We brand unicorns.
Building a brand customers love is hard.
We'll guide you through our process to find your unique magic and bring it to life across the entire spectrum of touchpoints. From research and strategy to positioning, design, and development, C42D has you covered from start to finish - with the highest attention to detail, always.
Don't just take our word for it, read our reviews and see how we deliver for our clients every time.
Focus
Portfolio
Kindbody, YouTube, Shazam, Ogilvy, Mira, Reebok, Tone, Foundation Capital, The Corcoran Group, CGS Health, Brightline, OOVA
Kindbody
Kindbody came to us needing to get out of the gate fast with a planned NYC launch only months away. The challenge was to strategize, develop and bring to life the brand story and identity, and launch the brand and website in short order.
Shazam for Brands
Our task was to audit all sales tools, collaborate with the Shazam team to refine and evolve the story, create key visuals and a design system, and finally bring it all together with a comprehensive brand guide, presentation templates and a presentation usage guide.
Foundation Capital Website Design & Development
We created a contemporary architecture and user experience design that is consistent with the startup and VC landscape today. We deployed an intuitive and user-friendly CMS that the marketing team uses with ease to update content and manage leads. We created an improved UX that reflected the progressive and contemporary nature of the Foundation brand and implemented a platform for announcements and lead capture, enabling Foundation to maintain ongoing engagement with its followers.
Winq mobile app branding & UI/UX
In anticipation of its launch in the app store, Winq came to us to develop their brand identity and visual expression, and extend the work to the mobile app interface. We created a unique, expressive brand identity and mobile experience that was a clean and simple reflection of the elegance of the Winq mobile app.
YouTube Calendar
With many initiatives pending for the new year, YouTube needed a simple, engaging way to keep its brand top-of-mind with the planning community. We created a one-of-a-kind, physically interactive, dimensional calendar specifically for media planners and strategists—perfect for one of the original unicorns. And this was no any ordinary calendar. It was custom-crafted from a solid birch wood base carved with YouTube branding and holding twelve double-sided letterpress calendar cards.
Cuebiq Brand Relaunch
Cuebiq, a global leader in mobility and geospatial analysis, helps marketers answer their most pressing targeting and measurement questions via the industry’s most comprehensive understanding of the offline consumer journey.
Cuebiq needed to evolve its brand position, visual identity, and web presence to embrace its role as market leader, while still reflecting the values and direction of the brand.
We evolved Cuebiq’s current mark to be unique, ownable, and anchored in its core brand attributes. The resulting logotype uses a custom typeface to animate Cuebiq’s positivity and humanity. We extended that work into a new brand identity system and a rebuilt website experience.
View the full case study here.
Corcoran Group Brand Campaign & Website
We partnered with The Corcoran Group to create a direct response campaign targeting people who want to buy or rent a second home in The Hamptons.
We built a strategy that tapped into the emotional side of the business, by telling the stories of real people who escape NYC to the tranquility of their second homes.
We brought the stories of authentic people who live this lifestyle to life through a one-word action headline and photography that captures the unique emotion each person finds in the Hamptons. Under a tight timeline, we executed the campaign through a variety of channels: Print ads, videos, digital ads, social media content and a responsve microsite.
The result brought emotion and humanity to the Corcoran Group’s brand. Click-through rates exceeded the industry average by over 700%. View the full case study here.
Foundation Capital Corporate Identity Rebranding
One of Silicon Valley’s leading VC firms needed to update its branding to reflect it’s decades of unprecedented success. Foundation Capital needed an image that reflected its success, values, and its spectacular new Menlo Park headquarters.
The brand’s final logotype is one of the brand’s most recognizable assets and is rooted in the collaborative nature of its work. We created a comprehensive identity system that can flex to meet the needs of all brand touchpoints.
The entire project culminated in a successful relaunch of the Foundation Capital brand. Foundation remains one of the leading venture capital firm in the Valley, and we’re proud to have had a role in shaping the identity of one of the best.
Read the full case study here
Reviews
the project
Branding & Web Design for Premium Clothing Company
"C42D’s communication was good."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the co-founder of BAOBAB, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) business that focuses on creating an undeniably better polo shirt experience.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
We got an influx of new customers. We originally launched our e-commerce website in 2018 and we built it on Shopify ourselves. We also did the photography on our own. However, the UX didn’t match the quality of our premium polo shirt.
