BatesMeron Sweet Design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Creative Services Director of K12 Coalition

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

At K12 Coalition, we are dedicated to equipping educators with world-class products and services ranging from teacher certification and professional development to expert consulting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BatesMeron Sweet Design to accomplish?

• Curriculum Branding
• Web Page Branding
• Collateral Branding

SOLUTION

How did you find BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Referral

Why did you select BatesMeron Sweet Design over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Creativity in their Portfolio

How many teammates from BatesMeron Sweet Design were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We tasked Bates Meron to create a brand identity for our RISE Summer Learning Program as well as our RedThread Curriculum. These two projects needed a clear brand identity that were distinct, yet still could exist in the same product family. 

Key Deliverables:

• Color Palette
• Iconography
• Illustrations
• Web Pages
• Brochures
• Photography Guidelines

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• We needed a clear brand strategy
• Brand Guidelines
• Creative Illustrations
• Completed Web Page Designs and in some cases development

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

When I think of Amy at Bates Meron she has to be one of the best people I have ever worked with. She is a very organized project manager who communicates quickly, but is also an extremely good listener. Bates Meron become more of a partner and felt almost like our own in-house design team. Working with the entire team is a joy and I actually look forward to our online meetings. They always bring their very best and collaborating with this is magical. 

What was your primary form of communication with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Excellent Communication
• Brilliant Illustration
• Unbelievable Attention to Detail
• Always on time
• Fun to work with

Are there any areas for improvement or something BatesMeron Sweet Design could have done differently?

No notes. 10/10 would highly recommend. I have learned so much for working with them. They are true thought partners. I could not do my job as well without them!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of sales and marketing at MSI Data. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We worked with BatesMeron Sweet Design on a website refresh project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we started working with BatesMeron Sweet Design, they already had their process in place. They learned about our organization, employees, industry, customers, and partners. From there, we had micro-sessions that touched on our colors, branding, and tone. We looked through many website design samples and options. On top of that, they had a session with our senior leadership and executives to have a well-rounded approach before we moved forward with the proposed model.

From there, they helped with everything in terms of web design and development. They put the designs and mock-ups on Figma. They gave us access to it to review their work so we could stick to our aggressive timeline. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with around four teammates, including an account manager and a designer. 

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We checked a few website creation companies. BatesMeron Sweet Design was one of our preferred teams since we connected with them personally through an employee at our company. This made it easier and more comfortable for us to work with the team. We also went through an RFP process, and from an economic standpoint, BatesMeron Sweet Design’s services fit with our approved budget. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $65,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement started in February–August 2024. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone thought the website was great. 

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

BatesMeron Sweet Design was timely and quick to respond. They worked well as a team and enjoyed working together. They assigned an excellent group of people to our account. We primarily used Figma to interact. We also used emails and Microsoft Teams to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were great at communicating, which our team appreciated. Their collaboration in the design phase was also remarkable. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the beginning, they could’ve explained more about the project compared to our current site. We thought we understood some of the things they proposed but realized we weren’t clear on everything as we progressed through the project. This caused a bit of frustration and friction. We didn’t have much experience in website design, so they could’ve helped us review the full contract and deliverables in more detail. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work collaboratively and have a good communication strategy with BatesMeron Sweet Design. They’re quick to reply and always open to taking ad hoc meetings. It will be a lot of work — not everything gets outsourced to the team, and you’ll still do a lot of work. In other words, be ready for a big project. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run marketing for real estate developers and developments in the US. I manage the full suite of marketing for my clients, including social media, PR, website design, creative work, and all sorts of marketing-related tasks. Basically, I run a fractional CMO business, as I act as a fractional CMO for my clients.

My clients are always either real estate developers (clients that build commercial, industrial, or residential buildings) or the developments themselves (such as large-scale placemaking sites).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I needed help with website design and a creative refresh for one of my clients. One of the more challenging aspects of this project was that the company was based in Chicago and had offices in Asheville, North Carolina. Thus, we needed to figure out how to take the voices of both offices and their respective real estate development portfolios and put them under one brand voice. We needed to find a way to support them, organize them, and ensure that everything was connected smoothly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron has helped me update my client's preexisting website, which was obviously outdated. The project has taken about nine months in total, and the scope of work has included a complete redesign of the website to give it a modern and fresh look and feel. This scope has also included updating the copywriting.

