Substance

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the Director of Communications for a national think tank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Substance?

UX/ UI, web design, web development, social media campaign

SOLUTION

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

Professionalism, high-quality project management, ability to hit milestones and deadlines, knowledge of the industry, creativity, and design experience.

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

Three month scoping and build process for a new website to promote a new book.

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

I worked with Matthew B. and his lead web builder.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We successfully engaged over 100 authors of the book, and we achieved over 800 new email subscriptions in the first month.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent.

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

Adaptive to our changing needs, creative and solutions-oriented, excellent communications.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Co-Founder of our family nonprofit, which provides scholarship support for first in family college students from small towns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Substance?

Substance created our first website in about 2007. Matt re-built our website in 2022, moving us to a more current host and new formats.

SOLUTION

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

We were referred to them during my last corporate assignment in the Chicago area. And we returned to them from our current home in Montana because of the professional and personal relationships that they offer us.

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

During several discussions and material exchanges, they began re-creating site pages. The process was actually very easy for us, because they understand and appreciate our focus and needs.

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

I actually do not know that. My contact and partner has always been Matt.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since notifying our donor base of the new site, the accolades for look and simplicity have been very rewarding. In addition, our applicants have found the site much easier and warm. And, with the new platform, updating the site for 2023 was simply a quick email to Matt.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Simple, quick and fun!

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

We loved our working relationship with Substance — they felt like a true partner.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and health care providers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Substance to accomplish?

• Design magazines, annual reports, and other marketing materials
• Turn simple Word documents into visual, compelling marketing materials
• Create infographics, charts, and other graphics as needed

SOLUTION

How did you find Substance?

• Referral
• Word of mouth

Why did you select Substance over others?

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

How many teammates from Substance were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

At the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, we’re proud to offer a variety of digital magazines to our community. For each project, the scope of work is as follows: 

1. Content Planning: We at the PFF provide articles and images in simple Word documents and JPEG/PNG files. 
2. Design Concept: Substance reviews all documents and strategize a design 
3. Cover Design: Substance will advise on covers. We typically receive 3 layouts to choose from. 
4. Page Layout: Substance will design and layout all 24 pages, ensuring a consistent and cohesive visual style throughout. They integrate graphics, images, and typography to enhance the overall visual appeal of each page. 
5. Image Selection and Editing: Substance will conduct any necessary image editing or enhancement to ensure optimal quality and alignment with the overall design. 
6. Proofing and Revisions: After the PFF reviews drafts, Substance will accommodate any feedback or revisions. 
7. Printing Preparation: Substance will prepare the final files for printing, ensuring they meet the necessary specifications and quality standards. 
8. Delivery: Once fully approved, Substance delivers the final files to the PFF.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We deliver roughly 20,000 magazines to our community via the Breathe Bulletin and the Registry Report, which increases our engagement with the community we serve. Further, our online Annual Report is available to everyone, which demonstrates the PFF's transparency, further creating trust among our constituents.

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

The communication throughout each project is always seamless. Substance is very responsive, receptive to feedback, and consistently meet our project deadlines.

What was your primary form of communication with Substance?

Email or Messaging App

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

From the get-go, Substance has always demonstrated a deep understanding of design. Their ability to transform simple Word documents into colorful, stunning, page-turning magazine spreads truly set them apart from previous agencies we’ve worked with. I also really appreciate their recommendations about design concepts, as well as explanations about why they chose a certain design route. 

While we may provide initial ideas about our vision at the beginning of each project, Substance uses their expertise to provide guidance on what designs work best for each unique project, which, in turn, provides us with exceptional materials.

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

None that I can think of! They are a joy to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Communications Officer of Ascend at the Aspen Institute

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ascend at the Aspen Institute is a catalyst and convener for diverse leaders working across systems and sectors to build intergenerational family prosperity and well-being by intentionally focusing on children and the adults in their lives together.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Substance to accomplish?

• Design our multimedia "Tapping the Talent of Student Parents" Playbook
• Design graphics and a print version of our "'We Are Here Too': Who Are the 1 Million Fathers in College?" chartbook

SOLUTION

How did you find Substance?

Referral

Why did you select Substance over others?

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

How many teammates from Substance were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work provided across these two projects included: creation of digital graphics; creation of a bespoke, modular webpage on our organization's existing website; creation of print and digital versions of two publications and a print one-pager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both Ascend's "Tapping the Talent of Student Parents" Playbook and the 'We Are Here Too': Who Are the 1 Million Fathers in College?" chartbook -- in their totalities and in regard to their individual components -- have received significant digital engagement (views, downloads) and feedback from our community.