We were looking for some design help to articulate the fact that our polo shirt isn’t normal; it’s better in a lot of different ways. We want to tell that story with recent-looking, advanced design. We also wanted to elevate our brand as well with a fresh, timeless look.
What was the scope of their involvement?
C42D built a new Shopify website for us and gave us the foundation to build on top of the initial brand and website. They gave us a foundation to have consistent design elements across each of our pipelines.
What is the team composition?
We worked with David (Founder & CEO), Christa (Project Manager), TJ (Digital Designer), and a copywriter.
How did you come to work with C42D?
I may have found them on Dribbble. I liked some of their work and called them.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about $20,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working with them in March 2020. The bulk of the project wrapped up, but we’re going to work with them in the future.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
C42D does quality work. I would put them in the top tier, and we got a lot of value compared to larger agencies. They’re not the cheapest, but when it comes to the value and getting quality work done, they did very well.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management was really good, especially given the pandemic.
What did you find most impressive about them?
C42D’s communication was good.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I have no suggestions.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Tell them your goals and be descriptive. They have the skills to come up with things on their own, so follow their process.
the project
Branding & Logo Design for E-Sports Startup
"I’m most impressed by their communication and openness."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder of ProLeague.GG, which is an e-sports startup.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
I had a structure for the business but needed the most essential part: a brand identity and a logo. Those are foundational to the success of a business.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Their team created my business’s branding, which included my brand identity and a logo. They provided decks and copywriting services. Their team will also provide a landing page.
What is the team composition?
I work with four people from C42D: TJ (Digital Designer), Allison (Associate Art Director), Christa (Project Manager), and David (Founder & CEO).
How did you come to work with C42D?
I found them on Clutch and saw that they focused on logo design. I personally picked David based on his background. He not only had a background in gaming but also took the time to show that he appreciated the project. We could also have a casual conversation.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project started in July 2020, and it’s ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They hit the nail on the head with my vision for the logos. Their team did an overall stellar job with the branding. I plan to have them be a part of my company as long as it's operating.
When I ask for David’s opinion, he gives me an honest answer. He’s knowledgeable regarding business and design. It’s been great to work with him.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
C42D created a project schedule, and it’s been smooth. Their team regularly emails me and keeps me up to date. They’re a remote team of four but they seem like a remote team of ten.
Their team’s also straightforward. When I ask them questions about my tasks, they simply send instructions that are easy to follow. Although I didn’t give them any deadlines, their team has been time friendly. It’s been smooth.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I’m most impressed by their communication and openness. It’s hard to find a company that understands e-sports, and I’m sure that they took time out of their days to research the industry.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, C42D is a great team. They work together well, which is an accomplishment for any business.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Trust their process and follow their recommendations because they’re the experts.
the project
Brand Positioning & Web Copy for B2B SaaS Company
"C42D was able to grasp our business, customers, and the value we provide and then communicate all of that."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder of a B2B SaaS platform that does annual subscriptions. We help our clients with content distribution for social media.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
We are early-stage and we had some really good high-profile customers and case studies and really solid technology, but we weren't doing very much with differentiating ourselves from our competitors.
So, we wanted to start from scratch and do true brand positioning for the first time in preparation for launching our new website.
What was the scope of their involvement?
C42D did an audit of our platform to understand who our customers are, what they say about us, and what differentiates us. They did phone calls with and interviewed different customers, and the deliverable was choosing our brand positioning document.
The team also provided a visual representation of our brand and helped us with the copy for our website. We put together the content and they polished it up by rewriting it.
What is the team composition?
Dave (Founder & CEO) was my main point of contact. We also worked with Christa (Project Manager) and other teammates on the visual side.
How did you come to work with C42D?
I think I found them on Clutch or another ranking website that had insights into the project budgets. I reached out to 4–5 companies, and Dave was one of the first ones to get back to me and schedule a call.
After my first call with him, I knew that C42D would be a good fit because of the other work they’d done and their grasp on what we were looking for.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent somewhere around $15,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working with them in Q4 2019, and we launched the website a month ago.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
My team and I are in the weeds almost every day, and we were lacking that big picture mentality. C42D was able to grasp our business, customers, and the value we provide and then communicate all of that. Additionally, even though we felt that the website looked great, the copy that they wrote made such a big difference.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
Christa was great at keeping us on track and in line with deliverables. She kept me on certain deadlines and tasks so that I wasn’t holding up the project.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Agencies are usually known for having bureaucracy, over-scoping, and lots of details just to get you to a certain point.
