PopArt Studio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general marketing manager of a division of codecentric and am responsible for the South-East Europe and Middle-East Asia markets. We operate within the IT and services industries. We do custom software development for big international clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with PopArt Studio?

I’ve been with the company for a year, during which time we’ve been preparing to launch a new business model. We’re in a huge transition, which has had an impact on not just our business but also our employees.

Our goal was to create brand awareness throughout online media. We needed to create personalized content that suited our customers and our employer brand. Although we were working with another creative agency at the time, we needed more support for digital services. So, we brought on PopArt Studio.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

PopArt Studio provides digital strategy; they suggested that we run campaigns across several channels. They proposed a 360-degree customer and employer brand campaign, with big ideas in terms of creative and content approaches.

Now they provide full-service support to us, from strategy, design, and copywriting, to monitoring, evaluating, and providing insights on the campaigns we planned to run. Right now, we’re working together to create content for our website and social media calendars.  We’ve also produced 3–4 videos. On top of that, they’re developing our corporate website.

What is the team composition?

My key contacts are Sonja (SEO Specialist) and Dejan (Founder & Consultant), and I’m working with their copywriters and web designers.  

How did you come to work with PopArt Studio?

We chose them based on referrals and the research we did. We pitched various digital agencies, but PopArt Studio presented themselves as the perfect answer for our needs. They proposed an effective solution and their portfolio was impressive; all their sites were detailed and well-structured.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with PopArt Studio in January 2021 and we have a one-year arrangement with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is running smoothly and we haven’t run into any obstacles. PopArt Studio understands our needs and proposes the right solutions.

They’ve led us through the development process in a proper manner. They’re experts in their field; they know how to implement tactics that will help us meet our goals.

We’re running campaigns in order to promote the content on the website, with the aim of generating as many marketing qualified leads as possible, along with potential candidates relevant for our HR.

So far, we haven’t set a benchmark for metrics. We need a period of time to make targets more precise. As a software development company, quality matters more to us than quantity.

How did PopArt Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

True experts in their field, they’re professional and supportive. We’ve had nothing but positive and constructive communication with PopArt Studio since the pitch.

They’re excellent in terms of project management. I really appreciated their approach. At the beginning of the project, we defined processes, templates, and communication platforms we would use, so we’re in constant synchronization.

They’re well-structured and well-organized. Even though we run 6–7 projects simultaneously, they always work within our timeline.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very good listeners, but they don’t have a problem with presenting an opposing view on a topic. Rather than just delivering what I ask for, they always give me pros and cons. Through that dialogue, we always come up with something more in-line with our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could gain more knowledge on the IT industry and its trends.  

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It would depend on the client. It’s important to have clear communication and a well-designed brief. If the two parties are in consensus, they’ll be able to move forward.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The company Unipak is engaged in production and distribution of branded HORECA consumables. We are suppliers of a large number of facilities from the HORECA sector on the territory of Serbia, as well as exporters to central and southern countries of Europe. I am a graphic designer who makes conceptual graphic solutions for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had a site that by new standards was outdated, so the goal of the new project was redesign and a completely new modern look of the site. Everything would be followed by the new structure of the admin panel, new features and completely developed new WordPress base of the website.

Number of our products has increased, which was an additional reason to start creating a new site. With new products, additional reorganization of the entire content was needed. We also needed a new approach to the admin panel which would easy the manipulation of new products and content through a user friendly way.

SOLUTION

How did you select PopArt Studio and what were the deciding factors?

When we were looking for a developer, the first thing we addressed was attention was paid to the quality of their personal site, then their references and portfolio. Then came the communication, which proved to be fast and professional, with short response time.

All these items are very important to us when looking for a business associates, especially when it comes to such a delicate matter as creating a website, because we must know that anytime we can rely on professional help.

I don't have to say that the first impression didn't deceive us, and that we are at the end of project only strengthened our positive attitude towards PopArt.

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

When we started working, it was obvious that they detailed approached each individual segment during development. They started by offering us visuals and suggestions for the visual part of the site, and after our approval of the visual part, they started the development phase. And finally go through the testing phase with content entry.

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

At the beginning of the work we are directed to the project manager, who explained to us all phases of work, after which we are redirected to the web designer, and after that we had communication with the front end developer. All this was followed by the project manager who jumped in as needed if additional project coordination was needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The first web site that PopArt did for us very quickly took us to the first google search page. Web site was excellently SEO optimized and fast, as well as user frendly, where visitors can easily navigate through the content.

