Steady Studio

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive Director of Austin Heights Business Improvement Association

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Austin Heights Business Improvement Association's mission is to support and promote businesses in Austin Heights, aesthetically improve the business district, keep it safe and clean and connect businesses with each other and the community at large.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Steady Studio to accomplish?

• To create a unique label design
• Elevate our brand recognition
• Stand out from other similar products

SOLUTION

How did you find Steady Studio?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Steady Studio over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Steady Studio were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We asked Steady Studio to create a unique design for the label of a custom brew. Our primary objective was to have a design that was reflective of our commercial area and stood out from other similar products.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The design project needed to be in keeping with our organization's branding; utilize our brand colours, logo and fonts. Additionally, the design needed to include a rendering of a new symbolic landmark in our area, and celebrate it's installation.

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

Ryan and his partner, Rachel, at Steady Studio excelled with their communication throughout the project. From the beginning they asked clear and concise questions to ensure that they understood exactly what our vision for the design was. They provided timely drafts of the design, and were quick to revise and edit it according to our feedback, while working diligently to ensure we were thrilled with the final design. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances the timeline for the project was compressed, but the Steady team delivered a beautiful polished product on time that not only met, but exceeded expectations!

What was your primary form of communication with Steady Studio?

• In-Person Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

While there is much that is impressive about the Steady Studio team, I would have to say that their dedication to making sure they deliver a product that exceeds their client's expectations would have to be number one. Their custom service is beyond fantastic!

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

I have thought critically about this question and come back to the same answer, which is no, there is not anything I would suggest they improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Project Coordinator

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Architectural services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Steady Studio to accomplish?

• Update and improve the company website
• Create an appealing display of our work to draw in potential customers and employees

SOLUTION

How did you find Steady Studio?

Referral

Why did you select Steady Studio over others?

Pricing fit our budget, Good value for cost, Referred to me, Company values aligned

What was the size of Steady Studio’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

We wanted our website to be updated, modernized, and turned into an immersive experience for the visitor, showcasing our work. We are a full-service design house and want to show this. The website reflects us and is an extension of the work we do with our clients. Key deliverables were the re-design of the website, modernization, and turning it into a portfolio piece.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• The look and use of the website, how quickly Steady Studio responded to our modification requests. They understood the assignment and brought us a great new look.

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

They were amazing at letting us know what is possible, always looked for ways to make our requests happen, and made sure we were always aware of any changes and updates. Great communication.

What was your primary form of communication with Steady Studio?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

We appreciated their effective communication and friendliness.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Kinder Books

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Kinder Books is an independent children's bookstore.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Steady Studio to accomplish?

• Formulate our mission and vision
• Update our logo
• Rebrand our company (see above and more)

SOLUTION

How did you find Steady Studio?

Referral

Why did you select Steady Studio over others?

High ratings, Close to my geographic location, Great culture fit, Good value for cost, Referred to me, Company values aligned

What was the size of Steady Studio’s team?

2-5 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with Steady Studio?

Virtual Meeting

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

Steady Studio assisted us in updating our brand story and visual identity including logo design, branding, marketing messages, vision and mission. We appreciate the high quality and professionalism of Ryan's and Rachael's work. Work was delivered in a timely manner. We loved that we were fully included in this process with our ideas and business experience. The work they created was very unique and fully suited our needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• refreshed logo and website to suit our new store
• our brand is now widely recognized
• traffic on our website has increased

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

What I liked most about working together with Steady Studio that they were active listeners and that they delivered on time, the process was easy and smooth. We appreciated working with such experienced professionals and at the same time we enjoyed the personal connection they added to their work.

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

The communication, clarity and translation of our ideas into the end design, which is very unique.

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

I can't really think of anything. Everything in the process and result fulfilled our expectations. Even above our expectations!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Cima Mechanical Limited

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are Plumbing, heating and gas contractors serving customers looking to build, renovate or service their homes or businesses in the lower mainland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Steady Studio to accomplish?

• Create a brand story
• Re-fresh/Re-create a Logo
• Create a website

SOLUTION

How did you find Steady Studio?

Referral

Why did you select Steady Studio over others?

Close to my geographic location, Great culture fit, Good value for cost, Referred to me, Company values aligned

What was the size of Steady Studio’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Steady Studio was hired to generate a brand story and image based on getting to know me and my business. Ryan and Rachel strategically questioned me to help them put into words and visuals exactly how i wanted my business to be seen. Once we finished a brand story and had some depth to the brand they were able to put together some new logo designs. With the history of the company and my background we were able to thoughtfully land on a logo that we thought reflected both.

