal, but the client paid more for their whole project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2019–January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There were surveys handed out in the community where the new logo is and all of the feedback has been very positive.

How did DBC perform from a project management standpoint?

From what I experienced, it was really great. I know they tried to provide really good service and they worked very quickly and efficiently. They listened to both our feedback and the client’s.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed by their ability to integrate with our systems. They did a really nice job and that’s not something you see with graphics and branding firms all the time. It takes a lot of time and effort to do that and they did a really good job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I know it is a really fast-paced company and everyone has limited schedules, but some of the calls felt rushed. That's a pretty minimal issue though since everyone was still very happy with the product.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

DBC really likes the back and forth of the design process. If someone is just looking for a consultant to throw ideas, I don’t think DBC is the right fit. They’re looking to listen and looking to work. I think that’s what makes them a really special branding agency. If you’re looking for an authentic experience and custom product, they’re the way to go.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder & CEO of Visionary Business Strategies LLC, a business consultancy. I’ve been a consultant for many years but this is a new endeavor where I’m focusing on young entrepreneurs. My focus will be helping these young entrepreneurs with budgets, cash flow and business strategy, marketing, restructuring, expansion, HR, and more. I started this part-time business because I’m retired and just having fun.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DBC?

I had designed a logo and branding but wanted a second opinion.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DBC helped me refine my branding and logo. I showed my initial designs to Carlos (Founder & Creative Director, DBC), who helped me move towards a more modern look. He put a look and color configuration together for our logo and print collateral, including business cards. 

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Carlos. He’s very aware of who my clientele is so he knows exactly how to approach my branding.

How did you come to work with DBC?

I was aware of Carlos’ work with others in the space. He’s brought sound advice to many of his sitting around the table. When I needed an outside opinion, I knew to go to him.

How much have you invested with them?

I have invested between $3,000–$4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement ran from July 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Whenever I hand someone a business card, they tend to stop and comment on the design. I get a positive reaction from many folks, it’s a very professional business card. 

How did DBC perform from a project management standpoint?

Carlos has enough energy to power the state of New Jersey for about a month. He is able to assess a situation and draw a conclusion very quickly. Not everybody can do that. He’s very talented in a way you can’t teach. We primarily communicate face-to-face and via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Carlos surrounds himself with people who are very talented. The whole DBC team is confident in their field.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s not critical, but when Carlos is busy it gets harder to communicate with him. He listened to me and improved his communication. He’s incredibly responsive now. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to Carlos. He’s not just your average branding guy, he knows how to keep up with trends.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former aviation planning group manager and project manager for Dowl, a civil engineering firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DBC?

We were working with an airport client that didn’t have a website presence or any branding. We brought DBC to help us create branding materials for them, such as a logo and color palette, as well as a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DBC built a website and a logo. They also did SEO and create a framework for content and asked us to provide some of the material. In addition, they provided guidance for pulling other content together in the future.

What is the team composition?

I worked with at least two people. One was the lead designer, and I worked with Carlos (Founder & Creative Director, DBC) directly, who served a project manager role. I’m sure there were others behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with DBC?

I’ve known the founder for 15 years. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $3,500. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2018 and wrapped up in March 2019. We also relied on them for support for a while.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has been live for almost a year now. Everyone was pleased, and the airport was impressed with the value that they got and the quick turnaround. DBC was responsive whenever our client or we had a question. Our part in the project is still ongoing, but I anticipate the client’s traffic will increase once it’s finished.

How did DBC perform from a project management standpoint?

To me, responsiveness and quality of work are the important things when I’m working with a third-party vendor. DBC accomplished both of those qualities. They also were able to turn around work quickly and respond to questions in less than 20 minutes. They even went back to fix errors on the website when they didn’t have to. We had an initial phone and then communicated via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness and high-quality work were what really made this project a success for me. I just hired DBC for another project, and they’ve been able to work quickly on that as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. We were really pleased with their role.

Any advice for potential customers?

The more information you give them upfront, the better your project will do. I should have created a list of information that we knew we wanted on the site instead of waiting for DBC to ask me. If you’re organized and prepared on your side, you’ll make their job a lot easier and get going on the project that much faster.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive director of an organization called StuyHealth, which is an advocacy and outreach nonprofit that does work with young adults who were affected by the World Trade Center cleanup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DBC?

We had been set up on a pretty ad hoc basis, so we didn't have any sort of branding that would allow people online to identify us from any random collection of students. We approached DBC not only for help with some of our graphics, but also to talk through how we wanted the group brand identity as a whole to look and feel.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Essentially, they helped us develop a visual identity for the brand. From there, they did our logo and graphic design and provided us all of the assets to go along with that, both physically and on all of our social accounts to make sure we were completely aligned and executed.

What is the team composition?

I believe there were about three people on their team working with us. We had one project manager and then a couple of designers working with him.

How did you come to work with DBC?

One of the students that we were working with as a part of the mission of our organization is an employee there, so that was how we came into contact with them and then we decided to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

They did the work for us pro-bono because of our status as a nonprofit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–April 2018 on the original branding.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work absolutely increased our online engagement, both in terms of our brand recognition among our target population but also in terms of our ability to collaborate with other organizations. Without a clear identity, it was very difficult for others to identify our previous work. This project allowed us to appear more legitimate to larger organizations that have the resources to take on larger tasks than we have the ability to handle alone.

