TokyoDex

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a real estate company. My department does project management for various clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TokyoDex?

I was involved with them for mainly two projects. Our client is a large IT company, and we were managing their new office build. TokyoDex are our consultants for these projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team was helping the client with artwork. They figured out what art the client wanted to put in the space, and then they coordinated with the actual artist.

In selecting the artist, the team at TokyoDex has the budget, information, and set timeline. They interviewed the client to figure out the artwork, and then they come up with proposals from various artists that will help the client with their selection. If the client wants to, they give feedback, and tweaks can be made.

For this client, a mural and a graphic sheet installation were designed.

We’re currently with them on another project. Their team also did work for our office.

What is the team composition?

I mainly dealt with Daniel (Creative Director) and two others from his team with the first project. We engaged with two or three artists. We’re currently working with two people from their main team and around five artists.  

How did you come to work with TokyoDex?

We knew about them for a while before deciding to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

For both projects, we’ve spent $275,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with their team started in May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team at TokyoDex is great. Sometimes, our clients can be difficult. It’s hard for them to express what they want for a space, but Daniel directs them to find their goals.

With the first project, the client was very pleased with the artwork. They’re really happy about the results, and that it was within budget. The artwork blends in well with their space.

How did TokyoDex perform from a project management standpoint?

When it comes to meetings and email communication, Daniel is very patient. He never gives up on his clients. He frequently asks questions, prompting the room for feedback. He wants to be clear about what the client wants.

What did you find most impressive about them?

TokyoDex works well with clients. Their strong communication makes engagements with other vendors seamless. Once we know what we’re putting into a space, they work well with contractors. They’re able to coordinate pieces of the project themselves. They even can check out safety issues within a space.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t really think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend having an initial meeting with TokyoDex. Get to know them really well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Code Chrysalis, a software engineering boot camp in Tokyo.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TokyoDex?

The space we were in had clinical white walls and didn’t reflect any kind of energy, so we wanted to add a few murals.

Our name is meant to signify a butterfly’s transformation from a cocoon. We wanted something that had to do with a butterfly. We also knew we wanted to incorporate our corporate colors and our slogan, ‘Re-engineer yourself.’ Other than that, we didn’t have any idea on how to go about the creative process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TokyoDex created two interior murals for us. We asked Daniel (Creative Director) to think about the creative process and find the right artists. He came up with some proposals that we chose from.

What is the team composition?

Daniel was involved initially. After that, a project manager helped us through the whole process.

How did you come to work with TokyoDex?

TokyoDex is big in the art scene here in Japan. We’ve known them for a while from the work that they do, but we never thought we’d be their customer. They’re known to work with large organizations and do really awesome stuff. I first met Daniel at a music festival in early 2000. We were both volunteering there, and I got to know him then.

When the opportunity arose, I spoke to Daniel about how we could add a few murals to our walls. He came up with a few proposals.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March–April 2020. The project took about a week for them to complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We can’t wait for the school to reopen because it’s an amazing space now. The energy that the space provides to us speaks for itself. I wondered if I'd made a big mistake in this investment, especially due to COVID-19; no one is going to see the space for a while. However, investing in this type of art is priceless. People who saw the space before don’t even know what happened. They’re wowed by the transformation.

We do almost all of our business calls and Zoom video calls in front of our murals because it oozes that much energy and power. During calls with local Japanese companies, some of them ask if we’re in San Francisco. The space gets a lot of comments.

How did TokyoDex perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re true professionals. They have worked with a major tech company, which shows the type of customers that they have. We must have been a really small customer for them, but that didn’t show in any way. Their artists were great. They left the place cleaner than we gave it to them. It was a real pleasure working with them.

Since we’re a school and had classes, we gave them strict time windows of when they could do the work, which was mostly on weeknights and weekends. They worked around that schedule, even though we were locked down due to COVID-19 and the space was available.

What did you find most impressive about them?

To anyone looking to do something like this, it’s so easy to critique but harder to create. We had some idea of what we wanted, but we didn’t have the ability to create it ourselves. We did some chalk art on our own, which was fun for a while. However, having professionals come in to help us find the right artists and get the right results is definitely a process I’d recommend to people if they have the budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No; I love them and wish them all the best.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you bring in real artists and creatives, you need to give them an idea of what you want. However, if you start micromanaging the process, you'll lose the opportunity to create something really unique and great. You’re paying them for their eye and creativity, so you need to disengage a little bit from that process and trust them to do the right things.