Xhilarate

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I manage the legislative affairs portfolio for the Bertelsmann Foundation. We’re a US and European think tank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

We had a public policy report and didn’t want it to be dry. We had to take a complex topic — AI — and explain it in a visual way that would entice the reader.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Xhilarate illustrated our publication. We published the report ourselves, but they created all of the designs and layouts for it. We didn’t give them much guidance, so their team did it all from scratch.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people, including two graphic designers.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

I searched online for different agencies. We wanted an agency that could handle complex projects because the politics of AI isn’t an everyday subject. We also sought a partner to engage long-term that had the creative authority to portray these topics in an understandable way. Xhilirate appeared to be the only qualified agency.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent about $15,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our partnership around August 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our report will be physically printed. The person who will print it said our book's a standout showpiece over his 36 years in the industry. That says a lot about their work.  

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email. It's easy to communicate with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Xhilarate is easygoing and professional, which is unusual because it’s typically one or the other with agencies. It's easy to work with them. They had a creative, out-there sense for the project’s direction.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we've had a great experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It's easy to work with Xhilarate, so hire them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a communications agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

I’m working with a client that’s a new organization in the art space. They’re launching a restoration program for a historic facility, investing over $35 million into the program. My client hired Xhilarate to do our graphic branding initiative. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Xhilarate is developing our logo and brand identity from a graphic point of view. They focus on keeping our heritage theme while translating it into a contemporary experience for our potential targeted clientele. We use these materials wherever it makes sense to show off our brand identity, including our website, newsletter, and letterheads.

What is the team composition? 

We work with two people: Russ and Michael (Partners). Russ is more of our account manager and interfaces with my client. Michael is more of a creative director.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

My client’s founder had used Xhilarate in the past and thought highly of their work.

How much have you invested with them?

It’s been between $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s been successful. We’ve been able to put one brand look forward, which has translated into all of the various creative assets that we have. Xhilarate has also managed to maintain the continuity between these assets.

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re prompt at meeting deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very talented. The team listens carefully, and I’m impressed that they can absorb the DNA of a project such as ours and then interpret our ideas into graphics.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m very satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your homework. You have to give a creative house the right information so that they can come up with the right creative solution.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of the law firm Stern and Cohen, which is a legal services firm in Philadelphia that represents individuals who get hurt at work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

We are a startup company, so we hired their team to help us with our branding, logo, and the first iteration of our web page.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project was a collaborative effort, but for the most part, we focused on translating our culture and mission as a company into requirements that they could take and then implement on the creative side in all of the assets that we needed.

What is the team composition?

Three members of their team worked with us on a regular basis, but I believe there were a couple of others involved behind the scenes as well.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

Originally, they were referred to us by someone else in our industry, and then after diving into a little more of the details of their work, we decided that they would be a good fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of the project was around $6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between December 2019–February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work they did for us has received really good feedback so far, especially around the logo. Both competitors and other people in the legal market have been very complimentary of the website and other brand assets, especially given the amount of time we were able to turn them around in.

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team did a great job of managing the project overall. They were always transparent about the work and were able to deliver on all of the milestones for the project on time. Along the way, they also contributed a lot of ideas for how to improve the site, which we really appreciated.

We primarily communicated over email, but we also had a few face-to-face meetings and video conferences as well where we could sit down and look at the work together and really do a deep dive into fine-tuning all of the work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Within a week of our first interaction with them, they came back to us with a selection of eight logos that all satisfied our requirements and could have been selected as the final version. Their ability to deliver on our creative vision in such a short time was really impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I can’t think of anything they could have done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as forthright and open with them as possible. The better you can communicate what you want and provide feedback to them, the more they will be able to tailor their product to your requirements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

PanTheryx is a biotechnology company as well as a bulk ingredient supplier for Colostrum. We provide both product development and sales as well as contract manufacturing for businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

Our goals have evolved a lot over the time we’ve worked with them. We originally contracted with them for design work on a line of products we were releasing, but the scope has since narrowed a little bit.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we came to Xhilarate, we had just ended an engagement with another company that had provided some branding resources that did not meet our requirements, so we were really looking to go back to the drawing board.

