Y5 Creative

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

A scenic Inn located in Nova Scotia. I am the owner

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Y5 Creative?

Development of a complete new brand identity

What were your goals for this project?

To create a recognizable brand identity that would work across all marketing and communication touch-points. We wanted to honor the history of the inn while bringing a more contemporary feel to the brand design.

We wanted an identity that suggested the key appeals of the Inn and its surrounds, namely the beautiful nature surrounding us and the Bay of Fundy waters for which the area is famous.

SOLUTION

How did you select Y5 Creative?

I had worked with Y5 on other projects and respected their work and ethics.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

I drafted a branding brief outlining my thoughts on the business and what it represented. We then began a discovery process, led by Y5.

Through the design process we had a number of project update sessions. Initial ideas were generated and presented as alternatives. These were gradually narrowed down through an interactive process until we agreed a final approach.

Once the final approach was agreed, Y5 generated a complete comprehensive branding guideline.

What was the team composition?

Myself and wife, as owners. Together with the Y5 team

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have had very positive feedback about our new identity. It does capture both the history and environment while being stylish, simple and contemporary.

We have rolled out its use in most of our marketing efforts so we are driving a consistent visual identity

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Good communication

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Personal approach. They are entrepreneurs who understand the needs involved in the journey from small to medium to large businesses.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a realtor and CPA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

I had just recently ended a longterm partnership and needed to establish my own brand. I hired Y5 Creative to help with this by creating a website and branding materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Y5 Creative designed and developed my website using WordPress. For the branding efforts, they’ve helped with the color schemes, logo design, and other aesthetic choices. They’ve created materials for both web and print, including signage and other deliverables. 

What is the team composition?

I work with several people from Y5 Creative. 

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative?

I knew Y5 Creative through a family connection and was drawn to working with them because of how they operate with care. 

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent around $25,000 on the project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too soon to see the impact of the website, but we have received some fantastic comments on it from users. Their team did a lot of research to ensure the final product wasn’t cookie-cutter. The branding materials are clean and crisp, and people now recognize that I have a separate brand identity. 

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

Responsiveness is never an issue. I hear back from them within hours. Even when timing on my end changes or I'm running around doing other tasks, they are accommodating and work well with my schedule. There are distinct project deadlines that they adhere to, and I’m happy with how they’ve managed the work.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

The way they care about the work they’re doing makes them stand out from competitors. They bend over backward to make sure I’m happy and they operate like they’re a family. I can tell I’m not just a number to them. They also create final products that are sustainable and won’t become outdated. The work they deliver is going to last and be versatile. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

At the beginning of the project, more oversight on a junior designer could have helped my vision be understood better. I also wish that they could provide more assistance in creating content from scratch. More industry-specific knowledge could be helpful because additional explanations about functionalities have cost me more. However, outsourcing some of this development could be a great idea for them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No matter who you hire, you need to know what you want because no one can read your mind. They’re excellent at discovering creative ideas from your vision, but you need to provide them with that instead of hoping they’ll be all-knowing. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a dentist and the owner of Hupfau Dental.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

I’d never had a website. I realized that I needed one to validate my existence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Y5 created a brand and a logo for my business. Previously, I was just Dr. Susie K. Hupfau Inc. We came up with Hupfau Dental and worked on a logo. Their team also built a website for my existing patients and prospective patients to view the business. I provided the content and their team created the design as well as developed the WordPress website.

What is the team composition?

Mainly, I worked with three people: Carol Colley (Creative Director and Creative Branding Specialist, Y5 Creative), a logo designer, and a website developer.

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative?

A patient recommended Y5 Creative.

How much have you invested with them?

At the end of the day, it was approximately $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from April 2018 until June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have any metrics, but I’m pleased with the results. I’m happy with the website. Everyone that has seen it says it looks great. I feel like the platform reflects me.

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated almost solely through e-mail. I found Y5 to be quite responsive. If I had a question, their team got back to me right away.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I found that their team was personally invested in my project. I liked that they were a smaller firm. I didn’t feel like another client. I always felt that I was receiving dedicated services. Their team cared about the results. As someone who’s not technically savvy, I found Y5 Creative to be approachable. They explained ideas and took care of tasks that I couldn’t manage myself.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t know if it was a shortcoming on their part but I had to develop a lot of content myself because they’re not dentists. It likely resulted from a misunderstanding in the beginning. When I finally said you need to help me and we need to get this across the finish line, their team was responsive and able to help.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Y5 was professional and did a great job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager of ground transportation and cruise programs for Ceres Terminals Canada. We operate the cruise terminal on behalf of the Port of Vancouver.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

A few years ago,Y5 Creative helped us organize a few pull-up banners, but they had become outdated. We needed further assistance with general wayfinding through the cruise terminal, so we hired Y5 Creative to produce new signage.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Y5 Creative helped us come up with several innovative solutions for signage. We ended up deciding on tall, magnetic sign towers, and their team modified them for our multiple different ships and cruise lines. They also ensured everything matched our brand guidelines. If anything needs to be fixed, they’re available to help us quickly solve them and they perform updates whenever we have new cruise ships.

