Atelier LKS

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the office manager for Peak Pediatric Care. Our office is located out of Massachusetts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Atelier LKS?

We were a brand new office. We hired them to do our website and branding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Atelier LKS did our logo, business cards, website, and more. They came up with the whole branding of our business. We initially described in detail the colors, tones, and logos that we liked and why. We had a great conversation, and they quickly understood everything. They had some great feedback and suggestions for us to work with.

Also, they built the website on WordPress. The site's purpose was to explain the practice to patients, especially new patients who looked us on the site. We had a lot of features that weren’t usually on a pediatric website. We had a symptom checker where parents could put in what’s wrong with their child to get information. Also, all of our intake forms were done online so parents wouldn’t have to do it in the office. We explained that we wanted to be a bit different, and they ran with it.

What is the team composition?

Laura (Executive Creative Director) was the owner and lead designer. She had an assistant, but Laura was our primary contact.

How did you come to work with Atelier LKS?

I searched on Google and came across their Instagram page. I was immediately attracted to their previous work, and we had a great initial conversation. At that point, I didn’t even look at anyone else; we went with Atelier LKS immediately.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2021 and wrapped up the project in February 2022. At this point, we’re doing maintenance and are still in contact. We'll definitely work with them again if we have other things to work on.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did a great job integrating all the features into the website, and it’s been a huge hit. The feedback has been fantastic, and the branding is just spot-on. They designed the wall in our office, and it has been popular with every family that comes in. Also, we’ve run with the logo, and now we have it on everything. After a couple of months, it’s being noticed all around town.

How did Atelier LKS perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was excellent. We used email, Zoom, phone calls, and Loom. They also had a scheduling app to schedule time to talk to them, and we met in person multiple times. Overall, we communicated back and forth during the whole process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They listened and understood what we were saying. We had a vision in our head, but then they bounced back additional thoughts. We thought that we had a clear idea of what our business would be, but we worked with Atelier LKS for two months to nail down that vision. They allowed us to see our business in a way that we hadn’t seen before. We never expected it, but it changed things for the better and gave us a clearer picture.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I had no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be willing to take the time to do the work yourself. It’s not just hiring them and walking away until they’re done with it. We had a lot of back and forth, and we had to sit down and think about our business in a way we hadn’t thought of. If you put that time and effort in, it’ll pay for itself.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

LifeStarr (https://www.lifestarr.com)provides apps, community and education to solopreneurs. I am the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Atelier LKS, and what were your goals?

Our website was fine. But it looked like everyone else's. We are doing something special but you wouldn't know it from our website. The goal was to have a website that reflected the energy, excitement and uniqueness of what we are doing.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with Laura in the mid-2000s on a website at a company I had started and since sold. It was a good experience. I then hired her to create the logo for LifeStarr. She listened to what I wanted and gave a bunch of drafts but also included one that she thought would work for us. We picked hers.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Laura designed the home page and provided graphics that were implemented by someone else, though I believe she would have done it all if we were using WordPress (we use HubSpot for web hosting). We then used the design concepts to build the rest of the site, and then Laura reviewed each page and recommended changes as needed.

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

One. Laura is a solopreneur.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site is amazing.

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

Laura communicates very well live (Zoom) but even better when she reflects and produces Loom videos with feedback. She listens well but will always gently let you know when she thinks you are off track. She's usually right.

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

Laura has studied her craft extensively and has improved herself year-after-year. She has original ideas that you won't find anywhere else. She has an eye for detail and a respect for the impact that great design can have on the subliminal reaction to any given thing.

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

She is busy and sometimes scheduling a meeting can take more time than us "I want to talk right now" types prefer :-)

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is Axalane; we do technology marketing for cyber security companies. It’s a small, single-person shop. I started the business about three and a half years ago, and I do pretty much everything from engaging with clients to the hands-on creation of various technical marketing content and deliverables.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Atelier LKS?