With the new logo they were able to put together brand guidelines which included colours, logos, fonts and more. At this point we had a solid foundation where they were able to build a website based off of everything they had created thus far. They used photos from a photoshoot that they orchestrated as filler for the website along with some of our photos from past projects. At this point, with a new brand story, new logo, new website launch, they are now helping out with a social media launch, crafting photos and templates for me to use going forward.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• A new brand story that does a good job of representing the company
• A new logo
• A new website

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

Ryan and Rachel had great project management. They were able to find out my needs as a business from our first meetings, create a schedule based on those needs in an orderly fashion and with each goal reached we were able to seamlessly step into the new goal. They adapted with my changes and my needs as a business owner to make sure i had exactly what i needed from them.

What was your primary form of communication with Steady Studio?

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

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

We were impressed with the personal connection when working with them. They wanted to get to know what our company was all about before they attempted to describe it and create an image of it. Throughout the project, always friendly and always wanting to help me get what i needed out of our purchase even if it meant more work was required on their end

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

Possibly making a connection with a lawyer or other contacts in the respective trade who can make sure that the names, messages and everything in is up to par before launching - not their responsibility as a branding business but would have helped me out

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Financial Planner of Young Family Financial Group

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Financial planning services including investment, retirement and insurance solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Steady Studio to accomplish?

• Establish our brand
• Order marketing materials

SOLUTION

How did you find Steady Studio?

Referral

Why did you select Steady Studio over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• Other

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

Collaborative creation of the brand story, mission and vision statement, and values. A variety of mood boards to choose brand colour scheme, layout, font and overall brand feel. Logo redesign with different color coordination's to choose from. Brand collaterals such as business cards, file folders, presentation folders, PowerPoint template, excel spreadsheet template, client discovery document, letterheads and envelopes. A complimentary window graphic design. Communication between vendors and price comparisons. Fast and efficient email communication and meeting times.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Visual designs

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

Items were mostly delivered on time. There was a large scope of work to be delivered so it took a little longer than usual or expected. Email communication was always fast and efficient. They were also very accommodating to meet within one week.

What was your primary form of communication with Steady Studio?

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

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

Ryan's ability to understand, capture and recap information given to him about the brand. Rachel's beautiful design work.

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

Some deliverables could have been discussed in more detail prior to design. Look over the scope of work to ensure everything was attended to.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Eeva Solutions; we’re a new SaaS startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Steady Studio?

Since we were a new startup, we didn’t have a logo, branding colors, or branding guidelines. We needed an agency to help build our visual brand identity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Steady Studio has delivered our visual brand identity, including our logo, brand guidelines, and color scheme. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with two team members from Steady Studio, including Ryan (Founder & Creative Director), our main point of contact, and Rachael (Director), who worked on the design front. 

How did you come to work with Steady Studio?

We found Steady Studio on Clutch. While I enjoyed speaking with them, I chose another company because Steady Studio couldn’t accommodate our desired start date. However, our other engagement didn’t work out because I wasn’t pleased with the deliverables, so I reached back out to Steady Studio. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested less than $10,000 in the partnership with Steady Studio.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Steady Studio from June–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Steady Studio delivered everything we asked, and their work was much better than the previous company. They created documents and assets that really benefitted our growth as a startup. We were particularly impressed with the logo they created; they hit the nail on the head. 

We haven’t launched our website yet, so we don’t have much to share in terms of metrics. However, we’ve incorporated our new brand identity into our internal documents, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Team members have commented on how professional the brand looks, and we’re thrilled with the results.

How did Steady Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Steady Studio managed the project well. Although we didn’t have a fixed deadline, they were timely and accommodated my preferences when I asked them to prioritize certain tasks. They submitted deliverables through Dropbox, and we met weekly via Zoom and communicated via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were most impressed by Rachael and Ryan’s commitment to our project. We had a great rapport from the beginning, but I’m not very artistic, so I struggled to translate the design goals that lived in my head. The team took the time to understand our goals and what I was trying to communicate from a design perspective. They asked the right questions to get to the core of our design ideas and ultimately created innovative visuals that worked for our brand.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I shared this with Steady Studio, but the off-boarding experience could’ve been more structured. I’d have appreciated a final meeting to go over everything rather than reviewing the deliverables via email. We also had a three-hour time difference, which made it difficult to schedule appointments, but that’s not their fault.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise you to gather inspiration and reference points for what you’re looking for and be clear about what you like and dislike. As long as you communicate openly and clearly, Steady Studio will listen and deliver what you ask.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and director of a property management company based in Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Steady Studio?

