Bright Bright Great

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a plumbing, HVAC, lighting, and electrical distribution company. At the time that we did business with Bright Bright Great, I was the general manager for Chicago operations.

What challenges were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

 They helped with website development. We had an existing website that our corporate office developed. However, we didn’t have a way to customize our website and provide information specific to the Chicago locations.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed two new websites for us, one for our contractors and business clients and one for the average consumer. The contractor’s website included access to a password-protected portal for resources such as sales tax resale certificates and credit applications. 

The consumer website included necessary information about our products, local rebates, and a tool for finding contractors by zip code. 

They built the websites using WordPress, so it was easy for us to update the websites ourselves. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a product manager and Jason (Creative Director & Partner). There were also a few people in development behind the scenes. 

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

We’d worked with them previously. We had to get approval from our corporate partners, but Jason talked to them, and they felt comfortable with us moving forward on the project. 

How much have you invested in them?

We spent about $80,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together about ten years ago, probably around 2011. The project took about six months. We continued to update the websites for several years until corporate caught up and provided us with more robust official websites. 

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

They set up the websites so we could track our web traffic analytics. Anytime we updated something on the website, we tracked how much engagement we saw. Our business clients were interested in the website and how we did it. Many of them wanted to talk to Bright Bright Great about developing their own websites. 

We were getting people’s attention and saw a lot of customers visiting our websites. 

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated via email, and we had biweekly in-person meetings. I think they used Basecamp to track the project. They were very collaborative and did a great job guiding us through the process. They didn’t tell us what we needed. Instead, they helped guide us through the process and figure out what would work best for our business. The process was educational. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

There were no surprises. We always knew what to expect. They always met our expectations. There were a lot of things we didn’t know about development, but they did a great job educating us and remaining transparent. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think we had any obstacles along the way, so there’s nothing they could have done differently. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in and leave your ego at the door. Let them guide you. They’re patient, and they’ll help you understand what you need. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a one-man-band. I have a classical music publishing website where I compose and sell music. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

I had no idea how to get a website done and what design was effective for my customers to ensure ease of navigation in my website and other things. As a result, I hired Bright Bright Great to set up everything for me. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

They gave me a survey at the beginning to gauge what my tastes were. From there, we narrowed down what I liked and what I was thinking for the company. It ended up being a powerful image of what I was thinking for my website. The team used Shopify and they helped me design aspects of my platform including the product title pages. 

Each product had its own tab end-users could click on.  They also loaded all the products into my platform and set up a future template for music that I plan to sell on my website. Furthermore, they taught me how to use the Shopify platform including where to check my sales. 

Over the months we worked together, they got my website up and running. I have been selling music since the platform was completed. They also designed a logo for my company and even used and bought a font for my website

What is the team composition?

I worked with Amy (Creative Director). She was my primary contact.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

I work at a university and the university had almost hired them for something. As a result, they were on my radar, so I knew they passed all the vetting from the university and that they were a great company. I contacted Bright Bright Great in early July and we started working together very quickly after that. When I asked them to help me design my website, they agreed to do it. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent right around $45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from July 2020–January 2021.

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

With the website, I got sales with the people who found it. Without really expanding anything on marketing yet, I was able to sell much which was really good. Overall, everything had been successful.

For someone who had no idea what I needed and wanted, they were an absolutely incredible company that took me from the very first step of even just assessing my own aesthetic.  They made me understand things and it couldn’t have been a more fun process. 

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided immediate responses to any questions or changes that we wanted to make. I did things slowly and got things in order on my own. In terms of project management, I don’t think there was necessarily a tool. More often than not, they were waiting for me to get them the things that they needed from me. More importantly, they met deadlines consistently and well ahead of time. 

We typically communicated through email, and sometimes we also collaborate through phone calls, especially if things were time-sensitive. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We felt working with them was very personal. I didn’t feel like I was 1 out of 250 projects that were going on at once. I felt that they were very focused and I was surprised by how much communication we had and how they answered all of my questions, even the silly ones. 

Above all, the product ended up way better than I could’ve imagined and I think that’s why people buy and spend money on professionals because they know what they are doing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I didn’t think we had difficulties that came up in the project. We had a smooth collaboration. They were incredibly nice people to work with and very responsive. Overall, I have no complaints. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask questions because they’ll happily answer them and guide you in better directions every time. Take advantage of their expertise. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Black Spectacles. We do online test prep for architects.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We were building a new brand identity. We already had a name, but we needed to expand that into a full identity. The second part was their creation of our art direction, including the look and feel of the website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

In a simple way, we came to them with a business idea and a name. First, they developed our logo and collateral around that. They also put together a brand guideline document and visual brand identity. Then, they moved on to designing a few pages for our website.

