Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder & CEO of Tea with Trina, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We sell premium loose-leaf tea, tea-based dessert toppings, and tea wares.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) to accomplish?

• Logo & Branding
• Designing product labels
• Creating the business website

SOLUTION

How did you find Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

RDG was tasked with creating a logo & branding materials, creating and designing product labels, creating social media templates & stickers, as well as designig the company website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Creating deliverables that were professional, clean, aestetically pleasing, and aligned with my target market and audience. They did a fantastic job and my friends and family all thought the website, logo, and product labeling were beautiful.

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

Project management was excellent. They provided clear timeliness for all deliverables and scheduled weekly touch point meetnigs as needed. They always asked for clarification when my communication was unclear. They were very responsive to all of my needs and always sought out a solution for every hurdle or issue I experienced in the process of launching my business. They were absolutely excellent to work with.

What was your primary form of communication with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their ability to capture exactly what I envisioned and be on brand for my target market was remarkable. They exceeded expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) could have done differently?

Everything went well. I have no complaints. Any issues that I experienced were related to things about launching a business that I didn't know I needed to know beforehand or wish I had considered beforehand.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner/ Director of Programming of Total Vitality by Nathalie

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Total Vitality focuses on luxury, white-glove service to personal fitness, and health

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) to accomplish?

• Brand Image/Voice
• Website Development
• In-person marketing

SOLUTION

How did you find Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Online Search

Why did you select Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Partnered with RDG to bring a vision to life through a process of market research, identifiying brand voice and identity, and collaborating on marketing material, brand guidelines, and ultimately creating a stunning website with all the bells and whistles on the front end and back end. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Website creation, marketing material, brand guidelines to use freely, education on how to use aforementioned items and ongoing support with their team. 

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

RDG is extremely communicative and very organized. Starting with an overview of services and mock calendar, they will meticulously plan, draft, and execute digital media that goes beyond your expectations. They are a relationship based business which means they do not only care about turning over projects without being invested in your growth. They are responsive and are a perfect mix between listening to their client's needs and professionally guiding the discussion according to their expertise.

What was your primary form of communication with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

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

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

What is most impressive about this company is that they are a media company but offer so much personality and connection. They truly know how to customize and you can tell they can practically workk with anyone, any company, of any size. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) could have done differently?

I believe they're running their business to their heart's desire, ethically, and with a great team of experts.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications of Kapor Center

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Kapor Center is a family of interrelated justice-seeking organizations that collectively work to reimagine and reconstruct a more inclusive and equitable technology sector, with Kapor Capital, Kapor Foundation, and SMASH.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) to accomplish?

• Create a branding and a website for Kapor Foundation

SOLUTION

How did you find Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Referral

Why did you select Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) over others?

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

How many teammates from Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Brand Identity Design: 
  • Created a new logo and visual identity system that reflects the foundation's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Defined a cohesive color palette, typography, and imagery style to ensure consistency across all brand touchpoints. 
  • Produced brand collateral, including business cards, letterheads, and presentation templates, to reinforce brand recognition. 
• Website Development: 
  • Designed and developed a responsive, user-friendly website that aligns with the foundation's brand identity and objectives. 
  • Conducted user research and usability testing to inform the website's information architecture and navigation structure. 
  • Implemented a content management system (CMS) to facilitate easy content updates and management by the foundation's team. 
  • Integrated multimedia elements, such as videos, infographics, and interactive features, to enhance user engagement and storytelling. 
  • Ensured compliance with accessibility standards (WCAG) to make the website inclusive and accessible to all users. 
• Content Creation and Migration: 
  • Generated compelling, SEO-friendly content for the website, including mission statements, program descriptions, and success stories. 
  • Migrated existing content from the old website to the new platform, ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the transition process. 
  • Developed a content strategy to support ongoing website maintenance, updates, and expansion. 
• Training and Support: 
  • Provided training sessions for the foundation's staff on how to manage and update content using the CMS. 
  • Offered ongoing technical support and maintenance services to address any issues or concerns after the website launch. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A new brand ID and website including the following: 

• New logo and visual identity guidelines 
• Responsive website with CMS integration 
• Brand collateral (business cards, letterheads, etc.) 
• SEO-optimized website content 
• Training documentation and support materials

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

The RDG team was always responsive and collaborative meeting all deadlines and being flexible as needs changed.

What was your primary form of communication with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Virtual Meeting

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

This company is diverse, inclusive, and flexible despite being in a different time zone than our company.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder & Managing Partner of EQL Talent Consulting

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Consulting Firm that emphasizes on Workplace Equity

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) to accomplish?

• Website Design for a DEI Summit
• Marketing Assets specific to Marketing Rollouts

SOLUTION

How did you find Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Referral

Why did you select Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Web Design + Development 
• Embedding links for summit ticket purchases 
• Embedding links speaker applications 
• The rollout of Marketing Assets for Email and Social

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The RDG team was a true delight to partner with - the vision, the creativity, the input and execution was all flawlessly done. The website had its own landing page, and at every turn RDG gave great input on the layout of the website, embedded links for the summit ticket purchases, embedded links for the speaker applications and provided consistent marketing assets at every development stage. 