Since then, their team has worked with us to brainstorm and iterate on logo development for the ingredient brand of our core product, as well as for an offshoot product that is currently in development.

What is the team composition?

We work with both Russ (Partner) and Lou (Vice President) on a day to day basis, which has been a huge benefit to the engagement.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

We went through a formal RFP process, and their team pitched to us in person and were really impressive throughout that process. The main things that we liked about them were the depth of experience and expertise they bring to the table, as well as the chemistry between our two teams. They’re very nice people, and we decided that we wanted to continue working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

Between the two projects, we spent a total of just over $7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work began in December 2019, but we put the project on pause while our requirements changed. We picked back up again in January and finished up in February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are a privately held company, so everything that goes out the door from us has to have board and leadership approval. Xhilarate delivered on our strategy right away, providing a first round of logos that we were incredibly excited about and included an option that was chosen unanimously by the board. That was a huge win for us internally.

Now that the ingredient brand is out in the world, viewers on both the B2B and B2C side of things have really accepted the new designs and provided really positive feedback overall.

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management has been really impressive throughout our entire working relationship. Whenever I had a question, I could reach out to them and get a quick response, but on their end, they were just as proactive about managing timelines and reaching out to us to set up meetings and get information that they needed.

Even though we were working on a very tight timeline, they made us feel completely comfortable that they were going to be able to handle the work. The team kept us updated the entire way, so we had no complaints at all in that regard.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their combination of quality in their work and continual flexibility in adapting to our needs was truly incredible. I don’t think we could’ve done what we needed to do without their ability to turn around the deliverables with the speed that they did.

Not only that, but the first round of logos included the one that we are using now. Their experience in the industry really shows in their work, both through the creativity of their deliverables and the professionalism with which they produced them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything I wish had gone differently. We’ve been thrilled with all of the work they’ve done.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think it was really important for us to brief them as thoroughly as possible when we brought them on and put a lot of work into giving them complete visibility. That level of openness in the relationship really benefited both teams and helped them to function as an extension of ours.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Pinnacle 21, a life sciences software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

We opened as a startup in 2011 and brought them on in 2012 because we needed branding, a website redesign, and marketing collateral.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first engaged them, all we had was a minimalistic site and we needed everything else.  They helped us establish a strong, unique brand, launch a new site, and create tradeshow materials.  Since then, they’ve done a lot of work for us over the years. Branding for our annual customer conference, an interactive product demo, photo and video shoots, and several site redesigns, to name a few.

What is the team composition?

Michael is a co-founder and creative director, he’s the one we’ve worked with from the beginning.  Depending on the project, other folks may get involved, such as a content writer, photographer, video editor, etc. If they don’t have a talent in-house, they will bring one in. For instance, we just shot a video about our company and they brought in a drone operator to shoot our campus.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

When I started the company, a friend of mine recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $200,000–$999,999 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We brought them on board in January 2012, and it’s still ongoing. As the company grows and evolves, so does our brand and Xhilarate is helping us with all our creative needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have specific metrics but our website traffic has been going up every year. Our brand recognition is very high in the industry.  And of course, there’s the “wow” factor, we receive endless compliments from our customers on how good everything looks.  The new site we’re designing is the most ambitious we’ve done with them. It’s focused on recruiting and driving more candidates to apply on our website, so we’ll have another metric to track soon. 

