Shy Guys Studios

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Whistleblowing of BBC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

National broadcast organisation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Shy Guys Studios to accomplish?

• Create an animated 3-minute explainer video to promote better awareness and understanding of the organisations internal whistleblowing ('speak up') mechanisms for confidentially reporting concerns of serious malpractice

SOLUTION

How did you find Shy Guys Studios?

Online Search

Why did you select Shy Guys Studios over others?

High quality of work featured on website

What was the size of Shy Guys Studios’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Shy Guys worked within our brief to develop a script, animation style and storyboard for a video animation. They identified and proposed appropriate voice over artists and music and arranged recording sessions. They designed and created the animation, with relevant sound editing/mixing. They facilitated script translation into 24 different language subtitle files.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Video was completed and extremely well received by senior stakeholders. Video is now used frequently as the basis for training and induction sessions, and as an accessible intranet resource for all staff. The animation has provided branding images for our department which are utlised across other internal comms packages.

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

Shy Guys (Ryan and Anne-Marie) were extremely efficient and communicative throughout. They provided clear timelines from the outset which they then either met or exceeded. They understood the task requirements quickly and responded well to feedback, ensuring the video was fit for purpose and was in accordance with the organisation's working culture.

They enabled a collaborative approach to the project without requiring significant time input from me; working with initiative to present options and propose new ideas, and resolve any issues.

What was your primary form of communication with Shy Guys Studios?

• Virtual Meeting

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

Very friendly and supportive throughout - a pleasure to work with. Ryan and Anne-Marie provided a nice mix of artistic vision and pragmatic and practical competence to deliver the project within budget and time constraints.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Shy Guys Studios could have done differently?

I was extremely impressed by their work and approach.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director for The BBC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Shy Guys Studios?

We needed them to produce training content for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial call. I gave Shy Guys Studios a problem statement outlining our goals and the type of end product we were looking for. Then, we had several consultations to discuss the theme of the training content and develop the script. 

Once we completed the script, we worked together to determine what the content would look like. We went through multiple design iterations, and when we finished drawing the content, they shared a list of voiceover candidates that we reviewed together. Then, they worked with the voiceover team to create the voices behind the animations. 

How did you come to work with Shy Guys Studios?

We’d engaged them for a previous project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about £30,000 (approximately $36,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measured success based on the quality of the content Shy Guys Studios submitted. When they delivered the work, we sent it to our internal training QA department, who agreed it was exceptional. 

How did Shy Guys Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Shy Guys Studios was very responsive, accommodating, and respectful of our timelines. They kept us engaged throughout each iteration, sharing updates via email and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Shy Guys Studios was really professional and engaging throughout the partnership. They identified effective solutions and were willing to stretch their capabilities to deliver a good-quality product. For example, they hadn’t worked on lip-syncing before but were more than happy to innovate and accommodate it for the project’s benefit. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were a great partner. If anything, they could market themselves more, because we had to do a lot of research to find them. Their website is clear, but it doesn’t demonstrate their full portfolio due to brand sensitivity. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a education manager for a forest conservation organization. My role is to bring sustainable forest management to life. We create and deliver a range of products and activities that engage young people with the nation’s forests. We are committed to being a professional and trusted provider of outdoor education for teachers and providing activity ideas for families.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Shy Guys Studios, and what were your goals?

We worked with Shy Guys Studios to develop an animated video that provided teachers with an overview of our self-led educational offer called Ranger in a bag. We wanted the video to come across as fun, engaging and inspire teachers to find out more and book a visit to the forest with their class.

SOLUTION

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

We put a call out for quotes for the piece of work and reviewed a number of organisations. Shy Guys Studios were selected as they provided evidence of experience delivering similar projects to a high standard, came across as very approachable and supportive, and value for money.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Before the project started, Shy Guys Studios were very good at providing background information to what the various stages of crating the video would entail with some key questions to think about before starting the process.

The project started with a kick off meeting to run through details on the process that creating the video (and social media teasers) would entail, what they would require from us and when. It also allowed time for us to provide background information on the project requirements and ensuring Shy Guys understood our visions and goals.

Time was spent sharing information around our branding, and the feel and look of what could be achieved within the budget. The best platforms for sharing information was also agreed. Scripts and storyboards were created with the input from various staff members from both sides. This then led to the voice over and background music that Shy Guys advised and led on.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

The whole project with Shy Guys Studios ran very smoothly. At the start of the project roles and responsibilities were shared with a very clearly laid out schedule. The project was running on a short time scale and the Shy guys team were fantastic at sticking to the schedule, gently pushing for answers from us when required and work confirmation at each agreed milestones, whilst still planning ahead and allowing time for us to consult and think about the next steps before reaching the deadlines.

Throughout the process the team were very approachable, worked extremely hard to stick to timescales and were very patient and supportive in answering our questions. The whole team were quick to respond to our enquiries and also kept us well informed if they were due out of the office/who may stand in if others were absent etc – which was hugely appreciated as this was the first time we had worked on an animated video and we knew when we were likely to get a reply.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video was completed on time and within budget. Internally the video has been a huge hit and is hoped it will help increase our school visit bookings. At this point in time it is to early to say if the video has helped us to achieve our vision.