The final product was flawless and it was raved about throughout the summit, but more importantly the partnership was collaborative and done with so much ease. We can't thank the RDG team enough and can't wait to work together again! (and thank you for the late night meetings especially given the timezones).

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

RDG worked alongside us at EQL for 5 months to execute a DEI summit in San Francisco - we had deliverables we needed to meet and they were met, all in a timely manner. 

What was your primary form of communication with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Virtual Meeting

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

What was most impressive about partnering with this team was their speed and creativity. There were points in the project that required us to pivot quite a bit, RDG not only made those pivots, the creativity was never compromised. As a client we appreciated that.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) could have done differently?

None that we can see.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Bossy and Blissful LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Bossy and Blissful LLC is a community to support high-achieving women of color to succeed with more balance and bliss through coaching programs, courses and events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) to accomplish?

• Redesign primary website
• Develop a brank kit

SOLUTION

How did you find Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Referral

Why did you select Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

I hired RDG to redesign my website and create a brand kit with distinct colors and fonts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was looking for RDG to create a website that was both visually appealing and functional, meaning creating distinct pages for my business and my upcoming book as well as building forms on the site to collect leads. They did a wonderful job at both. My new website is beautiful and the layout is simple and highly functional.

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

RDG communicated a clear project timeline at the outset and they stuck to it. They were extremely prompt in their correspondence to me and went above and beyond to answer my questions and incorporate my revisions into the design. Everything they committed to was delivered on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

RDG has a talented team! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with Renard and everyone else assigned to my project. They were personable, creative, and had excellent follow-through. What's unique about them is how organized they are and how they seem to work together so collaboratively.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) could have done differently?

None that I can think of

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder & CTO of Grengine

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Battery energy storage manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) to accomplish?

• Creation of a micro-website.

SOLUTION

How did you find Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Referral

Why did you select Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) over others?

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

How many teammates from Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• DISCOVERY, PLANNING, PRESENTATIONS: This process includes, but is not limited to: 1. Interview key stakeholders to gain deeper understanding of current business model 2. Identify high-level KPI’s and define what success looks like. 3. Audit competitors website(s) to see how they’re doing it and if they’re successful. 4. Identify ideal customer(s) and create profiles based on stakeholder input. 5. Present client with findings, high-level notes & documentation throughout the project.
• PROJECT COSTS + SCOPE UX JOURNEY, WIREFRAMES + INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE: This process includes, but is not limited to: 1. Create a site map and user journey documents to ensure a fluid and concise user experience. 2. Complete set of website Wireframes and User Flow Documents. - Includes 1 round of client requested revisions. 3. Thorough exploration of ideal page taxonomy and best practices (Determining what content should live on what page, etc.)
• DESIGN, MESSAGING + CONTENT PROCUREMENT: This process includes, but is not limited to: 1. Informational interview to gather client's initial thoughts on colors, typography, style preferences and desired visual presence. 2. Work closely with client to establish desired “tone and voice” for the website. 3. Craft three (3) unique look and feel mockups for initial page design. Design iterations and fine tuning to yield high-level visuals while diversifying client from their competitors. - Includes up to (3) initial stylistic directions. - Includes up to (2) rounds of client requested revisions. 
• DEVELOPMENT (INTEGRATION + FUNCTIONALITY): This process includes, but is not limited to: 1. Development of all approved designs in fully functioning web pages. 2. Design and Content Integration and development 3. Implementation of various desired API’s (Secure contact form, multi-language plugin )
• SERVER SETUP, MIGRATION TO PRODUCTION, HOSTING CONNECTION: This process includes, but is not limited to: Migration of fully built website from RDG staging environment to Growing Greener Innovations’s hosting solution. Optimize file sizes, database structure and server settings to allow for best possible site performance.
• POST LAUNCH MAINTENANCE: This process includes, but is not limited to: 30 Day Maintenance period of site for performance and stability, updating any plugins or framework dependencies as necessary.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Qualitative feedback from customers.

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

Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) was fantastic to work with. They delivered all tasks on time and were flexible enough to adjust to the delays caused by our team.

What was your primary form of communication with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They took the time to understand who we are; our values, our products, our customers. Incredibly friendly and responsive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) could have done differently?

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Sr. Project Manager at Trade School, at integrated content agency that creates high-quality, personalized content at scale.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

We hired RDG to help build out mobile banners for Publix's Big Game Campaign.

SOLUTION

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

I was not the one in charge of hiring.

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

Our internal creative team at Trade School designed the mobile banners and then after agreeing on the timeline, RDG jumped in to help build out and animate all of the requested sizes.