Also on Google images, photos from our site mostly dominate the search. I am sure that with the new redesign of the old site, this trend will continue, if not and further raise our overall traffic.

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

The communication was excellent. For each segment of production, we were focused on the expert in its part of the field. Right at the beginning the project manager offered us more options how we want to participate in the project, and how we want to be reported about the different stages of development...

Over the phone or via email. We chose e-mail correspondence, and the content of each e-mail was concise, precise and informed us exactly at what stage of production the project is.

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

Basically all the items I listed earlier ... starting with fast communication, which through work was confirmed as constructive, and later through work with developers, who have shown that they really know what they are doing, and that they are willing to find solutions to problems with advice and suggestions in order to get what we imagined at the first place.

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

When we started working we were given a deadline by when the project was needed be completed. That deadline was broken in about ten days, but it didn't matter so much to us.

And we ourselves have said that it is more important for us to work longer if necessary to get a product we are happy with. So I couldn’t even rate that item as negative. Because a well-done project was definitely our priority, with which we were ultimately satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

INIT Technologies is established as a stand-alone company, arising from the INDAS’s R&D department, to accelerate software solutions strategy and to focus on the innovations and long-term investments with the most customer value. Our core business is high-end software solutions for industrial applications using the latest technology of IIoT, Big Data, Cloud, and AI.

As a marketing manager for INDAS group companies (INDAS doo, INDAS Automation, and INIT Technologies), my main goal is to run all marketing activities smoothly and synchronized.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Since INIT Technologies is a newly established company, we needed a website as a kind of initial presentation of our newly established company. We were looking for a company that would meet our expectations in terms of website design and for a wow effect in terms of conceptual solutions.

What were your goals for this project?

We want this website to increase the number of inquiries through our contact form. Also, we want to increase traffic in 2021.

SOLUTION

How did you select PopArt Studio?

I searched online for web designers in Serbia and created a shortlist of 4 companies dealing with web design. Together with a colleague, we reviewed their sites, reviewed their work, and contacted everyone for an initial offer. The key to decision-making was the ranking of these companies on the Clutch platform. PopArt was in first place with great reviews.

Describe the project in detail.

When we accepted the offer, we had several meetings to discuss our goals, wishes, and objectives. In one week's time, we received an initial mock-up. We were amazed that PopArt immediately stabbed the target. The changes were minimal and related to the positions of animations and images.

What was the team composition?

We had an assigned project manager who handled the PopArt team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is still too early to summarize the results. The site was launched on December 1. What we have so far are positive evaluations related to the design of the site and its functionality from our close associates.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had very good communication. They were always there for us and for all of our requests.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They delivered a solution very fast. Despite hard times (COVID-19), we managed to cope up with all issues and launched the website on time we planned.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We got exactly what we were looking for.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Owner of Zeder company, we sell Zeder security system that blocks the steering mechanism, thus preventing car theft by pushing, tow cables, etc. Zeder is a Serbian product that is being imported in many countries worldwide. The strongest evidence of our quality are documented theft attempts in Naples, Bari, Belgrade, Bratislava, Sarajevo, Cape Town... There is no product such as Zeder lock, which is specially coded, armored with steel, protected by patent, and possess other unique features. Zeder is unlocked by a special key.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I was looking for someone who would help my company showcase its regional leadership in the industry through an amazing website redesign. Our company website was slow and not user-friendly, so I was searching for a partner who would create an intuitive, fast, and reliable website.

SOLUTION

How did you select PopArt Studio and what were the deciding factors?

I have been looking for a website design company via Google, and PopArt Studio was the first result in several searches. As soon as I clicked on the website, I was excited to see it's speed, vibrance, and functionalities.

After a thorough examination of their portfolio, I decided to contact them, and I quickly received a very professional and in-depth answer from their team. Afterward, we set up a meeting on which we agreed on all nuances relating to the project, and we began working together.

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

PopArt Studio was primarily involved in the redesign and development of my company's new website. However, after they completed the web design and development part, we continued our cooperation through search engine optimization and digital marketing services.

My request was that the website ranks first on Google for the targeted keywords, and their team was up to the task to put our website there organically.

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

Throughout the entire progress of the project, I had direct communication with the company CEO, the project manager assigned to me, and the web developer who coded my website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Website was ranked 1st on the google search engine, there was more response from the customers, and the customers were easier to attract into coming to our shop or workshop.

