the unicorn

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder & CTO of Nice Photon, an app development company. We specialize in business utilities. We just launched our first business utility which is a PDF scanning app and is currently ranked in the top hundred business apps around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the unicorn?

For our iOS app launch, we hired the unicorn to create our marketing materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a number of ad assets for us based on the designs and marketing copy we gave them. For the App Store, we needed a thirty-second app previous video clip that shows the app, as well as advertisements and 4–5 screenshots, which they designed and localized.

They handled the whole concept for that and worked on all of the animations. Some copy for that was done by their team, too, and they integrated some existing copy, as well. 

What is the team composition?

I had one main contact there who I contacted directly. Sofia (Head of Agency) leads the design team and 2–3 other people supported the video and screenshots.  

How did you come to work with the unicorn?

I followed a referral from a friend who I’d worked with before. They knew of the unicorn, so it made it a much more personal contact. 

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spent around $2,500, in total. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–June 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did a fantastic job and the final product was exactly what I wanted. After the creation of the video, our conversion rate for our ads went up by 10%, which is huge and saves us a crazy amount of money. We do about $10,000 in ad spend per month, so moving that needle 10% for that price was unbelievable. We definitely intend on working with them again in the future. 

How did the unicorn perform from a project management standpoint?

It was incredibly easy to work with them. I met with Sofia a couple of times, let her know what I was thinking and envisioning, and then we had a couple of check-ins. Everything was turned around incredibly quickly —they turned the work around in 3–4 weeks. We mostly communicated over email and Telegram. We also had some FaceTime calls, here and there. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to take my general concept without too much direction and nail it was impressive. I come from a design and programming background, so I’m very picky when it comes to this type of stuff. Even with that, they were able to fully understand what I wanted, which hasn’t been the case with other designers in the past. 

Their hand touch for animations stands out from others, which can look like they were scraped together and not personalized. the unicorn put together a totally custom solution and I was blown away by it. The way it tied in with our look and feel, as well as our marketing direction, made it a nice contiguous piece. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s not something they could have done better. They need to bump up their team several folds because they do amazing work. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We’ve only worked on one project so far but come in with more or less a general idea of what you want. Having the general copy done and the feel that you want is good, but they can also help you with those. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a co-founder of Prodigium Pictures, LLC. Prodigium Pictures is a social impact-oriented digital cinema and video production company. Our mission is to foster critical thought through high-quality entertainment. We were founded by an international team in 2011, and have impacted millions of viewers globally with our content since. We pride ourselves on proactive diversity, environmental efficiency and technological pioneering. We work with some of the best talent in the world, right in the heart of Hollywood.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire the unicorn?

We hired The Unicorn to produce computer generated 3D world of futuristic cyber city landscape in 1920x1080 (16:9) to project the image as a backdrop of an online event for our client.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create three completely different scenes from scratch. Each scene was uniquely independent from each other but the world view and the feel of the view needed to feel similar as they belong to the same universe. The unicorn was also assigned to create a flow-less transitions from scene to scene so we can play the video in loop without being caught of "CUT"

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have carefully gone through multiple vendors of VFX agencies and The Unicorn's work stood out amongst them. Also I already had a working relationship with the manager which made my decision rather easy.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

I put together some visual references from the Internet. Then The Unicorn took these images and incorporate them into pretty elaborate drawings as vision board. Then once the camera angle and elements are decided, we selected multiple 3D materials and purchased these licensed 3D stock materials. We then created the world almost from the ground up, applied texture, applied lighting, and animated characters. Lastly we made sure they can loop independently and added transitions in After Effect to complete the project.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They were very imaginative and collaborative process. I gave them my feedback and sometime they returned their own feedback as well as new ideas. We bought more materials as we moved onto the later stage of the production because we both sensed that the video would have benefitted from buying additional content. And it did. They asked some additional budget sometime if my feedback was more than what was originally agreed upon, but I thought it was completely fair and I never felt the process was boycotted in any way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The outcome of the project was fantastic. My end client loved it and I loved it as well. We had such a tight schedule but we were able to power through the project in a month. It was really time consuming project for them but they would work hard on weekdays and weekend if necessary. And because of the tight deadline, we did not have a lot of time to do many feedback loop in the animation stage of the production but by that point I have trusted their creative skill as well as quality control so it did not worry me at all. And again they did tremendous job.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We only communicated online via Skype and call, so we could always scroll back the thread to make sure what we have agreed on. They made sure to make themselves available anytime I wanted to speak with them if I suggest it. Both of us were in different timezone so we checked in each other in the morning and in the evening to follow up on the process. It was painless and smooth operation.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality was more than impressive but at the same time the precision of the communication was top-notch. It is very difficult to find someone who could understand nuances of VFX projects, which will translate as feel and look of the video directly on screen. So having a manager from The Unicorn who could understand the vision precisely and could do high level of quality control as well as project management is the most valuable and the impressive thing about The Unicorn.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The area of improvement is not something I would like to impose on them. We think we can keep making our process more efficient by understanding the VFX process more so we do not throw a curve ball to them but right now I am pretty satisfied with the working relationship and professionalism.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Brand Designer in a company from the Information Technology & Services Industry developing a mobile-first communication platform built for frontline employees that reaches every shift, location, and language through real-time messaging, targeted streams, and automated workflows.

