Lift Graphic Design Studio

Please describe your company and your position there.

I head up Branding for National Pen. National Pen’s personalized promotional products are created for and inspired by small businesses. With more than 50 years of experience and serving 23 countries worldwide, National Pen has provided personalized marketing solutions that help businesses connect with their customers through a personal brand experience. National Pen offers a broad range of personalized promotional products, including writing instruments, stationery, drinkware, bags, gifts, and trade show accessories, and operates via a network of more than 10 facilities across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

For what projects/services did your company hire Lift Graphic Design Studio?

I hired LIFT to develop a refreshed brand identity and new look & feel for the brand.

What were your goals for this project?

Direct the creative development of a new look and feel, including a brand logo refresh, sample applications, and a comprehensive style guide, for the National Pen brand based on the brand assessment and brand strategy.

How did you select Lift Graphic Design Studio?

I had worked with LIFT in the past and they always did a great job articulating the brand visually.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

• Conducted work-sessions to develop new look & feel and brand refresh to represent National Pen's brand image
• Created a vision board with ideas for the look & feel
• Created a new logo to represent the brand
• Worked with our in-house marketing leads to layout sample applications including direct mail, homepage, email template, and insert cards
• Prepared a draft style guide, incorporated input, and feedback from key stakeholders, and published an electronic version of the final style guide.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with their Head of Account Management on brand strategy and their Head of Creative on all design work. They've done a great job creating an ownable brand identity that addresses our biggest business challenges.

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

The final branding was approved by the CEO of National Pen and its parent company, Cimpress. We are currently rolling out the new branding.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked very effectively together. I had them share their work with our internal team but would consolidate all feedback before sharing input with the LIFT creative and account management teams.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I'm most impressed with how they are able to visually create a style that reflects our brand strategy.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think the biggest challenge was working virtually with LIFT through COVID but they were accessible and we were able to meet regularly and keep the project on track.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am former Director of Product Marketing for Qualcomm, a Fortune 100 company focused on mobile technology and innovation, where I led all marketing strategies and programs for XR (virtual reality and augmented reality) and mobile gaming. I also spent 5 years managing Qualcomm’s developer network and community, where I helped inspire the next generation of mobile innovators in areas such as XR, gaming, IoT and mobile app development.

For what projects/services did your company hire Lift Graphic Design Studio?

We hired Lift Graphic Design Studio to do original package design studies for a line of developer boards that were being offered through a recent acquisition.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to convey the features of the dev boards on the packaging that were clear and easy for the devs to understand upon package arrival while creating strong brand equity for Qualcomm in a new space. This packaging was not for retail placement but for mail distribution.

How did you select this vendor?

I've worked with Lift for years prior to my role at Qualcomm while Global Marketing Manager at Iomega Corporation. We had an established rapport and trust that was built over time due to their professionalism, friendliness and delivered work product.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

The project began with a kick off meeting in which we outlined our project objectives, needs, assumptions, timelines, etc. During this time there was dialogue between both groups to ensure that Lift understood the full scope of the project. Next, Lift took some time to do their own discovery and review of competitor design as well as developer target needs and feedback. All of which went into the different design options that were presented back to us. We liked different elements from 2 different options and ultimately worked with Lift to combine those elements into a package design that we were happy with and worked best for our customer.

What was the team composition?

I worked with Beth Garcia on account and project management and Dennis Garcia on all creative.

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

Lift was able to provide a consistent branded look and feel across many product skus that differed in type and size while maintaining the key objectives of providing the developer target the key information needed from the box packaging to the documentation inside the box.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I met with the team on a weekly basis via conference call to ensure that the project was meeting timelines and deliverables. Lift was also available for face to face meetings. They were always available if a question or concern arose.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am most impressed by the ease of working with them. Working with them is a true collaboration in which I feel they are an extension of our marketing team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A

Please describe your company and your position there.

Head of Marketing for Shari's Berries

For what projects/services did your company hire Lift Graphic Design Studio?

Packaging design

What were your goals for this project?

Develop a sample package that fit within the brand guidelines but was elevated to appeal to a more upscale audience.

How did you select this vendor?

I have worked with this design firm for years. They do outstanding work and are wonderful to work with.

Describe the project in detail.

This was somewhat complicated because the final package was to be merchandised on another brand's website so the look and feel needed to represent Shari's Berries but had to look like it fit on the ProFlowers website and be appealing for their customer base. LIFT took the creative brief and developed a sample pack that exceeded our expectations and made the merchandising management team on the ProFlower's business happy with the final outcome.

What was the team composition?