I loved C42D because, even though we had clear deliverables and scopes, they didn’t have a long, drawn-out process just to get us to the proposal phase. Their willingness to take on an early-stage startup was also valuable for us.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, nothing comes to mind. We’ll go to them again for certain projects.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s important to do the work with them and get them everything they need even if it may be a burden. Our project was on the smaller side, so if you have a wide range of deliverables, make sure that it’s something that C42D has worked on.
the project
Branding for Behavioral Health Company
“They were highly engaged and were all working super collaboratively with us.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the senior director of marketing for a behavioral health company.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
We’re a new startup in the healthcare space specifically focused on pediatric behavioral health. When I came into the company back in mid-March, we were going through a renaming. We also knew we needed to do a rebrand. We really wanted the right partner to bring this vision of brand personality, that we had, to life. We really envisioned it as being this warm, friendly, relatable, really real company that would address behavioral health for children and support families every step of the way. We wanted a brand that was really warm and inviting for kids as well.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They did our whole branding. They were basically creating our brand from scratch. That was everything from the logo to the full visual identity and then extending to actually creating some applications for us. It was pretty straightforward. We added a few more deliverables which they were really amazing with flexing and adapting to what we needed most. The scope was pretty much set from the beginning though.
They really took the time upfront to spend with our team members including our CEO and stakeholders across the country. They were really thoughtful about their processes by listening and learning. They did a deep dive with the team before they began to come up with ideas. We really felt heard and that they understood our vision and took the time to deeply understand what we were trying to say and to try to understand the real value of our brand and why it was so important.
What is the team composition?
I worked closely with their core team which included their designer/art director as well as an account manager, a digital designer, and the founder of the company.
How did you come to work with C42D?
I knew of them because they did the branding for a digital health startup that has done phenomenal things and they have an extremely strong brand. I then went to find out which agency they used and was introduced to C42D. We decided to go with them because of the great work we’d seen them do particularly in the healthcare space. We really felt they’d be the right partner for us to bring our brand to life.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in April–May 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It was a super-fast project. I was thoroughly impressed. We gave them an incredibly tight timeline and they rocked it and delivered even more than we asked for on time and in budget. They delivered a fully comprehensive visual branded entity system including all of the elements. They even went to the level of creating treatment elements for us that I could take and use to create beautiful designs with it.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
They were fantastic. They were incredibly responsive. Their account manager, Christa (Project Manager) was on top of everything. She was immediately responsive and always had the answers. She was amazing at keeping everything on track and delivering on the agreed upon deadlines and deliverables.
They were unbelievably organized. I’m impressed with how tight their team was on project management. They were highly engaged and were all working super collaboratively with us. We brought them onto our Slack channel and we were able to work really well through that. They made everything really easy on us.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They became personally invested in it. They were a really important part of the team. They clearly cared about us, our brand, and bringing it to life. They listened to us as opposed to coming in and telling us what we should do. They wanted to work deeply with us, understand what we were doing, and become a part of it. The team was wonderful and easy to work with.
They delivered a beautiful brand that really brought to life what we had envisioned. They’re technically skilled and know what they’re doing but they also have a really good sense for understanding brands as well. Some agencies have their own style and design that comes across in the different brands that they do. I felt that C42D was particularly strong in that they didn’t seem to do that. They really developed something that felt fully us and not like anything else out there.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I was really impressed. The whole experience was fantastic. I’m really grateful for the work that they did and their partnership in it.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I highly recommend them. They are an excellent partner that does extraordinary work for brands and bringing them to life. I highly recommend them especially if you’re looking for real collaboration and working closely with the team. Take advantage of their willingness to learn about your brand and spend a lot of time getting to know you and understanding what you’re trying to achieve.
the project
Branding & Web Dev & Design for Dermatology Practice
"Their ability to deeply understand the founder’s vision was impressive."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a board-certified dermatologist and the CEO and founder of Tone Dermatology.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
The concept of this practice came to me about a year ago. The challenge I had was finding a team that understood the concept of the practice, which is a very different direction than most medical practices are taking.
We wanted to do something that was a push towards direct-to-consumer (D2C). In medicine, there is a traditional model and a retail model. My problem with retail medicine is that it doesn’t have that personal connection.