What is the team composition?

Jonathan (Director Business Development, Y5 Creative), Carol (Creative Director, Y5 Creative) and one of their designers work very closely with us. 

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative?

When we were originally doing a signage search, Y5 Creative was paired with another company and came together as a package so we chose them. 

How much have you invested with them?

As a rough estimate, we’ve spent around $50,000 CAD (approximately $37,700 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them in the past, but this project ran from January–April 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The fact that passengers can navigate through the cruise terminal and find their own way speaks to the quality of the signage. We’ve received great feedback on the signs, as well. Our ability to move the towers has had a huge impact on our operations as it is flexible based on our needs. Y5 Creative’s work augments what we currently have in our facility and works well with our complex operation. 

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive. For example, we just had a mechanical issue with one of the sign towers and Jonathan was quick to engage our supplier to get replacement parts. He found out we were covered under warranty, so instead of paying a substantial fee, we got some free replacement parts and did it ourselves. We’re very happy with their approach to managing the work in that respect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We like that they’re a smaller company because they really care for their customers. They’re very on top of their communication and always make sure we have everything we need. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We've been pretty happy with them for the long time and level of service that we recieve, so I don't think there's anything to improve at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We provide clear guidelines of what we are looking for, so I recommend others do the same and they will do an excellent job. They're good at incorporating and following brand standard guidelines provided into the work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I'm the chief development officer at a foundation that supports greater access and equity for women’s health care in British Columbia, Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

We had a new unit that was being created for a hospital. It's a unique unit that allows pregnant women involved in substance use to stay for several months before and after they deliver their baby. Canada's universal health care system doesn’t cover decorations, and the space was quite utilitarian with white walls. We wanted to create a warm and welcoming environment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Y5 Creative created decorative murals for the hospital unit. Due to infection control regulations, the mural was made from removable vinyl. They worked to come up with designs that were impactful and respectful. They helped us help navigate feedback from multiple stakeholders (e.g., nurses, patients), which was very difficult. The first design they presented was rejected by the hospital. They took that in stride and started over. Their second attempt was successful.

Next they worked with the redevelopment and building team on the installation of the murals. There were all sorts of unexpected plumbing issues. Y5 Creative could only cover the top half of the walls in the rooms because the bottom half has a special covering to protect it from gurneys and wheelchairs. 

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with Carol (Creative Director, Y5 Creative) and Jonathan (Director of Business Development, Y5 Creative). Some of the junior staff also worked on the design concepts. 

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative? 

My predecessor in this role found them and I signed the contract within my first three weeks on the job. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $122,000 CAD (approximately $91,900 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement? 

The project took place from December 2018–July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was very moving when we saw the finished product. We couldn't afford to do as much as we wanted to do. Y5 Creative was really good about helping us decide what to prioritize. The most important thing was that there’s a full mural on the biggest wall in every woman’s room and bathroom.

The murals are so beautiful, welcoming, and girly. The nature theme is so calming; they did a great job with it. The women who use the unit want things that are soft. It lets them know that the hospital and the donors support them and truly care about them. It’s their home for several months, and it’s much friendlier than the bare rooms it was before. 

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint? 

Y5 Creative was so responsive. They're really flexible and they totally accommodated my schedule. I definitely appreciated that. They were also really helpful because I hadn't done anything like this before. They explained everything to me in a way I could understand as a lay person. They helped interface with the hospital about what material we could use on glass as well as the walls that would meet the infection control criteria. They were creative and upbeat, which was great.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They were always available. They kept me in the loop if one of them was going to be out of town for a while. I was probably less available for them, but they made it work. 

Y5 Creative had to deal with a lot of fits and starts on our end. We weren’t able to give them as good direction as was necessary. We were waiting to hear from patients about what they wanted, which wasn’t always straightforward. They were very accommodating.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

We needed to be sensitive and respectful in navigating this project, and we found some of Y5 Creative's earlier ideas to be a bit forward. After talking with them about taking a more passive approach and listening to the hospital's feedback, we were able to agree on a plan for the mural.

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

They were really good about communicating, even with all of the complexities of our project. I imagine they’d be really great working with other professionals who understand the business in a way that I did not.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Love to latitude is a travel couple that writes about their experiences as they travel the globe. Our goal is to inspire passion and adventure for those looking to live an alternative lifestyle. We are bloggers/Vloggers. I am the founder/creator of Love to latitude.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Y5 Creative?