Beth is an amazing account lead. She is strategic and organized. She also keeps a tight ship and makes sure all deadlines are kept. Dennis did all the design work. The way he presents his work is incredibly insightful and really resonated with the in-house marketing, merchandising and creative teams.

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

The final package was approved by all parties and the LIFT team was moved to the top of the list for outside branding and packaging design support.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The LIFT team worked well with our in-house creative team, not an easy feat, and developed an outstanding output that the in-house team felt pride with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are a great value - outstanding creative for a reasonable price! And they deliver innovative and on-brand creative.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of. I bring them to all my new assignments.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the director of product marketing for Active Network. We provided software for participant activities such as races, summer camps, and corporate events. I oversaw branding, messaging, and positioning for our product portfolio.

For what projects/services did your company hire Lift Graphic Design Studio?

We needed someone to help guide us through a division branding project. Specifically, we were looking for consulting regarding our design's direction, tone, and voice.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop a consistent brand image across all of our collateral and increase leads from gated content (e-books, white papers, etc.)

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed 3–4 local designers in San Diego. After an initial interview process, we narrowed the search to Lift and one other agency. Based on initial design mock-ups and proposed budgets, we selected Lift. Another important influence was that Lift demonstrated an ability to translate our ideas visually, which other agencies were unable to do.

Describe the project in detail.

After selecting Lift, we held a briefing session, and they came back with their initial ideas for our division’s brand. We iterated on these initial designs for two more rounds before presenting them to our division stakeholders. Once we identified our desired direction, Lift transformed our ideas into content.

Their deliverables included collateral templates for PowerPoint presentations, flyers, and, e-books. They also delivered designs for our social media presence and our division’s pitch/sales deck.

What was the team composition?

They assigned us a project manager and a main designer and brought on a second designer when necessary. 

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

We immediately received positive feedback from both internal audiences and customers after launching the new collateral. Their work drove nearly 4,000 leads for our division in a single quarter.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our project manager was highly responsive via phone and email. He handled all the administrative and logistical details while the main designer ensured that our vision was achieved. We scheduled weekly calls at the start of the project and then had ad-hoc calls as needed. At times, they were able to turnaround requested changes in days or even hours.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was blown away by how they translated our ideas into visual designs that captured the essence of our brand, tone, and voice. They were willing to work with us on revisions and delivered everything on time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

With other vendors, we may need to revise the design direction or push to have our projects delivered on time. However, we never experienced these issues with Lift—everything was delivered on time and to the highest level of quality, even under tight deadlines with last-minute updates.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a former director of global branding for Iomega. The company is a subsidiary of Dell EMC. The division I oversaw is a worldwide leader in consumer and enterprise storage solutions. They’re the inventors of the Zip drive. My duties included managing marketing campaigns, communication efforts, and other direct marketing projects.

What challenge were you trying to address with Lift?

We needed a marketing firm to lead various branding initiatives. Specifically, we were selling staples and needed Lift to refresh our messaging and packaging design. They were tasked with delivering new marketing plans every six months to ensure the product remains sellable in brand-intensive markets.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lift became our primary branding agency and delivered the materials for global marketing campaigns. They created an event architecture to outline how new brands are integrated into our packaging system. Their design work influenced multiple aspects of our marketing vehicles. We initiated several branding exercises with them to develop new components and sub-brands. While our company logo stayed the same, they created a handful of software logos to highlight the unique features of each product.

I’d host an annual planning session with all of our agency partners. Lift was the primary service provider regarding the branding and advertising efforts, but smaller vendors like copywriters and event creators would also attend. The goal of this meeting was to establish our goals for the year and get everyone on the same page. We’d meet with Lift individually each quarter as well. They also produced the collateral elements for our enterprise products. Each deliverable is put through at least two or three review cycles before it’s complete. Most materials were delivered via design boards that could illustrate the event or brand architecture. I’m not aware of the backend technologies they used other than the standard website publishing tools.

A significant part of the engagement included Lift managing all of our photoshoots. This required them to ensure that our photography materials met European standards, but also included the cultural nuances that are perceived as modern and chic. All of our vendors gather photos through a digital asset portal that’s run by a third-party company.

What is the team composition?

One of their principals is the primary account manager, but I also interacted with several senior marketing managers and a lead designer.

How did you come to work with Lift?

They were a supplier partner of Iomega when I started as the director of global marketing. I reviewed their capabilities and found them to be a good fit for the company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $250,000 for their services each year.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working with us in 2001 and the relationship is ongoing.