We wanted to have a practice that was really personalized, embedded in the community, and accessible. Our challenge was to not take the traditional route with marketing and messaging because patients wouldn’t understand that we were doing something different.
I worked briefly with a different marketing company in the early stages, but I wasn’t getting to the messaging that I wanted. So, I met with C42D.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The team helped us with brand strategy, positioning, brand narrative, and key messaging. C42D drafted some brand guidelines for us, developed and designed our website, and wrote copy. Additionally, they provided us with a few social media assets for Instagram.
They also helped us with our photography direction, but due to COVID-19, we weren’t able to shoot anything live. However, we were able to find a lot of stock photos, which helped us execute web design.
C42D also assisted with an email campaign. Finally, the team created a teledermatology platform or workflow, which was an added element of the project.
What is the team composition?
I worked primarily with two team members, but during my first meeting and periodically throughout the project, I met with David (Founder & CEO). They also had a designer who worked on the visual aspects of the brand early on.
How did you come to work with C42D?
When I was looking for an example of what direction I wanted to take, I couldn’t find anything that aligned with dermatology. So, I began looking outside of that field which is when I found a fertility group that C42D had worked with.
I liked their vision and the direction they took with the work they did for that different medical practice. What they did with that company was interesting and innovative. So, I called them and asked to meet them. Upon meeting with C42D, I could tell immediately that we were going to do great things.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $35,000–$45,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from October 2019–May 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
All of the deliverables have been completed. We launched the website and email campaign recently. We also launched the teledermatology platform, and it’s been well-received. As a result of working with them, I have a clear vision of what images would fit with the brand, which is helpful.
I’ve received a lot of comments from patients and colleagues about the website and the images on our social media account. The images are so strong that people feel like they understand and have a sense of the brand before I even have to speak on it.
They understand what we’re about just from the visuals, the website, and the name. I’ve done a few interviews speaking about the brand, and before I even spoke about it, the interviewers already seemed to have a sense of what we were trying to do.
We’ve already seen 15 patients virtually, even after launching the website only a week ago. We also have 1,600 followers on our Instagram account.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
We had at least two teammates on our calls. C42D is very responsive to emails, and one of the team members responded to my messages almost immediately. I’m a first-time business owner, so I’m working with a lot of different teams.
Out of all the teams that I’m working with, C42D exceeded expectations from a project management standpoint. I’m a perfectionist, so that says a lot about them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their ability to deeply understand the founder’s vision is impressive. They spent a lot of time asking me questions and having checkpoints to make sure that they were doing work that was true to my vision.
C42D was also not afraid to take risks. I like to push the envelope a little bit, so I liked that they presented me with lots of options, some of which were safe and some of which were innovative. For example, the color scheme we chose is something you don’t see in the medical space, but it works so well with our brand.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, nothing comes to mind, but there’s always room for improvement.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s important to spend time on your own to understand what your vision is before approaching any marketing team. I spent a lot of time brainstorming my vision, which made our working relationship smoother because we were always on the same page.
the project
Branding for Women's Healthcare Company
“They’re passionate about what we were building.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We’re a women’s health platform that develops tests that quantitatively measures fertility hormones. Our main goal is to empower women with information about her health as to no longer make for fertility a black box.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
We didn’t have a brand when we hired them, only a color scheme. It was important for us to make our brand more consumer-facing and give it a great look and feel.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They created brand guidelines, reworked our messaging, designed our app, and handled both product and package design. We decided on the total scope from the beginning and stuck to that plan.
What is the team composition?
We had two primary designers, a project manager, and someone in charge of their copy.
How did you come to work with C42D?
I found them on Clutch. However, the real reason I decided to go with them was a blog post that they shared with them. It was a review of several cliches that larger companies are doing in their branding today. I appreciated him calling out these cliches and showing me that they work differently. We could see that in their work.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $25,000–$50,000 on their work.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started our work in March 2019, and it officially ended in November 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
People love the brand. Our goal was to create a feeling of comfort to indicate to women that they’re not alone on the journey of trying to conceive. It can be an isolating experience, and that feeling of comfort really comes through in their work.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
We were constantly communicating over Slack. In the beginning, we weren’t seeing as much of the work in progress as we wanted. That was unsettling because we wanted to make sure they could incorporate our vision into the work without wasting their time. Once they started updating us more frequently, the project became more dynamic. They were also able to incorporate work very quickly.
