Kasra Design

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the content manager. It's my job to help create content to help us acquire new leads.

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

Our product is quite comprehensive with lots of features, which can at times can cause potential customers to think the solution is too broad for their needs. We needed a Promotional video for our company to use in multiple marketing campaigns to provide narrative and help explain our features as more of a process, rather than a mixed bag of features.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

During our search for potential video production companies we found videos posted on Vimeo by Kasra. By group consensus, we felt they were both broad and imaginative enough give us a sense that Kasra would be able to take our initial ideas and develop them further into something powerful and impactful.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started by having a meeting to discuss what we wanted to achieve with the video, any initial ideas we had, and things we felt we needed to cover or wanted to avoid with the final product. Together we created a plan, providing the information requested so that we could work with unison on a script, story board sketches, voice overs, music and animation.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with a project manager who was very knowledgeable about the entirety of the process. We had really good back and forth communication, making sure both Kasra and our own team were on the same page for every step of the process.

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

We have yet to promote the video publicly, but within our own company we have had some incredibly positive feedback. The video succinctly summaries the key aspects of our business endeavours and outlines them in a clear, structured narrative.

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

We found our Project Manager - and Kasra as a whole - a pleasure to work with. Patient, hardworking, diligent, creative, friendly; they ticked all the boxes we have when searching for creative partners.

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

For us, the most impressive thing was the experience and creativity Kasra brought to the project. We began thinking we had a well formed and fleshed out idea, but Kasra showed us better storyboard solutions to reach our goal. Finding a creative partner who is looking to achieve the best for their client (rather than just what the client wants) is really beneficial.

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

For us, personally, no. We found each an every aspect of working with Kasra either met or exceeded our expectations.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO for a SaaS product company focusing on helping Restaurants increase their profitability.

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

We hired Kasra Design to create an explainer video in an easy-to-understand way. The video was published on our website but also used for introductions and investor pitches.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We looked at a couple of different ones, were https://breadnbeyond.com/ was the top contender but I was still not happy about the art work (felt too generic and too clip-art) in the videos and was still looking for options til I stumbled upon Kasra Design which I think had a wide range of styles and the quality of the productions were great.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We kickstarted the project by filling out a brief and a script and went step by step which voice overs and finale cuts.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Sheryl and the communication and feedback was great! We were surprised how smooth everything went and how Sheryl and her team adapted to feedback quickly and with positive attitude.

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

Everyone who sees it are impressed and they ask if it was made by a very expensive marketing firm.

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

Basecamp + Email. Timeliness was impeccable!

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

Zero bullshit, clear communication, great quality and affordable.

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

No. This was absolutely a 5 star experience for us.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for a Global Trade Union Foundation as a Regional Programme Officer.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kasra Design?

Video Production of a video that will cover the importance of classifying COVID-19 as an occupational disease in ASEAN states for the benefit of all, but primarily to increase social protection for workers.

What were your goals for this project?

Increase public knowledge on the importance of social protection, and the correct classification of diseases that workers may contract at the workplace.

How did you select Kasra Design?

Internet research and by getting a feel of their work ethic and quality by reviewing their portfolio.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Kasra handled the storyboarding, animation and overall production of the video. They ensured that the style of animation would capture the spirit of trade unions.

From our end, we provided them a script and was pleased when the team was knowledgeable on background information on trade unions. Very well rounded team.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I believe KASRA's whole animation team contributed to our video well. Sheryl was indeed a great focal person, and extremely attentive and asked all the right questions.

Indeed, the team made sure to get back to us with their feedback and gave their insights. After the video was completed, there were some minor edits needed and they humbly obliged.

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

A trade union in Philippines saw our video which is part of a larger campaign and decided to make their own localized version, which has strengthened our campaign for the whole of ASEAN.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective, loved the fact that they used Basecamp. It made communication extremely easy.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We found their work ethic to be the most impressive.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Miros is a technology company that specialises in measuring the ocean surface. The company provides sensors and systems for environmental monitoring to the global offshore and maritime industry.

Our portfolio of sensors provides accurate, real-time data for weather-sensitive operations offshore, as well as offering input to asset integrity systems and coastal monitoring. The primary applications of Miros sensors include wave and current monitoring and oil spill detection. My current role is Marketing & Communications Manager.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kasra Design?

We hired Kasra Design to aid us in the development of an "explainer video" to create a high-level introduction to what Miros actually does.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to create a concise, engaging, and insightful video for use at events, on social media, and in meetings.

How did you select this vendor?

We had meetings with many vendors, with a lot of attention to detail on the respective portfolios and process outlines, as well as - of course - the price. Kasra had an exceptional portfolio that showed us they could achieve what we wanted. Their pricing also undercut many competitors.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

The video seamlessly matched existing graphical assets to create an animation detailing how our radar technology works and how it can be applied to various maritime industries.