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done very well, working nights and weekends if they have to. It’s the reason we’ve been with them for seven years. They’re very responsive and get things done.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach to partnering with us stands out. It’s like they’re an extension of our team, not a separate company.  They make us part of the creative process with frequent checkins and idea sharing so we feel like we have a say in the direction and can own and be proud of the end result because it feels like “us”. What we really love is that they’re an idea machine. Xhilarate is constantly innovating and putting out ideas nonstop. They want us to stand out, so they’re always pushing us forward based on research they’ve done into market trends.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. They always deliver what we need.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them space to do their creative thing. Don’t try to micromanage. Their end product is amazing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-owner of First Look Display Group LLC. We predominantly do point of purchase merchandising displays, as well as industrial and architectural products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

We had just acquired the company and needed to establish a new identity and freshen our approach. We wanted to make sure our brand identity reflected where our company was headed in the future. Also, our existing website was about 10 years old and needed to be redone.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To start, they helped us with market research by interviewing customers and stakeholders. They evaluated the competitive landscape, also. Together, we came up with a new brand identity that was both descriptive and a strategic direction. They worked with us to come up with the graphics that would go along with it, including the colors, shapes, and logos. Additionally, they’ve developed a website for us, adding new features to make it more user-friendly and attractive. 

What is the team composition?

We work with 5–6 people from their team.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

I had a prior relationship with a partner at Xhilarate. After interviewing their team, everyone felt comfortable moving forward so we decided to use them for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $30,000–$35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2019 and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any metrics on the work yet, but the feedback from key customers about the new logo and website has been extremely positive. Our internal team feels great about the deliverables, too. We feel like we’ve taken a huge step forward because of Xhilarate’s work. 

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done well in this area. The follow-up for our needs is handled smoothly and their team adheres to timelines, so we’re happy with that. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their size is great, so they can pay attention to our needs while providing all the services we require. They can understand our goals and get to know our team because they’re not too big or small. We feel very comfortable working with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything significant for them to improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a good, creative team, so if you’re looking for those types of ideas instead of boilerplate work, they’re the right team. They can go beyond just a typical web redesign project. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a global consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) company that operates in the food and beverage space. I’m the brand manager for our corporate marketing sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

We had developed our corporate theme for 2020 through marketing research. We engaged Xhilarate to create a visual concept that would bring that theme to life. We were also seeking assistance in designing the cover of our annual report.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Xhilarate generated several visual concepts that could be used across multiple channels and communication materials throughout the year. We had several rounds of feedback and worked together to fully develop the design that we eventually decided on.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people, including Russ (Partner, Client Relationships, Xhilarate). Michael (Founding Partner, Xhilarate) was our design lead.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

We knew someone who had worked with them in a different capacity at a previous job.

What is the status of this engagement?

While that particular project began in August 2019 and has wrapped up, we plan to continue working with them on a project-by-project basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Xhilarate went above and beyond to deliver the precise results that we needed. The level of leadership buy-in was a definite measure of their ability to deliver. Typically, there are tedious layers of approval, but the fact that their work was quickly approved by the many layers of our management committee indicates their success. In addition, they responded and adapted very well to feedback.

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. They followed up after each call with notes to clarify the deliverables we discussed. They ensured that everyone was kept up to date with project progress. They never hesitated to jump on a phone call with us to gather our thoughts.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

The speed of their delivery, as well as how quickly they adapted to feedback, were both outstanding.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend them!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief experience officer at Foxgroove Interactive, a UX-focused digital agency that services numerous verticals, including government, finance, and education. We work with anything in the digital world, such as mobile and web apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

One of our clients does election services and petition management, and they wanted a web-based app. We needed a partner to do the digital design work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We developed the strategy for the project while Xhilarate collaborated on the wireframing and visual design. They guided us through some of the design components and provided professional insight. From there, they then transitioned into designing a subset of some of the pages and working directly with the client to get them approved and ready for production.

What is the team composition?

I work with two people.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

I’d known one of the founding partners for over 20 years. He was a great visual designer and knew how to manage projects well, so I hired his company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in October 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They worked directly with our end client and are well-spoken. Instead of just showing their work, they take the time to explain the choices they made, which our clients appreciate.

