modern8

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the VP of operations for a real estate development and investment company. We focus on the real estate industry in the Inter-Mountain West region. I oversee the majority of our marketing and branding efforts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

We were looking to further develop our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

modern8 provided branding services for our company. After conducting both internal and external workshops, they held a creative workshop with my team. They took what we know of our business and developed a way for us to communicate it to others. 

The team refreshed our design materials so that we could be more consistent and effective in our communications. modern8 developed print materials for communication with our investors and other stakeholders.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was an engagement manager on their team. We also worked closely with their design team, as well as the owner of the company.

How did you come to work with modern8?

We received a referral through some of our business connections. After looking at a couple of different providers, modern8 stood out because of their branding services. They have a really well-developed and defined process, with activities and exercises to create a comprehensive brand.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested about $105,000 over the course of our engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with modern8 began in January 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Internally, we were able to achieve greater alignment around our brand. The identity we landed on really resonated with our team. They were able to distill our brand in a way that makes sense to everyone.

Externally, the rebranding process really clarified our message. The quality of our marketing collateral and print materials has increased. We’ve gotten great feedback on the design work they’ve done.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint?

The modern8 team uses Asana to manage the project. They also gave us a client interface that showed what our deliverables were and what they needed in terms of scheduling. That helped our teams work together well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What stood out to me about modern8 was the collaborative and comprehensive nature of their brand development process. They created thoughtful and interesting designs that were both unique and effective.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they do a great job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be organized and understand both the scope of work and the timeframe. Be sure to give them feedback in a timely manner to expedite the process. Clear and open communication is crucial.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Little Unicorn is a baby company that offers swaddles, diaper bags, hooded towels, quilts, etc. We have in house artists that make the products look artisan and high end. I am over social media and PR. I was given the task to help find a branding agency, and we fell in love with Modern8.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire modern8?

We hired them to do a brand refresh for us.

What were your goals for this project?

Revise colors, fonts, tweak the logo, define our customer, and our brand voice.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked into quite a few branding agencies in Utah. We were drawn to them because of their process, and their past work. We also loved them as people when we met face to face.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They were able to really get to know our brand and product and then dove into figuring out why people loved Little Unicorn and their personal experiences with our brand. They had meetings with us to really figure out where we wanted our brand to be. They revised our logo, colors, brand voice. They revised and updated our packaging. And they gave us guidelines for photos, font uses etc. Overall they did an amazing job!

What was the team composition?

We worked mainly with Alysha (the CEO), Peter, and Shelby. But we had regular meetings that included many people in their team. Our main contact for day to day was Shelby.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't implemented much yet because we want it to be consistent. But our entire company is very excited for how our brand will be perceived!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used ASANA to communicate. They were always great to follow up and make sure things were getting done on our side which we really appreciated.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their process! They have a great process that goes much deeper than colors and fonts.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the director of public education and public relations at Intermountain Donor Services. We’re a federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization that serves Utah, southern Idaho, and a corner of western Wyoming. We recover organs and tissues for transplantation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8? 

We needed to rebrand our organization because people were mistakenly associating us with another large healthcare group. modern8 helped us establish our own identity and clarify our mission under a new name.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

modern8 led us through a thorough rebranding process, interviewing internal and external stakeholders to get a better sense of our company. They wanted to know how people felt about us and what their impressions were about our services.

Based on the results, the team came up with a series of colors and words that people associated with us. We then had 3–4 workshops to discuss how we emotionally felt about the company compared to the public’s perception. It was an extensive, thoughtful exercise that lasted roughly six months. By the end, we had captured the right tone and chose a new name, logo, and color scheme.

Currently, modern8 is helping us finalize various branding assets, including letterheads, business cards, email signatures, and more. We’ve also decided to update our website with a whole new look, so they’re guiding us through that process as well. 

What is the team composition?  

I mostly interact with Peter (New Business Director & Brand Strategist, modern8) and Alysha (Managing Director, modern8). There have also been a few other helpful team members.

How did you come to work with modern8? 

