Ramotion

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an internet company and our main product is a video calling app. I am the product manager of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

We have designers, but they are not very familiar with the preferences of international users in terms of color and style. The initial logo, layout, and color scheme of the platform were designed by our internal team. After reaching 10 million users, we decided to focus on branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We explained the core values around the app to their team. Based on this, they helped us create our new branding. The redesign was intended to reach more people and bring a more professional image to our company. Although our platform is Chinese, it’s aimed at connecting people from around the world. We discussed the core difference between our app and other products on the market, and why users choose ours.

They also designed a new logo for us. They initially proposed altering the old version, making it more colorful, and giving it a more 3D look. After an internal discussion, we decided to develop a different logo altogether. Designing it took two months, during which time we had constant communication with Ramotion. They updated their designs based on our feedback.

What is the team composition?

They mainly interacted with me, given that our other team members don’t speak English. I only communicated with their team leader, so I don’t know how many designers were involved.

How did you come to work with Ramotion?

We found them at the Facebook F8 Developer Conference held in San Jose. They have designed logos for many well-known apps, including Bitmoji. Our CEO met with them at their office and reviewed their past work. He determined that their work was on par with what we wanted.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $20,000–$30,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Ramotion in June 2017. After the main project ended, we bought an additional 120 hours from them. The main branding and design work has been implemented, but we’re continuing to make modifications based on user feedback.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t received a lot of feedback for the new logo, but we consider it to be a good choice.

One of our competing apps had a logo change that received a lot of negative feedback from users on app stores and was a bit of a disaster for them. We haven’t encountered this problem, but there also haven’t been many positive comments about the logo. We haven’t seen a dramatic change in terms of statistics, either. Our shareholders, however, have said that the new logo looks more professional.

How did Ramotion perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via email and used Dropbox for document exchanges. Given that we were rebranding an existing app, we didn’t set up strict timelines. The old version was still usable, so we let them work at their own pace. The budget wasn’t exceeded.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

We haven’t worked with other design firms, but we appreciated their ability to deliver multiple design options. We received 13–14 alternatives to choose from and we were asked to provide reasons for our choices. We found their approach to communication to be impressive—it’s different to that of Chinese teams.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We gave their design team the freedom to create certain parts in any way they wanted. There were also some parts that we wanted done in particular ways, with no room for deviation. We’ve had to repeat certain requirements a couple of times to them. It may have been a problem with the communication, given that we couldn’t talk over the phone. The emails we sent them may not have represented our needs fully so it’s not entirely their fault-it’s a limitation of having an email collaboration. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and lead designer at Kitsu, a social network that helps anime and manga fans track, share, and discover new content.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

We were rebranding, so we needed a vendor to help us design a new logo.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, they created some high-level drawings. I'm very particular about designs, but they were very calm and established a smooth workflow. They were responsive to my feedback throughout the whole process, from the early pencil drawing stage to a polished logo design.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with their CEO and one other team member.

How did you come to work with them?

We found them on Dribbble. I liked the work they had done for other companies and their pricing seemed reasonable, so I gave them a chance.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2017 and the project was completed in February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our brand sets us apart from our competitors; the logo Ramotion created captures that brand perfectly. There is a correlation between our success and the quality of their design. Our users and community embrace our brand and enjoy creating fan-art homage to it. Also, our logo has been stolen multiple times, so it must be good!

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

I was the project manager, but they were a very organized team. They were responsive to my feedback and gave me a timeline I needed to meet. I was very satisfied with both the process and end result.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their work is amazing. When you look at the logo or any of their other designs, it's obvious how much time they spent on it. Their work represents a consistent pattern of excellence, which is why I wanted to work with them in the first place.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Look at their whole team and find the designer whose work you like. Talk to them before you start the project and find out how responsive they're to your feedback.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the head of product design at Speakeasy, a small tech startup that produced sales software for inside sales account executives. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ramotion?

We hired them to help us with visual brand design, illustrations and iconography, and UI/UX design for web and mobile.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop product concepts for our mobile and web clients and craft a brand design direction that supported our marketing and product functions.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected them based on their portfolio, aesthetic, and good reputation with past clients. 