The design was sent to me, page by page, until the entire design solution was adopted. We had a very transparent, two-way, and effective communication thanks to which we completed the project on time and successfully.

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

Throughout the entire progress of the project, I had direct communication with the company CEO, the project manager assigned to me, and the web developer who coded my website. The design was sent to me, page by page, until the entire design solution was adopted. We had a very transparent, two-way, and effective communication thanks to which we completed the project on time and successfully.

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

The best thing about PopArt Studio is that they are able to find a balance in everything - from maintaining a professional though friendly communication to incorporating all my ideas into a performance-focused website design and development. I usually value more than anything having direct communication with CEO, it was very efficient, I would ask not just the assigned team members but CEO's opinion too, not because their team missed something, but because I like doing things that way.

The entire team is always happy to answer all my questions, meet my needs, and finish the projects on time. I received many ideas on how to make our website better, PopArt Studio offers payment via installments after each successive stage of the project is finished. I found the fact not only helpful in financial terms but also, it is very commendable that they put the focus on good service, customer satisfaction, and achieving results before anything else.

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

I think that PopArt Studio does an amazing job. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, but as I’ve been collaborating with them for years now, I can see they follow trends and improve themselves, professionally and personally. I want nothing but the best for my company and brand, and PopArt Studio truly delivered.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of the co-founders of Serbia’s national boccia association ‘UsponOsi’, dedicated to promoting this Paralympic sport in Serbia. Our association has launched several projects aimed at raising awareness about the position and difficulties of handicapped individuals.

One such project is a movie production about the public and private institutions being accommodated to invalids. Our projects are carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy of the Republic of Serbia and City Council of Novi Sad.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We partnered with PopArt Studio to create and implement a detailed and comprehensive marketing strategy that would promote our association’s efforts and goals. Our primary marketing channel is Facebook, although we plan to expand our digital marketing plan to other social platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you select PopArt Studio and what were the deciding factors?

PopArt Studio offered their year’s long expertise and experience in digital marketing and performed the setting out of the Facebook Advertising campaign, as well as crafting an effective, adequate, and long-term marketing strategy.

Their role in our marketing efforts is quite comprehensive – PopArt’s task is to write a unique and compelling ad copy, design a suitable image for the ad, run and later assess the ad’s success, and, if needed, suggest as to how to improve the campaign results.

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

We have been working for a long time to improve the visibility and presence of our sport in the our country. We asked Popart Studio to do a complete digital strategy, web development and digital marketing for us. They did a custom web project, and they also did a promotion for us on social networks. We used the Jira collaboration tool and had weekly meetings.

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

We collaborated directly with the founder of PopArt Studio, DejanPopović, who himself is a wheelchair user. Besides, their copywriting, digital marketing and web development team members are included in our marketing campaigns.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the beginning of the marketing campaign, our association has received notable recognition across the sports industry, and we witnessed a substantial increase in awareness of not only boccia as a sport, but also the entire idea of Paralympic sports, sportspeople, and the position of handicapped individuals in Serbia.

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

Dejan, PopArt’s founder, is handicapped and we have met several years ago while participating in various projects aimed at raising consciousness and improving the position of invalids.

The project management part was spotless, as we have always had open communication and transparent reporting of every aspect of our project. They were open to answer all our questions and resolve any possible doubts.

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

PopArt Studio is a team of creative, persistent, and daring individuals who find the ideal balance between the client’s desires and their own advice and recommendations. They were able to fit all our ideas and requests into a viable and successful marketing strategy.

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

We believe PopArt Studio should continue doing the job as they do it now, and we do not see any areas arguable for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for Cluster of Social Entrepreneurship of Vojvodina, an NGO based in Serbia. Our goal is to develop a social economy in the country, using different digital tools. We focus on employing people with disabilities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with PopArt Studio?

We worked with them on two online applications.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first app PopArt Studio developed is meant to facilitate better connections between for-profit and social economy companies. The second one is an employment app for people with disabilities. The first app was made strictly for the web, and it’s a pilot project. The second one was made as a responsive web app.

With the first app, we knew what we wanted to have, and they built it based on our specifications. The second one was a bigger project, and we needed support with design, colors, and other aspects. PopArt Studio worked with us to develop the idea.

What is the team composition?

We worked with different people from PopArt Studio, depending on our needs, including a project manager, designers, and developers. 