What is the team composition?

I worked with four of their teammates.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

I’d worked with them for over 10 years at this point. They were responsive when we reached out to them about this project, while other agencies gave us the runaround or never responded at all. They’ve always delivered really good work for us. We had a lot of confidence and security in knowing that we were going to get something really good. It takes a while to get to that point with an agency.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $50,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August until November 2020.

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

We haven’t launched the brand to the public (it’s going to be live in a few months) so we don’t have metric-based feedback yet. We’ve been trying to get press an PR coverage of the site, and right now, the website literally one page with the logo and a few paragraphs. It’s very minimal, but the brand identity is so strong and of such high quality that people are betting on it. It gives us credibility. We’ve started to get some press, as well as some notable press that is expected to come out in the next few weeks in a major industry publication.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a good, satisfactory job.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their quality of visual design stood out to me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their project management a little bit. Design is difficult to wrangle, at times. Timelines are tight.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure your key stakeholders are involved in the design process so that everyone on your team is invested in the work they do.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder or owner of a startup juice concept.

For what projects/services did your company hire Bright Bright Great?

We needed help to create a logomark and brand.

What were your goals for this project?

They were to create a design that is unique, exciting, and in line with the message of our company's concept.

How did you select this vendor?

BBG had previously done a similar project for my wife's business and was very impressed with the level and quality of their work. There was a creative story behind each design proposal and they really take the time to educate themselves on what their clients want.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The process began with discovery and strategic planning. Discovery involves understanding and learning more about our company. Strategic planning is the organization of the process. Then we went to the design phase which produced several awesome designs but really nailed on their final design. Each design had its own story which in their own way had some influence on the final outcome.

What was the team composition?

It included the president, project manager, and designers.

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

They really nailed with the direction in which we want the brand to go. Their creativity and wealth of ideas are amazing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had weekly communication(Email/Zoom/Phone calls) with the project manager, design team & president. If I had questions, there would be a response within a couple of hours via email. They treated the project as if they were designing it for themselves.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed with the attention to detail and their commitment to the scope of work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Improvement is something we all should strive for and this company is always pushing the envelope. We look forward to growing with them as we move into our next phase.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-founder of a healthcare provider company, which is a membership-based, network of integrative healthcare providers.

For what projects/services did your company hire Bright Bright Great?

We needed help in developing our brand from the beginning. We need to create an online presence and establish a fully-functioning website. The website design was crucial to the public's ability to join our network, and to quickly understand the benefits of membership.

Keeping front- and backend needs running smoothly was a challenge BBG really helped with. We had a lot of information to share and needed to make sure it was delivered clearly and simply. BBG made it look beautiful on top of making it work smoothly.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted people to learn about our integrative healthcare providers and treatments, and then we wanted them to sign up for monthly memberships. Memberships from individuals as well as healthcare professionals drove the business.

How did you select this vendor?

We chose BBG after a team meeting with them. They were one of three vendors we interviewed for the project.

They were referred to us through a colleague. BBG's openness to our ideas and input plus the obvious understanding they had of our goals was important. They were in the price range of the other two vendors, but their creative ideas blew the others away.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

This was a startup, so we needed help with the company brand. They created and developed the company logo, icon, and website. They also designed business cards and social media profiles.

It was a very collaborative process. BBG was always willing to listen to and address any ideas and/or additions we might have had. Communication was frequent and clear. Online project management software was very helpful.

What was the team composition?

The team was made up of BBG's creative director and three designers. Each designer was working on specific aspects of the project, and CD was overseeing it all. They also had a projected manager keeping tabs on hours and costs.

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

Really positive feedback from both individual and professional members of our company. The design elements really helped to define the spirit and goals of the company. The design elements surpassed our expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used Basecamp and phone calls and emails to communicate at least a couple of times per week. The online tools kept the need for phone calls to a minimum. When phone calls did happen, they were direct and to the point. BBG was always open to feedback and asked questions to clarify when needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Leadership at BBG is key. Jason has a good handle on the skills of each of his team members. He also knows how much to be directly hands-on. The team's creativity is amazing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Keep up the good work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior creative director at a nonprofit company that helps students get from education to career.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We had a website that needed to updated, so we brought them in to help us with adding new sections to the website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, the team conducted user research to better understand our audience. Bright Bright Great then collaborated with us to set up a new podcast section for our website.

We already had an idea of what we wanted it to look like; the team just translated it into the design and came up with the functionality of the actual pages. They also set up a resource center for our network.

What is the team composition?

We work with multiple teammates, usually more than two. 