How did DBC perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a great experience with their project management. They were always responsive and worked quickly but without sacrificing on quality. I always felt like they were keeping me in the loop on every aspect of the process, from where we were on specific deliverables to when they would need feedback from me to move forward.

For the initial few meetings, we talked over the phone and through email, but when we began working on the more visual elements of the brand, I started going to their office to talk through different options.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As someone who doesn't work in marketing, I thought they were tremendously helpful in guiding me through that process. They are a great company for anyone who doesn't want the burden of learning everything there is to know about marketing and developing a brand. I always felt involved in the process in the right ways so that I could be helpful without being overly burdened.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't believe there is anything that could have significantly improved the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice would just be to ask them a lot of questions about the scope of their services and what they can do for you. I didn't really know going in how much they could do, and it could be helpful to have a better picture of that going in.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing & Branding Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DBC?

We had a major presentation needed which required all different forms of graphic, branding and design services.

What were your goals for this project?

To impressive a corporate client.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We've worked with DBC in the past and were proud of the work they produced.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Extensive design services.

What was the team composition?

Three team members.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The presentation was incredibly successful and our goal was achieved.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very effective and professional.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We loved their design ability. They were very effective communicators.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None, they are great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Project Manager at American Express.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DBC?

My project was to improve the design and UX of some of our high-volume emails. We hired DBC for creative consulting, copywriting, and design.

What were your goals for this project?

Our KPIs were customer satisfaction, digital engagement, and call rate.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We considered a variety of creative agencies, looking especially for firms that could provide us with fresh email insights and innovative ideas. Ultimately, DBC stood out because of the quality of their pitch, because they were comfortable with Design Thinking and Agile methodologies, and because could provide on-site services.

Describe the project in detail.

DBC provided creative consulting, and helped us:

• review behavior metrics in emails (ex. open rate, click through rate, call rate, etc)
•  ideate solutions for impacting those metrics
• design AB tests to validate the proposed solutions
• align with internal stakeholders like brand, legal, compliance, and technology 
• redesign 1.2 billion servicing emails that we send to our customers
• create a set of standards and guidelines for future emails

What was the team composition?

From DBC, we were assigned a Creative Director, a Copywriter, and a Visual Designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DBC delivered high quality work and positive results --- when I presented their work to our senior leadership team, I literally got a standing ovation. We continued to renew DBC's contract for 6 quarters.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

DBC’s SOW was clearly outlined from the start. They did not go over budget, and quite reliably delivered on schedule.There were no hidden costs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They really gave us their full attention and effort.

Are there any areas for improvement?

When new creatives were on-boarded, it took them a bit of time to understand the particular nuances of the finance industry. Nonetheless, we were very satisfied with the final product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Ms. Foundation for Women, founded in 1973, is the first women's foundation in the US.

Its work is to build women's collective power, which it does through grantmaking, strategic communications, leadership development, and policy advocacy that are focused on the Safety, Health, and Economic Justice of women and girls.

I am the Director of Major Gifts and have held responsibility for management of our relationship with Studio DBC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DBC?

Originally DBC was hired to design an annual fundraising appeal. The outcome was so successful that we created a retainer relationship in order to have their creativity and capability available for all projects directed to our donors and various audiences.

What were your goals for this project?

For the original project, our goals were: 

1. To reach our revenue goal
2. To achieve a certain percentage of response
3. To upgrade the foundation's image through improved design.

We achieved all three goals.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I started by researching design firms that were self-professed feminist in their values and focus. DBC was one of the few .

Describe the project in detail.

See above.

What was the team composition?

Diverse by gender, race, and ethnicity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We met all the goals of the project, as described above.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow and communication were smooth, collaborative, and stress free, primarily because DBC is attentive to deadlines and deeply attentive to customer service.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

DBC has a spirit that is creative and enthusiastic. Working with them is fun and always promises to be fulfilling. After 18 months of partnership, I can say that they have delivered consistently, efficiently, and cost-effectively.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We have open communications and address any concerns as they arise. The nature of our relationship makes it easy to see improvement from project to project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Funds Validator

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Funds Validator is an Fintech company that improves the efficiency and integrity of the proof-of-funding component in international admissions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DBC to accomplish?

• Logo design

SOLUTION

How did you find DBC?

Referral

Why did you select DBC over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from DBC were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

What was your primary form of communication with DBC?

Email or Messaging App

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

Create a logo that is timeless representing a global Fintech application.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Multiple interactions with feedback

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

DBC agent said what her would to and did what he said in time and reliable every step of the way.

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

The people at DBC really take the time to bond. They get to know you, your goals and aspirations and design to your style not theirs.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Education Officer at WhyMaker. We create curriculum and provide professional development to educators.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Working with a NYS Contract we were tasked to design materials for students and teachers to learn from. I had lofty vision of what we were going to create.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The beautiful examples and portfolio of work and clients.

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

We presenting them with the branding guidelines we were given from the state. Then we explained our vision. They provided us with drafts. We reviewed the drafts, provided feedback, provided some visionary examples and they revised. We worked with them refine the details.

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

3

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because of their hard work we were able to deliver absolutely beautiful designs to the client. The client was very happy with results!

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

They communicated daily with us about the work. They were flexible with their delivery methods. They were flexible with their timing.

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

Their clean designs and personalized attention to our team and our needs were impressive.

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

Nope.