In the beginning, I bootstrapped the company; now that it’s more mature, I wanted to give it a professional look and formalize the brand system in terms of color palette, fonts, and so on.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started by taking a look at my brand story. We discussed how I described the company and what we do from the perspective of potential buyers, which was very helpful. From there, Atelier LKS went into the visual brand identity. They helped me ease out what I was looking for and came up with compelling design options. It was quite difficult to pick one because they were all so good.

The project’s main purpose was the visual design of the brand identity, but they also developed some related items. We kept the same name, but they did the logo. Once we figured out the core brand identity, we started to put it into use with other assets, such as business cards.

Their creative process was well thought out, and we appreciated that they provided helpful information and had a very structured approach. They sent me an online tool to take my time to put my thoughts into the process. Then, they took that input and incorporated it into their work.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Laura (Executive Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Atelier LKS?

I became familiar with them a while ago because we were located in the same area — I’m always interested in local people who can potentially collaborate with me. I searched for designers and came across their website at some point, but I didn’t have an immediate need. When the time came some months later, I remembered them and went back to my bookmarks.

How much have you invested with them?

The initial project was $2,350.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September–November 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still rolling out the brand, so it’s still early to measure the impact. Nonetheless, the feedback has been great. The people I’ve shared it with have given positive feedback about the level of quality and professionalism that it gives to my business. 

Overall, it was a unique process, and it was a lot better than other design engagements I’ve had in the past. Atelier LKS exceeded my expectations, and they gave 100% on their performance.

How did Atelier LKS perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was well organized. They had a mature system to make the project go smoothly and efficiently. The timing for delivery was excellent; if there were any delays, they were on my part. In general, Atelier LKS was timely and stuck to the budget.

We mostly communicated over email. At a pivotal point in the project, we also had an in-person meeting to review the design concepts and discuss them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Often, you can find people that are good designers, but they don’t understand your business, or conversely, they can help you with strategy and messaging, but they don’t have design skills. One unique thing about working with Atelier LKS was that Laura had an excellent blend of those skills.

She took the time to understand my business and how I wanted it to come across in the marketplace, but she combined that with great design skills and sensibility. She was able to execute what I was looking for from a visual standpoint. In summary, Atelier LKS had people with expertise that extended beyond design. They looked at the entire picture and tied it with the visual branding, which is rare among similar companies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing jumped out at me; everything went smoothly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

One of the things that worked well for me was their approach. They took the time to sit me down and make me think about my goals and how my business should be communicated. Therefore, if you’ll engage with Atelier LKS, make sure you have the time and willingness to sit down and think about what you’re trying to accomplish instead of expecting them to parachute in and have all the answers.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and president of Wisdom for Good, a retreat program for adults that helps them with their personal formation and allows them to explore moral goodness and human flourishing to build meaningful lives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Atelier LKS?

As we were a new organization, we needed a range of services. Firstly, we needed someone to do our branding in a way that effectively represented what we were trying to do. Additionally, we needed to build out our web presence and overcome the challenges of getting people to understand what we did.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Atelier LKS did the entire branding around our retreat program, including the website development and logo design. They’ve also created all the visual elements needed to communicate with prospective stakeholders, clients, and partners.

What is the team composition?

I’m mainly in contact with Laura (Executive Creative Director). She is the project lead and a creative genius.

How did you come to work with Atelier LKS?

I looked at a couple of different companies that could help us create our logo and, hopefully, build a web presence. A colleague of mine who had worked with Atelier LKS recommended them, and I selected them after a discussion with Laura.

I evaluated some of her work and thinking, and it all resonated with me. She quickly understood what I was trying to do, and she was tremendously creative. Atelier LKS is local to us, which has been beneficial even though we’ve conducted everything remotely.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since our business is relatively new, we don’t have a lot of statistics to share. However, I’m now in a position to communicate what we do to prospective clients and partners. The feedback on our logo and our website’s setup, flow, and information has been great. Now, everyone has it clear what we do, and they think that we have a gorgeous website that tells them exactly what they need to know. We hit the nail on the head.

How did Atelier LKS perform from a project management standpoint?

