SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing director at a global insurance consulting company with over 40,000 employees that deals with employee benefits and insurance — we're an actuarial and people and risk consultancy. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD?

We've completed several projects with SQUEEZED, but we brought them on to deliver short, animated videos for this project. We needed these videos to simplify our messaging and efficiently help users understand the range of technology tools we offer and how they'll benefit from using them. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SQUEEZED developed and produced several animated videos for this project, including 2D and 3D videos. The tools we used were fairly complicated, and each video needed to visually explain each tool to our targeted actuaries in the insurance industry. 

At the beginning of the project, we sat down with their team to explain what we needed and provided background information. From there, SQUEEZED developed the script and storyboard for us to approve — occasionally, our team developed scripts for them to storyboard. 

Everything SQUEEZED created fits within our branding — each video has consistent visual elements. Our goal was to ensure that if a user saw one video in a suite, it wouldn't feel out of place from others we've published. However, when we needed videos with different visual elements, SQUEEZED delivered. For example, they created a 3D video that we used as a 40-second introduction at a conference that was unique to everything else we have in our video suite. SQUEEZED had diverse offerings; they could provide a lot of different video options. 

What is the team composition?

We've worked with several teammates from SQUEEZED over the years. For this project, we worked with a project manager and a team of 6–7, including animators, a managing director, and an account manager. 

How did you come to work with SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD?

Initially, a salesperson from SQUEEZED contacted me to tell me about their offerings. At the time, I was looking for a firm to do video production for us and liked the salesperson's messaging. Usually, we keep 2–3 agencies on retainer and choose between what projects need to be done. 

I invited SQUEEZED's salesperson to come into my office to discuss a partnership with me. I didn't need videos produced at that time, but one of my teammates did need animation assistance, so I connected them to SQUEEZED. Later, I brought them on board to redo a video I'd started with another agency. I liked the storyboards SQUEEZED developed and expanded their scope of work to include more animated videos. We've been working together since then. 

How much have you invested in them?

We've invested around $100,000 with SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD since June 2017, and our partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything SQUEEZED produced for us has gone live on our website. I don't have specific metrics, but I am satisfied with their work. SQUEEZED always stays within budget, barely exceeding the initial project quote they've provided. I've always been happy with their cost and turnaround times. There is nothing that SQUEEZED produced that I haven't used — they consistently produce top-quality deliverables. 

How did SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD perform from a project management standpoint?

SQUEEZED provides me with a quote and project timeline before every project. We have processes to ensure that projects are managed well — SQUEEZED's project manager is excellent. At the beginning of each project, I provide them with written information about the project via email. Then, we follow up with phone calls with the animator and project manager to ensure we're all on the same page with the style and storyboard. I then receive the storyboard via an online tool to review it and add comments. Usually, I receive video proofs via Vimeo, and then we exchange feedback again in a written format. Approval can take some time, mainly because our internal protocols are incredibly complex. 

The project manager is my main point of contact, but other teammates check in with me regularly. Every Friday, I receive an email from the account manager outlining our current projects and where each project sits in the production chain. I appreciate the level of service I'm receiving. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I continue to work with SQUEEZED because they understand our business well and are creative — they're not bound by a single way of thinking. I never want our videos to look like other brands, and SQUEEZED's team is excellent at creating unique, branded animated videos within our creative boundaries. 

SQUEEZED's team has taken the time to understand our business to ensure they deliver what we want on the first try. If something isn't right, they're open to feedback and make cost-effective changes and decisions to ensure deliverables meet our requirements. SQUEEZED always tries to find solutions to fit within our budget. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

At the beginning of our partnership, we didn't have a great project manager, which caused a lot of hassle. However, as soon as I raised the issue, SQUEEZED swapped out the project manager. We also had some problems with an animator getting ahead on animation before I signed off on the storyboard, but SQUEEZED picked up the cost for that. There are always aspects of a partnership that can be handled differently, but there isn't anything I'm particularly unhappy with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to know what they want to achieve from the partnership and lay out their creative boundaries in broad terms. However, it's also important for customers not to limit themselves creatively because SQUEEZED is a specialist who can develop great ideas. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m head of design studio at an end-to-end innovation and transformation company, and we create, build, and deliver different types of work in both public and private sectors. We have about 3,500 employees with offices in Europe and USA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD?

We needed help in corporate and brand communications through animated and film videos.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We are using SQZD for corporate and brand communications. They have helped us respond to bids in innovative way by articulating our proposal in a video format. SQZD have also supported some of our innovation package launches. 