The process took place over several stages: script development, storyboarding, voice over development, style, final video. Each stage with ample opportunity to mould the content in the way it needed to be.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Sheryl is a patient and talented project manager. She is also an excellent point of contact for Kasra Design, offering advice and insight along the way. With 3 revisions of each stage to use, we were able to hone the video at every step of the way.

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

Too soon to say. No data. However, the video will be used in meetings to give an introductory overview of who we are and what we do. It will be used on social media in paid awareness campaigns, and it will be loud and proud at events worldwide showing the value of our products to industry movers and shakers.

Also internally, it provides somewhat of an elevator pitch for staff members outside of the Sales dept. This is an often overlooked benefit.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

One point of contact. Love that. Basecamp is also an excellent tool for this purpose and I'm glad to have been introduced to it. It also helps to have a quarterback like Sheryl.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The output. It's really fantastic. Also, the speed of each iteration, based on our feedback, was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Out of everything, we were least pleased with the voice over. We should have been more thorough during the selection process. I'm not sure if this counts as an improvement opportunity for Kasra Design as much as one for us.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m an account manager for an organization focused on donor retention for charities through data management. Along with processing transactions, we help with customer service, marketing, and communication.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kasra Design?

We needed to hire an external resource to create an animated video that would help our charity partners with their communication strategies. 

What were your goals for this project?

The purpose of the video was to help educate and create awareness for the chosen causes, as well as to aid in fundraising efforts.

How did you select this vendor?

My team shortlisted a few vendors. After some back and forth communication with each, we found Kasra Design to have the best offerings for both quality and value.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Kasra Design first talked with us to understand our business and the intent of the video. After taking into consideration our thoughts, they came back with ideas to use as a starting point to further develop the concept. They worked collaboratively with us during each stage, from scripting to storyboarding and voice over. 

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Kasra Design utilizes Basecamp as their project management system. We went through a revision process until we were satisfied with the final video.

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

We’ve seen an increase in awareness of the work our charity partners carry out. We also now have additional material to use for the acquisition of new funds.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Kasra Design worked as a partner rather than a vendor, which is very important. They had a vested interest in the success of the campaign. Using Basecamp helped create a clear, accountable, and timely workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their focus on customer service is what sets them apart from other agencies. It’s also the key reason they’ve retained our organization as a customer.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Their speed of delivery can be improved. However, their communication helped to manage our expectations. We weren’t over-promised and under-delivered on anything.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the creative services lead at a SaaS company based in Santa Monica, California.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kasra Design?

We wanted to create an animated explainer video for one of our online tools.

What were your goals for this project?

The video needed to explain the tool and its potential uses to help our clients understand how we can help improve their healthcare practice.

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through a basic Google search. They displayed some impressive examples of their work that we wanted to incorporate into our video, so we decided to give them a shot.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

We provided the Kasra Design team with relevant materials to inform the video like a creative brief, a style guide and some other logos and assets. We agreed on a reasonable timeline; then they started working on the project. They handled all aspects of the video—scriptwriting, storyboarding, casting, voice-over recording, animation, and production.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided updates on their progress through Basecamp, and we also used that software to share any feedback and approve their work.

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

We haven’t rolled out the video yet, but we’re very happy with the final result. They took our requests in stride, and they addressed every one of our concerns.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was smooth. They made sure to get our approval on each element before moving to the next step, which saved us time and money. I appreciated the quality of their service.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was very impressed by their flexibility and transparency. They made sure we understood their pricing decisions before they started any work. We missed some deadlines and made some changes on our end, but the Kasra Design team accommodated our needs. The project manager was very efficient.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I don’t have any complaints.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

HelloGold is a fintech blockchain platform. We build financial products for the emerging market of underserved and underbanked populations.

What challenge were you trying to address with Kasra Design?

They helped us out on our crypto side of the business. Our goal with Kasra was to produce a product animation for GOLDX, our crypto coin.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kasra produced an explainer video for us. I wrote the script and they reviewed it, offered suggestions, and drafted a storyboard. Once it was approved, they developed the animation and audio. They also produced the required live recordings and delivered the final product, which is the animation.

What is the team composition?

I mostly dealt with their managing director and CEO. They had a team backing them up.

How did you come to work with Kasra Design?

I found them in an online search. I wanted to work with someone I could meet face-to-face. Kasra Design’s portfolio looked good. They had international quality standards, which is what we were going for.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $10,000 on the work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Kasra in February 2018. The project finished this week.

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

The quality of Kasra’s work on the animation end was good.