We sent out an RFP to six major organizations in Salt Lake City that advertise rebranding services. Out of all the candidates, Peter’s response resonated with us the most because one of his family members had undergone a kidney transplant. He understood the emotional attachment of what we do, and that personal connection made a big difference for us.

How much have you invested with them? 

We’ve invested $25,000 so far. The website development will cost an additional $20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working together in September 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The whole rebrand has been very interesting and a lot of fun. When we unveiled the name, people loved it. modern8 explained how intricate and intensive the process was to our entire organization. They really put everyone at ease and made our staff feel involved.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their customer service is outstanding. They keep in touch with us about our progress and are responsive to our needs. If we ever have to call or meet up with them on short notice, they’re happy to accommodate. They’re also good at keeping us on task and prod us every once in a while to keep to the timeline.  

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their team has a good sense of humor and is very easy to work with. I appreciate that they seek out opinions and let people speak their mind. During the workshops, they encouraged us to have a spirited debate about what we liked and didn’t like, which helped ensure that we captured everything. It was a very comfortable situation.  

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, nothing comes to mind. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

It’s important to plan ahead and contact them early, especially if you’re on a tight schedule. From my understanding, modern8 only takes two projects a month so that they can really focus on their clients. 
 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Surehand. We are a technology startup focused on revolutionizing the way industrial employers and job candidates find each other.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

We determined that our branding was ineffective during our initial incubation efforts and market research phase. We engaged modern8 to help us address our concerns and improve our brand positioning.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We relied on modern8 to develop a brand for our company, which also serves as the brand for our offering as well. They utilized a sound methodology to craft a new brand—complete with strategies for naming, determining a visual identity, building a style guide, and arranging the initial design of our collateral.

What is the team composition?

Peter (New Business Director & Brand Strategist, modern8) is our main point of contact, though we also work closely with Alysha (Managing Director, modern8).

How did you come to work with modern8?

We found modern8 on the Clutch website, and we weighed them against four other agencies. Compared to the other firms, modern8 brought a more transparent methodology to our interview. Because we focus on a unique workforce, I wanted a brand that didn’t look like every other tech brand in the Bay Area. Because modern8 is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and had worked with a variety of clients from other industries, I felt they could provide a fresh look and approach from the onset.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in July 2018 and remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

modern8 has given us our identity—one that reflects our mission and values. I can’t think of a more impactful thing to do to as an early-stage startup company than to work with modern8. We needed a brand that worked well for where we are today but also one we could see scaling up over the next 5–10 years. Not only did they give us an identity that can grow with us, but they helped us launch the beta version of our marketing website earlier this month.

The feedback we’re getting from those looking for work and those looking for talent has been overwhelmingly positive in terms of the strength of the brand. It’s memorable and unique. It serves us really well.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint?

I feel as if we are their only client, which is part of their focus methodology. A significant aspect of how they operate is picking and choosing their projects and clients in a way that allows them to continue to deliver on that service. They’ve done a great job of maintaining that white-glove client management approach as they’ve grown their business.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The value of their work for our money has been wonderful. We could have spent twice as much here in Silicon Valley, and we probably wouldn’t have received the kind of client access or client management support that we had throughout. The deliverables were comparable to anything I've ever received from larger, more expensive firms. The nature of the working relationship is always positive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we have had a positive experience with them. They have become a natural extension of our team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This was such a collaborative process. Future clients must be prepared to be involved. The more you put into it as a client, the more you’ll get out of it at the end. The nature of their process is so collaborative and intensive that their clients have to be ready to do some work. Their method is one that requires heavy engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Edify.ai. We're an AI software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

We're a startup, and we're still defining what we're going to be, so we needed a vendor to help us with branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did research and helped us develop a brand that represented who we are, but was broad enough to grow with us. They also developed brand guidelines and helped us build our pitch deck. We're going to start designing the user interface for our mobile apps soon, and we're planning to use modern8 for that as well.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with Peter Stevenson (Brand Strategist, modern8).

How did you come to work with modern8?

I used modern8 in my last company, where they also helped us with branding. I had a great experience and liked the quality of their work, so I didn't hesitate to hire them for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $16,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2018, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The fact that we have a strong brand sends a message to people that we're a great company, so people take us seriously.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint?

