Clarke

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I lead a global team who do employer branding work for a global consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Clarke ?

We recently launched a new recruiting campaign and needed to develop creative assets to support the new direction as well as update/refresh assets.

SOLUTION

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

Impressed by the work and experience.

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

Briefed team on project and scope of week needed. Team conducted an audit and provided recommendations on best approach, timeline, and deliverables to ensure alignment. And we met multiple times during development process to see evolution, provide feedback, etc.

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

Met with approximately 3 people on the team (Project manager, strategist, designers) and also knew additional resources were available as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Very pleased with output.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communications and workflow worked out well.

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

Designs/works met scope of work, quick turnaround, and responsiveness. The presentation of their work has been thoughtful.

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

Not at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. We're a nonprofit organization that focuses on global health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clarke?

We hired them for their graphic design services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clarke handles our graphic design needs. They’ve created infographics and a report for us. As for our workflow, we usually call them up first to set up a meeting so that we can discuss the requirements of the project in detail. After the meeting, they send us a couple of options to review and choose from.

What is the team composition?

We work with different people from their team, including Michael (Founding Partner & Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Clarke?

I worked with Clarke at my previous company. I was impressed with the work they did at that time, so I decided to hire them for this specific project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017, and our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clarke’s designs tend to be very clean and precise. We’ve also received positive feedback on their outputs — our staff members and community like them.

How did Clarke perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very easy to work with and responsive. We communicate with them via phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What distinguishes Clarke from other providers is the quality of their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m very satisfied with their work, but it would be great if they could turn things around more quickly.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I definitely recommend working with Clarke.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the North American marketing manager for medical devices and software for a healthcare company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clarke?

Our in-house team is small, so we needed to outsource some marketing functions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clarke writes and designs marketing materials to fit my marketing plan and go-to-market strategy. Our relationship is collaborative; I meet with them to explain our objective and vision, and they present options to execute that vision based on their marketing experience. They’ve created messaging, logos, panels, and ads. I usually poll their ideas within our internal team that's not focused on marketing to see how they resonate. Clarke communicates directly with some of the publications we advertise in and trade shows we attend.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Michael (Founding Partner & Creative Director) and 2–4 other team members.

How did you come to work with Clarke?

They were referred to us by one of the largest peer-reviewed journals in the industry.

What is the status of this engagement?

The ongoing partnership began in July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clarke’s finished products have always been top-notch. We get high traffic, and positive feedback at trade shows when we use materials they’ve created; that positive feedback is how I test for success. Clarke is making me look like a star.

How did Clarke perform from a project management standpoint?

Clarke tracks and meets all deadlines and stays on budget. They complete a high volume of work and manage relationships with third parties very well; I’m able to work remotely because they've helped me close out over 95 projects in a year during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are times when we’re entering our regulatory review process with 30–40 marketing pieces they’ve worked on. 

We share a document that tracks all our projects. We have a standing weekly meeting, and Michael answers when I call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail is a strength. They’re also willing to stand behind their work and even attend our regulatory review calls; this is unique for an agency. They don’t just drop deliverables over the fence; they hold our hands throughout the process. They even anticipate our needs. I wouldn’t want to do business with any other creative agency.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve done everything we’ve asked.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clarke allows you to be involved in the creative process, making for a wonderful relationship. You'll get the best creative results if you’re willing to get involved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a nonprofit organization that works on global health advocacy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clarke?

We needed a graphic design partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clarke was our graphic design partner for different projects. At the beginning of each project, we had a discovery call where we’d discuss the scope and requirements of each project. Then we went through the revision process, where Clarke showed us different design proposals. Then, they delivered the final product. 

Some of the deliverables Clarke designed for us include presentation templates, infographics, social media content, thumbnails, and print materials. They also created an interactive web design piece. Additionally, Clarke designed a suite of corporate materials, including signage, for a high-profile event we had in Washington, DC, with members of the US Congress.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Michael (Founder & Creative Director) on large projects. For other projects, we worked directly with Clarke’s designers and project manager.

