Contrast & Co.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CMO of a law firm

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Founded in 1938, our company a full-service business law firm with more than 500 attorneys practicing in 16 locations throughout the US and in Mexico, including Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, California; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Boise, Idaho; Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; and Los Cabos, Mexico. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast & Co. to accomplish?

• New Brand Identity

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast & Co.?

Former Colleague

Why did you select Contrast & Co. over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from Contrast & Co. were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Completed Graphic Standards; Firm Prospectus; Community & Social Impact Guide; Social Media, Newsletter, and Legal Alert Templates; Digital/Printed Stationery Package; Email Signature Blocks; Powerpoint Template; Company Store; Promotional Items; Photo and Video Shoots; Invoice and Billing Statement Templates; Digital Business Cards; and Website Functionality and Copy Launch

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Internal and external positive testimonials

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

Strong project management - we felt heard and the team delivered on all requests in a timely fashion

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast & Co.?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

The creative director is the best I've ever worked with on a branding project.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Contrast & Co. could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the SVP of an IT contracting and systems integration company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

An IT government contractor and systems integrator specializing in digital transformation and modernization in Federal Civilian, Federal Health, Homeland Security, and National Security.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast & Co. to accomplish?

• Messaging for our digital delivery framework.
• Graphic design of our digital delivery framework.
• Branding of our digital delivery framework.

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast & Co.?

Other

Why did you select Contrast & Co. over others?

Great culture fit

How many teammates from Contrast & Co. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We hired Contrast & Co. to create branding, graphic design, and messaging for our digital delivery framework.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Branding - complete brand strategy for our digital delivery framework that was immediately usable with our target customer group.
• Graphic Design - design of our digital delivery framework that was immediately usable in proposals, presentations, and websites.
• Messaging - complete content and messagin strategy for our digital delivery framework that was immediately usable with our target customer group.

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

• Timely
• Excellent communication
• Rapid iterations based on our feedback
• They worked to meet our needs until they "got it right"

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast & Co.?

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

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

Contrast & Co.'s branding and messaging strategy were particularly strong.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Contrast & Co. could have done differently?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CoFounder of Motifmotion, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Motifmotion is an animated production studio that specializes in communicating abstract and complex ideas and services organizations and agencies alike.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast & Co. to accomplish?

• Storytelling
• Pre-production development: scripting, storyboards, branding

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast & Co.?

Referral

Why did you select Contrast & Co. over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Contrast & Co. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Contrast & Co developed the key pre-production elements for a series of projects including concepting, script writing, style development, storyboards and illustrations. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Contrast are exceptional storytellers, constructing loose concepts and ideas into engaging productions. Their design aesthetic is unique, compelling and always on brand.  The final products are engaging and targeted at the intended demographic.

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

Contrast provides clear and concise direction and leadership across video production mediums, seamlessly blending motion graphics and custom video.  They're easy to work with and they’re always responsive, collaborative and open to new approaches and ideas.  

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast & Co.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They brought energy and excitement to their projects. We were always proud of the outcomes of our work together.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Contrast & Co. could have done differently?

No.  They're creative, dedicated, flexibile and responsive.  We've been very pleased with the relationship and their work!  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Communications of Severn School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a preschool through grade 12 co-educational college preparatory school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast & Co. to accomplish?

• Outsource our creative work
• Design our semi-annual alumni magazine
• Partner with us on major creative projects and branding as needed

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast & Co.?

Referral

Why did you select Contrast & Co. over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Contrast & Co. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We are working with Contrast in several ways. We have them on retainer to handle our ongoing graphic design work, such as the creation of our print and digital ads, collateral materials for specific events and general branding materials. We also partnered with Contrast to take over the design of our alumni magazine, The Bridge, which publishes twice a year. 
Contrast also put together our in-house school directory, created a brand-new college counseling brochure, designed our fall annual appeal, and created a new branding campaign that is displayed around the school. The primary driver of this was to refresh our messaging and look as we kicked off the 2024-25 enrollment season.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Contrast came in on time and under budget. They are always responsive, and every request has been delivered in a timely manner, and they have contributed as partners, providing much-needed (and appreciated) feedback and other insights into our approach and messaging.

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

Yes, they deliver everything on time. They are very responsive, open to feedback and most importantly, they "get" what our goals are and have provided a fresh perspective on how to promote Severn School.

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast & Co.?

• In-Person Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The work is exceptional. They have done things creatively that we didn't even know to ask for. We have been able to give Contrast a high-level vision and to explain our challenges and opportunities, and they have done a remarkable job of absorbing that and presenting us with striking design that is helping us to become leaders in the way we presenting ourselves.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Contrast & Co. could have done differently?

No, nothing that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Mobomo, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A DC-based digital agency that offers government agencies a comprehensive range of services, including digital transformation, web and app development, DevSecOps and cloud solutions, and human-centered design (HCD).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast & Co. to accomplish?

• Human-Centered Design
• UX/UI
• Web Design

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast & Co.?

• Referral
• Previous working relationship

Why did you select Contrast & Co. over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Other

How many teammates from Contrast & Co. were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Digitally transform a large-scale federal website into a modern CMS, specifically Drupal, while prioritizing a user-centric design based on established human-centered design principles and research. Key deliverables include the migration to Drupal CMS and the development of an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that enables the public to access the required regulation and compliance information for importing and exporting goods.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successfully delivered over 30 unique web page designs for the new website and build the Drupal CMS and groundwork for migration to the new CMS.

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

Contrast's designer was exceptional in their ability to seamlessly integrate into a dynamic multiteam environment and provide an immediate positive impact on the process. They provided rapid responses to all stakeholders and presented complex concepts well in all demos and team meetings.