Their project manager was really on top of things. She made sure that everyone hit their deadlines and would loop everyone in for weekly meetings.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I liked their personal touch. They seemed to engage with our goals, and our mission resonated with many people on their team. They’re passionate about what we were building.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The messaging wasn’t as punchy as we may have wanted while entering a crowded market. However, they did a great job for the initial launch of a new brand.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be clear about what you want in the work. This was a big learning experience for me, and I ended up wanting things I didn’t think I did at the start of the engagement. I spoke honestly with them, and we collectively determined the scope together. Then, before you engage, make sure you have all of that ironed out.
the project
Rebranding for Group Purchasing & Consulting Firm
“Their patience helped them take all of our feedback into account.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We’re a purchasing organization and a consulting firm that works within three main areas of non-compensation spend: travel, insurance, and market data and information services. We aggregate our clients’ spend to get them discounts on hotel, car, and insurance services.
Our team also negotiates renewals and advises on product procurement to help manage subscription services more generally. Our clients tend to be boutique, mid-sized financial services firms that benefit from our purchasing and benchmarking programs. I’m the VP of the market data side of the business.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
We were looking to fully rebrand our company. With that, we wanted a new name that reflected all of our focus areas without siloing us into any one of those areas. It was also important for them to allow us room for growth.
What was the scope of their involvement?
In addition to providing us with a new brand name, they helped us create a mission and strategy statement as well as a new logo. Their branding efforts also resulted in overall branding guidelines that dictate our fonts and colors. It also provided information relating to how to apply that information onto business cards and memos.
They provided us with stock photography and helped us create business cards. Their team showcased how the brand would look on the web by providing a mockup for a web page with icons that would guide our web design and presentation decks.
Typically, they would brainstorm before coming to us with several ideas for deliverables. We’d discuss together to guide the development. After they delivered, we’d circle back to offer feedback. For instance, we went through about six naming rounds before selecting one.
What is the team composition?
We were working with three people, including designers. Christa (Project Manager, C42D) and David (Founder & CEO, C42D) were helpful in organizing all of our work.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $50,000–$100,000 on their work.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project lasted from June –December 2019. After that, they were just helping with one-off emails.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We were very happy with the process. I know it can take years to effectively rebrand, but we managed it in just six months. We were happy with the new name, and they handled all of our feedback very professionally. They took our suggestions seriously, returning with work that reflected that. Our team loves the name, collateral, and branded slide deck. It all took several iterations, but they were very patient about that.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
Christa always replied to us within the hour, which gave us confidence that they were making progress. Their responsiveness was great. They used a file-sharing app to communicate.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I appreciated their timeliness and responsiveness. They took on many iterations of work to make sure that we got the end products that we were aiming for. Their patience helped them take all of our feedback into account.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We struggled with coming up with a tagline. They provided us with about 100 options, but we couldn’t decide on one on our end. That wasn’t a huge deal, though, because we work in so many different industries. It would’ve been great if they went deeper into the presentation deck development as well.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure your streamlining feedback on all the deliverables because there are tons of assets that go into this kind of development. That’ll help make the process smoother.
the project
Branding for Consumer Goods Company
“C42D is passionate and they put their all into every project.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the president of a consumer goods company. We are currently launching a new line of diaper pails.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
We launched a brand new line of diaper pails and needed branding from the ground up.
What was the scope of their involvement?
C42D provided branding services for our company and new line of diaper pails. The team designed a new website, packaging, and logo for us. They also helped us name our new line of products and come up with the branding guidelines.
What is the team composition?
We worked with four members of the C42D team, including David (Founder & CEO, C42D), Alison (Associate Art Director, C42D), Christa (Project Manager, C42D), and T.J. (Digital Designer, C42D).
How did you come to work with C42D?
I found C42D online while searching for branding firms. We had a very specific budget and wanted a partner who could do a great job within our budget. When we met them, our teams just clicked. We loved their previous work and they were happy to work with us on our budget and timeline.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our ongoing engagement with C42D began in April 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve pitched to some major retailers and get an amazing amount of positive feedback, not just on the naming of our products but also on our branding, colors, and packaging. Everybody flips over it. The feedback has been off the charts.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
C42D is very responsive and helpful. We had a very good experience working with them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
C42D is passionate and they put their all into every project. The team is helpful across the board. They’re just great to work with, a very talented group of people.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, it’s been a very pleasant project so far.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I highly encourage people to consider working with C42D because they are very talented and hardworking. They are an accommodating group, and really seem to get along really well with each other.
the project
Branding for Mental Health Care Company
"They were able to translate their understanding of our company both visually and in written content."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the founder and chief medical officer for Actify, an innovative mental health services company serving patients in 10 locations in 8 states, providing accessible, comprehensive treatment for mood and anxiety disorders ranging from digital therapies to interventional psychiatry.