How did you come to work with Clarke?

My boss recommended Clarke to me since he had worked with them before.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2016–July 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clarke’s work was really top-quality; they were professional and worked efficiently. We’re a nonprofit, so we don’t have quantitative data around sales, but Clarke helped our brand look polished overall. 

For large projects, Clarke presented us with different design proposals and always explained the reasoning behind each one. Moreover, we received positive feedback for the materials Clarke designed for the US Congress event; we have photos of Congress members standing with the signage. 

How did Clarke perform from a project management standpoint?

Clarke was very professional in sharing timelines and sticking to them. Their communication was effective, and they were responsive. We used email, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Clarke’s overall design skills — they were very talented and creative. Clarke was good at understanding our evolving brand. They made sure each deliverable aligned with our existing brand guidelines. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing Clarke could improve is being upfront when they need more time to deliver a project. We had our part in this since sometimes we gave them less time to work on a deliverable, and I could tell that’s when the quality wasn’t as good as other projects.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend potential customers ensure they have enough time to work on their project and get the expected results. It’s important to have calls with Clarke and provide them with existing brand guidelines and design materials. 

Potential clients should have open conversations with Clarke about what they’re looking for and be direct from the beginning of the design process. I’d also recommend being honest when Clarke presents them with design proposals; the more feedback and dialogue they have with Clarke, the better their final product will be.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior partner and executive creative director at a brand consultancy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clarke?

We needed their design expertise to support one of our clients; our in-house design team was fully utilized, so we didn’t have the capacity to take on this client’s design needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We subcontracted a client’s branding project to Clarke. Our in-house strategic director had created our client’s strategic platform and we briefed Clarke on the project. The brief included the client's likes and dislikes around color, graphics, and form. Clarke delivered design territory and mood boards, which we shared with our client. Then we iterated, refined, and landed on the final design components and guidelines.

One of Clarke’s deliverables was exploratory research to determine how our client would evolve their brand design. There was another subcontractor in the UK working alongside Clarke during the exploratory phase, and the client chose Clarke to move forward with their designs. Clarke designed a logo and digital identity guidelines for the client. 

They also helped launch the client’s new brand at the Nasdaq while they were preparing for their initial public offering, which was outside the original project scope. They provided support for an event at the Nasdaq by creating graphic assets and motion media for billboards and other out-of-home (OOH) advertising the client had purchased. 

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with Michael (Founding Partner & Creative Director) and another designer. Some project managers would attend calls.

How did you come to work with Clarke?

I knew Michael socially 10–15 years ago. I hired him as an independent contractor when I was in my last job, and we kept in touch; I trusted that they’d be able to deliver what we needed at the level of quality I expected. Michael understood the way we work, and I’d referred other successful projects to him in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from September 2021–January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measure of success was more qualitative than quantitative; our client was happy with the product. Michael’s team was very responsive to our client’s needs; they did a nice job.

How did Clarke perform from a project management standpoint?

They worked under tight deadlines and quickly pivoted when the project scope expanded. We primarily communicated via email and Zoom meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their strength was their agility in responding to a changing ask from the client under a tight deadline. Other subcontractors had pushed back against requested changes in the past. Michael didn’t charge us much to deliver more, which we appreciated.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The original design exploratory could have been more expansive to show different logo solutions or creative territories. The other subcontractor pushed the creative aspect a bit further.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set expectations and make sure to provide a clear brief. Trust and rely on Clarke’s flexibility and agility to deliver, but be aware that they may need encouragement to push creative boundaries.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing and communications for City Harvest, the largest and first food rescue organization in New York City.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clarke?

We wanted to refresh the City Harvest brand and energize it to improve our visibility.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clarke helped us articulate the core of our brand personality and introduced different visual aspects, such as color palettes, brand guidelines, and logo options. They also switched up the fonts to make it more modern and created a suite of templates for PowerPoint presentations.

The team had extensive conversations with different stakeholders in the City Harvest Team to understand what we do, our audiences, and what we were trying to convey. 

What is the team composition?