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

After conducting a search for top web firms, we compiled a list and Bright Bright Great came up on top of the list. We then interviewed them and felt that they were the right fit for us. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in October 2019, and it’s ongoing.

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

The feedback and data we received from the user research were incredibly helpful. From the podcast section they incorporated, we’ve received some good traction. Having that tool up has been good for our company, creating awareness and providing a channel for us to reach our audience.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done very well. We communicate via email, phone, and Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a good personal touch. It’s clear that everyone from all parts of the team is interested in helping us accomplish our goals. Additionally, we appreciate their willingness to communicate openly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be specific with your requests and know ahead of time what you want to achieve. Even if you don’t have everything outlined in advance, Bright Bright Great does a good job of handling that. Not only do they provide the design, but they also help you understand your user base very well.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My organization is a nonprofit charter school serving pre-K through eighth-grade scholars throughout Chicago. We primarily serve students and families in areas that are underserved, so we provide a public education option for those families with no tuition.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We performed a complete website redesign with their team.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled everything from research to implementing our entire website identity. The service was really full-stack, including everything from UX/UI mapping and all of our creative assets to full development of the layout and features of the site.

We provided them with our existing brand guidelines and color scheme, but they had total autonomy over evolving that into the website. They presented us with several different options on how we could implement it and we worked together iterating back and forth from there.

What is the team composition?

There was one main project manager, though that person changed during the course of the project. After that point, we worked with Amy (Creative Director), and she was absolutely fantastic.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

We were looking for a vendor who could refresh our website and bring it into the 21st century. In the process, we narrowed down from many different options to three and ended up going with BBG because of the portfolio of projects that they had and the fact that their team followed up quickly and were really engaged from the beginning.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around March 2019 and are continuing the project.

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

Overall, the amount of traffic to our site significantly increased due to the work that they delivered for us, including in total number of users, number of sessions per user, and average duration of sessions. They hit all of our goals, and we have been totally pleased with the quality of the work that we have seen from them.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

Even with the turnover that we had in the project, they always communicated clearly to us about what to expect and how to move forward. After that point, things only improved over the course of the process.

Working with Amy is one of the biggest reasons I would recommend BBG so highly. She was very intelligent, very well-spoken, understood our needs and point of view, and was able to advocate for us in every way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The artistry they bring to their work stands out as truly unique among other companies in their space. They have amazing creative ability when it comes to the designs they deliver.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m not sure that there’s anything that sticks out to me that they could really improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear about your expectations for the project and what they can expect from you. That will set you up for the most successful project possible.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of Hummer Mower Associates. We’re an investment advisory financial planning firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We started a new company and needed a creative agency to set us apart in an industry where everybody looks, talks, and acts the same. We had to create a whole new image but also needed to maintain the feeling of our legacy firm. Rather than a rubber stamp, we wanted creativity poured into the project to be proud of our website and collateral pieces.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We tasked Bright Bright Great with creating a unique message for our new company. Their team created the look and feel to appeal to a whole new generation of investors. Their team designed our website, logo, and collateral. We created the copy for the site, but they came up with ideas that we smoothed over. Their team was responsible for all of our website’s creative elements, which another service provider built out.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager and Jason, who’s the head of the organization, was involved. They had a larger team of 8 or so people but I felt that we worked with a team of three.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

The organization that manages our middle and back office worked with Bright Bright Great and recommended them. It made it easy for me to work with an existing team. We interviewed them and checked their work, which we liked. We saw that they had the creative talent that we needed but it was nice to know that the firm that does our middle back office recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $45,000–$50,000 for their work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Bright Bright Green in June 2017. They completed the project in early 2018.

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

Bright Bright Great provided outstanding graphic design work. Their team developed an iconic logo that has worn well. We get compliments on the logo and the website all the time. The company that does our middle back office manages 90 teams and they’ve told us that we have the best website.  Bright Bright Great really delivered and their work has stood up well. Our clients really like our image. Their team put a lot of time and effort into the project. They gave us a lot of choices, which they helped us narrow down. Their team helped us make the right one. We were really happy.

How did Bright Bright Green perform from a project management standpoint?