As new business owner our challenge was creating a Brand identity that represented clearly what Love to latitude represents. We needed help in creating a strong Brand identity and platform for our brand

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to walk away with a Brand that identified strongly with Love to latitude. Have a easy to use and engaging website that allowed us to speak with our audience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was taking a course on Brand identity and came across an ad for a company called Y5 Creative. I had already researched other vendors and Y5 Creative stood out over the others.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They were responsible for creating a Brand identity and web based platform that fit our needs, as well as representing what Love to latitude's messaging stands for. They spent hours getting to know who we were, what we are doing with our platform, our future goals, and how we want our message delivered. Each step of the process we were taken along for a wonderful journey in creating our Brand identity.

What was the team composition?

The project team consisted of approximately 4 members when designing our Brand identity/Logo, and social media designs. While building our website platform the team consisted of approximately 4-5 other team members that were responsible for ensuring that needs and expectation were met within every phase of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our Brand identity has been developed along with our website and social media platform. We are set to launch this fall. Having a strong Brand identity, website, and social media platform will allow us to engage our clients and audience in 3 different arenas at that same time. We are now able to build strong and professional content for clients working with us and trusting love to latitude to showcase their assets. Engaging with our audience offers us to stand out and engage in a unique and creative way.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project Management was very professional. Yet what truly sets Y5 Creative apart from competition is their friendly, welcoming nature and attention to detail of their customers. We felt more like family that they truly cared for. Y5 gave made us feel that our success was truly their success!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What impressed us most about Y5 is their unique relationships with their clients. They are a family-oriented company that cares about the success of those they are working with. They will on occasion still reach out even after the project is over to see how we are doing and offer words of encouragement!

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is very little that can be improved. We live in Oregon, USA and Y5 being in Vancouver, Canada had its challenges, but they were always looking for ways to enhance communication. We were able to reach them via email, phone, video chat, we even drove up to Canada and met the team face to face.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Olive + Wild, a home decor, gift, and furnishings store based in Vancouver, Canada. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

We reached out to Y5 Creative to help us create our branding identity from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Y5 Creative helped brainstorm options for the company's name initially and then designed the logo, website, a branding manual, and other collateral. After meeting with us to discuss our goals and target audience, they then helped narrow down our overall branding image. They also helped with trademarking and venture registration to protect the property rights to our name. More recently, they worked on a window display for a community center and they continue to provide design services on an as-needed basis.

What is the team composition? 

We work with about six people on their team.

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative?

We considered two companies, but ultimately decided to work with Y5 Creative after their creative team presented some interesting rough concepts for us during some early meetings. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've probably invested over $10,000 by now.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since June 2016 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Y5 Creative's branding concepts have been well worth the investment for our business. Customers are always very impressed by our name and the artwork associated with our logo; it's very artsy and in-line with our vision. 

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive, quick to turn around deliverables, and good about following up with us. From the start, they've provided proposals in a timely manner and been transparent about timelines and all stages of each project. They've even been able to get last-minute requests done right away and always made our company feel like a priority despite the size of our account compared to other clients of theirs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Y5 Creative's input and responsiveness have been phenomenal. They've always presented top-notch, creative concepts during brainstorming sessions. Their team has been instrumental in establishing our image. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, not from my point of view. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Not really, but I'd recommend them to any company looking for branding or rebranding work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director at Pacific Parklands Foundation, a Canadian registered charity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

We’ve been operating for almost 20 years but don’t have good name recognition, so it’s been difficult to get our message out to the community. We help manage public parks, which are funded by taxes, but we raise money to cover the expenses those budgets can’t fund. We hired Y5 creative to help spread awareness about our organization and explain to constituents why their financial support is necessary.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Because we work with so many other organizations, including a major government one that’s protective of our brand, we needed to take care to create a fresh, new look that suited the interests of our constituents. Y5 Creative took that into account and overhauled our brand. They also redesigned our website to improve mobile accessibility, UI/UX, and our messaging. Once that was complete, they created a new brand book and style guidelines for us, redesigned our brochures, and ran the social media campaigns to launch our new look.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with their creative director/branding specialist and their director of business development. They also had additional team members handling our social media marketing and other tasks.

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative?

They were referred by the president of our board, who’d done work with them before. We sought board approval for the rebranding project and then interviewed several companies to compare proposals. We ultimately settled on Y5 Creative because of the strong recommendation, their good reputation, and their competitive pricing.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The main project lasted from June–November 2015, although we have an ongoing contract with them for marketing projects and site updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve tripled our social media likes and have seen a 30% increase in donations. We’ve also seen our number of e-news and blog subscribers quadruple. Our brand awareness and outreach have increased significantly as well, although that’s harder to measure.

