Substance

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Communications Specialist for Park Ridge-Niles School District 64. D64 has five elementary schools, two middle schools and a preschool. Our District serves more than 4,300 students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were launching new websites for our schools but needed new logos to go along with each school. Some of our logos hadn't been touched in decades, while some were clip art.

We wanted to create a unified visual identity so that a person could tell when looking at the logo it belonged with the other seven. Additionally, we wanted each school to maintain its own identity but desperately needed modernization and uniformity amongst our logos.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I compiled a list of more than 20 different companies that specialized in branding and started comparing them. I loved Substance's previous work and found it easily accessible to view. They also had a great website that described exactly what they did and what they were about. Matthew's pitch is what blew me away. I had interviews with a handful of other companies before choosing Substance, and his pitch was incredible.

He understood the scope of the project. He asked thoughtful questions, and his presentation was incredibly organized. From the beginning, I trusted him and his team and knew I would be taken care of. Matthew and Substance also took out any guesswork or uncertainty that I might have had while searching for a company to help. He meticulously went through all of the details and made sure I had a plan that was easy to follow.

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

To start, I had an interview with Matthew to review our District's goals and the best way to accomplish them. I gave him some notes, and then Substance went to work.

• Step 1: Substance then put together a proposal. Not only did they pitch new logos but gave consideration to how all of your school logos can connect visually.

This may be through drawing style, typography, color, or containing shapes. Substance knew the importance to have the logos rendered in such a way that they can be applied to a variety of materials including school spirit wear.

• Step 2: Substance began rendering of logos and cleaned up some of the ones we already liked.
• Step 3: Together we came up with questions to ask our stakeholders, which in this case was our building admin teams.
• Step 4: Substance took that feedback and came up with the first round of rough drafts.
• Step 5: I met with Substance to review the logos' initial renderings. Each logo was created with the feedback I gave him, plus his own artistic flare.
• Step 6: I returned to our stakeholders and shared the initial logos with them. Afterwards, I shared with Matthew the very minimal changes we wanted on most of the logos. We tweaked colors and small details here and there. We did have a more comprehensive re-do of a rough draft but it was because we wanted to explore a different element.

Substance was extremely patient and not only went back and reworked the logo but they were able to capture what we wanted despite me not being able to properly voice what that looked like. This showcased their ability to problem solve, adjust on the fly, and help us through our own internal design conversations.

Step 7: Final approval of school logos and they were delivered to me in all the formats we needed: .eps, jpeg, color, black and white, and without typography. Substance also provided an extremely helpful style guide which outlined color and typography parameters. I'm sure I missed some steps in there but Matthew/Substance made sure I was never waiting on him. The constance check-ins and updates made this all a breeze.

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

I worked directly with Matthew Brett, the Founder and Creative Director of Substance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The outcome was even better than I could've imagined. The logos all look terrific and are the cornerstone of our new websites. They checked every box we wanted, and now we have a set of beautifully unique logos that also fit the same style as each other. I have received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on how great the logos look.

Matthew and Substance's work will serve our District well for many years and, in turn, will serve our community and students well. Not only have I been able to utilize the logos in my communication efforts, but it's also been fantastic to see our schools buy into the updates. Within a few weeks, I've already seen the logos added to staff publications, email signatures, newsletters, and even a fun lesson. They are proud to rep these new looks!

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

Substance's weekly emails and zoom meetings to discuss big updates were perfect. I wouldn't of changed a thing in their communication style or output. I always knew where we stood in the process and what was next, as well as what he needed from me to make sure things were going smoothly.

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

Substance was the perfect fit because of their ability to carry out a vision and passion for helping nonprofits. We received A+ design work but also elite level communication and organization. Substance also made us feel like the most important thing they had going on, despite whatever other projects they had on their plate at the time.

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

I wouldn't of changed a thing. I am grateful for Substance's vision and that they decided to take on such a big task.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing and Enrollment of a School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a Catholic CPK-8 IB World School.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Rebrand
• Create new logo

SOLUTION

How did you find Substance?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Substance over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• 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.

• Logo and visual identity 
• Website reskinning 
• Interior/exterior signage 
• Style guide 
• Stationary template

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our community was very happy with our new logo, signage and branding. It helped us modernize and reset our message.

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

Items were delivered on time and communication was excellent. It was clear Substance was listening to and understood our feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with Substance?

• In-Person Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their communication was excellent and so was their ability to understand our community and our target market.

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

None. They did a phenomenal job!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP - Corporate Communications of Advocus National Title Insurance Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Advocus is a title insurance underwriter and provider of educational programs for lawyers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Corporate rebrand

SOLUTION

How did you find Substance?

Referral

Why did you select Substance over others?

• 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 Substance were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We have worked with Substance for 10 years. Our most recent and significant project was a corporate rebrand. Substance guided us through the process of renaming the company, creating a new logo and brand guide, working with us on messaging, producing a short animation to promote the new name, redesigning business materials, and consulting on website design.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We hit project milestones on time, despite changing priorities, and a few curveballs along the way.

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

Substance is responsive, flexible, and completes deliverables on time. We have a long-term relationship, so they are especially good at reading situations, making good suggestions, and putting in the extra effort that is sometimes needed to customize materials for our needs.

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?

They approach work with the perfect blend of creativity, flexibility, and project management acumen.

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

No; zero complaints in 10+ years.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President, Growth and Operations.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a boutique social impact communications consultancy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Design work

SOLUTION

How did you find Substance?

Referral, Other

Why did you select Substance over others?

Referred to me

What was your primary form of communication with Substance?

Email or Messaging App

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

We requested Substance's support to develop web graphics and collateral materials on behalf of a client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• They produced all the materials we requested, on time on budget and on spec.

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

Substance is incredibly reliable. We have never had an issue with timeliness or project management with their team.

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

They are a wonderful collaborative partner - we love working with Substance!

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

None we can think of!