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

Substance's first project with Ascend, the Playbook, was set against a tight timeline and hectic period for our organization. It was a true test of the company's project management and ultimately showed how efficient and thoughtful their approach is. Within just a handful of weeks, Substance worked with us to deliver a custom webpage, print one-pager, and digital publication -- all in time to be shared at a significant event.

What was your primary form of communication with Substance?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Substance's ability to work against tight deadlines is very impressive, and I have appreciated their project management abilities and partnership approach in engaging feedback from our organization.

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

I appreciate that Substance has always been willing to listen to and incorporate feedback from multiple team members at our organization, including updating designs to allow for more creativity or updating publications to allow for greater flexibility.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Principal of Aleen Bayard Inc. Transformative Consulting

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

I offer leadership and organizational development consulting to for and non-profit organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Substance to accomplish?

• Gather client feedback to help articulate my brand promise.
• Create an effective and actionable SEO strategy to promote my site.
• Develop a catchy and memorable web site.
• Provide strategic counsel on how to market my new practice.

SOLUTION

How did you find Substance?

Referral

Why did you select Substance over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Substance were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Matt was the quarterback for the development and launch of two of my consulting practices: initially as I went to market under the brand MarketZing and later when I repositioned as a leadership consultant using my own name (per his market research findings). In both cases, the SOW included client interviews, naming, SEO strategy, brand/identity concepting, web design and social media support (LinkedIn, Twitter). His team included an experienced copywriter as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In both of these major projects, the ultimate deliverable was a live web site. I continue to received very positive feedback about my site (www.aleenbayard.com) and I have been told the design and content help to differentiate me from the thousands of other consultants in my field. That's a game changer!

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

Matt's team is incredibly responsive. They have excellent project management skills in terms of initiating contact and responding to questions. Matt is always a phone call away.

What was your primary form of communication with Substance?

In-Person Meeting

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

VERY clever creative. My brand truly represents me and brings my qualities to life. Matt is a true partner. He is wholly invested in a client's success. He is able to professionally challenge ideas and offer solutions that leverage the client's contribution to the process. It is really satisfying to work with Matt and any colleague he brings to the table.

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

Nada. Flawless in every way.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the marketing & communications director for Nourishing Hope, a Chicago nonprofit providing food and social services to any Chicagoan in need.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Substance to guide us through the rebrand of our then 52-year-old organization, Lakeview Pantry. Our rebrand efforts were paused during the pandemic, and we needed to essentially reboot the project. We needed to establish a new name, brand and visual identity to unlock our growth as an organization.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected this vendor after conducting a RFP process and determining Substance was the best fit for our needs and our organization.

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

Substance facilitated initial meetings with our rebrand committing, comprising staff and board members. Then began the work of workshopping hundreds of names, whittling down the list through robust conversation. Once we settled on the name, Substance guided us through a similar process with the visual identity. Substance's approach was rigorous and top-notch throughout. They provided us with comprehensive brand guidelines and all the assets we needed.

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

We worked with Matthew Brett, owner of Substance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our rebrand has received very positive feedback from staff, volunteers, donors and other community members. We've maintained increased philanthropic support even during a very challenging economic year with inflationary costs.

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

Matthew is calm, strategic, diplomatic, creative and graceful under pressure. He's collaborative and responds very well to feedback on the fly. He does an excellent job with change management. He was timely in delivering all expected assets and outcomes.

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

Substance seemed to really understand our organization and tap into the spirit of our community.

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

None come to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at a school district that serves 3,500 PreK-8th grade students. I've been the District's Director of Communications for eight years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Substance as part of our 2016 comprehensive branding process to create a consistent, high-quality graphic identity for our District and all of its schools. Over the years, we have returned to the company for additional logos and "tweaks" to the original work (for example, Spanish-language logos).

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Through a Request for Proposals process.

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

Substance working closely with us to understand our graphic identify goals and to provide a range of options for consideration by top leadership and our Board of Education. It also crafted unique school logos based on their existing mascots that tied into our overall District-wide branding.

Once the designs were complete, Substance provided the various logos in multiple formats, as well as a style guide. As mentioned above, over the years we have returned to Substance for updates, additions, and tweaks to the original work. All of it has been well executed and completed in a timely manner.