How did you come to work with PopArt Studio?

I looked for companies in our region that had well-designed websites. PopArt Studio had a really innovative site, so I contacted them.

How much have you invested with them?

The combined cost of both projects was around $120,000. The first was about $20,000, and the second was $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first project ran between April–July 2017. The bigger project was developed between March–September 2018, and they supported us for two years after its completion. We’re also looking to develop other projects with PopArt Studio, including a social economy game.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We wanted an app with a modern, competitive design, and PopArt Studio developed the product we wanted. 

As someone who works in the social economy area, one thing I find remarkable is that their principal is a leading expert in his field and a competitive and hardworking person. He works 16–20 hours a day, and I find him to be an inspiration to others.

How did PopArt Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We had four face-to-face meetings with them for each project: two introductory, one mid-project, and one final meeting. We had communication with them in between, as needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have an innovative design approach. I give them full marks for this.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their pricing is a bit high relative to Eastern Europe standards, but I’m fully satisfied with the quality of their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Volchkov Consulting is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and we also have an office in Belgrade, Serbia. We’re an IT and information security consultancy, and we’ve started a new business for retirement consultancy in Switzerland. These are two completely separate businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with PopArt Studio?

The challenge was to develop a completely new, interactive application with a backend database that would allow people to input data concerning their retirement plans. We would calculate retirement provisions based on that data. This isn’t a well-known field in places like England or the US, but we have different options in Switzerland for choosing how we’ll finance our retirement.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

PopArt Studio has developed two websites for my different businesses. They developed a WordPress site for the IT and information security consultancy. Then, they developed a web app and company website for the retirement consultancy. I don’t remember the name of the technology used, but PopArt specifically chose it because it works well for interactive web apps.

I described the logical workflow of the screens and made a first design of the app’s behavior, which PopArt based the UX/UI design on. 

What is the team composition?

I only worked with the project manager from their side, who was managing 2–3 developers. It was ideal for me to have a single point of contact there.

How did you come to work with PopArt Studio?

The first website they developed was much less complicated than the current one. I had a discussion with PopArt about the new site, and they gave me a budget and timeframe proposition.

I asked them a few questions and showed them a prototype of what I wanted to have. I have an IT background, so I knew which questions to ask. We went through the concept, and their response was yes to 90% of the scope. There were only a few things they weren’t able to do, and I appreciated the fact that they told me. For example, they weren’t able to make some calculations with Excel and bring back the results.

How much have you invested with them?

The second project was the bigger one, and it cost around €7,000 (approximately $8,300 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

My first project with them started in 2018, and it was finished in a couple of months.

We started this second project in March or April 2019, and we finished around the same time in 2020. They continue to maintain the platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

PopArt made a very beautiful design based on the business problem I presented. Our latest project involved building 20 web pages, with a lot of logic and data exchange in the background. I would say that it’s quite a complicated web application, and I believe that this kind of work couldn’t be done elsewhere for the same price and within the same amount of time. The development was done very well.

How did PopArt Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

The application is really complicated, but the timeline was still longer than I believe it should’ve been. They did their best, but there was no fixed timeframe. We built it in different phases, and it went okay, but it took a little longer than I wanted it to. I wouldn’t qualify this as a negative point for PopArt, but I do recommend working with fixed deadlines and maybe setting up penalties for missing them.

PopArt stuck to the budget we set in the beginning despite making a couple of changes during the project. It was a very good price compared to what I would’ve paid in Switzerland. PopArt is very competitive in terms of design and development. The development phase was okay, but we had to test multiple times and go through several iterations. PopArt delivered very well in the end, but their development capacity is a bit below their design one. Both are high-ranking, though.

We divided the project into several chunks, and then we went through those chunks and verified everything. There was one project manager in contact with me, which was very good. The only problem was that the phases weren’t well-defined in terms of time; they were more open-ended. I will certainly work with them on my next project, but I’ll ask them to be stricter with deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their design skills, willingness to work, and accessibility. PopArt was very open, and I could call them at any time of the day.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be stricter with project planning and defining deadlines. I do understand that specifications would also need to be very precise in order for this to happen. If the client isn’t sure what they want, it’ll be impossible to be strict with deadlines. The problem was that they didn’t really know the domain we were talking about, so they couldn’t make actual fixed deadlines.