We talk to Peter every week. He’s very responsive, so we haven't had any issues. We use Asana for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

modern8 showed real passion in making sure our branding reflected our values as a company—and they took the time to make sure they nailed it. They put in the effort to get to the bottom of what they're designing to understand our company. Also, they're very experienced, so I can trust them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I wouldn't change anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them do their job–they know what they're doing. They really insisted on doing the research and interviewing people to get the insight that we didn't have. That took some time, but it gave us a chance to look at our brand with a fresh set of eyes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of Nush Foods. We produce a packaged snack food that is specifically marketed to people who are low-sugar, low-carb eaters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

Initially, I hired modern8 to create the graphic identity for my company. I later hired them for social media marketing services, as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I relied on them for the logo and packaging design for my company and my products. Originally, I worked with a different firm for digital marketing, but they underperformed in that space, so I approached modern8 about that service. They have since devised a plan to spend our money more wisely in the digital world. I provide all of the advertising copy, but I ask them to create graphic design concepts and handle our photography needs. My company also sends a monthly newsletter to a growing subscriber base. Again, I handle the writing, and they make it visually appealing.

What is the team composition?

My team consists of Alysha, my account manager, and Jackson, a graphic designer. Overall, we usually work with 4-5 people from modern8 at any given time.

How did you come to work with modern8?

I have known the main designer at modern8, Randall, for decades, and I knew he was a competent graphic designer.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in June 2015 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The identity they created has helped us stand out in the marketplace. We receive wonderful compliments about our design from customers, other people in our industry, and social media users. modern8 did a beautiful job of establishing the right feel and personality for our company.

From a social media standpoint, we had about 1,000 followers on Facebook, and even fewer on other platforms, prior to working with modern8. In the seven months that they have organized our social media direction, we now have more than 9,000 Facebook followers. Their role has been transformational. We only market our products online because we have such specific criteria for our target audience, and market8 has helped us identify those people and market directly to them. We have a high-quality and engaged group of followers—so much so that our sales tripled between June and July.

Our company is really taking off. I want to continue working with modern8. It’s my hope that they’ll go with us on this journey and keep growing.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint?

They couldn’t be easier to work with. They share all content through Asana, and we collaborate there. They are personable, responsive, and professional. It has been a truly enjoyable process. Very rarely do they make mistakes. And I know I can call, email, or text them at any time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have done an incredible job of learning our business. They have worked to understand our product and who our audience is so that they can make smart suggestions.

Any advice for potential customers?

Take the time in the beginning to discuss the vision for your product and your business. They really listened and came to understand our mission, which was valuable in our engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Nature’s Seed. We supply seed, grasses, shrubs, and wildflowers for reclamation, beautification, and revegetation projects. We mostly work with large contractors, energy companies, and the federal government, though our e-commerce site also provides those same products for homeowners and small landowners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

We really wanted to take a fresh look at our branding and our messaging for a couple of reasons. One, we didn't know if our existing messaging and branding was connecting with customers as optimally as it could. Secondly, we wanted to improve our conversion rate on our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took us through a pretty comprehensive effort. Initially, they got into the weeds with us to really understand who we are, what we're trying to accomplish, what our products do, what our products say, and what our mission is. That included interviews with our team and several of our customers, past and present, to understand what we're trying to accomplish and say, versus what's actually happening with our customers. From there, they presented us with an idea board full of different branding options and avenues that we could go down. It was then filtered down to fewer and fewer choices until we arrived at a brand image and message that we thought best captured what we're trying to do with our customers.

It wasn't just a brand image or a packaging image relationship though. It also included a re-skin of our website, meaning taking our existing site and re-skinning it to fit that messaging and that imaging, including changes to the UX. This touched every part of the journey, from customers coming to our site to clicking all the way through and buying something.

What is the team composition?

Our primary contact was a brand strategist, but we also worked with a managing director.

How did you come to work with modern8?