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

I worked directly with Matthew, Substance's owner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is difficult to identify quantitative metrics when measuring the success of a graphic identify. However, there is no question that the District now presents a professional "face" to families and the community. Because our schools are in multiple suburbs, one of our branding goals was to raise awareness about the fact that we are indeed one school district - and the beautifully aligned logos for schools and District itself helped clearly identify District schools throughout the community.

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

Matt was flexible, creative, and good natured about needed changes throughout the process. He was accessible and a great problem-solver.

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

It's creativity, accessibility, and flexibility. When I reached out, I always had Matt's full attention (still do!) - and when I brought a challenge/problem to his doorstep, he was thoughtful and specific in his response. Many consultants and vendors provide cookie-cutter solutions; Substance does not.

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

Not really!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder at elateus. We are an end-to-end Talent Management consultancy, using cutting edge behavioral analysis to drive ROI for mid and large sized companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had a website from our start-up and needed to upgrade to a premium site, similar in quality to the large multinationals we serve. Our goals focused on bringing our brand proposition to life in a clear, compelling way,

SOLUTION

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

We sought recommendations and then had 3 companies pitch from our briefing. Sustance had the best concept, and were very professional in all communications.

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

From concept we honed the brief with them. We showed them in detail our product and gave them experience of it. There were iterations of design concepts before a draft was built in WordPress. We reviewed and over time finalized. They showed us how to use the site if required.

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

3. Brand / designer Copywriter Web designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very happy with the site and have had great feedback from clients. We are proud to show it off. We have undertaken subsequent work with Substance, taking the web design through our other communications.

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

• Listening
• Proactive communication
• Respectful
• Creative
• Timely

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

Their design concepts and professionalism set them apart. Willing to work with us flexibly.

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

They could challenge us even more - if it's possible, perhaps a little too keen to please us!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and principal of a boutique strategy consulting firm that works with nonprofits on strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Rebrand for our professional services/consulting firm. We had a tough brief for the substance team: we wanted our new brand to feel highly sophisticated, yet playful, modern and unique. We also needed it to feel accessible and friendly to our clients, who are many of the country's largest nonprofits, yet carry the weight of a true expert firm.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After partnering with Matt and Substance on rebrands for several of our nonprofit clients (we led the research/strategy, they led the design), our strategy consulting firm chose them to lead our OWN rebrand because we know how amazing their work is.

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

Rebrand:

• logo
• visual identity
• graphics treatments
• materials design

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

We worked directly with their principal Matt.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

To say that Substance NAILED IT is a true understatement. We're so happy with our new brand identity and are having one of our best years as a business thanks in no small part to the new face they've helped us put forward into the world.

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

Because we had worked together quite a bit in the past, our communication was mostly direct (emails, calls) but efficient and effective. We did not use and did not require a project management system.

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

We were impressed by how they took seemingly conflicting directives and married them seamlessly into a unique brand. Their ability to digest and respond to feedback is also top notch.

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

None!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was Communications Manager at Forefront during our rebrand process

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Substance?

We needed to rebrand to remain relevant to our many constituencies. Our organization was founded in 1974 as “Donors Forum,” with that name reflecting our original grantmaker membership. Although we added nonprofit and advisor members over the years, the name remained the same. We had become a venerable, well-respected organization, but our name did not fully represent our evolved constituency, nor convey the breadth and critical nature of our work.

SOLUTION

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

We went through an extensive RFP and interview process. Matt's expertise and knowledge about the social sector shined through right away.

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

The rebranding was the final step in a thorough strategic planning process, which also resulted in new, succinct mission statement that capsulizes our work: Building a vibrant social sector in Illinois. The name Forefront reinforces the fact that our work – and the work of our Members – is leading the way, working with business, government, and others to build the social impact sector here in Illinois.

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

We worked directly with Matt, Substance's founder and main creative director. We loved the attention and care.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The rebrand absolutely changed the game for our organization in a way that I don't possess the words to express. It re-energized our staff, piqued interest from new members, and set us off well-positioned to build the vibrant social sector we're out here to build.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Outstanding, due in no small part to how affable and professional Matt is.

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

Engaging Substance turned out to be critically important for many reasons – the least of which is that an outside firm provides objectivity. Matt was so patient with us - it's not easy to rename an organization with 40 years of brand recognition and so many different opinions. Their ability to build relationships with stakeholders and manage this entire process was incredible.

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

Nope!