I don’t have a real negative for them. PopArt delivered 100%, and I’m happy with what they did.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

My suggestion is to develop a prototype with well-defined workflows, even if it isn’t too well-designed. The client can go to PopArt with just a general idea for a website, but it will take longer to build.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of business development for Corserva.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with PopArt Studio?

We were primarily looking for a cutting edge, complete agency that could write our website based on our specifications, and not just from a template. We didn’t want a prepackaged solution; we wanted something that was totally custom.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

PopArt Studio implemented a full design service. In terms of direction, we gave them some rough initial concepts, some example websites, and motion graphics. We gave them a color palette to work with, and they also came back with suggestions. 

We flushed out those ideas and they wrote custom code for a WordPress website. They also used CSS and did the frontend design work. Because they don’t have a motion graphics designer onsite, we found someone on Upwork and had PopArt Studio coordinate directly with that motion graphics designer.

They were able to create the six big graphics that we used on the site. In addition to the design, the team also did the coding and SEO, and they combined and linked all those elements together by tying everything back to our blog and service portal. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with the main coordinator in sales, a graphic designer, and a coder. There were also more people working behind the scenes, but I worked directly with four teammates.

How did you come to work with PopArt Studio?

I found them on Clutch where they were ranked very highly. I was looking specifically for a company in Serbia. Serbian design firms are very avant-garde, and they give you a lot of bang for your buck. 

There are also a lot of graphic art designers, as well as lots of talent over there. We looked at agencies here in the US, but they wanted to charge us roughly 3–5 times what PopArt Studio was charging for the same work. I believe in buying American, but when you’re talking about such a huge difference, that’s a lot of money.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in late May 2020. We were able to get the work that we had done with a minimum of 200– 250 hours by the final week of July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We worked a lot for two full months to get the work done. When you look at the site, the volume of copy and the workload on both sides of the aisle were immense. It was a team effort and it took a lot of work to get that accomplished. 

My goal was to get it done in two months, and we were able to achieve our goal. I probably could have stretched it to three months or four months, but we really needed to get it done during this COVID-19 time, while things are down a little bit. 

PopArt Studio was very good at giving specific directions and not letting us put our foot in a mud puddle. They were great at keeping us out of trouble. If they didn’t think something was going to help the site, they would recommend a couple of different plugins. 

The team really wasn’t afraid of saying we should do things a certain way if we wanted it to perform the way we wanted it to. They told us what we need to do if we wanted to do proper SEO. They weren’t afraid to truly be a partner versus just an order-taker.

PopArt Studio gave us great feedback and we had great alignment the whole time, so we’re continuing to use them. Because of this engagement, they're now updating all of our eBooks, and they are doing the presentation templates for our rebranding. They’re going to be actively involved, which exemplifies their capabilities.

How did PopArt Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

PopArt Studio was extremely competent in working with the motion graphics designer. They managed the project from start to finish, and it was seamless. I can’t say enough good things about them. They were phenomenal, and they always met their timelines. 

The team always hit their metrics, and we finished the website ahead of time. We added more and our goal was to finish by July 8th, and we added a whole other section of pages. We pushed it an extra two weeks, but they could’ve easily met their timeline. 

The fact that they were able to finish the additional volume of pages we gave them was phenomenal. Everyone was just stunned by the way they were able to manage the project and stay within the timeline.

I was on the phone with them at 3 a.m. EST, which is in the morning their time. We spent a lot of hours on the phone and had a lot of back and forth over Slack. It was a lot of work, but the result was phenomenal. Hard work pays off, but you have to have good talent, and PopArt Studio is made up of a very talented crew.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very innovative. When you look at the website, it doesn’t look like other websites. It’s clean and smooth, and the transitions are like butter. Everything is phenomenal.

We are an Apple dealer and one of the comments we got from an executive at Apple was that it looked slick and was very dynamic and modern. He told us that the placement was nice and that it was good work.

Another executive at Apple told us that it was the most modern and beautiful site they had seen in tech. He said that the transitions were flawless and that the information was clear and actionable. It’s much nicer than the huge websites, which is very impressive.

It also looks great on the browser, but when you pull the website up on a mobile phone, it will impress you. The motion graphics run on a phone, and that’s rare. It’s unbelievably impressive. People are just blown away by the way it looks.

