Constructive

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founded in 1973 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Bernard Lown, MD, developer of the defibrillator and cardioverter, the Lown Institute advances civic leadership, accountability, and value in health care. I serve as the vice president of communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our project was to build the first hospital ranking focusing on civic leadership and including measures never used before like inclusivity by race, avoidance of overuse, and pay equity.

Our ranking would show how nearly 3,300 U.S. hospitals compare on 42 performance indicators. Constructive helped us build the website for this ranking and provided brand guidance including naming, logo, and visual identity.

SOLUTION

How did you select Constructive and what were the deciding factors?

I researched a number of firms and ended up soliciting proposals from three. I prioritized groups that had demonstrated experience working with data presentation, a commitment to working in the nonprofit sector, and the skills to apply a strong brand strategy to the project.

Finding a partner that understood the aspirational message we were trying to deliver and could ensure that message did not get lost amidst the technical and data-heavy aspects of the work was crucial. By the end of the process, Constructive was the clear choice.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

TECHNICAL - The heart of the project was construction of a database to hold the extensive amount of information we had collected for over 3,000 hospitals. There are lots of ways to mess this part up by being sloppy, with repercussions carrying throughout the chain of work.

Fortunately, technical staff at Constructive patiently worked with us to gain a deep understanding of our requirements and were rigorous about setting up a quality data framework.

DESIGN - Our site aspired to serve a broad range of users including average citizens, policy wonks, and academic researchers.

That meant it needed to be very accessible for the casual user, while also providing tools for those with more advanced tasks in mind. Constructive worked closely with us to step through a series of wireframes and then full designs. We were very happy with the process and with the final design.

BRAND - We were fortunate to have Matt work directly with us to develop a name for the project and make other decisions about key labels and site content. It was essential for us to enter the hospital ranking space with the right identity in place.

Having Matt as executive director of the firm spend so much time with us and become truly invested in our goals contributed greatly to the success we've experienced.

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

There were four key staff from Constructive that we worked with throughout the full project: a project manager, a designer, a technology director, and Matt.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

In the first six months following launch, we earned coverage from hundreds of national, regional, trade and other media outlets--including big names like USA Today, Bloomberg, and the Washington Post.

All types of people use our rankings platform and comments about how great the website is come in with regularity. Having such an impressive website has helped get our work taken seriously and led to a number of other opportunities to connect with other organizations that have become interested in our work.

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

Constructive was a good match for our culture. They are a smart and talented group that is very personable and accessible. At the same time, they know do a great job at having a clear process, keeping things moving, and pushing back in the right ways when necessary.

We met regularly over Zoom, used Teamwork as a project management platform, and InVision for design collaboration.

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

Constructive staff really became invested in our project. It was obvious they cared not just about doing a good job designing our platform, but about what our organization aimed to achieve in terms of advancing system change, civic leadership, and health equity.

Lots of folks talk about being partners, Constructive fulfilled that role in a very real way.

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

I don't have anything to note here.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of programs and operations at an organization that connects communications professionals at foundations and nonprofits.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive?

We have a print journal that we needed to expand from a print-only journal into an accompanying digital version. The journal is published biannually and was organized by a theme. We needed a design partner to help us get the biggest impact out of the journal as possible.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They served as our design partner for the journal, adding interactive elements to issues. After they completed the issues, they created a model for future issues, which involved content flow, process, and timeline.

They did both the designs for the print issues and created a standalone website to host the digital issues. The site was made to showcase an issue regarding racism, which was one of our biggest issues to date. We gave them the licence to be as creative as they wanted to be with the process, giving them chances to bring their ideas to the table. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 of their teammates.  

How did you come to work with Constructive?

We connected because we had worked with them previously and had a positive experience. When we’re looking for a design partner, we always consider them. 

How much have you invested with them?