We’ve also received a lot of compliments on the materials they created for us. People have liked the look of our new site and brochures.

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

It was easy to work with them. We’d sit for interviews or meet to discuss various project needs, and then they’d go to work with minimal oversight. They almost always brought back exactly what we wanted. Working independently was one of their biggest strengths.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are innovative and deliver good-quality work. Whenever we had a deadline, they’d complete their tasks on time. We also appreciated the competitive pricing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. They bring a lot of strengths to the table.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend that you consider Y5 for any of your marketing needs. They are easy to work with and will help your business grow.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I founded a childcare startup. I provide a booking system that connects substitute caregivers with childcare centers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

I needed assistance with branding and developing the software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a discovery session to conceptualize a message for our brand. I described my idea, and we worked together to define the functionalities and technical elements. Then, they developed an interactive web app using Firebase for the backend and WordPress for the frontend. Y5 Creative also designed corresponding business cards and flyers. In terms of social media, they helped me optimize my LinkedIn and Facebook pages.

What is the team composition?

I worked with around seven people from Y5 Creative.

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative?

One of their staff members is a family friend. I was familiar with the company, so I reached out to see if they offered branding and web services. They did, but I looked into another local vendor for a point of comparison. Even though the other firm’s quote was a fraction of Y5 Creative’s, the latter showed a better understanding of my project. They were excited about the partnership and invested in the product I was looking to build.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent between $70,000–$80,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from around February–September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My business is still in its early stages, so I don’t have any hard metrics. Anecdotally, I’ve received positive feedback on Y5 Creative’s branding and design strategies. Whenever I run into an issue, their team is quick to troubleshoot and fix the problem.

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They approached my project holistically, and their team was helpful and responsive. Overall, it was a great experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like that they’re a boutique company. They were genuinely excited about the work, which was self-validating. This was a very special project for me, and I felt comfortable leaving it in their hands. I knew that I could trust them to take it seriously and do their best work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because I was starting this company on my own, I trusted their judgment with many aspects of the project. I agreed to the initial quote, but near the end of the project, the Y5 Creative team informed me that they’d gone over their hours by quite a bit. They didn’t communicate this to me until it was too late, then they charged me for the extra costs. With that said, they were very helpful in working out a payment deal.

Also, I appreciated that they had a copywriter on staff, but she left. I’m not sure if they hired a new one.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company trains people who work at heights on how to self-rescue from large structures and boom lifts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Y5 Creative?

I first approached Y5 Creative with nothing at all. I knew what our business would do and what we needed to convey to our customers. We hired Y5 Creative to create our initial branding and take it all the way forward. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Y5 Creative designed our company's branding from the ground up. They pulled together a complete package. Going through several iterations, they designed our website and logo. We had sit-down meetings for the discovery sessions so they could learn about out our company's identity and the image we hoped to project to customers. They listened to our goals and took note of specific things to exclude. Based on these findings, they presented a set of logo and website format options to choose from.  I wrote all the content because it's quite technical, and they defined how it should look and feel. 

Y5 Creative also created print sales assets like information booklets, business cards, and other collateral. They've helped with vinyl printing and some of the logos inside my facility. The signs feature taglines and information I want clients to know about when we're training them. The team sourced the vinyl, installers, and designers as they handled the entire process. 

What is the team composition? 

I worked mainly with Carol (Creative Director and Creative Branding Specialist, Y5 Creative), Phillip (Senior Web Developer, Y5 Creative), and Natasha (Senior Graphic Designer, Y5 Creative). 

How did you come to work with Y5 Creative?

I considered other providers in the area based on the end results they had delivered to past customers. I wanted clean designs that were not too busy. Y5 Creative's style worked with what I wanted to project. Based on our meeting, they were a good fit and seemed to listen attentively. They gave me the impression they could deliver exactly what I wanted. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent upwards of $15,000 including the printing costs. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since May 2017, and our work is still ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Many people have told me the new website Y5 Creative designed for us is the best digital platform they've ever seen. Our customers have given us exclusively good feedback about the branding. Since they did this branding from the ground up, I don't have quantitative metrics to attribute. 

How did Y5 Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was fantastic. Y5 Creative completed everything we needed within the timeframes they set out. All the designs they delivered were even better than what I had envisioned. I'm very satisfied with the work they’ve done for us.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

I spent a long time in the military in special operations and am often disappointed with how people work in the civilian world. Unlike many vendors, Y5 Creative does things right, fulfills our requirements, and delivers what they've promised. 

They've exceeded my expectations, which is the best thing I can say about them. I rarely meet people like them who perform better than I anticipated, and Y5 Creative certainly has. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can't imagine being upset with any of their work. I am pleased with everything Y5 Creative has done so far.