One of the most impressive things about them is their coding capability in regards to responsive design. A website can look great on a browser but you have to be able to really code it and make sure that it lines up and runs well on everything from a basic phone all the way to an advanced one, like the iPhone 11 Pro Max, or even an iPad.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Anytime you have separate cultures trying to work together when English isn’t the first language, it’s a struggle. There is a chance that when you’re trying to convey something over Slack or in a written form, it won’t be as clear. 

We started doing screenshots on Slack for what didn’t work and what we would like to see, which alleviated the issue. The team experienced communication problems when we went back and forth very quickly on Slack with English communication.

It wasn’t necessarily a negative; it’s just something that happens when dealing with two different countries. I don’t have anything negative to say about them. Once we worked through that, we were good. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you know what you want. They’re not mind-readers. It’s very tough to go to somebody and not know what you want but tell them that you’ll know it when you see it. That is one of the toughest things for a design team because you really have to break it down. 

Things work best when you’ve already flushed out your first level of ideas so that it can give them some directional aspects on which to focus. That will aid your speed. For example, we were very hard-pressed. We had to have 40 photos that needed to be obtained through Shutterstock or one of the stock image platforms.

PopArt Studio told us that they weren’t going to be able to make that target. Because I knew what I wanted, I got the photos for them by Sunday night so that they would be ready to go on Monday. 

The most important thing when you are working with a company like this is that you have to understand that you are part of the team. Everyone is part of the team. If you are part of the team, then you can do amazing things like having a website that looks like ours that was created in 60 days.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Currently, I am the COO for the Feel-Better project. I have been working here since the very beginning. Our project is an online community and mental health forum that was founded for people who are looking for help and to communicate with other people with similar experiences about their mental health issues, life issues, and other well-being and personal growth subjects. The project was founded by a psychiatrist from Denmark.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with PopArt Studio?

The first thing we wanted was to create a safe, secure, and well-functioning platform that would be easy to use for people who are our clients and visitors. We were looking for a company that could accomplish that and help us a little bit with marketing and reach a great number of clients worldwide as we aren’t just focused on Denmark or Europe. We want to be visible to people all over the globe.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We contacted PopArt Studio to help us with marketing activities and to create a well-functioning website. The scope of our project changed from a doctor listing site to a chat forum during development.

After we reached out to them, they proposed a design to us with a frontend and how the platform would look. They showed us what the best solution would be for our wishes and that was how we worked. In addition, they took care of the backend solution and all the other features. They did the complete website development, not only for this site but also for the owner of the project. From start to finish, they gave us all the solutions.

They maintained our social networks, and they did SEO to make our site more visible. They were doing copywriting as well as other content writing on the website and helped us promote the website to a wider audience.

What is the team composition?

We mostly had contact with the project manager who was the first person we had communication with. The communication is constant and still ongoing. We also were in contact with their marketing team, frontend and backend developers, and their SEO specialist. We also were in contact with the graphic designers about solutions that we were implementing on the platform.

How did you come to work with PopArt Studio?

We found them online. We were searching for the best agencies and they were one of the best that showed up in the search results. We decided to contact them. We also found other people that worked with them and were really satisfied which made it an easy decision when we decided to go with them because we already had expectations that they were going to be good for us.

How much have you invested in them?

I think it is a little more than $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2017, and we are still working with them and have an ongoing connection. I cannot remember the exact dates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They helped us reach many customers. People really like our content and people like to visit our pages. They are really satisfied with the content we provide on our social media pages as well as our website. People are responding really well to all the things that PopArt Studio has been providing us with.

The final results are always the best. They always respect our wishes and they always finish their tasks, respect our deadlines, and do the best they can. I don’t think they could change anything.

How did PopArt Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We have great communication with them. We use email and also have Skype meetings often with the project manager. We can also contact them via the phone. They are really organized and responsive.

The communication with the team is so smooth and I couldn’t imagine a better team to communicate with. They are always ready to help and provide us with a solution or an idea around how to work in a new direction. They are really there for us.

Not many companies are as easily reachable as PopArt Studio. They will immediately do whatever we need. That is something that I just cannot stress enough. It is so helpful when you have someone on hand that will help you in any situation.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are really committed and professional and that is something that isn’t easily found in other places. Whenever I have a problem, doubt, or anything that I need help with, they are always there for me. They are always easily reachable and we can always discuss what is important for us. They are really helping us with their great diligence and commitment.