This project was an in-kind donation of their services, but the monetary value is estimated at $80,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

 We started collaborating mid-way through 2018 and wrapped up January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The final site has a clean aesthetic with many images, including headshots for authors and contributors. It was a cut above anything our organization had taken on previously. This was the most well-received issue we’ve ever published. Readers were very happy to see us bring attention to this issue. That was a big win for our team and theirs.   

How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

They made everything very easy for us, providing us with a framework to follow. We were responsible for creating content and passing it off to them for layout and design. They had a clear process, which made it all a breeze. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

This was definitely a labor of love for everyone involved. We were very impressed with all the time and creativity that went into crafting the final product. Seeing the print proofs was very gratifying.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t recall thinking things could’ve gone better than they did. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate your vision for the end product, and they can get you there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director of The Sephardic Foundation on Aging, a private grant-making foundation which was founded as a nonprofit nursing home. We now provide funding to other nonprofits that service older adults.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive?

We were an operating nursing home for over 60 years, so when we transitioned to a grant-making foundation, we had to rebrand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Constructive handled the entire rebranding process. We had a number of sessions with them, going over our history, mission, values, and priorities. From those sessions, we came up with a new name, logo, and color scheme, as well as new messaging. Once we worked through several iterations, they began building out the website on WordPress.

The team proposed most of the visuals for the website, which we then made the final decisions on. As far as content, I wrote most of the test on the website, which the team then edited for the web. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with three team members, who’ve been involved every step of the way. A few other people have been involved, including some of Constructive’s senior management.

How did you come to work with Constructive?

They were referred to us. We interviewed three companies and had multiple meetings before we made a decision.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in May 2019. We wrapped up the rebranding process in January 2020, and the website was completed in May 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website is live, and everyone involved in our organization loves it. Our board of directors was extremely happy with it. We’ve also received great feedback from the organizations we work with — it’s beautiful and makes it easy to apply for a grant. 

How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed excellently. Constructive assigned us a project manager from day one, and she’s been responsive and easy to communicate with. It’s been great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

During the initial sessions, Constructive really listened to us. When they came back with the first iteration for the website content, it was exactly what we wanted. Through their work, it was clear the team understood our vision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind. Overall, I’ve been very pleased.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear with your vision, so Constructive can understand it and turn it into something that will match what you’re looking for.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of communications at a family foundation. Our mission is to advance social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Constructive?

Five years after divesting from fossil fuels, the RBF needed to share our experience and financial return data with other institutional investors to pave the way for more capital to move in support of climate solutions and other social impact.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a design that was both web- and print-friendly that would reinforce the message that investors can pursue impact without sacrificing financial returns. the report had a great deal of text and data, so design was critical to drawing in and engaging the reader. We also needed to start refreshing our look to be more modern.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had previously met the principal through mutual connections in the field. They came highly recommended, and we were on a tight schedule that they could deliver. We sourced proposals from two other firms also based on previous contacts, but found Constructive's style to be most reflective of what we needed--they "got" us.

Describe the project in detail.

After finalizing the scope of work for this project, we shared our text, our style guidelines, and a huge library of photos--many of which were subpar. Constructive scheduled a "kick-off" meeting for us (digitally during COVID-19), and by that first meeting the designer already had a direction prepared for us to comment on and refine. In a second meeting a week or so later, they presented and walked us through a revised design direction we loved. We then submitted specific feedback and edits over 3 rounds until we had the product. Total production time was about 4 weeks, delivered on time.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and lead designer. Additionally, the principal (Matt SChwartz) joined us for every meeting and it was clear he had been engaged in the design process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our report was carried in the Washington Post. Twitter impressions were up 20%. 3 weeks after launch, we are still seeing near daily social media mentions about the report from respected peers in our field.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We were in direct, regular, and quick contact with all three members of the team assigned to our project. We never waited more than a few hours for a response, which sometimes included details design revisions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality of design was exceptional. The team at Constructive really took the time to get to know us and understand not just who were but who we aspired to be.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I'm really struggling to think of any. Initially the project manager had said they were going to set us up in their project management suite, which didn't happen, but by that point we had already set up our own project management/file sharing system and so it made more sense to continue with what we had.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1: We’re a legal aid society whose mission is to provide legal services and auxiliary services to low-income populations. I’m the director of development for the company.
 
