definition8

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work as the marketing and communications manager of RIT Croatia, which is one of the global campuses of the Rochester Institute of Technology.

What challenge were you trying to address with definition8?

Most of our students were enrolled in the American Bachelor of Science degree program. Our biggest challenge was to promote and position our programs as the best top choice for potential students in Croatia and the region. Given that the students were between 16–17 years old, the means of communication changed on a daily basis. 

As we were approaching our commencement ceremonies, we wanted to do something fun and celebratory for our students. One of our ideas was to implement an AR filter for them, in which they could try on different elements when streaming or taking photographs. Given that, we decided to collaborate with definition8, who worked on those elements and the filter we wanted. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated closely and brainstormed together on what type of content would be good to promote the AR filter. Then, definition8 programmed the filter and did everything so that it could go online and be used by students. We advertised on social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram, while definition8 exclusively worked on the filter’s design and development. Users could turn it on and add elements they liked, such as having confetti all over the screen. 

The definition8 team also programmed and designed different versions of the filter that could be used in real-time. They made plenty of changes until they finalized it, and it went live after only around 10 days. The team also proactively updated us about the status of the project, including the number of people who were using the filter or the shares it had on social media.

What is the team composition?

I only communicated with one person from their team, but more people worked on this project behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with definition8?

I knew the person who ran definition8. He studied in RIT Croatia, and I valued his opinion because he was close to our target audience. He understood certain things better than other people, such as the behavior and communication needs of our audience on social media. In relation to that, we wanted to talk to him to know about the trends that would be appealing to our audience.

The definition8 team approached us and asked whether we considered creating a filter that students could use. It was circumstantial and happened to be closed to our commencement ceremonies, so I decided to see how that could work. Their team gave us an offer and explained what they’d do. The offer also contained the financial aspects of the engagement. After reviewing it, we decided to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May–April 2021. 

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

We had good results. Bearing in mind that this was a one-time activity, it proved to be something we should consider doing more often since it appealed to our younger audience. Apart from that, other people who weren’t directly associated with us said they liked the filter. 

Moreover, the engagements we received were different from what we regularly received before, such as likes and shares. Not everybody liked posting, and others didn’t post until they were satisfied with their photos. However, a lot of people actually tried the filter and saved their pictures, which indicated that they might use it later on. 

Overall, creating this filter was a good idea from a branding perspective. This project was one of the more novel things we’d done, and it was solely based on the creativity of definition8 people. 

How did definition8 perform from a project management standpoint?

They were 100% on top of everything, and I could easily reach them. They were techies, but they understood my language at my level of knowledge — that was impeccable. They didn’t treat any changes that I requested as an additional burden; they always did them gladly. Above all, they were honest and sincere. 

Moreover, they were highly client-oriented and engaged. When we wanted to know if a feature would appeal to an audience, they’d test that audience and tell me our options. Overall, they’d go a long way with the knowledge and expertise they had. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn’t have many in-person meetings. As a result, we mostly communicated over the phone and exchanged information through WhatsApp, which was extremely popular in Croatia. We used emails when signed their offer and finalized outputs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

definition8 was eager to make the project work, and they had a unique view of bringing AI and AR/VR into the world. On top of that, they think outside the box. Other agencies would provide top-notch services with regards to what we needed based on current platforms and channels. By contrast, definition8 would implement ideas that weren’t normal in the present but would be common in the future. 

Overall, the team was extremely creative. They were fairly young, but their solutions, approach, and actual work distinguished them from other providers. I was seriously impressed with the things they knew and did. As time would go on, they’d need to gain experience, which would only help them to get better. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be close-minded; listen to definition8’s creativity. I’ve been impressed the most with their knowledge and creativity. It’s best if you listen to them; they know what they’re doing. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

ARCH. is an influencer first digital marketing agency, and I work there as a social media manager.

For what projects/services did your company hire definition8, and what were your goals?

We hired definition8 to create an AR Filter game on Instagram for our client's holiday marketing campaign.

How did you select definition8 and what were the deciding factors?

We found their excellent work on LinkedIn and connected from there. They were the first among many of the candidates to say "Yes, it can be done".

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

Confidential.

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

Three people worked with us.

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

We don't yet have the results available.

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

We had several video calls to ensure their product matched our brief entirely. Besides that, we regularly communicated via Whatsapp and E-mail.

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

Following our brief in detail. They were transparent, responsive, and professional.

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

Nothing I could really think of.