They don’t function like a provider of a service; they are way more friendly than any other company that we had contact with. PopArt Studio truly understood the value and the core of the project, and they have a more friendly approach. It was really an extraordinary experience for us. It was what made the difference between PopArt Studio and other agencies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think there is anything they can improve or do differently because the quality of the work that they are providing is really good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would just recommend being open to their suggestions and see what they offer. Be open with their wishes because PopArt Studio will always do their best to ensure their client is satisfied with their work.

Clients can openly require everything they need because there isn’t anything that they can’t help you with. Maintain a friendly relationship with the manager and they will do their best to make sure their customer is satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of The Golden Spartan and The Golden Goddess - two global brands manufacturing home-made, natural cosmetics for men and women. The Golden Spartan is a cosmetic line dedicated to the care of men, specifically beard, hair, body and tattoo care products. Led by the success of our initial venture, we began producing a wide range of cosmetics for women – The Golden Goddess, made out of natural ingredients, in small series and controlled batches.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the vendor?

Our brand serves a great number of clients worldwide, so the challenge we were to overcome was for our websites to possess quality, stability, and accessibility for all our clients and visitors. We were looking for a digital agency that could help us create a high-end, beautiful, and responsive website that would be the leader in the cosmetics and care industry.
Besides, we needed for our website to have an online store section, with integrated payment methods and courier service.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We partnered with PopArt Studio whose their team proposed several creative options for the website, designed wireframes, and mockups. After agreeing on the final design, they went on writing custom code for the website and created a simple and easy CMS for our later company
use.
PopArt Studio did a custom web design and complete website development of three of our websites – The Golden Spartan, The Golden Goddess, and Credicom International, an international trading company that deals with raw materials for the production of paints andvarnishes, refractory materials and materials for finishing construction works.
Besides creating, PopArt Studio currently does maintenance, Search Engine Optimization and Digital Marketing services for the three of our websites. Their team built a fully-functioning,
fast, and unique eCommerce solutions, for the two of our cosmetics brands, which offerdifferent payment options for our clients .Of course, PopArt Studio is readily available to our team whenever we need certain changes,
addition of features and options on our websites, etc.

What is the team composition?

For our project, we had a dedicated project manager, with whom we had a fruitful and constant communication. Also, there was a web and graphic designer, and a fronted and backend developer, and SEO specialists with whom we all had direct and transparent communication.
We also kept in touch with PopArt Studio’s CEO who made sure we were satisfied with the progress and results of our project.

How did you come to work with the vendor?

We initially heard about PopArt Studio from several friends, who are also small and medium business owners, who all had a very positive experience with their team and had all the best to say regarding their work and results.
Before contacting them, I conducted a search of my own. For the specific keywords, they appeared first on Google, and while going through their website, I found it very informative and
straight-forward.

How much have you invested with them? 

I believe we spent around $60,000 since the beginning of our cooperation.
What is the status of this engagement?
Both our websites are finished in time and performing great in terms of traffic and conversions.
Currently, we are still collaborating with PopArt Studio regarding website maintenance, SEO and digital marketing services. They assist us whenever a change or implementation is required
on one of our websites

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website did not only help us obtain an online store, but also helped us strengthen our brand identity and improve sales of our products. Our users reacted positively to the change and we got so many great reviews regarding the website, both in terms of its appearance and its functionalities.
We began with manufacturing male cosmetics, and driven by the success of our products post- website launch, we decided to expand our product offer.

How did the vendor perform from a project management standpoint?

We had great communication with each member of the team – from email and Skype to meetings and phone calls. They were very transparent about the status of each task, responded
to our questions instantly, and proved as a very organized team.
I mainly communicated with the project manager, although, when needed, I was able to directly communicate with design and development team assigned to my project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most impressive thing I believe was their diligence, commitment, and level of
professionalism throughout the entire process of our project. They had great ideas that we happily implemented into our website, and were available to resolve all our doubts and answer all our questions. The entire team is focused on the user and their experience on the website. We are very grateful
PopArt Studio managed to implement all our desired and needs and still create a visually stunning, fast, reliable website that provides great UX.
I felt PopArt Studio is more into building partnerships and friendships, rather than client-vendor relationship, which my team and I found really positive about them. Throughout the project, we never felt left out or in the dark about any aspect of the work done, which is a truly
commendable trait. The quality of their custom and unique work done for our brands is of exceptional quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they definitely do a great job, both in terms of their relationship with clients and their business niche of the digital world.
We are truly amazed by the great communication, quality of the work done and finally, the respected deadlines of the projects’ finalization.