Respondent 2: I’m the web manager of the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive?

R1: We have multiple business units, diverse audiences, and a difficult story to tell. We needed to un-silo ourselves and have a unified message to present to these audiences. Our leadership decided that we needed to begin with a rebrand along with a new website to accompany it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

R1: Constructive helped us in many ways. They held surveys and workshops, followed by extensive meetings, to articulate what everybody was saying. In the workshops, we addressed each and every audience and came up with a cohesive plan, message, and story for our rebranding.
 
Constructive also worked with our leadership to articulate our most important priorities and secondary issues—a very complicated process because we had a lot of stakeholders. Constructive stayed true to what they needed to do and helped us navigate all the different variables that came up. It was a very arduous process, made much simpler because of Constructive.
 
R2: I came into this process after the website had been designed. I was hired to be the day-to-day manager. I was struck by how well the rebrand was reflected in the design of the website. We were trying to speak in a unified voice across multiple practices and siloed departments, and to keep those multiple audiences in mind. I really appreciated the thought that went into designing a site that reflected those goals.
 
R1: As an example, civil is just one of four practices we have here. We have civil, criminal, juvenile rights, and a pro bono practice. In civil alone, there are 23 different units.
 
Constructive came up with our style guide, redid the logo, made a lot of templates for different assets, and design pieces throughout the building, including signage for the walls. They made templates for our PowerPoint presentations and designs for the fountain pens we give out at meetings. They also do our annual report. Our tagline was already in place, but the mission statement was slightly changed. It was tweaked to be more reflective of a unified voice.

What is the team composition?

R1: There were 8–10 people involved in total. Some of the staffing changed across the rebrand, website design, and annual reporting design. Matt (Founder and Executive Director, Constructive) has always been my main contact. He’s not always the point person for each of the projects, but at the end of the day, if I had a problem or needed to clarify something, Matt was my point person. We also had a project manager who changed during the process.

R2: In my day-to-day interactions managing the site, Johanna (Senior Project Manager, Constructive) has been the primary contact, although we have worked with other people on the team for specific things. Lily (Senior Project Manager, Constructive) was our project manager for the annual report. We have another contact for getting our Google Ad Grants optimized. I believe he’s a Google Ads consultant.

How did you come to work with Constructive?

R1: I initially heard about Constructive at a rebranding conference, and was struck by the fact that they dealt with not-for-profits, and that they understood the importance of a brand. I come from a commercial, for-profit background, and rebranding and marketing are very much in my wheelhouse. Because I had that background, I was tasked with finding three companies that our leadership could meet with and make the decision. 

The initial decisionmakers ended up not being the people who worked on the project. I was just the one that found the three, but I certainly had sway at the time. All three were very different, and leadership decided to go with Constructive.

How much have you invested with them?

R1: It’s approaching $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

R1: We started working with Constructive in 2017.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

R1: I don’t know if we’ve gotten feedback from outside people because of the rebrand. I think it was more subtle for them. Our board of directors was very happy with the rebrand. Everyone understood that we needed to do something with the complicated message we had. The website only got positive feedback.
 
R2: The feedback I’ve gotten is a little different. I've gotten outside feedback from my peers in the industry. It was very positive, and it’s a big step up from where we came. The site we had before was supposed to be temporary. It was fine for what it was, but this has been a nice upgrade.
 
R1: For our staff, the most important thing was to deliver a mobile-friendly site to our clients. Most of them do not have desktops, so 60–70% of them access the internet exclusively through mobile devices. In addition, our clients are faced with terrible, life-changing situations that require immediate attention. They can now visit the website and find a phone number or actual information that will help them mitigate the emergency they’re facing. I know that our staff is thrilled that the client feedback has been excellent.
 