We had a few different check-ins and delivery dates, which RDG was always on top of and delivering more than requested.

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

In total, we worked with two resources. Two Sr. Design Leads

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

RDG went above and beyond the original ask. Our client came back with additional sizes, resources, and new timeline turnarounds and RDG was calm and professional. They helped us in securing success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Both team members were very communicative and did not hesitate when it came to questions or concerns. I believe that since we were in constant communication, the project was a success.

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

I was blown away by their knowledge on building sites and supplying deliverables outside of the original scope. They are also very quick to turnaround any revisions and ask questions ahead of time.

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

I don't believe so.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO and co-founder of Take Your Seat. We provide solutions for companies and boards that want to achieve inclusivity and diversity. We offer educational training, board services, and a membership community that connects Black professionals with board leaders and CEOs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

We sought to elevate our brand and build greater brand awareness by creating a new website and revamping our corporate identity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

RDG has created a new corporate identity for us and built a new website based on the new branding. First, we defined the deliverables and shared our expectations for the process and what we wanted our social identity and brand personality to look like. Then, they interviewed our team members, and we gave them an outline of brand cues for color schemes and patterns as a starting point. 

RDG delivered a brand identity package detailing our new brand landscape, logo, and corporate identity. The brand is very flexible and applicable to any medium. We use the new branding for digital content, the new website, and other things.

After delivering the brand package, they built the wireframe for our new website and incorporated the functions we requested. They have created the site to act as an adjustable backdrop for our brand. They made it very easy for us to alter the site’s color scheme and accessories and curate the design differently based on various factors, including season or target audience. 

They integrated the new site with our community website, one of our main asks, and created content based on the brand identity. They have built the videos and visuals they created into the new site. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Renard (Founder) and Julia (Visual Designer). 

How did you come to work with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Our COO previously worked with RDG and had a phenomenal experience, so she referred them for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested roughly $10,000–$49,000 in the engagement with RDG.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with RDG in August 2021, and the partnership is ongoing. We’re not giving them up!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

RDG received an award for the work they did for us. Their development and branding efforts led us to receive a six-figure investment from one of our corporate partners. Our brand awareness has increased and is being received well by the marketplace. I credit RDG for helping us differentiate ourselves and present a distinct brand.

The brand package they delivered was gorgeous; they did a phenomenal job capturing the brand’s landscape. They’ve brought together different design components to create a signature pattern featuring jewel tones and colors that uniquely fit together. The new branding suits our company values and presents us as dynamic and audacious in a space where we want to create systemic change. 

The new branding is flexible depending on audience segments, content, and the medium we apply it to. We are considering developing fabric from the patterns they created for the drapes at our live events. We also want to design clothing from the pattern they developed.

They created a website that gave us a fantastic mosaic of building blocks to reflect the brand and alter it as we see fit. The patterns come together in different ways from one page to another. They’ve created a movement and rhythm within the site that reflects our brand's dynamic nature. 

How did Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) perform from a project management standpoint?

The RDG team are excellent project managers. Their responsiveness is phenomenal. As a startup, we move quickly, and they always match our pace. They answer phone calls and are quick to fulfill our short-term needs. They meet deadlines and have been great about working within our budget. 

Renard is intimately involved in the process and always available. Julia is also phenomenal, and they allow us to tweak ideas for patterns and go through several iterations until we land on the perfect version. They limit the back and forth and typically get things right on the first try. Mistakes tend to happen during web development, but they really don’t make many. 

They give fantastic advice when we ask for recommendations on how to move forward with our ideas for the site. They’re also just generally joyful and fun to work with. We manage the project in Google Docs and communicate through emails and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

RDG’s responsiveness has been impressive. We’ve worked with other development teams who have kept us in the dark concerning progress. Instead, RDG keeps us informed every step of the way. We don’t ever need to guess what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and what the cost will be. 

One of the reasons we cut ties with previous development partners is that we didn't feel heard. RDG listens to us; they’ve taken the stress out of building a website. The process has been frictionless, and we enjoy working with them because they’re great people.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing RDG could improve on. They have been phenomenal to work with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to communicate with RDG and don’t hold back. Whatever ideas you have, however wacky or out of the box, tell them because they're good at playing in the sandbox with the client. They won't make you feel stupid, or like you're wasting their time. Instead, they're very receptive to hearing your point of view and will implement feedback. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Greek Vibe

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

App created to connect fratenity and sorotity members.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) to accomplish?

• Build company website
• Build application for new company concept

SOLUTION

How did you find Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

Completed previous development

Why did you select Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

RDG helped build and refine development of concept to ensure successful market launch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Weekly check in calls to review development status.

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

All deadlines were met and had flexible hours that met my needs throughout the process.

What was your primary form of communication with Ragsdale Design Group (RDG)?

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

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

The quality of their work was great and it made me feel great on the comments made on the final outcome of each development of the project.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ragsdale Design Group (RDG) could have done differently?

None.