For what projects/services did your company hire C42D?
We needed help representing our expanding range of services through a new brand, new logo, new website, and new messaging both B2B and B2C.
What were your goals for this project?
We had built an international reputation in a niche area of the mental health care space, but wanted to create access for new patients by establishing a brand that represented offerings beyond 1 core service.
How did you select this vendor?
Our CEO vetted several firms both online and by word of mouth. We then spoke with multiple of them. We were impressed from the beginning by C42Ds presentation, and then further convinced once we reviewed examples of previous work and their proposal that hit our needs exactly.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
The process began with discovery interviews with both our CEO and myself. They immediately “got us” and got excited about our company, and this was quickly proven in the initial products that demonstrated incredible fidelity to the values we emphasized. Through an efficient, iterative process, C42D delivered a new logo, tag line, brand guidelines, and website.
What was the team composition?
We worked with their president, project manager, and multiple creative teammates.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We have quickly received substantial positive feedback.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
Communication was efficient and effective. They were always quickly responsive and respectful of our time.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I was most impressed with how quickly they “got us.” They were able to translate their understanding of our company both visually and in written content.
Are there any areas for improvement?
There were a few glitches in their management of a subcontractor, but we are overall extremely pleased.
the project
Branding for a Beauty Search Engine
"We love what C42D did for our new brand."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of Mira, a search engine for beauty. We try and power the consumer journey towards the purchase of cosmetic products through providing cosmetic recommendations, creating content, and having an extensive online catalog of cosmetics supplies.
What challenge were you trying to address with C42D?
Before hiring C42D, we hadn’t gone through a full branding cycle. Our challenge for them was to help us forge a brand that resonates with our consumers and allows us to communicate our value proposition better. We want our company to be memorable and relatable, so consumers keep coming back.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We asked C42D to do a full branding cycle for us that consisted of a logo design, UI kit, a set of brand guidelines, brand messaging, and brand voice. In the beginning, we had them work on a three-month cycle where they looked at our products, consumers, and marketing channels. Through that, they put together a set of brand promotion tools with a style guide, social media deck, and general messaging.
What is the team composition?
In total, we worked with six people. We engaged with David (Founder & CEO, C42D), a product manager, and two or three designers.
How did you come to work with C42D?
We initially found them because of their great SEO. Our team contacted other creative firms to look for our perfect branding match. We found that other firms were qualified, but had more of a background in physical branding and not digital. We felt that our system needed to have a specific brand.
C42D had completed a bunch of products in our space and focus, which we liked. We also enjoyed their pitch because of how they described their perspective on branding. They seemed to understand our base and vision truly.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested around $50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our engagement started in June 2019, and we wrapped up this past month.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We love what C42D did for our new brand. I think it’s performing well. We didn’t collect any polling data to see if consumers preferred this brand over another. It’s hard to measure what the impact has been or if the brand resonates with our customers.
How did C42D perform from a project management standpoint?
We had no problems in this area. The process was very swift, and their team was always quick to get back to us. They were happy to work with our tools, so we used Slack for communication. Their team also did an excellent job of managing all of the work using Basecamp.
What did you find most impressive about them?
We haven’t worked with other firms, so it’s tough to say what defines C42D against others. There was a very personal touch that we had with them. David and one of their designers flew out from New York to San Francisco for a kickoff meeting. Throughout the process, they made sure communication was a priority. Anytime I wanted to chat, I was able to hop on the phone to discuss my thoughts.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Looking back, this might’ve been an artifact of our processes, but we found that halfway through big meetings once every week or two weeks worked best for us. We found that presenting sets of deliverables at big meetings and having small communication through Slack worked better. If I were to do this process over again, I would propose tight iteration cycles throughout.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Work with C42D. They’re awesome. We highly recommend them.
C42D provided great value for money, producing high-quality work. The team managed the project well during the pandemic, and they possessed strong communication skills. Additionally, they were an experienced partner.