The company has about 170 employees and we are a truly international team with offices in Zurich, the Bay Area, Berlin, and Kraków. Our product has enjoyed global adoption and is now used in over 137 countries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire the unicorn?

We wanted to create a 30-seconds animated video for our end-users to understand what the product is about and the benefit of using it. This meant to be the users first touchpoint with the brand after they download the app. The main challenge was to keep it simple, but still explain the big picture the best way possible.

We do not have any in-house animation/motion designers, so we needed to outsource the project, but still make it a strong collaboration with our Brand Team to make it consistent with our visual style.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to create a more engaging onboarding experience and help our end users to understand what this product is about and how it fits to their needs. We wanted to use the video both in our product and for marketing purposes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Out team were looking for freelancers to help us out in the project, we selected the agency based on the quality of their previous work and proposal they gave us.

Describe the project in detail.

Together with the agency we first defined the milestones and the timeline for the project. We provided a script and some ideas for the storyboard.

In a few days we already received some sketches and drafts about their ideas for our animated video. We needed a couple of weeks to finalise the storyboard and then we got the final illustrations.

After a few iterations and discussions with our marketing team the agency started working on the final animation which we needed in two formats (horizontal version for web and vertical for mobile) and in 3 languages.

What was the team composition?

We had our main point of contact, Sofia to support us throughout the project. I mostly talked with her via messages and sometimes in calls when some further explanation was needed. I am not 100% sure how many people were included from their side exactly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The onboarding video is shown to customers when launching the app for the first time, with information on the app and some of its key advantages.In a first phase, we launched the video for free trial customers.

This turned out to be a success, after which we launched it for new customers that still needed to go through onboarding. We have a 50% play rate of the video (the other 50% skips the video immediately). This is a big number in today’s fast-paced world, where people don’t want to waste time!

What’s even more impressive: the majority of the users watched the video until the end. In the meantime, we have collected feedback on the video content and we started working on an improved version.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager was easy to communicate with and provided us frequent updates. Overall, we were really impressed how fast they could deliver a high quality animation design.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I find it most impressive how frequently we got an update on the project and the quality of the work. We appreciated how patient they were with us, flexible, and open to feedback.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The project took a bit longer than we estimated it, but we were changing the content of the video and the technical requirements. In the end we were very satisfied with their work every step of the way and ended up with a beautiful video.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the creator of Airith, a post-apocalyptic, 80s inspired, cyberpunk animated series.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire the unicorn?

Needed a team to not only deliver concept art but be able to take those to end animation. With The Unicorn, I was also honored to work directly with Sofia, who made sure all items and visions were met with extreme professionalism and accuracy.

What were your goals for this project?

Have a 7 min animatic for a pitch on Kickstarter,

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Sofia presented us with an AMAZING concept design at no charge to prove her team's interest in our project. Based off that, we knew The Unicorn was the team to use.

Describe the project in detail.

a 7 min animated demo for a Kickstart project and provide concept art for social media postings.

What was the team composition?

I only dealt with Sofia, which I enjoyed as it keeps us as the client, focused and on task.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had many studios and networks contact us due to the work from The Unicorn.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. I can't think of one time there were any hiccups or issues. It was a very fluid workflow. This was the easiest project and team I've ever worked with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Sofia is the star here. She made sure tasks were on time and always had a way to increase the quality of each piece of the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can not seriously think of any.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Associate Producer of Cash Studios

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Cash Studios is a creative studio and production company for culture-defining, high-concept creative work, igniting humanity through storytelling. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire the unicorn to accomplish?

• Design and animate a 3D coursework video based on a pre-existing script.

SOLUTION

How did you find the unicorn?