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast & Co.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Working with Contrast & Co. is truly remarkable as their talented team consistently delivers dynamic, creative, and impactful designs. Their invaluable partnership stems from their proven UX process, exceptional talent, unwavering passion, and commitment to their clients, making the experience both valuable and enjoyable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Contrast & Co. could have done differently?

I do not see any areas for improvement, Contrast & Co. consistently provides professional engagement experiences with excellent design deliverables.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co Founder of Sixth Wing LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Executive coaching and leadership development programming

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast & Co. to accomplish?

• Rebrand--logo, look,
• Website redesign
• Learning and development program materials

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast & Co.?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Contrast & Co. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Contrast & Co. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Contrast & Co led us through a rebranding project that included a new logo suite, tagline, brand look, brand manifesto, website, learning and development materials templates, business development materials, photo library, and presentation deck template.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clear process of identifying the deliverables that mattered most to us, and delivering them on time at an incredibly high standard of excellence. Great communication throughout, so expectations stayed aligned. Willing to work with us to hone in what we most needed without trying to talk us into anything we didn't want or need.

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

On time every time. The only delays came from our end--never theirs. Incredibly responsive to our asks, and willing to hear our priorities and work towards those.

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast & Co.?

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

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

Contrast & Co.'s team has exceeded all of our expectations; they've listened to our input and created a brand look that feels incredibly personal to us. Their ability to capture the essence of our company was incredibly impressive. And they are really fun to work with all around.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Contrast & Co. could have done differently?

Nothing comes to mind!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing & Operations of Chris Dawson Architect

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

CDA is an architecture firm driven by good design.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast & Co. to accomplish?

• Brand and social media strategy

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast & Co.?

Referral

Why did you select Contrast & Co. over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from Contrast & Co. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast & Co.?

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

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

Contrast & Co. aided in the development and execution of a unique social media strategy for our firm. With a framework in place, we continue working with their team to produce and schedule regular social content.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We set out to expand our digital brand presence thru social media, whether promoting recent successes in the form of case studies, celebrating project milestones, or simply sharing the unique creativity of the team. By producing and scheduling visually interesting, compelling, and optimized social content, we were able to grow our audience and increase our visitor engagement while steering toward our brand pillars and promise.

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

Because of the rolling nature of our project's delivery, regular communication and established processes for asset sharing, review, and feedback loops are critical. Contrast does a great job of keeping us on task and offering appropriate frameworks for project management. Our primary point of contact is always on it.

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

Their team shines in brand strategy. They've proven the immediacy of social media is a perfect medium for expanding our brand’s narrative.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Contrast & Co. could have done differently?

None at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager at Deep Instinct, a cybersecurity startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Contrast & Co.?

We wanted to rebrand our business, so we reached out to them to handle our site's UI/UX design and take care of other brand components, like our color palette and visuals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Contrast & Co. is rebranding tasks and redesigning our website’s UI/UX using Figma. We started by giving them our existing brand guidelines, and they revamped that, including our color palette, a slight tweak to our logo, and other efforts to improve our visual identity. In addition, we’ve had multiple rounds of interviews with stakeholders and other executive leadership members so Contrast & Co. could understand our message as a company.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with around six members of their team, including creative directors, UI/UX designers, and content developers.

How did you come to work with Contrast & Co.?

I’ve worked in this industry for a long time and have always admired Contrast & Co.’s work with their other clients in the technology space. We chose them because we thought they could add a unique touch to what we were trying to achieve, which was what we were looking for.

How much money have you invested in this partnership?

So far, we’ve spent $100,000–$250,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to Contrast & Co.’s work, we’ve got a new pipeline, new customers, and more people interested in us due to our bright color palette. Moreover, our online traffic and general engagement have increased significantly by around 50%.

How did Contrast & Co. perform from a project management standpoint?

We handle project management, but they’re strong in ensuring that we complete every task on time throughout our different campaigns. In addition, they have an organized team that is on top of every sprint and wants to keep us fresh and current within our industry so we can scale and evolve as a business. Regarding tools and communication, we use Asana, Zoom, email, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a forward-thinking, solid, and unique company that wants us to stand out within our industry. In addition, they’re a great brand leader — whenever we give them a new project, they eagerly jump on it to suggest different approaches with a confident, positive, upbeat attitude.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a small team, so larger projects might take them time to finish. Nonetheless, I have nothing negative to say about their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Having discovery calls and ensuring everyone is aligned with the project’s goals can be helpful. Contrast & Co.’s team is great at proposing designs and taking feedback to provide a solid end product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a partner in a law firm. I co-chair the firm's national Communications, Internet, and Technology practice.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Contrast & Co.?

We sought a consistent brand identity for a client looking to engage decisionmakers on the Hill about complex regulatory issues that would benefit from a visual, as opposed to narrative, presentation of ideas.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have worked with Contrast & Co. numerous times on multiple different projects. They consistently deliver an outstanding product on time and on (or under) budget.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We worked to develop a newsletter that would remain timely and informative month after month and develop new content and means of presentation to keep material engaging and timely. They have numerous ideas about orchestrating the project and present new innovations to keep the product fresh.

What was the team composition?

Core members of the team included Wes, Beth, and Carin.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client reports much greater engagement and presence as a result of the work product. We can assess engagement over time and by issue to see what matters most and where more work needs to be done.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have an extremely efficient workflow between us and Contrast & Co. They keep us informed of any production delays, which do not occur often if at all, and we keep them apprised of ongoing edits and changes to the copy we are jointly producing.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are invariably enthusiastic about new projects and brimming with creative ideas about how to present material in a way that will be both accessible and instructive to the ordinary reader as well as meticulously accurate for an expert in the field.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

Contrast & Co. could not have done anything differently or better than the stellar performance they have delivered.