Feral Studio

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of technology for USAHello, a nonprofit that helps immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers connect to resettlement resources to build a better life.

What challenge were you trying to address with Feral Studio?

We reached out to Feral Studio to develop a cross-platform app from scratch. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Feral designed and developed a cross-platform mobile (iOS and Android) and web app that allows refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants to find resources and help in their local area using a map-based location finder. The app was built using Ionic and incorporates APIs like Google Maps. They continue to closely collaborate with our team to test and make various iterations as needed. 

What is the team composition? 

I mainly work three people on their team. 

How did you come to work with Feral Studio?

I wasn't involved in the selection process, so I'm not sure how we found them but I've definitely enjoyed working with them so far. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested between $40,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since June 2017 and completed the first version of the app by January 2018. We continue to work with them to incorporate user feedback and other updates. 

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

We couldn't be happier with Feral Studio's work. The technology they're using perfectly meets our needs. They've been good about working around industry norms to meet our unique needs, creating solutions for an audience that's not particularly tech-savvy. 

How did Feral Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They've been responsive, understanding, and easy to work with overall. We mostly communicate through Slack and share a Trello board to track project progress. They generally respond to any communication within a 24-hour timeframe. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They've been very agile, flexible, and open to new ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. They were somewhat resistant to some of our requests initially since they went against technology and industry norms, but they've been very flexible in the long run. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Maintain constant communication with their team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m part of a company that manufactures high-end headphone amplifiers and digital-to-analog converters. We're a small company in a niche market.

What challenge were you trying to address with Feral Studio?

When my company was just starting, I programmed our database and made an absolute mess of it. Once we grew to a certain point, not only did I need a website that would make us appear more professional and reflect our vision that we have for the future. I also simply didn’t have time to maintain the platform anymore.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve completed two websites for us, first in 2013 and again more recently. Originally, our site was entirely custom-built without framework software. The second-generation platform, however, was built using Django. They were able to address the marketing challenges we were facing while resolving programming issues like logistical bugs in the backend.

What is the team composition?

 I work with both Sterling (Designer, Feral Studio) and Timmy (Web Developer, Feral Studio).

How did you come to work with Feral Studio?

I’ve worked with other programmers in the past and knew the pitfalls of hiring someone you haven't vetted, including higher expenses or problems caused by inexperience. I began searching Google for someone who was impressive and capable enough to pull off what we needed. I looked at vendors in my area and thought Feral Studio’s previous work made them a good fit for our project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent at least $350,000.

 What is the status of this engagement?

We first started working together in 2013 and our engagement is ongoing.

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

 Quite a lot has changed since I started this company, but Feral Studio has made us sustainable. I attribute a lot of our success to their support. Working with them has pushed the vision we have for our business. They're a really well-rounded group and we wouldn’t be where we are without them.

How did Feral Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve been extremely pleased with their work. I know that we’ve limited their team in the past because of our own lack of communication. Over the years, we’ve shifted how we interact. We used to use Google Hangouts, video chats, phone calls, and email to communicate, but now we primary use Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re able to handle any challenge, whether it’s a marketing or web development issue. I know that if I give them a problem, like configuring how the shopping cart works or introducing a new product to the website, they will solve it.

Additionally, Timmy is one of the finest programmers I've had the opportunity of working with. Not only is he exceptionally capable, he has strong business judgment. He considers whether something is truly beneficial and will move the company forward or hold it back.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a little expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for because they deliver a quality product.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go for it. I wouldn’t suggest anyone go with a different company.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a producer at Otis Studios, a post production audio studio specializing in original music composition. I’m responsible for administration, operations, and new business.

For what projects/services did your company hire Feral Studio?

We needed to hire an external resource to create a new website as a tool to attract new clients. Our previous site was designed on a Wix template and lacked the personality of our studio. We don’t have the internal capabilities to design or build a new website on our own.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the new site to have a responsive design, easy UX, and optimization between browsers and devices. We also wanted a design that would incorporate a gritty art style with a clean layout to show off our work samples.

How did you select this vendor?

We found their site on a design site and intended to use their website as a reference. We looked at some local options but ultimately reached out only to Feral Studio. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Feral Studio was responsible for the entire site's design and build. In addition, we had already hired an artist to create key visuals. They worked under minimal guidelines from us. Our brief laid out a key necessity for us to be able to update content on the site with ease in the future. 

What was the team composition?

We worked with three people from their team. Sterling (Designer, Feral Studio) was our main day-to-day contact. We also worked with a web developer who was responsible for the site build, as well as an animation specialist.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

While it’s too soon to see the full impact on our business, we have been contacted by previous clients for new work since the site launched.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The collaboration was amazing. Sterling always made himself available, even with the time difference. That was particularly helpful when we were about to deploy the new site. They mainly used Google Docs and Google Hangouts for communication and project management.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were most impressed with their dedication and hard work. Right down to the very end, Feral Studio put in endless amounts of effort. They’re definitely the type of vendor who goes above and beyond for their clients. That commitment was very well-received.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, they were absolutely wonderful.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the manager of a consulting firm utilizing a cloud-based web app to work with multinational clients. Our business model is “transformation apps + advisory services.”

For what projects/services did your company hire Feral Studio?

We hired Feral Studio to design and develop our app, web presence, and overall branding.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have branding and a website that would resonate with our target market. We are competing in a crowded consulting market, but with a differentiated capability through the web app.

How did you select this vendor?

When we read about Feral Studio, it was clear they were an ideal fit. The foundation of their work is understanding our business and what makes us different. They had a unique combination of deep skills in branding, design, and development.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Feral Studio started by designing our company branding. Then, they designed and developed our marketing website and other supporting marketing assets. Feral Studio also designed and built the cloud-based app for our advisory work. Since the web app is highly specialized, we needed Feral Studio to understand what we needed the app to do.  

What was the team composition?

We work with Sterling (Co-Founder, Feral Studio) who is responsible for branding and web design. Their team also includes a technical lead, developers, and other contractors.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Clients have described the web app used in our advisory work as amazing, easy, and valuable. Its design and functionality are beyond our original expectations. Meanwhile, our marketing website and branding have been well received. Colleagues say that we now project a clear message in a professional yet fun manner. That's what we intended.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Feral Studio provides thorough and structured project management, so working with them has been easy.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Feral Studio has surpassed my hopes and expectations. They’ve allowed me to focus on growing the business. I appreciate the time they’ve invested in understanding our business and strategy. Sterling worked not only as a designer and developer but also as an advisor. His insight is quite valuable, and his understanding of our business means we can work effectively and efficiently together.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not from my experience.