Kanda

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder & CEO of COAT Paints

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ecommerce paint brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Branding
• UX Design
• UI Design

SOLUTION

How did you find Kanda?

Referral

Why did you select Kanda over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

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

Our website design was getting old. The brand was looking to cement a re-positioning and appeal to a more affluent demographic. The brief was to first elevate the branding with new brand elements and guidelines, and then to design a brand new site which was to be built from scratch. This included all UX and UI elements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All regular website metrics (e.g. engagement rate, bounce rate, add to cart etc) - ultimately aggregating up to overall website CVR. Less measurable outcomes include brand elevation.

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

The team were very responsive, and fast. The approach was collaborative, using tools like Figma, Trello and Slack to keep communication flowing and open. Work was delivered in a timely manner, often ahead of schedule. It's always a pleasure when working together is 'easy' - and it definitely felt like this.

What was your primary form of communication with Kanda?

Virtual Meeting

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

Kanda's responsiveness and speed are impressive. We continue to work with Kanda now and this is one of their biggest strengths. Similarly the openness of thought, and putting real time into proposing multipl design solutions to user problems, rather than just one. It helped us get to the best solution for every component, every time.

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

None. We genuinely have not worked with such smart, collaborative partners before so it was a refreshing change.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of an outsourcing provider, helping companies build remote customer service and sales teams for a fraction of the cost.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Kanda?

We hired Studio Kanda to build our brand and website as well as development on Webflow from scratch.

SOLUTION

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

After conducting a thorough search and evaluation process, we ultimately decided to select Studio Kanda as our vendor based on a combination of factors. One of the key considerations was their competitive cost-structure, which offered excellent value for the services they provided. In addition, their portfolio of prior work was impressive, showcasing their expertise and attention to detail. They also had strong references from past clients, which gave us confidence in their ability to deliver high-quality work.

Finally, their speed of execution was a key factor in our decision-making process, as we needed a vendor who could deliver the project on a tight timeline. Overall, Studio Kanda stood out as the best choice for our needs based on their combination of cost, quality, expertise, customer service, and speed of execution.

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

We discussed the project in detail on an introductory call. We went through our expectations for the deliverables, negotiated on price, and the team immediately got to work. We wrote up the content for the website as we agreed on it and within a day had wireframes built out. We did the design over one week and provided daily feedback.

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

We worked with the two Co-founders of Studio Kanda, Warren and Jordan.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've had existing clients blown away after the rebrand and had prospective clients communicate with us in a completely different manner. We also had more referrals come in than ever before.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was very easy to communicate with on email and everything was very organized.

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

Upon evaluating the speed at which Studio Kanda completed the project, I was thoroughly impressed by their efficiency and ability to deliver high-quality work in a timely manner. The designs and development of the website were particularly noteworthy, demonstrating their expertise and attention to detail. It is clear that Studio Kanda has a strong understanding of the needs and expectations of their clients, and their commitment to delivering exceptional results is evident in the final product.

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

If I had to identify an area for improvement with Studio Kanda, it would likely be in the way they communicated final brush-ups or changes to the project. While their overall communication throughout the project was satisfactory, there were a few instances where I felt that the details of the final changes could have been more clearly outlined or explained. However, this is a relatively minor issue, and overall I am very satisfied with the work that Studio Kanda has done for us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I run a web design and development agency, we typically serve fast growing tech brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Kanda?

We often have clients who need premium, detail oriented design. Unique, special, hitting. Studio Kanda is our #1 partner we work with to deliver on this. We have limited internal design resources, and Kanda is the ONLY agency and studio we've collaborated with that consistently delivers.

SOLUTION

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

We had a client with extremely high needs and expectations. This was in April. We hired Kanda to help turn around a home page design on short notice, and with limited branding they totally overdelivered. The project was a success due to their early work. Since they we keep going back due to their outstanding communication and expertise in creating unique web designs and illustrations.

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

Whether designing a whole site, creating custom illustrations, or doing a brand deck - Kanda asks the right questions and delivers on the scope we lay out. We do know what good design looks like, and the process to deliver Kanda what they need to succeed. They do great work naturally, we may have some feedback, but often, they nail it right on the head. They are an indispensable partner.

