Tricks Studio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of an HR consultancy that offers support to small businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tricks Studio?

I wanted to work out what my target market was, where I was likely to find clients, and how best to push my message out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with an overview of what my aims and objectives were, as well as what I thought my company's value was. We then discussed how those values could translate into an image of our business, allowing me to see what type of people I’d want to work with. We then meshed together my values with the requirements of the customers I intended to work with. The deliverable was a brand set that would determine how we reached out to our customers.

Within a few days of our branding discussion, they came back with a presentation and recommendations for how my website could look and what my business could be named. We ended up with a branding model for different aspects of the business including color schemes, messaging, and client attraction.

I didn’t want to muddy the waters and provide any ideas to them, so we started with a blank canvas and then detailed my values and company mission. Their work showed me how that information could be interlinked all the way up the pyramid to how I work with my customers. Detailing all this information was intensive, but it was a very valuable process.

They also helped me with strategy in the sense that they worked out a mismatch between what I thought people needed from their business and what they actually needed. They asked me questions like “what keeps your clients awake at night;”  “what do they fear;” and “what annoys them.” It was really helpful for me to have the answers to these questions so I’m not wasting my time.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Gordon (Owner), James (Head of Production), and Liam (Motion Designer)

How did you come to work with Tricks Studio?

I met Gordon through a networking group. His design work is very high quality, and he has a real creative flair. Additionally, he’s capable of quickly understanding what people need in terms of their marketing.

What is the status of this engagement?

All our work took place in July 2022. We’re going to be moving into developing content once we’ve agreed on the branding that they presented to me.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Success will be measured by how well my business takes off, as I’m now much better equipped to understand what I need to push to clients and potential clients. They’ve also helped shape my pricing strategy and not just my marketing.

How did Tricks Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated in person but that’s because of where we are geographically. I don’t think any of us would have had a problem working virtually.

They understood the need for things to be completed quickly and with accuracy. We crammed an awful lot into our time working together, and they met our deadline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The energy and creativity that they displayed, as well as their willingness to work collaboratively was outstanding — particularly on the day we had our branding discussion. They saw how a number of different ways of thinking would lead to rich outcomes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

My experience was very positive; I didn’t come away thinking they could have done anything better. I can’t fault them, as they made sense and, rather than just listening, they provided ideas and suggestions about how we could move forward.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with a completely open mind and no preconceived ideas. Let the ideas flow during the course of the engagement because they are the experts. The work they’re doing is very powerful, and the answers will come in the exercises with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior project manager at a design agency focusing on the property and place sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tricks Studio?

We were overall in charge of the direction and creative production. Also, we were producing 3D renderings. However, we needed a studio to help edit the film together. In particular, to work on motion graphics overlays, transitions, and music for the short film.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We required Tricks Studio to do an initial creative phase and come back with creative concepts, which we would feed back to the clients. We did the initial storyboard, and then we got them on board to help with production. It was a backward and forwards process between Tricks Studio, the client, and us.

Overall, they assisted with motion graphic overlays for the transitions, and the music was put into the three-minute film. Also, they did some simple text and background animation that was overlaid on the 3D animation we produced. In general, they helped with editing the film.

How did you come to work with Tricks Studio?

We found them through the partnerships team in our company. Their job is to find partner organizations when we need them for a specific project. They did a vetting and discovery phase for production companies.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly £15,000 (approximately $19,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2021, and the last time we commissioned them was in March 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both projects did well with the clients. The videos weren’t for public viewings; they were just for business presentations to engage potential tenants and key private stakeholders to rent space in the property developments. However, the feedback from our clients was very positive, and the films did well. Tricks Studio achieved what the client wanted regarding the quality of work and getting engagement from their audiences. Overall, the client was very happy.

How did Tricks Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well. We used Asana for a specific project. Also, we communicated through phone, emails, and shared screen calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their strongest points were their quality of work, flexibility, and ability to respond positively to client demands.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them a clear creative direction for what’s required of them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an advisory firm that works in the private investment world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tricks Studio]?

We were trying to clarify what our brand was. Our company had been around for about 14 years, so it was time to delineate who we are, what we do, who we serve, and what makes us unique and special.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a three-month rebranding engagement with Tricks Studio. They created an 80-page brand book with brand voice, logo, color scheme, tone, brand use, and ways to communicate the brand into the marketplace. 