We send SQZD to a client’s locations or to one of our offices, where they’ll set up and film videos. However, we’ve also used their studio in Central London. Their videos are usually published on our company website and YouTube.

SQZD offer all aspects of film production; including briefing, production schedule, animation, scripting, audio editing, and post-production work. In addition, they also secure licenses for images. They also handle various logistical tasks related to COVID-19 safety precautions.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked regularly with the agency owner, an account manager, and motion designers directly.

How did you come to work with SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD?

I knew them from my previous company. 

What is the status of the engagement?

We’ve started working together in September 2019, and our partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SQUEEZED MEDIA’s ability to tell a very complex story in a 90-second animation has helped us win bids. Their work resonates with everyone, from senior leadership to influencers. With their help, we’ve elevated our brand communication and increased our sales opportunities. 

How did SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD perform from a project management standpoint?

SQUEEZED MEDIA has been excellent in communication and sticking to the schedule and budget — I give them a 10 out of 10. When something hasn’t gone smoothly for whatever reason, it only takes a short conversation with their management team to fix issues in a fast timeframe. We collaborate through phone calls, Microsoft Teams, Zoom calls and in-person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

SQUEEZED MEDIA consistently facilitates great communication with the videos they produce, whether it’s a proposal, a sales video, or a tailored one for a client. They adapt to our needs and have a great understanding of our mission and digital identity. They’re focused on solving problems — the videos they do for us are true to our purpose and brand. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Be open in your communication and specific with your project requirements. Trust SQUEEZED MEDIA to deliver because they're incredibly talented — their motion graphics animation is second to none.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Business Director, part of a Healthcare team within Havas London

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD, and what were your goals?

We needed to bring to life the story of a cancer patient in a way that was visually interesting and engaging. It's not a 'happy' topic but we needed to bring some joy to it, some charm. We also needed our audience to relate to the character and the story he was telling, and to want to watch further.

SOLUTION

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

We reviewed the reels of a number of agencies and spoke with a couple, before deciding that SQZD had just the right animation/production skills, but also - importantly a team who seemed genuinely interested and excited in the project, who also wanted to create the best work possible.

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

We worked closely with SQZD and our creative director to get the right look for the film, the right treatment. We also brought the client along on each stage of the journey, to ensure the process was as transparent and as collaborative as possible When on the phone with the client, the SQZD team were extremely professional.

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

We worked most closely with Jack Perri (project manager) and Sean Mullins (animator). We agreed and worked to a schedule - we delivered feedback on dates promised, and they delivered the updated films also on schedule - altogether a very well run project with few slippages.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The film is a big success with the client and is often shown as meetings as an example of best practice. They are still pushing the film to their local market teams, and everyone who is introduced to it is impressed. A happy client = a happy agency!

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

Jack created detailed timelines for us, and wasn't put out when having to revise them due to client slippages. The whole SQZD team was extremely good at sticking to timing and pushing us for feedback when it was due.

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

They genuine enthusiasm for the project and a real desire to create the best possible animation for us/our client.

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

There were the usual queries on costs when scope changed (due to client changes) but this is part and parcel of any project I believe.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My position is Director - Sport & Entertainment, I work with brands, agencies and rights holders to produce content that enables them to activate sponsorship and engage with their audiences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD, and what were your goals?

The British Council needed to produce a series of videos to attract oversea students to come and study in the UK.

SOLUTION

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

They were professional, nimble, efficient, and really creative.

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

Working with Squeezed we cast, shot, animated, directed and storyboarded a suite of stills and video content that enabled them to engage students from predominantly Asia to come and study in the UK.

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

I worked with the whole team at Squeezed led by Rich.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The British Council were delighted with the content we produced.

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

I liked the fact they were able to scale up to a bigger team for the production, but they were small enough to be nimble and react when we need them. Often working with bigger companies they can be slow. Also their roster of creatives can handle everything from shooting video to animation.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Worked with the Squeezed team on a number of instore video production projects. Highly professional, dynamic and trustworthy. Would recommend to anyone looking for instore video production.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SQUEEZED MEDIA LTD, and what were your goals?

Needed strong selline materials via instore videos.

SOLUTION

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

Engaged Squeezed media

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

Squeezed understood our brief and delivered to a timely manner, very flexible during the editing phase.

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

Strong processes and delivery

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Great output in front of the customer

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

Good project management style

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

The team was fast-paced, highly capable and flexible.

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

No areas for improvement.