I was referred to them by someone in my network who had worked with them. We interviewed them and two other firms in the Salt Lake area, and we felt like they were the best fit. I wasn't interested in a larger, full-service marketing agency or ad agency. I really wanted someone who was very focused on branding, messaging, and website UX.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in December 2017, and we’re wrapping up this month, June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results, in a large part, remain to be seen, because the work is about eventually driving more sales, traffic, and conversions on our site, as well as what kind of recurring business we may or may not get. So that's to be determined. But, I can say that they've helped us think about our own business tremendously and think about who we are, what we're really doing here, and what we're trying to communicate to the world.

That process is extremely helpful and has brought our team a lot closer. It’s made us more focused, for sure. It also has made us – as we've now spent time with professional, modern aid – prouder of who we are and more focused about what we're doing every day. That’s more of an intangible.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint?

This isn’t the first time I've used third parties for various projects, and I've found modern8 to be extremely professional and capable. The communication has been really clear and consistent, as have been their follow-ups. They've kept us on track and I never have to call and ask them what's going on. They've always been proactive about making sure that we hit whatever deadlines or objectives we have. The level of interaction and service has been outstanding.

Initially, our contact was very frequent, at multiple times a week, be that on the phone, by email, or in-person. As the process evolved over six months, we’ve had at least a weekly contact. One way or the other, we're interacting with their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I don't have a lot of experience with branding agencies or ad agencies, but I would say that the two things that stand out are that we're interacting with the experienced, key people at their agency, and that they never settle. Once we signed up with them, we didn't get passed on to somebody else. Sometimes, with these projects, you start with the partner or managing partner or director, but then they disappear. That's not the case here. We've had high-level interactions competence from day one. In these types of projects, there are many times where you could say something was good enough to move on. In every aspect of the project, they want to make sure that they nail it, and that we feel like they nailed it. They're very thorough on all details and in all aspects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really can't think of anything about which I would say they should have done something different or better. They've certainly exceeded all my expectations.

Any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you're committed to a real process. Don't go halfway. If you really want to figure out what your branding is and what your messaging is, and how you want to be operating and communicating with your customers, then go all in and do it. It's not a project to take lightly or to go halfway or partly into the pool on. Go all in on it, because it’s intense. It only works if it's intense. It only works if you're willing to make the full investment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of Associated Brigham Contractors. We are a national industrial concrete company based out of Brigham City, Utah.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

We work with modern8 to grow our brand recognition. People think of us as a small company, but we are a nationwide operation, so we want to get the word out about who we are to new customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve had a long-term relationship with them since the 1990s when they rebranded our logo and created a brochure about the company. Since then, they have re-designed our website multiple times, run print advertisements, and handled a variety of other projects. One of the largest endeavors they took on for us was creating a hardbound book over a year and a half that showed our envisioned future for the company. We are also getting ready to work on SEO, and they have presented us some ideas in that area.

What is the team composition?

We directly contact our project manager regardless of what the project might be. She has been intimately involved with what we do for years.

How did you come to work with modern8?

Back in the 1990s we did a web search and found several companies in Salt Lake City. We were really looking for a professional agency that would reflect us at a high level and ended up interviewing three different firms. We felt we had the best fit with modern8 and we have never had a reason to go elsewhere.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have worked with them since 1995, and continue to do so.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are a very specialized company and are only sometimes looking for new business. I have found that when we contact potential clients around the United States they have already heard of us and been on our website. People are able to see the size and complexity of our work on the website, and they are very impressed with both the site and the things we do.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint?

The modern8 team is great at communication and is very responsive. I imagine that we can be a bit of a difficult client because we tend to revisit a lot of things and decide to go in a lot of different directions, but they always change paths with us when we ask them to. They respond to our communications, and we never have to push them for project updates. We talk mostly over email, but we will also have in-person meetings as needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their continuity has been a big thing for us. They have really developed a good understanding of who we are and what we do, and it has made them very intuitive. When we come to them with a new project idea they know us so well that they already recognize the direction to start heading in. When we first started with them they didn’t know anything about our type of construction, but they learned quickly. Since then we have been able to work them very closely, and they know how to tailor projects specifically for us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. We have always been very happy with them. Whenever they can’t do something for us they point us to the people who can. They have never disappointed us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would say it’s always valuable to meet in person. When we start a new project we will send two or three different people from our team to meet with modern8 so they have a wider understanding of what we are looking for. This way they aren’t getting just one point of view, but have information from a wide variety of people on things relevant to the project. This has worked really well for us and would be smart for other companies to do as well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CMO at RizePoint. We create software that helps organizations stay compliant with their brand standards and with other guidelines, such as health department codes or room quality standards.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

We were rebranding our company, so we were looking for a vendor to help us with our rebranding efforts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did a basic analysis of our industry and our competitors. Then, they helped us come up with a name, develop our logo and messaging, and create the look and feel for our new brand.