We were mainly in contact with Michael (Founding Partner & Creative Director) and Ben (Senior Writer & Strategy Director).

How did you come to work with Clarke?

Our former chief external relations officer had a previous working relationship with Michael.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $70,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our brand has gotten stronger since we worked with Clarke, as people continue to love the redesign of our brand. Their team laid the groundwork for our organization to make it more colorful, inclusive, and positive.

How did Clarke perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well from a project management standpoint, and we typically communicated through email and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed with their thoughtfulness and excellent deliverables.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There wasn’t anything they could’ve done differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise you to be straightforward and direct when communicating with them, to ensure your deliverables are aligned.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a communication consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clarke?

An international photographer hired us to develop a website that showcased their portfolio, and we didn’t have the capabilities. We hired Clarke to work with us in developing this website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we reached out to Clarke and explained the situation. We then met with the end client to understand the scope of what they needed, and Clarke returned with a detailed statement of work and project proposal. Once we started working, we asked Clarke to take the lead on this project. They designed and developed the website from scratch, which took several months to complete.

The website Clarke developed showcased the photographer’s work. Clarke also included an e-commerce function where people could buy copies of any photograph they liked and get it delivered to them. 

When Clarke finished developing the website, they installed it with the end client and taught them how to use it. Clarke also provided web hosting and maintenance services.

What is the team composition?

We worked with six Clarke teammates throughout the project, including a project manager, a designer, and two developers.

How did you come to work with Clarke?

A colleague recommended Clarke to me. We had wanted to work with them for a while; we had been discussing and looking for a project to collaborate with them. We had pitched a couple of other projects together that we didn’t get. When we came across this project, we brought Clarke in.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $35,000–$40,000 with Clarke.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Clarke from March–September 2020. Additionally, Clarke still assists with troubleshooting when the client needs it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end client was really happy with the website Clarke developed. They delivered a functional site, which the end client asked for. Most photographers’ sites are very static, and Clarke did a great job bringing movement to the pictures. 

How did Clarke perform from a project management standpoint?

Clarke met all deadlines and stayed on budget. They were cooperative, transparent, and communicated effectively through emails, phone calls, and text messages. We also had weekly meetings to check their progress.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Clarke’s transparency and work quality. Additionally, their presence during follow-up was outstanding. While most web design firms disappear as soon as they first deliver the website, Clarke stayed involved. Even to this day, they answer questions for the end client and solve any issues they may have.

We loved working with Clarke, and the end client did too. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Clarke to improve; I have no complaints about their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend you trust Clarke completely. They go above and beyond and will do more than you expect for your project, no matter the situation.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

SAP is a market leader in enterprise application software that helps companies of all sizes and in all industries run better by redefining ERP and creating networks of intelligent enterprises that provide transparency, resiliency, and sustainability across supply chains.

My current role is Futures and Foresight Global Lead. I focus on research and develop content that helps customers anticipate and prepare for future opportunities and risks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Clarke ?

SAP works with Clarke on a variety of projects. The Digital Futures project is about helping people understand the technological forces that are driving change at an exponential rate.

SAP develops written content that Clarke brings to life by creating easy-to-consume, high-production-quality assets. Together we give compelling early insights into the future impact of digital technologies. Clarke has worked with us on over forty topics to date.

SOLUTION

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

Clarke was recommended by our Corporate Marketing creative team.

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

At inception, once we briefed them on the project, Clarke created several excellent options for Digital Futures' overall visual language design. Using our chosen design, they tailored the creative options according to the unique needs of each specific topic.

Once a final direction was chosen, Clarke quickly and efficiently went to work building an array of digital deliverables to amplify the story, such as Executive Briefs, long and short videos, social media copy, GIFs, and others.

Their work style is iterative, flexible, and highly collaborative, to the point where we soon came to think of them as a strategic partner, rather than a vendor. Over the years their creative design/ build capability has consistently impressed us.