Describe the project in detail.

There were three main outcomes: brand, web, and mobile. Addressing branding first, we established guidelines that included a color palette, typography, and iconography. The web product focused on creating a more functional workspace where sales representatives could sync their notes to Salesforce and share their screens, among other capabilities. I provided design and project management guidance and established initial design concepts for further development. Ramotion was responsible for creating mockups, animations, and style guides that included detailed UI/UX design decisions and explorations of additional visual and UI directions as requested. A companion to the web app, the mobile app allowed people to quickly connect to conference calls without a PIN and interact directly with their clients.  

What was the team composition?

The team included a product director and design head from Speakeasy and two contractors from Ramotion who served as animators, illustrators, UI designers, and creative directors. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The completed application has generated positive customer feedback. Our intended metric--the number of salespeople logging their calls on Salesforce--was based on qualitative feedback. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very effective. They had a good understanding of our needs and the types of problems we wanted to be solved, and they knew how to engage us. They were overall flexible, fluid, and adaptable. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were most impressed by their speed and quality of work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO and one of the co-founders of Wyre. Our company specializes in cross-border and foreign exchange payments built on top of the blockchain.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ramotion?

We hired them to do a full rebrand.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have slick, fresh, and polished branding. We wanted to work with someone who knew the leading design principles and had a strategic approach to the overall theme.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them out of a number of top-tier teams from a leading design platform. Our former designer was also a high-quality resource with a strong following on that site. We liked Ramotion’s style and the professional way they prepared and presented their work to us.

Describe the project in detail.

Our company had numerous products that had to be consolidated into a new, all-inclusive brand. They did a full rebrand, from the color palette, logos, and icon, to stationary and other marketing swag.

What was the team composition?

A team of 12 worked on this project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've been trending on the front page of leading design platforms multiple times. Our in-house senior designer, who has exacting standards, thought that our branding was one of the best that he has seen online.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was great. Our back-and-forth interaction was quite easy, as the team was really responsive and communicative.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They took ownership of the project, accepting our input in line with what they had in mind. It’s great that they didn’t say “yes” all the time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It’s hard to critique them, as the pricing was really fair. I think that they gave a lot of value for what we spent. However, they could provide an added service by guiding additional in-house designers that come on board. It would help to have a one-hour strategy session to make sure everyone’s familiar with the style so that no one goes in the wrong direction.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

If you're hiring a design team, odds are you’re not a designer, so just let them do what they do best.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Descript, a media production company that helps people make podcasts. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

We needed a company to help us with branding and to create a website and a logo for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed our website, building a dynamic content management system for the backend. They used React JS to build the website, and it has a number of pages that include video and animation.

They have a process they go through: first, they do the branding and then, they work on the website. It's a very collaborative project and they work fast. We have a shared document, which they update with new results daily.

What is the team composition? 

We have a project manager, a developer, and a designer. We've also worked with some other people over the course of the project.

How did you come to work with them?

We saw some of their designs on Dribbble and were impressed by their CHOPs. After we talked to them on the phone, we decided they were a good match. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $10,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working together in July 2017 and the relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has been stable and works well. Everyone is happy with their design. They're very responsive and go above and beyond to meet our needs. We continue working with them, which is the best sign of our satisfaction.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They put a lot of pride in what they do, developing a process that works for them and for us. They're good communicators and record videos for us every day or every couple of days to document progress. Being incredibly organized, they quickly react to any issues that arise.

We use Asana and Slack to keep in touch with their development team. They also record screen tasks and provide regular updates about the progress through our shared document.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very thoughtful and disciplined about managing the process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think so.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I serve as Director of Product Development and Innovation for Advance Auto Parts, the largest auto parts retailer in the U.S. The company has over 5,500 locations across the country, and another 1,500 in Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

We wanted to modernize our e-commerce site so customers could find products quicker, compare pricing, and check out efficiently. Creating a more user-friendly layout would secure maximum conversions and revenue.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Ramotion as an extension of our internal team. Building on ideas we developed with a previous agency, they designed a new website interface from scratch while maintaining our brand identity.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with an account manager who served as a bridge between our company and Ramotion. He oversaw payment schedules and communicated our needs to their designers and software developers.