Atelier LKS is very timely and communicative. Creative work like this requires a lot of responsibility from the client’s side. For example, I’ve had to review their drafts. However, they’ve helped me stay on top of the game.

I’m very impressed with Laura’s methods; she’s very systematic in her work. She has put a fair amount of work on my hands, which is a good thing because, that way, we’re using my voice and vision.

Our back and forth has been very efficient, but not at the expense of creativity. Whenever we’ve had an iteration, and something could be done in two different ways, Atelier LKS has presented both.

We communicate mostly via email, and we share files. Additionally, Laura initially took me through a structured process that required me to do work in a timely way. Having that structure has made it so much easier for me to accomplish what I’m responsible for.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve hired a lot of agencies and creative organizations over the years. Atelier LKS’ combination of excellent listening skills and impressive creativity makes them stand out from the rest.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wouldn’t change what Atelier LKS has done. I’m very pleased with their process, price, and timeliness. They’ve delivered creative outputs and great work quality, and if I had to do everything again, I would do it the same way.

I’ve given Laura some technical feedback on the structured process, but I wouldn’t change anything other than that. It’s a great process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Many clients think they can outsource work and completely ignore it until the final product comes around. However, you get a lesser quality outcome doing that. Follow Laura’s lead, do your work, and keep up the pace.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a pet-themed lifestyle brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Atelier LKS, and what were your goals?

To establish a visual brand identity and logo, and a cohesive online presence and website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

It's been a few years now, but I conducted an online search, as well as word of mouth, and narrowed it to 3 or 4 candidates. I met with them and saw quotes. The sample work by Atelier LKS stood out as being much more creative and unique than any of the others, which ultimately made my decision easy.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Laura and I met a couple of times to discuss my goals for the brand and for her to get a feel for my style and what I was looking for. She then provided me with multiple options to choose from and adjust if necessary (which is great, because I usually need options!), and we ultimately settled on a logo and brand identity. She then extended that and created an engaging and easy to use website.

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

It was just Laura.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I initially hired Atelier LKS to help brand my greeting card company. Part of the logo Laura created was so well-received that I started putting it on apparel and pet products. Every day in my retail store I get numerous compliments on it and people who come into the shop because they see and like the logo. I'd say that definitively demonstrates success.

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

I'm very satisfied with our communication. Laura now often uses computer screen videos to help explain and demonstrate certain things, and I find them very helpful.

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

Laura's interest in getting to know me initially to really understand my personality and what I was trying to convey with the brand. She clearly felt that was important to creating the right brand image, and it definitely showed in the result. She's done that with all other steps we've taken together. That and her overall creativity are the things I've been most impressed with all along.

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

None that come to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the External Affairs Lead of Diverse Charter Schools Coalition

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Diverse Charter Schools Coalition supports the movement of schools working toward true integration by founding new schools, developing new models of peer-to-peer learning and gathering leaders of this burgeoning field.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Atelier LKS to accomplish?

• Create content for our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Atelier LKS?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Atelier LKS over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Atelier LKS’s team?

1 Employee

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

Atelier updated various sections of our website including editing copy for clarity and brevity, adding functions like buttons and videos, and created infographics.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Updated website

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

Atelier LKS was responsive and thorough, and they worked hard to meet our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Atelier LKS?

Virtual Meeting

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

I appreciated how Atelier works with us to share our message in a way that is compelling.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

President and CEO of SkinPros.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Atelier LKS?

Website design and implementation of whole array of amazing branding by Atelier LKS

SOLUTION

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

We looked around for local companies and larger corporations, the accessibility, care, and prompt attention to our needs made us immediately compatible. The quality of her projects was outstanding!

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Logo design, branding guidelines, website design, content creation, latest phase e-commerce.

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

The Atelier team led the project seamlessly!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was as if she could read our minds, excellent beginning to end.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless!

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

We met and she could read my goals and put ideas into art. It has been an unbelievable translation of my dream project concept into an online format.

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

Excellent team!