Taylor Design

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and communications for a nonprofit education and human services organization.

Our primary service is therapeutic education school and residential treatment for children with special needs. We also operate community programs such as summer camps and outdoor education for school groups.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Taylor Design?

We wanted to develop a new website and make it mobile-friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They fully re-imagined our website based on our need for a mobile-friendly format and improved user experience. First, we determined the traffic to the existing website and what our audience would benefit from on our new website. They built off our existing brand identity to develop their designs.

What is the team composition?

Dan (President/Creative Director) was very involved. We also worked with a senior art director, a designer, and a developer. 

How did you come to work with Taylor Design?

We had been on their direct mail list for several years. There was a particular mailing that featured a project that really resonated with me, so I decided to call them. 

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $75,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2017 until early-2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s easy to track the analytics of the site. Their design met all of our needs. It segments our business so that it is easier for users to find what they need. We also get a lot of compliments on our website. The design is up-to-date and works well for us. 

How did Taylor Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They are well structured, professional, and accessible. It was a great working relationship; very collaborative. We were always able to address things about the project that didn’t work for us, and they would come up with great alternatives. They’re there for us when we need technical support or have any questions, even though the web design project is complete. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their web developer was top-notch, she can do anything. I found their whole team to be creative and great to work with. They were also competitively priced and had experience working with our clients in our industry. 

I would also say I give them a lot of credit for grace under fire. They had to make a presentation to our board without me there. The board only wanted to talk to them. Dan was as cool as a cucumber. I think I recall that a couple of awkward questions came up during that presentation, but Dan handled it well. He's diplomatic, smart, and forthcoming. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I didn’t see any deficiencies in our relationship. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

It’s important to be a good client and be thoughtful about your own needs before you start discussing them with a vendor. It’s also helpful to listen when they’re providing advice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a national nonprofit in the community improvement space. I’m the director of communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Taylor Design?

They’ve been working with us since before I came onboard doing promotional material design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aside from the brochures they do, we work an annual review every year. They do pretty much everything for the brochures other than the copy, which I provide. Being a grassroots nonprofit, we mostly source photos from volunteers submitted to our chapters around the country. We have an organic process; we’re not buying stock photos or anything like that. I also don’t go to external sources to write pieces about us. It’s a ground-up project that they’ve always been true partners in. Having worked for us for a long time, they know us and the nature of who we serve.

Initially, it was a purely print product, but it’s since migrated and we actually did a solely online product with an accompanying PDF in 2012. Then, we moved back to a more traditional layout so we went to an interactive PDF with 3D capabilities. Primarily, they design it in a print format.

What is the team composition?

Their agency isn’t really big, but we work with Dan (Principal). Because of our longstanding relationship we’ve worked with a number of people over the years, as well as for a number of other projects. I usually work with an individual for a 2-3-year span before they move or go on elsewhere.

How did you come to work with Taylor Design?

When Dan started the business, he was subletting space from an architectural firm whose owner’s wife worked for our nonprofit.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $250,000 in total with them, including other pieces beyond the annual brochure.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since April 2002.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work for us has been recognized by an annual award competition for corporate pieces. Our development team really liked the piece from 2018, too. Externally, it’s been our primary sales tool as well. It really provides an overview of what we do.

How did Taylor Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Being at a non-profit where you have to do a lot of things, they’ve been patient and kind with their management. It’s not been particularly managed from our side but they’ve been great about letting things float regardless of their workload. They’re always really flexible even though they have other clients beside us. They put in extra time for us as well. Whether it’s revisions or rethinking things, they’ll go through the process with us, even on the fly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Generally, we do the same things year-in and year-out. We have the same programs and the same kind of overview. Personally, it’s been a challenge to come up with something new and they’ve approached every year like we have a fresh slate. And it’s not just the one designer. We’ve had situations where they’ve had staff pitch in to do an origami insert as a creative tool or pose for photos. They do whatever it takes to make it a special thing for us every year. It’s a very personal project for both sides that’s done like a family-owned business. We have a partnership or friendship approach.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could keep me more on schedule and put their fist down a little. They do it in their polite way, though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be explicit with them. There aren’t a lot of specifics in what we’re signing off on, but I think that’s specific to our relationship with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, a plaintiffs law firm with multiple offices in Connecticut.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Taylor Design?

Design and development a new responsive website, moving away from the template-based one from a previous vendor

What were your goals for this project?

User-friendly; content management system; responsive.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Local service provider with stellar portfolio; responsive management and design team

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Website design, development, coding

What was the team composition?

Full agency focus

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Much easier to add and change content, add new pages, posts in order to remain top-of-mind with lawyers and consumers.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Perfect project management

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Responsiveness; I appreciated their get-it-done attitude

Are there any areas for improvement?

No