How did you come to work with Ramotion?

I searched for agencies online through Behance. After reaching out to several, I narrowed it down to three and assigned each the task of delivering a simple mobile app prototype as a test case. Based on the results, I decided to hire Ramotion.

While we initially used them for graphic design work, I hired their software developers after seeing they had competency in that area, as well.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017. The design was launched into production in October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our primary goal was to decrease the amount of time spent on our website before purchase, thereby decreasing cart abandonment and increasing yearly revenue. Based on these measurements, Ramotion exceeded our expectations.

How did Ramotion perform from a project management standpoint?

We relied on Agile methodology, making it easy for our internal team to incorporate Ramotion and increase output. While we experienced some deadline issues in the beginning, this improved over time.

I could communicate with the project manager through Slack at any time and we used JIRA to coordinate the project. Their team was highly responsive, quickly executing any tasks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was very impressed by their creative talent in terms of graphic design. Ramotion respected our requests and was quick to adjust if we disagreed on certain design elements, but they also contributed ideas that improved our initial vision. Their collaborative approach makes them a valuable asset.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their team leveraged the latest graphics designs tools to their maximum ability, but this meant creating multiple layers and containers. Ramotion had some issues in labeling and aligning these layers, causing some confusion when we passed the designs to an external software developer. Once I pointed this out, however, they delivered cleaner results.

They don’t have a lot of improvements to make. I hope the company will continue to grow and hire the same quality of talent.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software studio that makes enterprise applications. I oversee culture and product development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

We needed to build a large-scale iOS application through a decoupled set of APIs and database backends. Our challenge was trying to figure out whether we should consolidate all of the APIs into one place, then feed it through, or talk directly to all of the independent systems. We needed what was going to have a more stable application for the end user and also needed to know how to set it up for efficient long-term maintenance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ramotion implemented a highly custom user experience that is powered by multiple integrations. They used Swift as the main programming language for our iOS development. The first part of the project was developing the UI, and then the second consisted of working on the networking layer that holds data. They were a fantastic partner because they collaborated with us on the architecture, and also helped us figure out at what point the APIs were being consumed on the end users’ devices.

What is the team dynamic?

Ramotion provided us with two engineers and one project manager who all performed excellently.

How did you come to work with Ramotion?

Ramotion had a good online reputation, and I was familiar with their previous work. I looked them up and saw they were involved quite heavily with Swift development, and also had an impressive engineering team. I reached out to them to set up a couple calls with their engineers, then had a mock interview for technical aptitude. They made us feel comfortable, so we selected them because they provided visibility into their company.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from January–July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ramotion has completed their part of the work, but we haven’t done a full launch yet. We were able to reach every deadline and goal, and we know from performing code reviews that they did a good job. They also provided a lot of feedback and remained flexible in adapting some of their methodologies to embrace ours. They were more familiar with third-party frameworks, but they still performed well in working on iOS based systems. We believe these systems provide stronger architectures, so we were glad they were able to learn those characteristics. 

How did Ramotion perform from a project management standpoint?

We work remotely, so we had a daily video call where we administered code reviews and prepared written updates to accommodate our differing time zones. They communicated well, and they were prepared and proactive during the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we approached them with challenges during either part of the project, they were well equipped to overcome them. Ramotion offers a variety of expertise, unlike other engineers who only specialize in one area. 

They were dependable, as well as consistent, and they were also receptive to feedback. They were able to educate themselves on unfamiliar areas and were also collaborative and able to make critical decisions regarding the code. Overall, their team is balanced, friendly, and very thorough in their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any criticism for them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Vyta Lifestyle is an app company that supplies personal trainers a mobile application on Apple and Android. Our clients go on the app and pick cross-training or pilates, and then they pick the date and time and they have a session. They can rebook with their personal trainer or pilates instructor just by a few simple taps. I’m the managing director

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

We started with rebranding and then moved into the design for the website and apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did the design work but did not develop the website or apps. Their process to find our brand identity was perfect for me. Sometimes I have a problem articulating what I have in my head because I’m not very creative, and Ramotion has a step-by-step process to find out what I was looking for. They start with listening to you describe your business and they pull it into pictures. They give you loads of options and you narrow it down to what you’re looking for. They advised me on how the name should look, etc.