In terms of technology, BatesMeron has used WordPress and a tremendous amount of backend technology. The site itself is pretty intricate in how it connects the different pages within it. Currently, their team provides maintenance and handles small fixes here and there.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with Becka (President), who has been present in all the key meetings; Todd (Account Manager), who still manages our ongoing website maintenance; and four other teammates whose names I don't recall. These teammates have been in charge of copywriting, web design, graphic design, and backend development, and they were present on our calls as needed.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I found them through a Google search. I'm very passionate about working with women-led companies, which in the real estate space are less than I would like. When we needed to create this website, I searched online for Chicago-based women-led companies with some sort of experience in real estate development. BatesMeron had worked with a construction company, so I contacted them. That's how we started our engagement.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $10,000–$50,000. I don't remember the exact amount, but it's closer to $40,000 or $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in Q3 2024, and our engagement is ongoing. Although we aren't actively working on web design anymore, we still have BatesMeron on a quarterly retainer for maintenance work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since launching the new website, we've received compliments. Although I know we're also getting more traffic, I'm not measuring it because the site is very young; we just launched it recently. Still, the team is very happy to have a more cohesive website.

Overall, BatesMeron's work quality has been excellent. From wireframing to website design, They've presented the look and feel of the pages beautifully; everything has been well-organized. Overall, working with BatesMeron has been great, and they continue to be responsive.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

BatesMeron has delivered on time and on budget. From the very start, their proposal was very competitive. Although we've ended up going slightly over budget, this has been due to something outside the original scope. However, when this happened, they came back with a fair budget, and we approved it; it was very smooth.

Moreover, BatesMeron offers very good communication. Our kick-off meeting was in person, which was very helpful. Since then, we've used Zoom or email to communicate, depending on what we need.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I love the entire BatesMeron team. They're genuinely a good team, as they're all very responsive, helpful, and proactive. They've been exactly what they said they were, which I appreciate. There have been no surprises, which is actually a very nice thing when working with a new partner. The diversity of work displayed on their website has been what they've been able to execute.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing they could improve on.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be straightforward about what you want, leave a bit of room in your budget for things you can't predict, and have honest conversations with them. Whenever we don't like something, we simply call them, and they come back to us with a solution. Nothing has ever been a problem.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Marketing Officer of K12 Coalition

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

K12 Coalition is a holding company of professional development businesses that help K-12 teachers and school leaders perform at their best.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BatesMeron Sweet Design to accomplish?

• Develop a bespoke visual identity system that can be applied across all of our businesses
• Design and develop websites
• Design marcom campaigns

SOLUTION

How did you find BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Clutch Site

Why did you select BatesMeron Sweet Design over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Talent

How many teammates from BatesMeron Sweet Design were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

We initially hired BatesMeron to develop a bespoke visual identity system, including a logo, that we can extend across each of our businesses. We have since used the agency for brand positioning strategy, website design, and a range of marcom campaigns/tactics. The relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

On-time, on-spec delivery of a beautiful and unique visual identity, along with strong marcom campaigns. The work has energized our employees as they witness the complete transformation of our brands.

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

Yes, excellent project management capabilities and a willingness to flex with changes in scope, deadlines, and budgets. They engage with us as a true partner.

What was your primary form of communication with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

BatesMeron's design capabilities are spectacular. And they have partnered exceptionally well with all of our people, including helping our in-house creative services team develop new skills and capabilities.

Are there any areas for improvement or something BatesMeron Sweet Design could have done differently?

Nope.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of Marketing and Communications of the nonprofit.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Nonprofit school management organization and education provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire BatesMeron Sweet Design to accomplish?

• Develop an updated brand book for us, including brand guidelines.
• Generate a positioning document for narrative and language.
• Support maternity leave and develop our CTA campaign.

SOLUTION

How did you find BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Online Search

Why did you select BatesMeron Sweet Design over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from BatesMeron Sweet Design were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Bates Meron led us through various design meetings, including multiple sessions in collaboration with our chief leadership team. They developed a positioning document to thoroughly explore the way we speak about our brand internally and externally. They created an updated brand guidelines document, a new version of our logo, and advised on how to use our brand elements effectively. Finally, they created collateral for a CTA campaign that included full backs on buses, print and digital media for CTA platforms, and bus tails.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a beautiful brand book and positioning document to guide our work into the future.

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

Items were delivered on time, communication and turnaround on revisions were both excellent. They were attentive without overstepping or bothering; I felt very supported.

What was your primary form of communication with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Most impressive was their in-person collaboration time; the experiences they set up for our team to reflect and navigate the direction of our brand were excellent.