R2: The way it’s organized makes a lot more sense. It’s a lot more intuitive for someone who’s trying to get help. One of the reasons why we wanted to organize it differently is that someone with an immigration problem may not understand that that’s a civil problem. If one of the categories is immigration, that obviously makes it much clearer. That’s part of what made it such a step up.
 
How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

R2: We haven’t had a lot of major problems with the website. Usually, it’s a content issue, and that’s something I’m able to help Constructive with. They’re responsive and thoughtful, and they try to understand what the goal is. I can discuss things with them, and they come back with the best option for us. They’re always clear about timelines, so we can always prioritize.
 
As we did our beta testing, we identified new things that we wanted to have, and Constructive was a great partner in helping us prioritize.

What did you find most impressive about them?

R1: It’s their patience. We’re a beast of an organization whose members are very articulate and verbose. Constructive stayed their course and kept us on track. It wasn’t always a smooth process, but it wasn’t their fault.

R2: I felt that Constructive always kept an eye on the big picture, thinking about the goals we set out for the website—what we were trying to accomplish and how we’d articulate that when making changes and figuring out the best way to do something. They were always mission-focused, thinking about what we were trying to accomplish. That’s a great lens to view any project through.

Are there any areas they could improve?

R1: Constructive could do a better job of articulating to my group what the best practices are. It’s a double-edged sword. Sometimes, they needed to yield to our preferences as a client. Other times, they needed to speak up from their professional experience and head us off from a poor decision.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

R1: They were able to summarize our surveys and workshops in writing, and our regular calls were also very helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a nonprofit family foundation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive

We hired Constructive to support our branding and identity efforts. We wanted their help in gathering information on people’s perspectives of our name and digital identity looking toward the future. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a broad mandate focused on the discovery phase, collecting information to understand our audience’s perspectives. We needed to understand where we could be doing better and what we already do well. Their team organized a number of interviews with relevant stakeholders in and outside of our company to gather those informed perspectives.

What is the team composition?

We worked closely with three people from their team, but others were involved in the process, too. 

How did you come to work with Constructive?

I looked online and saw that a few organizations that had worked with Constructive in the past were like-minded. We organized a call and they did a great job of understanding our goals and coming up with a plan that made sense. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $100,000–$200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2017–November 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was really important that their work be comprehensive and show a complete look at our stakeholder’s perspective, and Constructive was effective in these ways. They took a broad view and distilled the information into common themes that were actionable for our organization. 

How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

All of the deliverables were on-time and high quality. They did a good job communicating with us throughout. The plans they established were followed really well. Whenever something needed to deviate from the plan, they communicated and adjusted effectively. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understood the mission-driven nature of our organization, so they knew we were different from other clients. Whereas some companies are revenue-driven, we’re a non-profit and they understood the importance of that. They were a good agency with a great capacity to respond to our needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were really effective. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you’re trying to accomplish and what your purpose is, so they can do their work well. If you give them a clear set of outcomes, they’ll do great work. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a non-profit startup that rates and reviews other non-profits based on the impact they have on their communities. I'm the director of marketing, and I also work on communications. We launched in November 2019 with ratings for over 1,000 organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive?

We needed a full redesign of our website. When we started to think about our launch and the site we wanted to present, we knew we wanted a better online presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a beta site, and they completely redesigned it to make it donor-ready. They worked through conceptual challenges in a couple of phases, and they designed a logo and a brand guide.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and a designer, and we were in close contact with their managing partner.

How did you come to work with Constructive?

I have extensive experience in finding and selecting design vendors and partners. I did a wide search within the industry, and I narrowed the list down to about three firms. I got quotes from each of them, but we ultimately chose Constructive for their strong presence in the non-profit industry. They're a full-service agency, and their designs are very modern.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our contract with them started around September 2019. They completed the project in November 2019, but we will reach out to them again for future needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, our company is very pleased with the design and some of the experiential things they produced. We made a few changes, but they were lovely to work with throughout the process.