We organized the information and gave it to the team. Tricks Studio did an interview and questionnaire with us, and then we had discussions back and forth. We had about 4–5 meaningful iterations; they would put things together and deliver them to us. Then, we would give them comments and feedback, and they would edit. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 people from Tricks Studio, including designers, copywriters, and an account lead. 

How did you come to work with Tricks Studio?

They had done the brand book for a client I was working with. So, I had seen Tricks Studio’s work and met them through people I had worked with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $30,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from around August–November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Tricks Studio really opened our eyes to a much better way of looking at our business. They gave us a meaningful rebrand that we’re pleased with. The result was very different from what we thought we’d do, so the team added a lot of insight and ingenuity into our situation and process. 

How did Tricks Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They were really good at project management. The team was super organized, and they scheduled the meetings in advance. They adhered to deadlines and were very respectful of our time and schedule. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Tricks Studio really cared about doing a good job for us. They got to know us very well, and they invested time, effort, and energy to help us problem-solve. We didn’t feel like they were only in it for the money; they love what they do and want to do a good job. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t see any major areas for improvement; I was really happy with the process. Although it took us a little bit to get to a final proposal due to the back and forth, the project went well after that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

With any vendor you hire, you have to be really organized on your end. I invested a lot of time and money before we engaged Tricks Studio to get our story organized, and that was key to our success. Because we were clear on our side, they could be more accurate on their side.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Halton Haven Hospice. We are located in Runcorn, which is the Northwest of England in Cheshire. We are a local charity, and I am the Community and Event Fundraiser.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tricks Studio?

We hired Tricks Studio to help with our organization’s brand strategy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have a campaign called Forget-Me-Not, where we ask our local community to turn purple. Tricks Studio rebranded that entire campaign for us. They presented briefs to us in March 2022, which gave us plenty of time to review and amend the designs. 

Tricks Studio handled the logos, names, color schemes, digital branding, and identity of our yearly fundraising campaign. They also created posters, banners, email headers, prints, and artwork for our merchandise. 

Their team made sure that the prints were large and readable enough since most of our supporters are elderly people. They also helped us move away from images and concepts that we had used in the past.

What is the team composition?

I work with Gordon (Founder & Managing Director) and James (Head of Production)

How did you come to work with Tricks Studio?

I met Gordon at a networking meeting. He approached me at the beginning of this year saying that they wanted to offer their services free of charge because we are a charity. I looked into their website and the work that they had previously done and scheduled a call. 

How much have you invested with them?

They're offering their services as pro bono.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in January 2022, and we are still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The campaign doesn’t go live until June, so we have no metrics to share at the moment. However, Tricks Studio has really helped us update our campaign’s branding. They’ve given it an overall fresher look and saved us a lot of time. We are very satisfied with their work.

How did Tricks Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Tricks Studio is able to meet deadlines. Whenever I need something amended, they get back to me within 24 hours, and if there are any issues, James calls me right away so we can iron it out. 

They initially presented their brief via Zoom, but our correspondence is now mostly via email. Their communication skills are great. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're so personable and down-to-earth. Even though I don't have any background in tech, I’m not overwhelmed because they explain everything in layman's terms.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don't think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As long as you've got a clear idea of what you want, they will match it and deliver exactly that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm an area fundraiser for Hope House Children's Hospices

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We have many different events for our supporters to get involved in. This year a new event is Wing Walking, we were offered the opportunity for Tricks to be involved and they offered up an animation to help promote.

SOLUTION

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

Gordon approached me and offered to do the animation for free as his donation to the charity. We couldn't say no to such a generous offer.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

I had a general meeting to start the process so we could decide which event would be best for Tricks to help us promote. We make a decision together and Gordon sent me a brief which I agreed to.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I worked with James, who was really good. He was excited to be part of helping the charity and he was honest with time frames. He worked with the company who actually put on the wing walks to get some video footage from the. Feedback was always timely and accurate to what I requested.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The animation will be going live on our social media platforms in the next week so we have no success rate as yet. I will also share it with our partner company who will also share it for us.

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

I felt the project management style was friendly and casual but extremely professional on all levels across the project. We spoke on the phone and via email, the end product was sent by Vimeo.

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

Their generosity in wanting to support a local children's hospice differently and uniquely was impressive.

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

Not at all.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a small family run fencing company that specialises in the supply and installation of many styles of fencing to our commercial and residential clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

As a company that like to think differently we are always looking for new ways to attract more clients and grow. The challenge is. how do we do it?