Are there any areas for improvement or something BatesMeron Sweet Design could have done differently?

Not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Caxy Interactive, a software development company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We partner with BatesMeron to help us execute our clients’ projects. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron helps us provide web design services for our customers. They use Sketch and Adobe Photoshop. 

What is the team composition?

I work with their CEO, and around 2–3 people from their team usually work with us. 

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I was referred to BatesMeron by a common connection. 

How much have you invested with them?

Since 2021, we’ve spent around $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients are excited to bring BatesMeron’s designs to their end customers — that’s a success metric for me as their partner. 

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

BatesMeron is great at project management — they excel at it. Other companies simply focus on the work and don’t manage the project. By contrast, the BatesMeron resources are great communicators. They’re proactive when problems arise. In terms of tools, we use Slack and Basecamp. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They do a great job of coming up with ideas that we haven’t seen before in a thoughtful way. At the same time, they stay aligned with what the brand is trying to do and say — that can be tricky and a nuanced thing to do properly, especially with companies that don’t have a good idea about themselves. BatesMeron is great at sorting that problem out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The best thing you can do is to work with BatesMeron with a clean slate about what you want to do. Be open to new ideas, because they’ll challenge you and come up with a better way to do things. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager of a family-owned restaurant business, and we have several Middle Eastern Mediterranean restaurants in the Chicago area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We were looking to develop better branding, marketing, and messaging for our restaurants.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron helps us develop campaigns and strategies to introduce some of our branded products. We initially met up with them to discuss the scope of the work and provide them with the background on our restaurant’s history.

They then developed and implemented the branding and content strategy in place, and worked on the website. Once that was done, they moved to clean up the branding for our product packaging, and iterated several designs before going with the final output.

What is the team composition?

We work with about seven people from their team, and they consist of content writers, designers, and web developers. Our main point of contact is the project manager.

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

We were looking for top branding and marketing agencies in the Chicagoland area and came across BatesMeron

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in August 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have any specific metrics to share, but we’re really happy with the campaigns they develop for us. They’ve helped grow our sales revenue and also increase the traffic on our website.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great from a project management perspective. They’re very focused on handling each project and they respond promptly to our concerns.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed by the level of care they put into our partnership. We’re not just a number to them and they offer a lot of suggestions and tactics because they want us to succeed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As of right now, I can’t think of anything they could do differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise them to narrow down what they want and be more specific with what they’re looking to achieve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a tech startup focused on assisting women in the professional space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Our business challenge at the highest level is the achievement of gender parity. With BatesMeron, we needed help defining our brand and voice so we could connect with our target market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron defined our brand voice and outlined brand guidelines, including our fonts and colors. 

We started by having two in-depth consultation sessions where we completed some branding exercises. The first session was so the BatesMeron team could understand our vision and the second was so they could understand our product.

Both sessions helped them strategize about how to get the brand voice and the brand story out — they then sent that strategy back to my team and me. We had a few more branding sessions after that to continue to define our brand.  

We just launched our tech app globally, and we're working with the BatesMeron team to bring everything in-house. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Maggie (Former Senior Copywriter), Madeline (Designer), Becka (President), and Todd (Account Manager). After Maggie left our project, we worked with a junior copywriter. 

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I don't know much about the branding space, but everyone told me I needed to work with a good brand company. I was skeptical because anyone can say they're good at branding and marketing. 

In the end, a friend of mine who's been in the branding and marketing space for 30 years went through an exercise with me to find a branding company. She then did some backchanneling and BatesMeron stood out from the crowd — they're an award-winning firm. 

How much have you invested with them?

The project costs between $30,000–$39,000.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with BatesMeron in April 2021, and we will continue the partnership for the foreseeable future. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our team sends out a weekly, branded e-blast to all our users and we track metrics related to it. We've had a very high open rate on our emails, between 40%–50%.

Our UX/UI team has used the branding exercises we completed and the branding guidelines that we developed with BatesMeron to design our app's user interface. 

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I can call Todd at any time of the day, and we use Slack to communicate. We generally have a two-stage check-in. 

The graphic designer is very dedicated, and the president involves herself directly in our overall branding strategy. The president at BatesMeron provides a lot of personal attention to our project — I can reach out to her at any time and have a conversation about any topic. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I love that they're very passionate about their work. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It has been challenging to find good talent during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is even more challenging in the creative field, and I wish we could've had a better replacement for Maggie. 