How did Kasra Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed sincerely well. They communicated regularly and clearly. I managed the project, and I’ve been traveling a lot this year. There were some delayed responses on my end, but Kasra was on top of the work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their professionalism and the fact that they were always communicating. I was always actively included in what was going on, and they were clear about what they needed from me. This helped a lot, especially when dealing with multiple projects. On top of that, the quality of their animation is definitely worth the funds in terms of how polished it is.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We implemented a live-recording component that involved our CEO, and there were a few variables that weren’t handled well on the audio side. The recordings had too much echo because we made them in an open space in a studio. We could hear a tunnel sound during my boss’s speaking parts, but Kasra fixed the mistake. I wish we’d known about that variable before recording it.

The voiceover talent is an improvement point. They gave us a lot of samples to choose from. Then, they sent us two versions for the choices we made. The energy was there, but more variation on the presentation style would have been better. Showing more than just two variations would’ve been good or they could’ve had us in a call during the recording process to give a few pointers. We could’ve navigated the voiceover feel that way to get a tone that was closer to what we were going for. I gave Kasra clear feedback, and they were on board with it. The voiceover was professional, but, in terms of overall tone, I would have liked more life out of the voice used.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should give them a clear brief that describes the desired feel. Kasra Design offers a lot of voice options; the client needs to get involved in that process, as opposed to just having the final audio delivered.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Shoppertise has 2 offices in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. The company was started in 2014, and we provide mobile-first e-commerce solutions for small businesses. To date, we have helped more than 4,000 brands in Malaysia increase their sales and manage orders on both offline and online channels. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Kasra Design?

We wanted a quick introduction in the form of a video that we could share at workshops and the booths we set up at local events. The video was meant to introduce the problem we were trying to solve and explain our approach. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kasra Design produced 2 videos for us to explain what our business does. We use them as marketing tools. They are hosted on our website as well as on our YouTube channels. We’ve shared them on social media, but the videos have mostly been used in our workshops, where we have weekly meet-and-greets with potential small-business merchants.

Both videos are 2D animations. Because we have a presence in 2 countries, we needed to produce the videos in 2 languages—English and Indonesian. I spoke to a founder of Kasra Design and explained that we needed local voice talent, ideally based in Indonesia. She quickly started a search, even though she didn’t have local expertise at the time. Her approach was very professional.

How did you come to work with Kasra Design?

I knew them from my previous company, for which Kasra Design had produced 2 other videos. A few other companies sent us some of their video examples, but I didn’t feel comfortable working with a group I didn’t know. I don’t have a lot of time to handle communication and project management, as I travel a lot. Since I was familiar with Kasra Design and knew that they understood how I worked, I thought it would be easier to engage with the same company.

How much have you invested with Kasra Design?

The cost of their work was between $7,000 and $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Kasra Design in October 2016 for our first Shoppertise video. The most recent video was finished a month ago. 

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

I don’t have any metrics at hand, but my Indonesian partner loved the quality of Kasra Design’s work, which is why we decided to engage them for a second video. Their video was able to deliver a short description of what we do during workshops. This would have otherwise been labor-intensive, and we didn’t just want to repeat our services.

How did Kasra Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I found the process straightforward. We mainly communicated via Basecamp and WhatsApp. We had phone calls if we needed to discuss or resolve something quickly, but everything was done mostly online. The response time hasn’t exceeded 12 hours so far.

The team looks at feedback objectively and always tried to understand why I was making particular requests. They simplified the message I was trying to deliver and cleaned up our content.

What did you find most impressive about Kasra Design?

I really appreciate their professionalism, from the start to the end of the project. I felt that Kasra Design had complete control of the work. I’ve dealt directly with their co-founder, which has been great. Each video has fun elements and smart metaphors, which makes them quite interesting to watch, even for repeat viewings.

Are there any areas Kasra Design could improve?

I wish they had startup prices, but I can’t really complain. 

Please describe your organization.

Our company is Cravo, a family-run business in the agricultural sector. Cravo builds large retractable roofs for greenhouse structures in order to help large-scale farmers grow food more sustainably.

What business challenge were you trying to address with Kasra Design?

My father runs the business, and when I joined last year, I wanted to give consumers a fresh look to how we position the company. Traditionally, we looked at ourselves as simply a supplier of large greenhouses, and I wanted to show that we’re a lot more than that.

That agenda led me to build a new website, which we’re about to launch in two weeks. I really liked the idea of making an explainer video. We build these large-scale greenhouses with roofs that can open and close. I wanted to show that in an easily understood way, instead of needing to take an hour to explain what we do to a potential client. I wanted to find a way to simplify the way we present ourselves, and I wanted to use a video to showcase animations of how we work.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

The first video we did with Kasra Design was a two-minute video that explains the challenge we’re trying to solve. The video is actually an introduction to the challenges of food production today. It looks at the different trends that are impacting both the growers and the consumers, then goes on to show how we developed our solution and details how that solution works. That video has now been finished in both English and Spanish. Kasra Design is currently helping us with animations for some of our other videos.