We needed help with our branding strategy, including logo, proposal, mission and vision, trademark, and website creation, among other things.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial interview with Steady Studio to discuss our expectations. We gave them all the information they required about our company. Afterward, they conducted focus groups and came up with a proposal.

What was the team composition?

We worked mainly with two people, although more people were involved.

How did you come to work with Steady Studio?

We did some research. In the process, we met someone who had worked with Steady Studio. We liked the work they did for them, so we decided to contact them and work together.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent about $7,000 CAD (approximately $5,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We world with them from June–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve just finished the project, so it’s a bit early to see the results. In general, the feedback has been great. We like the look and feel, and we’ve received excellent feedback from the people who have seen the site. Moreover, we launched the site a couple of days ago and have had about 500 visits. We’re happy with the results.

How did Steady Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a tight deadline, and they met it. In fact, we asked them to accelerate the deadline we established initially.

For communication, we had weekly meetings where they’d present us with several options on colors, logos, and so on. We were involved throughout the process; we had in-person and online meetings and used Dropbox, SharePoint, and other tools.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication skills were excellent, which was very important for us. They took the time to understand our business and needs, which was evident in the results. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they hit all the marks.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have an open mind and be willing to hear their proposal. They’re great professionals — if you allow them, they’ll come up with the best results for you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a premium bbq/grill brand that turns get-togethers into grill-togethers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

My brand was less than one year old and growing very quickly. I required help with establishing a solid brand foundation, website refresh, and a communication strategy across our digital platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have over 15 years of experience vetting, selecting, and working with agencies, and it was refreshing to find a team that truly immersed themselves in our brand/business would personally work on our project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

After several meetings including brand exploration sessions, Steady Studio was able to provide a clear visual gameplan for my brand and outline the process and phases to achieve the goals.

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

I worked directly with the two principals.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The projects were executed on time and on budget, allowing us to focus on the marketing and sales push. With a clearer message and brand promise, we surpassed our Q4-2021 sales goals by over 50%.

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

Steady Studio has their communication dialed in and they're flexible to your needs as a client by utilizing tools/platforms that make decision making processes easier.

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

Steady Studio genuinely takes the time to understand your business and most importantly to understand the needs of the end-users (your customers).

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

Not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and president of August Marketing Studio, a boutique marketing and social media agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

August Marketing Studio is a fast growing digital agency that was looking for a professional company to complete a brand update, from logo design to brand overview.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Steady Studio was recommended to me by one of my clients, who was thrilled with their work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Steady Studio started with an in-depth brand overview to get to know my business and goals. They then completed an initial presentation with three different directions for the brand as an initial step in the format of a mood board. From there a direction was chosen, and then a similar process repeated with several logo options presented. This process iterated through to the brand assets and then to the final brand overview process.

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

I worked directly with Rachael and Ryan, the Studio Directors.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With the completion of this project, August Marketing Studio now has the fun, and professional look and branding that will be used on social media and our website.

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

We had weekly progress meetings and updates via email along the way.

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

I loved working with Rachael and Ryan and was consistently impressed how they could take my goals and vision for my company and translate this into the design and logo process. The finished project far surpassed my expectations!

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

I was absolutely thrilled with the process working with Ryan and Rachael at Steady Studio!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) is a Business Acceleration Campus located in Toronto. We train and educate entrepreneurs from all over the world. My name is Elizabeth Dobkin, I am the Communications Coordinator for YEDI.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Steady Studio?

We hired Steady Studio for our company Brand Story + Visual Identity. We are also currently in the process of re-doing our website with Steady Studio as well.

SOLUTION

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

We met with 15 different companies, after many conversations we felt that Steady Studio understood our mission and what our messaging should be.

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

Steady Studio started us off with a kick-off meeting where they got to know YEDI and the people who are a part of YEDI. Afterwards, we began the process of Brand Story + Visual Identity. We had mood board meetings to better identify what we wanted to see for the Brand Story + Visual Identity. When we began the selection process for the logo, Steady Studio was very patient and worked well with us throughout.

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

We worked with Ryan Lawrie and Rachael Lambert, both directors at Steady Studio.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are so happy with our new logo and brand story. We were able to create beautiful artwork and messaging for our new programs and events that we are hosting for our entrepreneurs. We have gotten many compliments about our new look. It's much easier for us to relay our mission with our new brand story.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Ryan and Rachael were absolutely incredible to work with. They always answered our inquiries quickly and with great detail. We stayed on our original schedule and were able to launch our rebranding right on time.

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

Their warm, personable attitude and willingness to actively listen in order to fully understand what we want. Their copy writing talent and story telling abilities are exceptional. Our whole team was very impressed with them, and the final product exceeded our expectations.

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

Nothing! They're great.