What is the team composition?

We mostly worked with Randall [Smith, Founder, modern8] and Alysha [Smith, Designer, modern8].

How did you come to work with them?

Our CEO worked with them on a rebranding campaign for his previous company and he had a very good experience. We also did a review of a few local and national agencies. We felt that modern8 was the best fit because they were local and had the expertise that we needed.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December 2015 and the project was completed in April 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The launch went very smoothly and we’ve only heard positive feedback about our brand. Orange color helps us stand out among our competitors, who are using primarily shades of blue. After reframing our product, we've been very successful. They definitely get credit for the growth of our company.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job. Everything went smoothly and we usually stayed in touch via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Randall has a unique point of view. He came up with an idea to add a little icon to our logo, which we call "the spark". That little piece of our logo really informs our customers of who we are as a company–the spark of innovation, the spark of hard work, the spark of grit. Some other agencies would just make a logo, but modern8 brought their heart and soul into the process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They don't use any project management software. I liked having email correspondence with their team, but sometimes I would have loved to use Basecamp or another tool to see exactly where the project was, especially when I was working late or had to prepare for a board meeting.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Commit yourself to the process and give them a lot of different perspectives to consider. Randall is very innovative and does a wonderful job, but you need to be prepared to do work on your end as well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm one of the owners and founders of Ritual Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate company based out of Park City, Utah.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with modern8?

After being in business for about five years, we wanted to redesign our brand to better reflect our product, its backstory, and our values. We wanted it to include visual elements of our location, including the mountains and the natural hues of Utah, while also feeling modern. The redesign would include packaging of chocolate bars, some merchandise, and marketing collateral.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Modern8's team originally took on our whole chocolate bar line, redesigning the packaging for about eight different bars. Their team read through our company manifesto, collaborating closely with us to ensure the brand moved in the right direction and providing multiple options for us to iterate on. The new packaging template is now used for any new bars we develop. They also designed periphery products and marketing materials as needed.

What is the team composition?

Our main contacts were Alysha Smith [Managing Director, modern8] and Randall Smith [Designer and Brand Strategist, modern8].

How did you come to work with modern8?

We had reached out to quite a few design firms in the Salt Lake area. After meeting with modern8, we felt they were a good fit to take on the redesign. We got the feeling that modern8's team was not only genuinely excited to work with us, but would be a great design firm to grow with as our company evolved and moved into new products.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent a sizeable amount so far with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We set a high bar for the new design of our product line and modern8 delivered above and beyond our expectations. modern8's designs helped our bars stand out on the shelves, while effectively telling our story in a way that's both visually interesting and informative. The reception has been amazing—our sales doubled within the first year of the redesign.

How did modern8 perform from a project management standpoint?

They've been very responsive to emails and phone calls. Since we're local, it's easy for us to meet face-to-face as well.

The designers carefully answered questioned and took the time to understand our needs and the story of our company. They provided several rounds of designs and made any changes we requested quickly and without hesitation.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We're probably modern8's smallest client, but we've been really impressed by their ability to be so attentive and responsive to us. They've always come across as having a genuine interest and passion for the work. They really listened to us from the start.

Their team put together great mood boards, read through our large company manifesto, and diligently worked to distill all the elements of our brand into an effective design. Their attention to detail in that way is incredibly effective.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they've been so helpful in every way.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take the time to work closely with designers, providing as much clarity of your vision and the elements you want to incorporate into your brand as possible. Discover what inspires you, write everything out, create mood boards, and provide them with as much information as you can.