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

Jordan and Warren work together to serve our needs according to their capacity. They are a small team intentionally. They do have a wide range of services and strong network too, to deliver extra needs that may come up. Very personable, thoughtful, and supportive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have worked with Kanda on some of our largest projects, I'm talking about 4-6 month long design projects. Often clients want to move quick and see high quality. When we have limited resources in the agency, we ask them to help in these initial stages to get everything on a strong foundation. Throughout the project if we anticipate we are short staffed again, we go back to collaborate again.

Our design team is strong, but Kanda does have a special place in helping us deliver A+ work. I delight in referring friends to them. The value they provide is great, and they are able to collaborate with us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Kanda always replies on time, they always follow up, they always tell me what to expect. I think the world of them. They are real professionals you ought to work with.

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

Look at their illustration and branding work. It's simple, yet sophisticated. That makes no sense logically, but visually, it's true. They are master's of their craft and have been doing this for 10-15 years each. They are humble and serviceful, and they'll speak up respectfully so you get something great.

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

My only gripe with Kanda is that they aren't larger! But quality is hard to scale. They've played an important role in key areas of our success and growth - I absolutely consider Kanda an extension of our team. In 2023, I cannot wait to keep collaborating as our design offering increases.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Operations at Creative Fitness Marketing. We run marketing and sales campaigns for health clubs across the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Kanda?

We hired Studio Kanda to redesign and build our company marketing website. We also have ongoing relationship to create and maintain the websites for our gym campaigns.

SOLUTION

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

We wanted somebody that didn’t confuse us with jargon and has good communication skills. Along with this we wanted somebody with good web design experience.

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

We first went through some mood boarding to decide the general direction. After this we went through a few versions before deciding a direction and designing the whole site. After the design was complete they started the build and walked us through editing the website via shared screen recordings.

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

We worked with the design and development team directly. Nobody in the middle.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Once launched we saw an uptake in traffic, resource downloads and use of our blog.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have worked well together and kept communication open via regular calls and emails.

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

The ease at which we worked with Kanda was a highlight. Nobody in the middle and understood what we were aiming for.

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

Would’ve been great to have them in the office but that wouldn’t deter me from hiring them again.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Sr Product Manager of Mob

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mob is on a mission to instil a love of cooking in everyone through digital products, because we believe in the positive impact that it can have on people’s lives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Wireframe and design Mob App
• Design key user flows on website

SOLUTION

How did you find Kanda?

Referral

Why did you select Kanda over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Kanda were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Warren was responsible for designing new user journeys from scratch for both our app and website, managing the design library, and producing high-quality designs. He primarily used Figma for design work, communicated with us via Slack, and shared updates and feedback through Loom videos

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project outcomes included the successful launch of an app that was well-received by users, improved retention rates, and higher conversion rates across key website flows Warren worked on, all aligned with the product strategy.

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

Great in all areas

What was your primary form of communication with Kanda?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Great culture fit and brilliant attention to detail. Kanda clearly cared about the work on both a micro and macro level. 

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder and Creative Director of Lightwell

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Lightwell help broadcasters produce visually compelling TV with innovative virtual set designs using the Unreal Engine

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Design and build a new, up-to-date website

SOLUTION

How did you find Kanda?

Referral

Why did you select Kanda over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Kanda were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Kanda were tasked with providing designs for a completely new and updated website for Lightwell. Our requirements were for a clean, new design, focused on showcasing our portfolio of virtual design work. Beyond that we were open to all advice and suggestions that Kanda we able to provide. Key deliverables were mood boards, concept design and development, build and install.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I really like the new design that they have delivered. It delivers all of our stated requirements

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

Everything was delivered on schedule. Kanda were receptive and responsive to our feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with Kanda?

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

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

Great design that we have no in-house capability to prepare.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director at Double Up Media. Lead generation and affiliate marketing for the iGaming sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Kanda?

New website/concept that required a logo and responsive web design for various dynamic pages.

SOLUTION

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

Known for a while, great reputation

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

Understanding user behaviour and business objectives to come up with a solution. Designing pages that look great, but work well and convert.

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

Just 1 - Warren - Designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The branding really stands out amongst others and is memorable.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their communication skills were brilliant. They did video walk-throughs and detailed demos.

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

Take the time to understand business requirements and objectives, but also the user's intent.