Online Search

Why did you select the unicorn over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from the unicorn were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

2.5-minute video explaining the client's concept, bringing to life the approved script in a new visual approach. The final deliverable was:

• A 3D animated video
• A generic text-free version 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We illustrated the script in an accesible and digestible way that will allow users to absorb the lessons and bring success to the client. 

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

Yes, they were very flexible to the needs of the project.
Even with our time difference (we are on the Eastern Time) Unicorn was always prompt with delivery and communication. 

What was your primary form of communication with the unicorn?

Email or Messaging App

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

the unicorn did exceptionally detailed and elegant work with very reasonable turnarounds. We would hire them again.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO & Founder of a digital marketing company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Digital Marketing & Creative Performance

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire the unicorn to accomplish?

Explainer Video

SOLUTION

How did you find the unicorn?

Online Search

Why did you select the unicorn over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Quality Portfolio

How many teammates from the unicorn were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The Unicorn were contracted to deliver a 1 minute explainer video which included storyboards, illustrations and motion graphics design. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients satisfaction with the end result

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

They were incredibly responsive and felxible with the project. They always responded in a professional manner and hit deadlines as they promised

What was your primary form of communication with the unicorn?

Virtual Meeting

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

The quality of their work was amazing, and we were very impressed by their design capabilities!

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.
I am an Executive of Vsesvit

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
Our company specializes in CG and 3d motion design creating  digital animations and visual effects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire the unicorn to accomplish?

• Creating a 2D animated promo video for our client

SOLUTION

How did you find the unicorn?
Referral

Why did you select the unicorn over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from the unicorn were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
An eye-catching and capturing 2D animated promotional video to highlight the features of our newest product from our customer, targeting to increase product awareness and stimulate consumer interest.

Scope of Work:

• Concept Development
• Visual Style
• Storyboarding
• Scene Breakdown
• Feedback Rounds
• Animation
• Asset Creation
• Animation Process
• Production.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Unicorn proposed an original and creative idea that perfectly conveyed the essence of our product and was well-received by our client.
• Regular meetings and discussions helped to address all of our requirements.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?
Communication was at a high level.

What was your primary form of communication with the unicorn?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Unicorn demonstrated their professionalism despite some unforeseen changes during the process.
• They maintained excellent constructive communication and patience.
• Our client was very satisfied.

Are there any areas for improvement or something the unicorn could have done differently?
There were no areas for improvement noted; we were completely satisfied with everything they did.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Comms Department of Grawe Ukraine

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Insurance of life and other risks for individuals and businesses

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire to accomplish?

• Create an animated video for the 25th anniversary of business in Ukraine

SOLUTION

How did you find ?

Referral

Why did you select over others?

Good value for cost

How many teammates from were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Develop a brand story from scratch, write and animate an inspiring story of Grave business development in Ukraine over the past 25 years

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video received favorable reviews at all corporate events for partners

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

We were satisfied with all stages of communication with the vendor. All stages and creatives were made in accordance with the contract

What was your primary form of communication with ?

Virtual Meeting

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

We were most impressed with their incredible creativity and high-quality animation.

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

The work of the copywriter could be a little better

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of a healthcare company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a startup in the healthcare research space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire the unicorn to accomplish?

• Create a unique design that was well-received by investors.
• Transform slides with a large amount of text into an easy-to-read and well-designed presentation.

SOLUTION

How did you find the unicorn?

Upwork

Why did you select the unicorn over others?

• High ratings
• Design fit

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

We have a fully written pitch deck in PowerPoint that needs to be translated into a well-designed presentation, either in PowerPoint or in Figma. The pitch deck is between 15 and 20 slides.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• They delivered a well-designed product on-time and on-budget.

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

Yes, they were very responsive and delivered the product on time.

What was your primary form of communication with the unicorn?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Oftentimes there were typos in the text when taking my text and moving it to the new presentation. And they should be more clear with how many revisions are expected for the fixed price.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a smart tech PR agency that work primarily with Chinese tech brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

To create a short animated video that explained what a superapp is in the simplest way .

SOLUTION

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

We were looking for an animation team that had experience in tech and had previously worked with us on an account.

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

We started with an initial kick off meeting, followed by initial sketches, storyboard, animatic and finally animation and VO syncing.

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

We worked with Sofia as the client facing project manager who could not have done a better job for us in keeping the project moving and standards high.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client has decided to go live and promote the animation on their global social media platforms.

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

Communication tools were primarily email as most of our team was on annual Christmas leave. Sofia said this was not ideal for their workflow but made it work which I am very grateful for.

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

The ability and willingness to pick up the project at such short notice over the Christmas period and deliver high quality work in tight deadlines.

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

No, everything was perfect for me!