How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager was extremely efficient. She communicated regularly with us, and she sent us updates and stayed on task. If we moved outside of the scope of the project, they kept us on track.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They focus on the non-profit world, which added value. They knew the space very well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project scoping phase could have been more detailed, as that would have put us all on the same page for the deliverables. That's always a two-way street, and the overall outcomes were awesome. We're very pleased with the results.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared, and tell them exactly what you want. If you're used to working with external graphics vendors, you'll have a wonderful time working with Constructive. If you're less familiar with that process, know that they'll deliver an incredible product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a communicator for a nonpartisan, nonprofit that’s dedicated to protecting our democratic institutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive?

We hired Constructive to help us update and refresh our website. We wanted to do an informational reorganization within our site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Constructive did a visual redesign of the homepage of our WordPress site to better convey our narrative while maintaining our original branding. They also redesigned our site navigation and menu bar. There is now a new content type on the backend which is a project page for our site. They also streamlined some of the content associations so we have various content types associated with the projects, so now updates and media are now associated with the right projects. 

What is the team composition?

Between 3–4 people worked with us on this, including a dedicated project manager. 

How did you come to work with Constructive?

We had a pretty narrow goal in terms of the scope and budget, and we wanted a vendor to work with our existing site, so we researched 6–7 different companies. I was impressed with Constructive because they were small, responsive, and nimble. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $28,000 on the project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August–October 2019, but we’ve signed on to continue working with them. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before the redesign, it was basically impossible to find work within our projects, and Constructive accomplished our goal of streamlining that process and making everything easier to find. Now, we’re looking to continue making improvements to make everything look better over time, but, for now, we’re happy with the scope of work they did. 

How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. Aside from being very responsive, they were also able to provide quick turnaround for both the work and overall communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of responsiveness made them easy to work with—we really appreciated their clear communication. If we had an idea of something we wanted to do, it was always planned out with their team and they laid it out clearly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they could have done better; they did a good job for what we needed them to do. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a really clear picture of what you’re trying to accomplish before you go into the engagement. The dynamic is much easier if you know what you need. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of communications for an educational nonprofit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive?

Two years ago, we embarked on our rebrand which gave us a new mission statement, vision statement, tagline, and other external language. We wanted to update our web properties with our new positioning.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Constructive was our agency partner to refresh our main web properties. Our CMS was WordPress. They took a cumbersome UX and distilled it into a more seamless experience for our key audiences—students, partners, and donors. Once we agreed on the technical requirements and functionalities needed, Constructive helped us through three stages over about 3.5–4 months. 

We wanted to more easily share the information necessary to convert to our target user action. Constructive helped us conceptualize what that information would be. They developed information architecture for each user experience. We wanted a visual story that would run parallel to that information, make it feel as dynamic and compelling as possible. 

We now have new features fully baked into the site. For example, after the rebrand, we wanted our stakeholders to start sharing more broadly some of the insights that we developed on staff and also with our partners. With Constructive, we launched a dedicated thought-leadership blog within the site. It hosts posts from staff members and students and riffs off our students’ narrative reporting, giving partners and potential students a better glimpse into our work. That was one deliverable.

Constructive also created interactive timelines on our Fellows Program page. Using animation and some WordPress widgets, it gives people a sense of the year-by-year journey that a student takes at our school.  It’s really exciting because it clearly and compellingly explains our competitive advantages relative to our peer nonprofits. 

What is the team composition?

We had a team of four people, including a project manager who stuck with us throughout the entire process. People bowed in and out as we moved through each stage, from information architecture to visual design to actual tech development. We had a lead for each of those stages.

How did you come to work with Constructive?

We looked through Google for design agencies that had an articulated focus on nonprofits.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May until September 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was completed on time and within budget. Even though we experienced delays at particular stages, Constructive had it live in time for August, when our key users are getting ready to go back to school. They delivered everything they were tasked to do. 

How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

Having worked with vendors in this space before, Constructive’s project management was some of the finest I’ve experienced. I was always aware of a next step or a deliverable on my end and their end. 

