PopArt Studio

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a software development company that creates custom mobile app solutions for the fitness and wellness industry. We aim to expedite the interaction between professionals and consumers through the development of modern, dynamic, and intuitive applications.

Our company employs various technologies, such as Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and ASP.NET. I am among the lead developers in the company.

Besides development, I am in charge of conducting in-depth research into the most optimal technologies used for our projects, as well as analyzing different work processes that will provide us with the best position in the industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were looking for a partner that could assist us in the development of web projects based on PHP and Laravel, as well as creating the design and development of custom-built WordPress themes.

We began working together on a smaller project related to the wellness industry, but as we quickly grew fond of the team and were impressed by their work, knowledge, and quality, we started collaborating on more complex, bigger projects.

Regardless of their level of involvement, tasks in hand, and the complexity of the work PopArt Studio had to do, they always excelled and delivered a quality solution in a timely manner.

SOLUTION

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

PopArt Studio comes from my home country, Serbia. I was already somewhat familiar with their brand and work, and when our company was looking for a partner, I began a more thorough inquiry of PopArt's works and projects.

I discovered that they opened a Chicago-based office as well, and it was a green light for me because expanding on the US market is a telltale of their expertise, experience, and quality.

Furthermore, I visited their Clutch profile to see other clients' reviews, contacted acquaintances to get a first-hand opinion on the company, and of course, had a good look at their portfolio and website.

Once we had the first meeting with the PopArt Studio's team, my colleagues and I were impressed by their ideas, motivation, and transparency, and our partnership officially began.

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

We initially worked with PopArt Studio on the development of a web application for a wellness center. The app boasted a complex reservation system as it was necessary to include time slots that would show available bookings in real-time.

The idea was to enable web visitors to see available bookings for particular services. However, as the wellness center offered varied services and had numerous employees, PopArt Studio had the task of transforming this complex idea into a simple, intuitive, and straightforward user dashboard.

PopArt Studio's team managed to create a coherent user path where the booking of service is only a few clicks away. As for the technologies used during the various projects, PopArt Studio used React, JavaScript, PHP, Laravel framework, HTML, and CSS.

React enabled us the most interactivity and improved loading speed of the web apps, whereas PHP and Laravel were used to create custom dashboards and back-end development for comprehensive admin access for updating bookings, services, and other elements.

Besides the wellness app, PopArt Studio also took part in developing an app for a chain of fitness centers. The task was similar to the previous one, however, it was more complex as it entailed more locations, and creating a web application with great UI and UX design.

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

I mainly communicated with the project manager but there were also UI and UX designers, as well as front-end and back-end developers. We had regular weekly meetings where we received updates and feedbacks regarding the project stages.

Besides these, we had monthly meetings with the entire team where we discussed future steps and plans within the project scope.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

PopArt Studio has delivered quality, reliable, and professionally-built digital products within the deadline, and in accordance with all requests and necessary features the app had to include.

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

Communication with the PopArt Studio's team was efficient and straightforward. They proved to be a team of creative, hard-working, kind, and dedicated individuals who poured their ideas and visions into each stage of the projects we cooperated on.

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

I was really thrilled to witness a company from my home country emanating professionalism in all aspects of their business, from communication with clients and partners to the specific tasks during project work.

They offer reasonable prices, delivery in time, quality products, and service on a global level.

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

We would like to see PopArt Studio embark on a journey into the world of software development because we are certain that their professionalism, knowledge, and potential would not go unnoticed.

So, besides web development, they should really consider kicking off some software development projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Megaplast is a Serbia-based family-run business that exists over two decades. We do production and sales of PVC and aluminum carpentry of the highest performance, including doors, windows, blinds, roof windows, etc.

Our company stands out thanks to the quality and expertise of our products that have earned us the leading position in our industry in southeast Europe. I am the CEO of the company Megaplast.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were looking for a partner that could perform a quality, reliable, and intuitive website redesign, in accordance with modern standards, as our previous website was outdated and it performed badly in terms of lead generation and performances.

Our new website was presentational, however, it required complexity as we have various products, categories, a mega menu, and a number of elements in the navigations, all of which needed to be properly and intuitively positioned.

PopArt Studio entered the story as a trustworthy, all-encompassing partner that performed complete planning, prototyping, and timelining of our website's design and development.

Also, they created custom graphic designs and illustrations for the website and our company's branding, such as roll-up, fair, and billboard visuals. Besides, after the website was officially live, we began executing predefined digital marketing strategies, especially focused on search engine optimization of the website.

SOLUTION

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

We initially searched for a digital agency that can help us in our website's redesign via Google search, which is where we have discovered PopArt Studio. At first, we were drawn by the looks and informativeness of their website.

We contacted some of their previous clients, and after we've heard their feedback, we decided to contact PopArt Studio. Upon sending an official inquiry, we received their response promptly and were very satisfied with the extent of their offer, in terms of the transparent explanations and pricing.

Of course, the cost itself played one of the main roles in our choosing. We have found the price to be fair and reasonable, and after we had the initial meeting with the team and saw their energy, brainstorming, and communication, we settled for PopArt Studio as our digital partner.

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

We initiated our cooperation with in-depth ideation of all required processes. PopArt Studio's management team drafted a timeline of processes and outlined a schedule of when all segments of the project ought to be completed.

They created a detailed and clearly defined plan for every aspect of the project and stuck to it until the very last day. The project began with initial prototypes of the website flow and the designs for all individual pages.

Upon completing each page design, I received access to Invision where I had the chance to see and leave feedback on the looks, which I found to be amazing I had the opportunity to participate in the design process itself. When all pages were designed, the project forwarded into development.

During this stage, I was granted access to the staging server where I could observe the progress of the website's development. After the website is finalized and live, PopArt Studio's SEO and Marketing team began with search engine optimization in order to ensure the best positioning of our website for the desired keywords.

Throughout all this time I was in constant contact with the project manager, as well as design and development team members who worked on our website. We had great communication, transparent, effortless, and beneficial, and we were in contact via Skype, calls, emails, and also had meetings whenever necessary.

PopArt Studio also uses great project management tools that helped me keep track of the project's stages.

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

I was mainly in contact with the project manager assigned to me, as well as the company's CEO who was available and ready to resolve all my questions and doubts.

Also, I was in contact with the web designer, graphic designer, and front-end and back-end developer who worked on our website's redesign, and in later stages, I worked with the digital marketing and SEO specialists, regarding the website's SEO optimization and marketing on social media.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After the website was redesigned, we saw a rise in website traffic, a drop in bounce rate, and overall better user experience and site performance. We received positive feedback from our clients and customers, and all that in the perfect timing just before the peak of the season.

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

Communication with the PopArt Studio's team was excellent. They were very transparent, straightforward, and involved in the very development of our concepts, and overall brand.

They helped us verbalize our ideas and turn them into life, but were also candid and conscientious to aid us to create a wonderful web presence for our brand. They showed competence and reliability, and we were satisfied with their level of expertise and feedback.

It was really important for us to be able to participate in the entire project and to be involved in the website creation, and the entire team made that possible.

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

What we found the most impressive about PopArt Studio was their involvement, knowledge, and transparency throughout all the steps in the project.

They understood our needs and helped us streamline the project in the best direction for our company and brand, and provided us with a fully personalized approach to the project.

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

We are really satisfied with how everything turned out, from the website's design and development to the nuances regarding our communication with the PopArt Studio's team. The project was finished before the deadline, and everything was executed perfectly.

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.