We started with the design of the app and then we moved onto the website. The design was taking my brand identity and they gave a few options of toolkits. Once we found a toolkit, they implemented it really fast. For the website, it was pretty much the same. It was a really fast process and really clean. The communication was good even though it was over email.

We worked directly with Denis [CEO, Ramotion] to figure out the project, and then he hands you over to the project manager.

How did you come to work with Ramotion?

I found them on the internet. I chose them because I thought they were in San Francisco; I found out they were based in Russia, but I looked through their work and it was what I was looking for.

How much have you invested with Ramotion?

We spent between £15,000 and £20,000 [between $19,507 and $26,010].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2016, and the projects were completed in February 2017

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I’m a happy customer. The projects haven’t launched yet. A lot of people have seen the apps and website, and the comments are that it’s clean. I’m not focusing on that because it’s a bit subjective. I’m mainly focusing on UX/UI which I haven’t got much feedback on yet.

How did Ramotion perform from a project management standpoint?

We were far away but we received information from them every day by video, which was a great way to communicate. We went over the deadline, but that was more my fault. They were a pleasure to work with. They were on budget; they started out with the budget for the rebranding - that was a fixed price, but then it was a per hour rate for the app and web design.

What did you find most impressive about Ramotion?

They have a starting brief of ten questions to get started on trying to understand the project. They even asked questions that were complex. It was great to learn from them. They know a lot about startups. I have worked with other freelance people, and they have not given me as many options as Ramotion did.

Are there any areas Ramotion could improve?

There are tiny details that might get skipped over in an email. Those things need to be fixed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the founder and CEO of Tallscreen, a mobile video software company for the next generation of viewers. We built consumer and SaaS [software-as-a-service] products as well to distribute and create video across different formats. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

We anticipated that the next generation of design would happen in video like it had in web-responsive design. We needed to find a way to create and distribute an ecosystem around what we termed “responsive video design.” We hired Ramotion to handle the UI and animation design for a consumer application we were launching. We did a lot of work together on 2 different products. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us create a mobile design for the consumer application, which was going to be the next-generation YouTube. Ramotion designed the UX for iOS. They worked using Swift and primarily focused on the frontend, but they did some backend work as well. They provided different launch strategies and connected us with helpful people in the industry.

We discussed plans regarding our go-to-market strategy, as well as our press and marketing initiatives. They definitely made an impact on our choices and lent a more holistic approach. Ramotion didn’t just focus on a facet of the process; they cared about every part.

A total of 4 resources were assigned to our project. I’ve met a few other team members in person as well.

How did you come to work with Ramotion?

I was referred to them by a friend of a friend in Silicon Valley. I’ve kept in touch with their work over the years. They have a great reputation in the area. We looked at a lot of firms. I was living in Silicon Valley at the time and came across a lot of different companies. Ramotion’s style still fascinates me. They have really good taste and a great style. A lot of people don’t get that. Ramotion’s designs include an elegant and modern feel that people enjoy using.

How much have you invested with Ramotion?

We spent between $100,000 and $150,000 with them over the course of our relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2015, and our company wrapped up in November 2016. I’m working on another project and have already reached out to Ramotion again.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

Engagement increased as a result of Ramotion’s designs. Our entire company is built around design. In just a few months, we achieved 5 million views of our content. They played a major role in making that happen.

How did Ramotion perform from a project management standpoint?

They were phenomenal with communication, even though their team is distributed. Unlike my past experiences, we had no issues with Ramotion. They have a presence in San Francisco, so that made my job easier as well. We communicated using email, Slack, Trello, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and in-person meetings at coffee shops.

They were able to work with our budget. They have high standards, and I respect that. You get what you pay for. They’re not extremely expensive. I think it’s a great price for the value that they’re adding.

What did you find most impressive about Ramotion?

From the animations and interactions I’ve seen, their design is out of this world. Our users have commented on the clean design of the app in general. People still ask me for referrals to them all the time.

Are there any areas Ramotion could improve?