SOLUTION

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

I have heard great things about the team at Tricks Studio and after a conversation with Gordon I decided to take up the offer of attending a growth strategy workshop. After a session with the team at Tricks Studio I now have a clear understanding and plan in place on how to achieve new goals and take my company to new heights.

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

First of all I would like to say that the session was more rewarding then any other sessions I have attended with other companies. A completely relaxed atmosphere to help really get the brain sparking. The session was mapped out bit by bit and we gradually worked towards the end goal. I personally liked the fact that absolutely no hard selling was involved in the session and I felt extremely welcome.

In short the process was.... What would you like to achieve? What does that mean? How can Tricks Studio help? Let us know if you would like to go ahead. This process has now cemented that fact that me and my company will be working closely with Tricks Studio going forward.

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

Gordon, Liam and Jim conducted the workshop.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I know have a clear path on how to achieve my goals.

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

We started with an introduction to the session and what we will be doing. Every task had a time to be completed to allow for discussion. Everything was very easy to understand in completed in a completely relaxed atmosphere.

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

Attention to detail is paramount to me and I could see that the team at Tricks Studio feel the same. They genuinely wanted to help and it did not feel like they were just completing tasks because they had to.

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

Not at all.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications director at AG Comms, a  company that offers internal communication support for global organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tricks Studio?

We hired Tricks Studio to help us edit videos for two of our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I first held an initial conversion with Tricks Studio, where I provided an outlined brief along with the raw video clips. I explained which aspects I wanted to be drawn out, what kind of scene I wanted to create, and a rough run-time for the final video. We only had a limited amount of time to complete the project, so their team went ahead to edit raw material into finished videos. 

We didn’t need any scripting or casting work done; the clips we provided featured internal members of our organization answering questions or high-level script prompts using their own words. Tricks Studio simply had to review the content, pick out the best bits to include in the final product, polish the clips, and incorporate some graphics. We relied on them to select the music and supplement, tweak, or cut out some parts of the original material.

In the end, they delivered seven videos of varying play lengths. The most extended video runs for about five minutes, while the shortest one only lasts 60 seconds. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with 2–3 people from Tricks Studio. Jim (Head of Production) is our primary liaison. 

How did you come to work with Tricks Studio?

I had previously worked with Jim when he was still with a different design agency, but AG Comms was the one who recommended Tricks Studio for our video editing needs. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a total of £15,000 (approximately $20,000 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together last February 2022, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received feedback from one of our clients, and they find the videos to be very slick and quite different in look, tone, and style. They’re delighted by the final product. 

How did Tricks Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve been very constrained on time, but Tricks Studio has successfully met our requirements in terms of delivering short final videos. People don’t have a long attention span for internal communications material, so wanted to make them brief.

We typically communicate via phone or email. We also text, in some cases, especially when things come up over the weekend. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Tricks Studio team is very responsive, creative, and easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any constructive feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to engage early. Discuss the creative approach and give Tricks Studio some free rein to be creative. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an account director at a boutique creative agency called Kitchen. We provide creative services, design, brand strategy, branding, and general marketing services for clients. We’re based in London.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Tricks Studio?

I’ve worked with Tricks Studio on a few different projects, but the main client that I’ve worked with them was for a brand of aesthetic hyaluronic acid facial fillers for a pharmaceutical company.

We’ve worked with Tricks Studio to create an educational suite of marketing materials to help build awareness and address concerns about the industry that were preventing customers from getting facial filler treatment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Given a briefing call and a written brief, Tricks Studio produced a suite of animated videos, social media assets, and HTML banners for the campaign. They also provided consultancy regarding design and layout, how much information can be communicated via a social asset, and how many words to use in an asset.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Gordon (Managing Director & Founder) and James (Head of Production), and I'm sure they had additional designers and animators working on the project at Tricks Studio.

How did you come to work with Tricks Studio?

I knew Gordon and James from a previous agency. When they set up Tricks Studio, it was a no-brainer to work with them again.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around £10,000 (approximately $14,000 USD) so far, and I’ve got two more briefs that I’ll be speaking with them about very soon.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Tricks Studio in March 2021. The project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This has been a super successful campaign for our end client. In the four weeks following the campaign, clinic searches — measured as one of the KPIs — were up 56% compared to the period leading up to the campaign. Click-through rates were up 24%, and conversions went up by 34%.

