Contrast Studio

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the former COO of Mochary Method

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Executive coaching for c-suites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast Studio to accomplish?

• Create brand identity
• Create branding designs and assets
• Create website mockup

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast Studio?

Prior worked together

Why did you select Contrast Studio over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Contrast Studio were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

The scope of work, for the most part, had to do with developing our new web app - companyOS. Contrast was our only design contributor on the team, so they handled everything:

• helping define feature scope
• interviewing users
• wireframing solutions
• testing usability
• designing high-fidelity visual assets
• writing development documentation
• collaborating with our dev team to get designs implemented as intended. 

Contrast helped us ship dozes of new features and improvements on our app. We had a long-term engagement with them, so it’s hard to define a list of exact deliverables. They did everything, from early wireframing to final design, time and time again.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over the span of about 18 months, Calin from Contrast Studio helped us design much needed improvements on our v1 app, and then design a v2 app from scratch. We ran several development cycles and successfully launched features and improvements that where pivotal in getting closer to finding product-market fit.

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

Contrast works async for the most part. We used Slack and Loom for communication, Notion for documentation and project management, and Figma for design assets. We had weekly check-ins to discuss priorities, share feedback, and decide on next steps. Calin was always quick to respond, communicated clearly, and gave us peace of mind that we can rely on him.

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast Studio?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Calin is one of the few designers that can walk the walk. He delivers high quality, fast, day in and day out, with minimal management. It was great to be able to rely on someone to take ownership and just get things done.

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

We had regular feedback sessions over the time we worked together and we always worked out any issues that came up. Calin from Contrast did a great job for us!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the former CEO of Havr

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

HAVR develops cloud security solution.Everything started by a product called BrightLock (the first LiFi smart lock

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast Studio to accomplish?

• Hardware Product design
• SOftware product design

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast Studio?

Online Search

Why did you select Contrast Studio over others?

• High ratings
• Company values aligned
• Professional ethic

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

As the sole designer in the company, Calin played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the product and marketing departments. Calin's work was primarily product-focused, with a key responsibility in shaping and designing significant new features and enhancements for the various apps that constitute the BrightLock system, including iOS, Android, and web applications. 

Additionally, Calin was instrumental in a website redesign project for havr.io, aimed at improving conversions and creating a more engaging user experience. This website redevelopment was executed using Webflow, showcasing Calin's expertise in web development and responsive web design. Calin also contributed to branding efforts by refreshing the company logo, which helps maintain a consistent and cohesive brand identity across the various products and marketing materials. 

Overall, Calin's skill set includes a diverse range of design abilities, from interaction design and user-centered design to web interface design, branding, and user experience design. Calin's proficiency in various tools and technologies, such as Webflow, prototyping, and cross-team collaboration, further highlights their capability to deliver high-quality design solutions that contribute to the success of the company's products and marketing efforts. 

Calin's multi-faceted contributions have been vital in driving the success and growth of the company's cloud access control solutions, making them an invaluable asset to the organization.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress and success include: 

1. **53% Quarterly Growth Rate**: Calin's contribution in shaping and designing critical new features for the BrightLock system's apps (iOS, Android, and web) resulted in a significant 53% quarterly growth rate. This growth rate indicates a substantial increase in user adoption, engagement, or revenue, showcasing the positive impact of Calin's work on the company's success. 
2. **Increased Conversions on havr.io**: The website redesign project that Calin led for havr.io resulted in improved conversions. This means more visitors to the website were successfully converted into customers, subscribers, or users, leading to enhanced user acquisition and business growth. 
3. **Enhanced User Experience**: Calin's expertise in user-centered design and responsive web design contributed to a more engaging and user-friendly experience for customers using the BrightLock system's apps and the havr.io website. This improvement likely led to increased customer satisfaction and retention rates. 
4. **Streamlined Product Development**: By delivering critical features in a timely manner, Calin helped streamline the product development process. Faster delivery of new features can lead to quicker iterations, better product-market fit, and more responsiveness to customer needs. 
5. **Consistent Brand Identity**: The refreshed company logo and cohesive branding efforts by Calin contributed to a more consistent brand identity across different products and marketing materials. A strong brand identity can improve brand recognition and customer trust. 
6. **High-Quality Design Solutions**: Calin's proficiency in various design tools and technologies, such as Webflow and prototyping, enabled the delivery of high-quality design solutions. This likely resulted in improved user satisfaction and usability of the products. These measurable outcomes clearly demonstrate the progress and success of the project, highlighting Calin's valuable contributions to the company's growth and achievements.

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

• **Project Management Approach:** Calin's project management approach underscores a strong emphasis on a collaborative and adaptive work culture. Their written culture likely reflects clear communication and a focus on documenting project progress and requirements, ensuring effective team collaboration. This approach contributes to a shared understanding among stakeholders and promotes a streamlined workflow. 