Bright Bright Great had us on a good timeline and kept us on track. Their team was competent and patient with us. This is a creative team dealing with a bunch of financial folks and they went above and beyond to get us to understand the process. Their team ensured they got what they needed from us because we had to give our input along with compliance. This was a disruptive time for us and Bright Bright Great delivered. I didn’t have to worry about them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bright Bright Great had a high standard of professionalism. Their creativity and project management skills were strong.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they delivered at a good price. We’ve had no complaints about their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be patient. Listen and understand what they’re doing. It’s important to understand what they’re doing because people tend to think they know everything. They’re trying to understand your business and bring a creative element to it. Their team was patient when helping us to understand the process. We had to take a leap of faith, which they managed well.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at Ardmore Roderick, a civil engineering and consulting firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

We recently went through a merger and had done some rebranding with another agency. However, we were unhappy with their work and hired Bright Bright Great to take over.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’d already created a new logo, but we had Bright Bright Great redevelop and redesign our website and help with some marketing collateral. They led the work; we didn’t provide any wireframes or sketches. They made the site and collateral cohesive, all fitting under one brand and style. The new website has the same functionality as the old, but it looks a lot different. We worked together to decide what features we wanted, then Bright Bright Great created a resume template and case studies for showcasing our different projects.

They had a photographer take professional headshots of our executive team and pictures of our office to reflect our company culture and identity. The graphic designer worked with our team, and we provided a few edits to her designs. Bright Bright Great also developed an internal portal for company employees, allowing them to easily access their emails, human resources documents, etc.

What is the team composition?

We worked with different people depending on the phase we were in. We had one main point of contact and also worked with a photographer, graphic designer, and project manager who oversaw all tasks.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

One of our employees referred them. I looked at their portfolio and reviews, liked what I saw, and hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–September 2018.

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

We’ve received nothing but positive feedback about the site. Our employees love the internal portal, saying it’s much easier to have all of their resources in one place.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

They directed us well and kept the project running smoothly and on time. The project manager set an aggressive but possible pace. We used Asana for QA and general communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bright Bright Great is much better than our previous partner. They listened to what we said and found solutions to our problems, developing product that exactly met our criteria. I trust them whole-heartedly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they have excellent communication and customer service.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Trust their process and follow their lead. They’ll keep you going in the right direction.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative director of a computer software firm. We provide our clients with sales enablement software. I oversee the website and manage our brand identity.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bright Bright Great?

Our company has been around for six or seven years and recently gained a lot of momentum. Having just launched a U.S. headquarters, we decided it was a good time for a global rebrand. We have a lot of in-house designers, but wanted to find a partner that could lead the rebranding project and focus their efforts on building a new website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we researched user personas to define our audience and tone of voice accurately. Then, we came to Bright Bright Great with our findings to create the project’s foundation. They built upon that foundation to establish new design systems like fonts, colors, photo libraries, icons, and other illustrations. The project went through a few rounds of design iteration where they presented five options to our leadership team. We already had a new logo, so they worked to build elements that complemented our vision.

Ultimately, Bright Bright Great delivered our website’s frontend design. Their efforts included designing a custom font for our brand. They’re responsible for defining the different design aspects we moved forward with as the project progressed.

What is the team composition?

We worked with both owners of the company, one of which functions as the creative director. An account manager was also attached to all of our correspondence and would help schedule everything. Additionally, we interacted with a senior art director and serval graphic designers. They later handed the project over to their WordPress developer.

How did you come to work with Bright Bright Great?

We engaged an extensive RFP process and sent it out to companies all over the world. We sourced agency recommendations from 10 of our internal designers and vetted them thoroughly. We specifically looked for firms that had experience working with companies similar to ours. Eventually, we found Bright Bright Great through the American Institute of Graphic Arts. They fit our needs in terms of size, location, and experience. We were impressed by their portfolio and saw how their work could be translated into our brand. We considered five candidates in total, but our leadership selected Bright Bright Great because of their thorough response to the RFP document.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to $100,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The bulk of the project took place between April and August 2018. While essentially complete, they’re still helping us polish a few minor things before the site’s official launch.

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

The site hasn’t launched yet, so I can’t offer any specific metrics. However, I can safely say that Bright Bright Great’s work has been positively received throughout our agency. Our executive-level staff considers the rebrand a new era for the company. The new designs put us above our industry competitors. We’re incredibly excited to unveil their deliverables to the public.

How did Bright Bright Great perform from a project management standpoint?

Like any project of this size, some things are going to fall through the cracks. But they always correct their mistakes within a matter of hours. We use Asana to communicate and organize the QA process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bright Bright Great really stood out to us in terms of responsiveness and flexibility. They go above our expectations and respond to daily emails within seconds. They also adjusted to our needs as the project evolved and worked on deliverables outside of the original scope of work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like to see them acquire a wider variety of full-time resources. It would’ve been nice to have an assigned UX designer and illustrator. Luckily, we have a lot of internal resources at our disposal, so this issue didn’t negatively impact our engagement in a meaningful way.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They offer a cost-effective way to build a new website. For maximizing the engagement and results, you may consider bringing in additional resources for things like specialized illustrations as needed.