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve met all our deadlines and let me know if there are any problems with the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re receptive to feedback and are more than willing to integrate new ideas into their work. They’re my go-to team for visual design because they always deliver great results. Unlike many other agencies, they do a good job balancing innovative design ideas with current project needs and expectations. They’re incredibly easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They took my direction when needed and didn’t have any issues.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Engage with them; they’ll bring an additional level of expertise and design skills to your project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a marketing manager for a company that provides engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

We needed photography services for our firm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They have taken photographs of our employees, company events, and project sites. We use Xhilarate’s work in all of our strategic marketing in both print and digital platforms.

What is the team composition?

We regularly communicate with Zave (Co-founder, Xhilarate).

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

They were hired before I started working for the company.

How much have you invested in them?

We spend up to $10,000 per year on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in August 2014, and the relationship is ongoing. We use them frequently.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m happy about their work, which has received positive feedback from stakeholders.

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

They have performed extremely well. We mostly communicate through phone and email, and we have also met in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Xhilarate’s co-founder is friendly, quick to respond, and highly accommodating.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director and marketing manager at Drexel University Kline School of Law.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xhilarate?

With the US News & World Report rankings looming, the school initiated an aggressive peer-to-peer marketing campaign, promoting our message through our peers to reach a more expansive market.

As part of our amplified marketing campaign, we wanted to promote our staff’s scholarly efforts within the greater community. This initiative required us to update our collection of faculty photographs from a hodgepodge of various visuals with different locations, lighting situations, and backgrounds, to a series of uniform portraits. The original photos were formal and stiff; we wanted the new ones to reflect the school’s brand and each individual’s personality in a polished and professional manner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Xhilarate helped us create a collection of portraits that align with our brand message. We broke the process into two sections specifically dedicated to capturing each faculty member, including some of the student-facing staff. The team was very personable, connecting and engaging with personnel to best capture their individual personality.

We’ve completed most of the work. I predict we’ll completely wrap up the project within the next two weeks. Right now, I’m reaching back out to their team for some minor adjustments and retouching requested by the staff.

What is the team composition?

I mainly work with Zave (Co-Founder, Xhilarate), their resident photographer, but I’m familiar with the rest of the organization.

How did you come to work with Xhilarate?

I first encountered them at an outing hosted by an art director in Philadelphia. Zave set up an outdoor studio, grabbed people, and photographed them throughout the social event. I also knew some of their team from my tenure as a creative director and advertiser in the same area, so I was familiar with their portfolio. I’d used them for a few past projects before approaching them for this one.

I asked Zave to set up a photo shoot similar to the one at the art director’s outing but more controlled. I was confident in his ability to capture natural, yet unique pictures of the faculty.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $7,500 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on the project in September 2017, and it’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, everyone has reacted positively to the image’s quality and authenticity. I’ve used a few of the first portraits in a print piece that we’ll be releasing soon. We've gotten so much more value from their services than we would’ve with a formal photographer.

How did Xhilarate perform from a project management standpoint?

Xhilarate is great and executed the project seamlessly. A majority of the project required everyone involved to just go with the flow, and Zave was very flexible. He easily handled scheduling changes, efficiently working around time constraints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a very high-touch organization, acting like partners rather than service providers. The team listens carefully to what I say, and they offer valuable feedback. Some photographers just agree with their clients, but Zave brings creativity and personality to his craft.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I haven’t encountered any problems while working with Zave. I’m looking forward to partnering with them again in the future for more digital or print projects.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should anticipate a mutually creative partnership. Don’t hold stubbornly to the original idea, but instead allow Xhilarate to offer their guidance. Their team makes an effort to listen and understand their clients’ plans and are committed to achieving that vision, but they won’t just take orders.

The best way to work with Xhilarate is to facilitate open discussions. Clients should thoroughly explain their story, vision, and goals, then consider the different approaches that the team suggests. Hire them as partners, not as a production agency.