  Moreover, Calin's flexibility at work is evident in their ability to quickly adapt to changing project needs and timelines. Their willingness to accommodate evolving priorities and respond promptly to emergent requirements demonstrates a valuable trait in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment. By blending a communicative written culture and a flexible approach, Calin is well-equipped to navigate project challenges, foster effective teamwork, and consistently deliver successful outcomes.

• **Delivery On Time:** Calin's ability to fast deliver critical features that led to a 53% quarterly growth rate suggests that they were likely effective in meeting project deadlines. Their focus on product-centric design and proficiency in various design tools, such as Webflow, may have contributed to streamlined workflows and timely deliveries. 
• **Responsiveness to Needs:** As the sole designer in the company, Calin may have been highly responsive to the needs of both the product and marketing teams. They likely demonstrated good communication skills and a willingness to understand the requirements and feedback from different stakeholders. Being responsive and adaptable to changing project needs is essential for successful project execution. 
• **Collaboration:** Calin's experience in cross-team collaboration likely played a significant role in their ability to respond to project needs effectively. Collaborating with different teams, such as product development, marketing, and other stakeholders, can help ensure that design solutions align with overall business objectives. 
• **Adaptability:** Given the diverse range of design abilities listed, such as interaction design, user-centered design, branding, and more, Calin appears to have been adaptable and capable of addressing various project requirements. 
• **Proactivity:** As Calin contributed to major feature improvements and website redesign, their proactivity in identifying opportunities for enhancement and taking initiative to propose design solutions might have been key to delivering successful outcomes.

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast Studio?

Virtual Meeting

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

What impressed me most about this company was the exceptional combination of their written culture, great execution, and the overall positive experience of working with them. Their written culture was outstanding, emphasizing clear communication and documentation, which facilitated seamless collaboration among team members. This practice led to a shared understanding of objectives and milestones, contributing to efficient project management and successful outcomes. 

The company's commitment to great execution was evident in their ability to deliver critical features promptly and achieve a remarkable 53% quarterly growth rate. Their focus on high-quality design solutions, led by Calin, showcased their dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction. 

Additionally, it was a delight to work with the team. Their approachability, receptiveness to ideas, and willingness to adapt to changing needs created a collaborative and positive work environment. Such a friendly atmosphere fosters creativity and mutual support, making the overall experience of working with the company truly enjoyable.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of infomunca.ro

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

In brief, www.infomunca.ro could be defined as an online workforce recruitment system in Romania. www.infomunca.ro is a jobs website in which the employers or the recruitment companies have the possibility to post recruitment ads and the applicants, those who want to get hired, can apply online to the work offers, directly on the website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Contrast Studio to accomplish?

• Improve our brand identity
• Make our web app easier to use
• Designed a new modern UI that matches our new style

SOLUTION

How did you find Contrast Studio?

• Linked in

Why did you select Contrast Studio over others?

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

How many teammates from Contrast Studio were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

The scope of work included:

1. Definition of the brand identity, with deliverables such as: logos, mottos, e-mail signature, color palette, fonts & in general the visual language to use.
2. Redesign of the infomunca.ro web application user experience, with design artifacts such as: mock-ups, psd files, UI components, which would need to go into development (including design specifications)
3. User research & competitor analysis for specific features (such as the CV editor)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Contrast Studio did a great job for us. Good communication, great designs, and were highly adaptable. We provided them feedback multiple times on design and front-end development, to which they where always quick to respond. In terms of measurable outcomes, we noticed a significant improvement in our app's usability and overall design. Contrast's work helped to modernize our app and make it more user-friendly, which we observed has contributed to an increase in user engagement.

Metrics which uplifted: CSAT, Conversion, Registration funnel conversion

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

We worked async with occasional meetings to align and share feedback. The entire project took 2-3 months. We began by developing our new company's brand identity. We had a call with Calin from Contrast Studio, during which we discussed our target audience, what sets us apart, and how we want to be perceived by others.

In just a few weeks, we were all in agreement on how we wanted to present ourselves. Calin then presented us with logo and brand identity options. We were thrilled with one of the options and worked together to refine it, ultimately adopting it as our new company brand. Next, we shifted our focus to improving our app.

We held several meetings to brainstorm ideas and review wireframes until we had a clear vision. Calin did an amazing job of applying our new brand to the wireframes and giving our app a much-needed update. Finally, Contrast Studio provided front-end development for the new designs which we were able to implement seamlessly. The deliveries were on time, and Calin from Contrast Studio didn't shy away from iterating on the designs, based on our or the customer feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with Contrast Studio?

• Virtual Meeting

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

In addition to delivering awesome designs, we also appreciated how well-organized and professional Contrast was. We have worked with many service providers, but few have been as diligent about their tasks as they have been.

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

Can’t think of anything. We were satisfied with the service, and considered their service for upcoming projects as well. We would highly recommend them to anyone looking for outstanding branding, UI, and UX design services.