How did you come to work with Kasra Design?

I found them initially through a random blog search. I was looking online for explainer videos. Kasra Design had the best videos. We needed an agency that was really good with animations and they were very strong. Their cost was much better and they produced really high-caliber videos.

When I spoke with them, I asked what their process would be and how they would work given the time zone differences. I was satisfied with the answers they gave me.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

We’ve spent around $10,000 working with Kasra Design.

Could you share any statistics, metrics or other feedback from your work with Kasra Design?

The video has been very well received, though, by those who have seen it. My father showed it to some of our current and prospective clients, who enjoyed it. We’ve shown it to all our employees, and everyone has just been astounded. We had to put together the idea of what the video was going to be, but Kasra Design had to work with us to put that idea into action. The video does the job of articulating what we do, in two minutes, in a very complicated industry. We’re really excited about launching the video.

How did Kasra Design perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m very impressed; they are fantastic. I was initially a bit concerned because they were in Malaysia, but they were great in getting things done very fast, keeping things on track, and providing updates on timing. I haven’t had any issues in that regard.

What distinguishes Kasra Design from other providers?

The biggest thing that distinguishes Kasra Design is the quality of their animation. There are a lot of providers out there that are quite basic in their 2D or character-based animation, but that was not the case with Kasra Design. The level of detail that they had when we moved from the server to the animation was great. They have a very good sense of bringing our story together. My first response to seeing the videos was very positive.

Is there anything Kasra Design could have improved or done differently?

No, but I was very proactive with them. I had a completed script going into the project. I responded very quickly to everything they did. It would be interesting to see how they would perform in a situation where the client isn’t as responsive. If we ever hit an issue or problem, they were quick to solve the problem or offer suggestions.

Could you please describe your organization?

We’re a marketing data technology company in China. We are helping clients to measure their marketing investments and to check their investment effectiveness in the digital marketing areas. We focus on advertising, reputation, social measurements, and ecommerce measurements. We serve more than 50 percent of the leading brands in China, including international and domestic. We have 350 people, and we’re located in Shanghai.

What is your position?

I’m the chief marketing officer.

What was your goal for working with Kasra Design?

They helped me to produce my videos. They have been producing corporate videos using animation. We didn’t have the expertise in-house at the time, so we turned to Kasra to support our animation needs.

Could you please describe the actual scope of work assigned to them?

They produce videos to present my reports, which used to be a PowerPoint, a market research report. They creatively turned it into a video report to make all of the stories more interesting, rather than just reading the PowerPoint. For another project, they used animated video to explain our product, technologies, and solutions, which is the most difficult part, but they did it wonderfully. I got plenty of compliments from our clients on this.

How did you come to choose Kasra Design as your partner?

They were recommended by an ex-colleague. I checked their website and their credentials on YouTube, [seeing] what they have produced. They sounded very good, and their pricing was very competitive. After I tried it once, I found their service to be the best I’ve ever used. We’ve been working together for two years.

Could you provide a general cost estimate for the amount you’ve invested in their services to date?

Each project is less than $10,000, but we’ve done between five and seven projects already.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our relationship is ongoing. We’ve worked on several projects together, and they’ve become our partner. They are the only video production company we use now.

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the quality of their performance?

The results are solid. The Shanghai television station is using my video reports in their TV news reporting programs. They have an interesting way to present boring statistical research data. They did it wonderfully. Sheryl [Chung], the managing director, is so patient, and she has good listening skills. She is so intelligent, and she processes my complicated data, makes it simple, and then translates it to her creative team so they can develop a creative output from the boring data. That’s difficult, and she did it very well. She was patient and very attentive. They have a sharp schedule with a fast turnaround, which I like. We work around the clock. The price is very competitive and straightforward, and I like that a lot.

When working with Kasra Design, is there anything that you would consider unique about their practice that distinguishes them from other vendors?

I think what’s special is Kasra Design's service, which is quite exceptional. In terms of creativity, they have a magic element there to make the whole process very smooth, and they have the skill to take boring data and translate it into creative work. I think it’s rare to find that in a design firm because they’re working with some complex data.

What advice, if any, would you give a future client of theirs?

I think it’s important to have a clear idea of their work process and schedule. Anyone that wants to work with Kasra should bring a well-articulated proof of concept and a good understanding of what results they’re looking for. Kasra has some great creative talent, but they need a basic direction.