Sometimes in the design phase, we had to refocus and make sure that our decisions around the website’s look and feel aligned with best practices and our distinctive brand personality. We occasionally had to have some difficult conversations with the creatives around what our non-negotiables would be. 

I appreciate the project manager; she was able to keep everyone focused on the goal at hand. It was ultimately about building the best work product, which is the ideal dynamic in a vendor relationship. Personal preferences will creep in inevitably, but I appreciated having somebody who remains objective and focused on the execution.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve worked with enough nonprofits across different fields where they have a level of fluency around content. I was really impressed with how quickly they were able to wrap their heads around the work we do and the unique selling points we’re hoping to convey. They provided a helpful marketing perspective while staying true to what is important to us as a nonprofit. 

The project also felt like an individualized experience; we never once felt like we were on our own. Several times, Constructive invited us to come to their office just to make sure that everyone was aligned and could have a healthy conversation. They really made sure we felt good about the work being done. It was a caring approach that made us feel special.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, when one stage concluded and another began, Constructive could have had more seamless communication on their end. That way, everyone can continue to work on time without having to go back and rediscover a missing update that wasn’t shared. There should be some protocol where everybody working on a project is constantly made aware of key updates that could influence their particular stage. There were moments where I had to repeat something that I thought was captured before.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear on what your non-negotiables are. Come with a detailed idea in mind around colors, fonts, and the general look and feel. Spell out those deliverables thoroughly in your RFP.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Adamec Communications, a consulting practice. We work with mission-driven organizations, such as nonprofits, advocates, and foundations. We help them find better, more strategic ways to talk about themselves and their work to the constituencies that matter most.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Constructive?       

I was in search of a more professional and brand-appropriate website. I'd been working on a web platform that I could easily manage from my end and realized I needed to step up my online presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed a brand-new website from scratch. They also worked with me on refining my brand. I was interested in developing my company’s brand to focus on myself as the primary consultant; they helped me develop that idea and properly reflect it on my website.  

Since I had an existing website and services, we took a step back and looked at how we could reorganize and recategorize those services. They also came to the table with ideas on how we can reflect all the services, writing, and thoughts I provide for my clients.

Constructive suggested that the site feature past client case studies and an ideas-section that introduces a blog. It allows me to write original content and give clients an idea of how I approach things. The site also has a section explaining the values I apply to all my work. Overall, the site is highly tailored to my business and my potential customers.   

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Johanna (Senior Project Manager, Constructive). We also worked with Doug (Senior Designer, Constructive). I also dealt with Matt (Founder & Executive Director, Constructive) during the discovery phase of the project.

How did you come to work with Constructive?

Matt and I are involved in a professional networking group for our industry, which is how learned about Constructive. After meeting, I started exploring the idea of them assisting with my branding.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested approximately $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in December 2018, and wrapped up in July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although the site only launched recently, it’s already seen significant traffic. I’ve also received praise from web-savvy individuals. Everyone claims how remarkably better it is than my last site.

The quality is what I’m most happy with. It made my brand more professional, and it was what I was looking for. My old site was created in a DIY style, and it looked that way. It wasn’t a bad site, but it felt amateur. The services I provide my clients are high end, in terms of quality and pricing. My new site accurately reflects my brand and the caliber of service I provide.

How did Constructive perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was managed extremely well. They only involved me in the process only as far as was necessary. I was never engaged with things I didn’t understand. They were very good at telling me what they needed and when they needed it by, which it what I wanted.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What distinguishes Constructive is their level of ability. They’re not just web designers; they’re branding specialists. They apply their expertise in branding with their obvious talent for design. Several vendors claim they can fulfill both of these aspects, but Constructive actually proves they can.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to trust the experts and come into the engagement with an open mind. Constructive is not just a hired gun that materializes ideas; they’re strategists, not just designers. It’s best to allow them to challenge ideas and pre-conceived assumptions.