Houdini Interactive

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Producer of TheLittleLabs

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

TheLittleLabs is a full service animation and interactive design studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Houdini Interactive to accomplish?

• The goal of the project was to redesign the avatar system for the ABC Mouse property, creating a series of 3D-modeled avatars with customizable elements to enhance user engagement by allowing children to personalize their profiles within the ABC Mouse environment.

SOLUTION

How did you find Houdini Interactive?

• Referral
• We were connected via prior work together

Why did you select Houdini Interactive over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned
• They do amazing work

How many teammates from Houdini Interactive were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Scope of Work:
The project involved providing 3D avatar modeling, rigging, UV mapping, texturing, and animation system development for the ABC Mouse property. The focus was on creating customizable avatars that children could personalize within their profiles.

Key Deliverables Included:

• Avatar Base Modeling, UV Mapping, and Texturing
• Avatar Rigging
• Animations: 
  • 2 Basic Idle animations
  • Celebration animation
  • Wave Hello animation
• Models: 
  • Eyes (2 variations)
  • Hair (6 styles: 2 boy, 2 girl, 2 neutral)
  • Clothing options: 
    • T-shirts (7 variations)
    • Long-sleeve shirts (6 variations)
    • Skirts (5 variations)
    • Pants (8 variations)
    • Sneakers & Socks (9 variations)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Our team, and especially our Creative Director, was very pleased with the outcome. Houdini's flexibility and responsiveness in adapting to creative direction were essential in achieving the vision for the project.
• Positive feedback was consistently received on the quality of the 3D work and the overall redesign effort. We were required to optimize poly counts to meet technical requirements, which was a tedious process that Houdini consistently delivered on.
• The project was delivered on time and within budget, adhering to a milestone-based schedule with all deliverables achieved at every stage.
• Our collaboration showcased exceptional professionalism and adaptability, ensuring a smooth and successful process.

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

They consistently delivered on time and were very responsive and flexible througout the process. 

What was your primary form of communication with Houdini Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What I found most impressive is how easy they were to work with. They maintain a calm, cool demeanor and combine that with the skills and talent needed to consistently deliver exceptional work.

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

None that I can think of. Keep up the great work!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO and Founder of Tokki

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Tokki offers an endlessly connecting QR greeting card experience that is built into gift bags to encourage reuse.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Houdini Interactive to accomplish?

• Custom development of their interactive platform to provide a digital greeting card

SOLUTION

How did you find Houdini Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Houdini Interactive over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Houdini Interactive were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Tokki is revolutionizing the gift wrap category with their novel multi-channel gifting products. Launching back in the Summer of 2022, Tokki needed a fresh frontend look and feel from beginning to end and better digital infrastructure to keep up with their growing physical presence across the country. Although Tokki had a strong brand voice, our UX designers brought fresh eyes to the product's user flow to bolster user's retention rate. 

To support a renewed frontend, our backend development team was hard at work building an architecture that featured a totally custom CMS so Tokki's team could run every piece from the comfort of their home seamlessly. From a totally custom analytics dashboard to configuring QR codes one-by-one or by batches to fit their vendors needs, the new Tokki is capable of doing so much more with so many more in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successful holiday launch and national reach with a large international retailer. No issues at highest peak time of Christmas Eve (WHEW!).

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

Yes, Houdini delivered on time, were responsive to our concerns and suggestions and were transparent about prioritization, so we could make decisions collaboratively. They are the best communicators I've worked with out of eight tech firms I've engaged with throughout my career.

What was your primary form of communication with Houdini Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The Houdini Interactive team was creative, communicative, and collaborative - I am allergic to "tech bros." The team at Houdini was genuinely engaged and curious about understanding our business objectives. We enjoyed every single meeting we had with them.

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

None. We plan to continue to work with Houdini as we grow.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of WITNESS

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We bring your ideas into motion, so you can connect with your audience. We’re a design-led content company that focuses on visual storytelling through 2D /3D Animation, XR and Live Action video. We start with design. Then, we combine it with a cultivated aesthetic, add just a dash of daring, and animate it. The result? An inspired product that moves you forward and carries the hearts and souls of the tireless creatives who made it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Houdini Interactive to accomplish?

• Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Houdini Interactive?

Online Search

Why did you select Houdini Interactive over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Houdini Interactive were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The project entailed a custom interactive video game.  Key deliverables included an onsite video game web experience under an extremely tight schedule.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Flawless functionality.

On-site/on-line support.

On-time delivery for the event.

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

The Houdini team was comprehensive with their schedule and very diligent in meeting their deliveries.  They were very responsive. 

What was your primary form of communication with Houdini Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They were available to problem-solve and adjust to a fast-paced project.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO/CFO of Davison & Moore Commercial Flooring

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Commercial Flooring Contractor

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Houdini Interactive to accomplish?

• Design a New Website

SOLUTION

How did you find Houdini Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Houdini Interactive over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Houdini Interactive were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Full redesign of company website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were seeking a more professional presentation of our work and have been repeatedly complimented on the website interface and usability by our customers and partners - even three years after the redesign!

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

Flawless project management and delivery that pushed us to provide deliverables but respected  our internal process.

What was your primary form of communication with Houdini Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Houdini's team had the giftedness to capture our vision and translate it into a beautifully designed site accurately representing our company and culture.

Houdini's team of talented professionals provided the best possible experience for our team during a challenging process, and the website that resulted was pure genius!

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

Nothing! The team has been supportive since go-live with assistance to our team to make our own updates and maintain the site.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of PRESS Architecture

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

PRESS is a collaborative architectural practice with a focus on sustainable design, including mass timber.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Houdini Interactive to accomplish?

• Establish a brand identity
• Create a professional website and brand

SOLUTION

How did you find Houdini Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Houdini Interactive over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Houdini Interactive were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Brand development including logo/mark, font, storytelling, and collateral.  
• Web development. 

Key deliverables: 

• brand marks
• fonts
• collateral
• website

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clearly defined goals with each subsequent meeting.  Each meeting saw measurable progress from the prior meeting.

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

Houdini was clear in their goal setting.  They listened and responded to feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with Houdini Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They were able to listen and process the information provided to them in a unique manner.  Their initial branding exercise blew our minds - 3 options and all had great merit and told a story that connected to our ideas.  

Their ability to bring to light the meaning behind our own work - pulling out the meaning that we didn't see and making it shine.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at AquiPor

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

AquiPor develops material technology and engineering solutions for stormwater management and various green infrastructure projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Houdini Interactive to accomplish?

• Branding
• Website design
• Marketing Strategy

SOLUTION

How did you find Houdini Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Houdini Interactive over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Houdini Interactive were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Houdini helped our company develop our branding and marketing strategy, including content creation, website development, social media strategy, live event preparation and management, and animated/3D rendering.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Houdini helped us establish a presence in our markets, and most importantly helped us successfully raise the maximum allowable amount in an equity crowdfunding campaign, helping us raise $1.07M in one year.

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

Very responsive and timely with deliverables. They were also very good communicating throughout our engagement.

What was your primary form of communication with Houdini Interactive?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their company culture is second to none. The firm's owners think outside of the box and their care for and attention to the client's needs reverberates throughout the company.

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

No