They could build up their team to expand their services. The boutique feel is great, but it would be better to have a bigger team and lower the cost a bit. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Final is a consumer credit card startup in Oakland, California. The idea behind the company is credit cards are fundamentally an analog product. They have been stuck 30, 40, 50 years in the past with the single static credit card. After some really painful experiences with our own credit card, we decided to rebuild the experience from the ground-up. We offer our consumers, our cardholders, a physical card as well as a mobile application and web dashboard that allows them to generate as many credit card numbers as they want so they can have one-on-one relationships with their merchants. My title is the head of cards. It’s a jack-of-all-trades operational role. I lead a good bit of work on marketing, bank/partner/vendor management, and strategic oversight of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ramotion?

Our team all had very little design experience. We had a decent eye for design but not much on the actual creation of the underlying assets and then developing them. We were looking for a company, really a partner, to help us to tackle a lot of the early design. We’ve since used them throughout the history of the company to get more sophisticated and maintain our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were pre-wireframes when we approached them. We had an idea of what we wanted things to look like. We had, to a certain extent, a set of brand assets that we wanted to maintain consistency around. When it came time, we said to them, “Here’s a set of content that we think should be on this page, and this is the purpose of this page or this ad.” We also provided some underlying source files in a couple of places for iconography. But when it really came down to it, they went and executed on the vision that we provided at the start.

One thing I should note is they took the time to understand the credit card product pretty early on when we were working with them, and I think they’ve since done some work for another client or two that are in the space. It’s an incredibly complex product in an incredibly regulated industry, so they took the time to understand what that meant.

Two big features pop to mind that they’ve done for us: web assets that were mobile-optimized and video advertisements. They’ve done work for us on the web design side by building out version 1 of the site. We have a set of customer interfaces that are both a landing page and a customer dashboard. They’ve done some work in taking early visions of our version 1 and really refining them, creating final designs, and then helping us to produce assets there.

They’ve also helped us create a series of video assets that we use in advertising. We would provide an overall storyboard for those, and then they would go and build the video assets, including animations. Finally, they’ve done some smaller design revisions on a series of things.

How did you come to work with Ramotion?

We were introduced to Ramotion through a designer we considered engaging, but who didn't have the bandwidth at the time. We heard from people that they did great work. When we started to engage with them, we found that to be true.

How much have you invested with Ramotion?

We’re probably in the $100,000-$150,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

I don’t know the month, but it was likely in 2015. We continue to engage them to maintain the brand.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I don’t have a clean A/B test that I could give you of their work, but what I can say is we’ve been able to grow our business really quickly on the back of their work and of our own work. Our website is very beautifully designed. We’re just starting to put the advertisement assets to work, so we’re still learning on that front.

We built a wait list of over 100,000 email addresses when we were launching our product, and they had a hand in helping us to pull web designs together and build the product after that point. Now, we have thousands of happy customers and testimonials from them. One of my favorite quotes from one of our cardholders says, “You guys rock the user experience.” I think a lot of that has to do with the design of the website and mobile app, and Ramotion has had a pretty good, solid hand in that stuff.

How did Ramotion perform from a project management standpoint?

Really well. They’ve been really organized, great responders to email, and have never dropped the ball on any project, deliverable, or timeline.

They’re many hours ahead of us in terms of time zone. So what ends up happening is, we’ll pretty quickly establish a set of expectations in conjunction with them, since they now especially know our business, our aesthetic, and the way we review things and provide feedback. We’ll have a thread of emails, a quick phone conversation, and organize the assets and structure of what we’re looking to do.

Within a couple of days, they’ll have provided an iteration, or multiple iterations, based on what we requested, and then we’ll provide quick feedback on it. In most cases, we’re able to tackle projects really quickly with only a couple of cycles, which is to be expected.

What did you find most impressive about Ramotion?

Part of the reason we keep coming back is that they took the time early on to understand not just our business and our design aesthetic, but also the industry that we operate in. They quickly understood the credit card itself, the product that we were building and how it related to the credit card market, and the problem that we were trying to solve. Because of this, they could intuitively pick up on what mattered to our business and then build around it. They’re a really solid design shop as well.

Are there any areas Ramotion could improve?

Nothing immediately comes to mind, which is a good thing.