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

Communications with Shy Guys Studios was always very clear and timely. Email was the main form of communication throughout the project, sharing various project drafts via vimeo and the final versions on Dropbox. Teams meetings were also held to discuss more detailed decisions required like final scripts/storyboard sign offs. The team always made it clear when they were working and available and always happy to be called or emailed at any point.

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

The initial kick off meeting was fantastic. Shy Guys asked lots of great, and challenging, questions so that they understood what our brand and style was, why we wanted the video and what was hoped to be achieved by having one and what other marketing approaches had/hadn't worked in the past. It really felt that they took everything on board and offered suggestions and ideas for us to work through to get the best outcome.

What was really appreciated was their approachability, their experience and expertise but at the same time their timely and clear communication styles. There were no surprises along the way, and the project ran smoothly from start to finish.

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

I can't think of any. The whole experience was very professional.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

DeFi Recruitment is a newly launched recruitment business which helps organisations attract and hire the best staff in the DeFi, Crypto, and Blockchain Industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Shy Guys Studios, and what were your goals?

I engaged with Shy Guys to create a brand introduction video to sit on the homepage of the website and to share on social media.

SOLUTION

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

After speaking with a few video design agencies I signed with Shy Guys because I liked the team, they were thoughtful, professional, and always made themselves available!

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started with a discovery meeting where the team asked lots of poignant questions about the business and our products. I was then presented with a timeline which was very tight as we needed the project delivered before Christmas (Shy Guys must have worked late nights / weekends to get things delivered and it is appreciated).

We then moved to script writing where Ryan and Anne-Marie were fantastic. Storyboarding and VoiceOver came next, again could not fault the team. Animation was the last stage of the project and is seriously impressive, the end product delivered exceeded all of my expectations.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I worked with Anne-Marie and Ryan, both were fantastic and I could not fault the process. Drafts were shared over Vimeo and we had a rolling document for notes / feedback which we all had access to.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video has been shown to multiple people and it does as it should. It represents the video as I hoped it would. It also sits very nicely on the homepage of the website which is a big plus.

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

The team were great - communication was on point and they were always happy to take a call - no matter the time of day. Everything was transparent and as expected.

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

The speed of delivery, whilst no shortcuts were taken and the quality results far exceeded my expectations. They took the time to learn about my business and vision.

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

It would have been great to have met the team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Public Engagement Manager at a researcher centre based in a University.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Shy Guys Studios?

We hired Shy Guys Studios to develop an interactive online exhibit that would educate the public about the bioeconomy.

SOLUTION

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

We found Shy Guys Studios online through a google search and were impressed with their portfolio of work on their website.

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

We met to discuss the outline of the project. Shy Guys worked on some initial designs while we developed the structure of the map. Based on the map structure, Shy Guys then worked on designing the different scenes within the map while the written content and audio was finalised. Finally, the main content was added to the map.

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

We dealt mainly with Ryan and Ann-Marie who managed the project and acted as liaison, as well as Joe who provided some technical support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Google analytics of the map show a high number of visitors with a favourable bounce-rate and a good average visit duration. Feedback from those who used the map has been immensely positive.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Shy Guys were very organised and communicated clearly about the project timeline and milestones.

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

The quality of their work was outstanding and it was an absolute pleasure to work with them.

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

None - we were extremely pleased with the work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Marketing Manager for Loopin. We are an employee wellbeing and leadership development tool driving positive workplace culture.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Shy Guys Studios, and what were your goals?

Our product can be difficult to explain to new clients and so it was important for us to be able to show our product in depth whilst keeping it simplistic and engaging.

SOLUTION

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

We looked for a number of video production companies and after acquiring costs and samples of work, as well as chatting directly with the various companies, we decided Shy Guys were the best option for our project.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started with a meeting to discuss the scope of the project and what our objectives were. Shy Guys listened to all of our ideas and helped us with creating our script and storyboard. All of their suggestions and ideas were excellent and really helped to elevate the look and feel of the video.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with our project manager who made the feedback process super easy to do. The project timeline provided by Shy Guys allowed us to stick to deadlines with providing feedback and ensured that everything was delivered in the best possible way. We had a number of edits throughout the process, mainly to do with us changing our minds on things, and the team were always happy to implement the changes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have shown the video to a number of potential clients who have found the video specifically helpful to understand the capabilities of the product and the features that help to resolve issues and pain points they may be experiencing.

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

The project manager was particularly helpful in bringing together the project from time scales and feedback.

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

Shy Guys really took the time to get to know our company and made suggestions to help us shape the video to suit our particular demographic. They were really accommodating at all times, enabling us to get the best possible results.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Manager at Arbolus, a professional networking business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Shy Guys Studios, and what were your goals?

We hired Shy Guys Studios to make an explainer video to generate more website inbound leads.

SOLUTION

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

They were the perfect balance between cost and quality - the results proved that we were right! Very satisfied

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

They have created an explainer video.

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

We always coordinated with Ryan, great professionality!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was great! I'd give it a 9/10 surely met our expectations

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective!

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

They delivered monthly updates for the video performances - it was not asked but nonetheless super useful!

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

Lacking a marketing team on our end, not much more they could have done