She left our project in a good place, but I wish there was more continuity. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

My advice depends on what a client is hiring BatesMeron for. If it's just for graphic design and copy, clients should make sure to ask for Amy (Senior Account Manager & Project Manager) and Madeline — they're a great team. 

If the client is working with them to establish their brand voice and guidelines, as we did, they should work with Becka. However, she's often very busy and isn't always available. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is Rally Insurance Group. We specialize in insurance for collector cars and personal insurance for small businesses, and we are a team of five. We are independent agents and we partner up with different insurance companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

Half of our business caters to collector autos and half is for small businesses, and we were having this identity crisis. We built our brand revolving around collector autos, and many people had no idea we did anything else besides that. We were having trouble balancing these two different products with some things in common but were also very different.

We were co-branding with other insurance companies, and their idea of branding was to put our logo on the backside of a brochure, which wasn’t really doing much for us in terms of selling our brand. We were cross-selling to our existing auto collector clients and trying to let us quote their homes or businesses.

We needed to get our heads straight about how we approach things and what we were doing, and that brought me to decide that we needed professional branding help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BatesMeron Sweet Design helped us with two projects. The first was a branding project where they created a new design for our logos, letterhead, emails, and social media. Their design really pinpointed who we are, what we are, and what makes us stand apart from other agents.

The second project is incorporating the new branding into the new website that they are developing for us. Our website will be up and running probably sometime in March.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager and creative designers from BatesMeron Sweet Design. 

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

I was trying to find somebody for marketing, but I didn’t even know how to look for what I wanted. It took a while to narrow it down and figure out what I wanted. I found BatesMeron Sweet Designs by reading their reviews on Clutch. From that, I knew what I wanted.

I started talking to Becka (President) and Linda (Vice President) and let them know that I’m a small business. I was looking for somebody who can get these things accomplished for me, but I’m not a huge conglomerate with endless resources. At the end of the day, the biggest reason why I decided to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design was that I liked their work and their creativity.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with BatesMeron Sweet Design in May 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received our first branding document that didn’t need any revisions. They gave me about 15 pages of branding design, and out of those, only two things needed some adjustment.

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

BatesMeron Sweet Design assigned a project manager to me. We’ll have discovery phone calls with the creative team as well as Becka and Linda. If I have questions, I’ll course them through the project manager, and she gets back to me very promptly. There wasn’t a time that I need to ask them where we’re at and what’s happening.

After every meeting, they would inform us of what to expect and the timeline for it. They’ve always been true to their timelines. We had a couple of things that they had to change the date of delivery, but they’ve given me plenty of notice about the changes and explained what happened. They were also very good at walking me through what needs to be done and what to prioritize for the project.
 
What did you find most impressive about them?

BatesMeron Sweet Design would spend time to get to know our company in terms of how we approach insurance. They were spot on in interpreting our ideas. With team members of varying ages, we can’t seem to agree on anything, but when it comes to the design that they sent us, everybody liked what we got back. One of the best things is they’ve been great communicators. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. There hasn’t been anything that I found frustrating.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be upfront about all the different aspects of your project in order to have a better understanding of each other. Let BatesMeron Sweet Design know what you want, and they’ll tell you what they can do for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of a software solutions company for professional traders, creating technology to execute all aspects of cryptocurrency trading for large institutions. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

They helped us with an internal project to create a physical representation of our company values. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with them to conceive and create posters that serve as physical representations of our values. It’s a collaborative effort that’s been ongoing for several years. Each year, we require a brand new set of creative assets from them, targeted to a new theme. 

What is the team composition?

There are a handful of teammates collaborating on the project with our team. 

How did you come to work with BatesMeron Sweet Design?

They were referred to me by someone in my network. After some early successful general marketing work they completed, we placed them on this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

Over the last four years, we’ve spent over $50,000 with them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since around January 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Every year, they exceed our expectations and impress with their creative work. It’s been a great relationship. The office is delighted with the environment we’re creating through their work.  

How did BatesMeron Sweet Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re good with communication, using collaborative project management tools on their end. The head of the company communicates with me on a regular basis, even if it’s just to keep in touch. She picks up my texts and calls at any time, so I’m always in the loop on progress. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They produce creative designs, have a passion for helping clients, and bring enthusiasm to projects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We have a positive relationship because our team is putting effort into the relationship as well. In our industry, it can be difficult for outside agencies to get a true understanding of our company. That’s why fostering a close relationship is important, especially with complex brand projects. Make sure you’re putting the effort into educating them on your organization.