How did Tricks Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Tricks Studio has excellent project management. They are very clear and transparent at the start regarding the project timeline and budget, so there have been no nasty surprises. They absolutely follow through, turning in work when they said they will. We communicate with Tricks Studio via Zoom, phone, and email.

The end client works in a highly regulated industry, so we needed more rounds of feedback from a legal point of view. All assets had to go through many stakeholders before we could launch.

Gordon and James were both on all of the calls that we had around the project, and they keep lines of communication open. They are very forthcoming in providing recommendations for approaching the brief's objectives in the best way possible. It was wonderful to be able to plan everything, going back to our end client with clear updates on cost and timing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Tricks Studio are impressively knowledgeable. They know a lot about digital marketing, and they helped walk me through their process. They’re great at providing consultation on how to best achieve objectives in client briefs. They’re really great people, and I wouldn’t consider using another provider over them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that I would say they can improve on — I think they’re really fantastic.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

To get the best out of Tricks Studio, make sure that you talk things through with them on a Zoom call or meeting. Give them some time to go think about the brief and come back with recommendations.

Tricks Studio has suggested a different approach on some projects that I've partnered with them on — leading to a final outcome that was so much better than what we had originally imagined. Trust Tricks Studio and let them be the experts that they are, and they’ll come back with something great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founding director at NWC Design, a specialist information design agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Tricks Studio to produce an animated video for our global client showcasing one of their services. The aim was to promote the client as tech-advanced and seamless.

SOLUTION

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

We had worked with Tricks previously and knew the quality of their animated video production. They offer a great balance of creativity and technical skill against budget.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We produced the storyboard in house then met with Tricks to chat through how the animation could work and what could be added. They produced a first cut, and subsequent edit rounds from our client. Tricks also helped us with music selection.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with the Director and Project Manager who communicated our requests to their animator. The team were timely and responsive at all stages.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was extremely happy with the video, and it now sits on their global website and is used in direct BD conversations.

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

The majority of comms was via email and was very straight forward. All instructions and conversations were understood and dealt with quickly and proficiently.

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

Tricks Studio has a way of elevating our storyboards beyond what we or our clients expect. There is an added layer of smoothness and technical ability that we don't see from other suppliers of animation.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Searchability Group is made up of multiple companies specialising in recruitment and employer branding across the UK, Europe and USA. I am the Employer Brand Director here and look after all internal marketing activities as well as client employer brand campaigns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were launching a new solution - Scalability - which was a recruitment and employer brand subscription aimed at tech start-ups and scale-ups. We wanted a video that combined the key messages in a sales video style, with a longer explainer video to highlight how Scalability works for our potential clients.

SOLUTION

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

Tricks came recommended by one of our Directors, we reviewed their previous work and loved the style of their animations. We had an initial meeting where Tricks helped to dig down into exactly what we wanted and needed, they gave us their advice and suggestions and we were really happy with their creativity and energy so we went straight ahead!

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started with an initial briefing call and followed up with an in person discovery meeting to uncover the key messages we needed to portray. We discussed everything from the content to the brand creative and we gave Tricks the freedom to come back with bold ideas.

Tricks went to market to find suitable voiceovers (understanding our budget and if we needed the video to be used globally etc.) and worked on a potential script for us.

Tricks sent through initial ideas on a mood board and we gave feedback on our preferred stylings - this was in both static image form and mock video example.

Tricks then worked on the script and style frames from our feedback, coming back to us with edits until we were happy. They also worked with us to find the right voices for the video. We then received an extensive storyboard with individual frames and animation descriptions for us to feedback on. Once we had reached a point where we were happy Tricks sent through the fully animated video, and cut versions so we had multiple use options too.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

James Harwood (Head of Production) was our main point of contact, and we also worked with Gordon Barry (Director). Feedback process was great - always very friendly, understanding and receptive!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was a success - we now have a series of animations that we have used on our website, LinkedIn marketing campaigns and through direct sales approaches to prospective clients. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDovXIyFPz308tnIbRgdgmw

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

Most of this was conducted over calls, meetings and emails however they have introduced us to Mural for an upcoming project which has been really useful. Timeliness was great - they gave realistic timescales and always came back to us promptly, Lovely guys to work with!

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

The creativity and the ability to understand what we wanted and needed before we even did! We were struggling to communicate the key messages, and Tricks helped us with this journey enormously.

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

Nothing that comes to mind.