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

There were usually at least two people assigned to each Digital Futures topic with titles such as Visual Designer, Graphic Designer, and Strategist. In addition, Michael Clarke (the firm's Founding Partner and Creative Director) was often deeply involved.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can't share specifics, but Digital Futures topics consistently scored higher on metrics for engagement than other comparable assets.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Already addressed in the detailed project description section.

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

Their creative designs are consistently outstanding, and the team is a joy to work with. Working sessions with the Clarke team are always a highlight of the week for me and the wider team.

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

Not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an editorial director within the marketing function of a global B2B software company focused on improving strategy, processes, and efficiency in customers' businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Clarke ?

After a few small initial projects in 2012, I began working with Clarke in earnest in 2013 to develop a digital magazine targeted at senior business executives across all the major industries and lines of business. We then hired Clarke to lead design of a new website also aimed at these executives. The purpose of the site is to reach executives who are decision makers and could play a role in deciding whether to use our software.

The content is journalistic -- no product mentions, no ads -- just informative, long-form stories designed to inform executives and show off our company's subject matter expertise in all areas of readers' businesses. The goal is to build and reinforce our company's image as one that knows how to improve customers' businesses and processes.

SOLUTION

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

Clarke was recommended to me by our internal art director who had used the company on other projects and was impressed by their work. (So was I!)

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

Clarke has basically served as my design department since 2012. Think of a print or digital magazine: there's an art director and a staff who create the look and feel of the magazine in concert with the editor and design all the articles for each issue.

That's the role that Clarke has served for me since then. There have been more projects that I can count. I use Clarke for anything that requires a beautiful, journalistic-style (not marketing-style; though they are very good at that, too) design. I am never disappointed.

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

The number of staffers changes depending on the scale and timing of the project. Bigger projects get more people. Projects that have a short time window also get more people. Clarke is great at scaling up or down as needed. No wasted time or money on either end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has gotten accolades consistently ever since we began working together. Thanks in part to the beautiful eye-catching designs, readership has increased steadily over the years.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Clarke has grown in size and sophistication over the years. But the communication has always been excellent. Once a project has begun, I don't have to worry about chasing them -- they're usually chasing me! Recently, they added a dedicated project manager, which has made things happen even faster -- not that that was ever an issue -- but it's a nice benefit.

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

It's starts with leadership. Michael Clarke is not only a very talented designer in his own right, but he is a kind, generous, even-tempered person who never gets flustered. He hires people with similar talent and sensibilities and they all work together as a seamless whole. Michael and his team are great at educating me about design without talking down to me.

If I disagree with a design direction they've taken, they will explain why they did it in terms that I can understand so that I can make a more informed decision. They care too much about the work to just pander to my input or ideas. They never give me ultimatums; they listen to me and are willing to work through iterations of designs to come up with something that we are all happy with. That's what's great about them. We can have constructive conflict without any lingering problems or resentments.

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

I honestly don't have any negative feedback.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our organization is a nonprofit that builds technology solutions for other nonprofits. I am the Chief Product and Tech Officer and responsible for our technology strategy

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Clarke ?

Our application was in its early stages and still looked similar to our early releases and we had received feedback pointing to some UX/UI friction. We hired Clarke to redesign our application and create a forward looking UX/UI strategy for our team.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed several other UX/UI design firms and decided on Clarke because we thought they were the firm that best grasped what we were trying to do both with the project and with our application/organization strategy.

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

The Clarke team engaged in a discovery period and interviewed members of our organization across all our teams and several of our customers. They then went through several rounds of design + feedback to go through all areas of the application. At the conclusion of the project, they sent a series of documents along with a design guide for future projects

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

We worked with 2 Designers, 1 Project Manager, and the Creative Director

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very pleased with the deliverables of the project. The developers found it easy to understand and implement and we've put many of the screens into production

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication between the teams was excellent. We had regular meetings and we could easily reach their team via Slack

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

I think the best part was their immersion process and how they internalized the work we did as an organization. They were able to use that process to craft a UX/UI strategy and identity

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

Establishing a shared single source of truth at the top of the project would have made it easier to access the most up to date slides