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

We conducted a brand awareness study and found that Lift’s packaging design positively influences our customer’s intent to buy. We ran a social media campaign using their photographs and it quadrupled the sales of our enterprise products. However, this took place in the mid-2000s, so a portion of that success can be attributed to utilizing new technology. It’s a sales based industry that requires rapid change. We were continually releasing new products and Lift’s contributions were vital to constructing effective messaging.

How did Lift perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve worked with a lot of similar companies that utilize senior resources to secure business, but ultimately put junior employees in charge of projects. This isn’t Lift’s approach. Our lead account manager involves herself in projects and ensures the team stays on task. She kept us informed and maintained a master planning schedule that outlined our current projects. They possess a diverse team that blends a variety of work styles. We developed a mutual trust over the years. Overall, Lift never missed a deadline and kept up with our fast-paced agenda.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their biggest strength is their design acumen. Lift’s unique approach is outstanding and their lead designer is truly a genius. They performed market research to understand our target audience and took that information further to provide us with multiple solutions. They’d deliver the requirements we needed, but would also present new options we hadn’t considered. Design reviews of their work were always invigorating and exciting.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They keep the size of their team small. As a result, pre-planning would be critical in order for them to scale quickly to deliver numerous projects simultaneously. I don’t know what their structure looks like now, but that was a challenge we expected during my involvement with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Meeting their team in-person can be valuable. I’d recommend starting the initiative with a face-to-face meeting to communicate all objectives and expectations. Digital presentations will work fine of course, but the value of being in the same room together is often underestimated. This is especially true when interacting with the lead designer. He’ll regularly communicate his thought process in a way that can’t be summarized in a quick presentation.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the senior director of global branding at Active Network. The company managed organizers’ registration software for races and other events.

What challenge were you trying to address with Lift?

We had just gone public after acquiring 30 different companies. We needed to redo all of our branding to fit these businesses under one umbrella brand, Active Network. The brand needed a look and feel that made us look like a technology company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lift supplemented branding resources for our in-house creative team. My creative director, a UX designer, and I were among the six Active Network stakeholders involved in the collaboration; I served as the point person. The primary deliverable was a new identity for both our company’s B2C and B2B areas. Lift did everything, from the look and feel to overall design for the brand and corporate identity. The team also developed a template for B2B and consumer advertising, as well as the concept around our white papers and collateral. On the consumer side, they collaborated with a separate UI/UX team to incorporate the designs on the website.

What is the team composition?

We worked with an account lead and a lead designer.

How did you come to work with Lift?

The Lift team used to work for an agency that partnered with my former company. When I changed jobs, I hired them for a packaging project, and subsequently, logo design at a third company. Eventually, the agency’s owner retired, which led the designer and primary account manager to establish Lift.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from April–October 2013.

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

We condensed 30 products across five business units to one umbrella brand. As a result, we saved an estimated 40% on marketing spend.

How did Lift perform from a project management standpoint?

The team stuck to deadlines and was easy to work with. They were collaborative and processed input well, which was crucial for a complex project with several creatives evaluating each other’s work. The scope wasn’t easy, but they handled everything and displayed great teamwork.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Lift’s employees were outstanding creatives that provided excellent customer service. They were a small team with limited resources, but were also able to understand each client’s positioning and develop innovative work for each account. Other vendors will create similar looks for each client, no matter their business. Each project with me was distinct from the others.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Given their boutique size, Lift had to plan ahead for large projects—either reallocating resources or hiring external ones. From a timeline perspective, we always had to be prepared.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the creative services manager at SeaSpine, a company that produces orthobiologics and spinal-fusion hardware. I provide creative art direction for our internal marketing team as well as our extended external freelancers.

For what projects/services did your company hire Lift?

We reached out to them to help us with numerous projects, ranging from booth and environmental graphics for our office space, to work on our brochures and other collateral.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for clean, sophisticated designs.

How did you select this vendor?

I've personally worked with Lift many times before joining SeaSpine and have always been impressed by their work.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we received approval to move forward, we had a couple calls to discuss the goals and objectives of the project. Within a week, I received mockups for review. Our internal team was very happy with all the different options.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with Beth (Project Manager, Lift) and Dennis (Creative Director, Lift).

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

We've received tremendous positive feedback on all the projects that Lift helped us with. They were able to capture exactly what we needed in a very brief amount of time.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Beth and Dennis are both great and easy to work with. We often don't give them the luxury of time, but they've always been able to deliver the highest quality designs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The strategic thinking behind all the designs is what sets them apart from all of our other vendors. They are truly an extended partner for us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We've been happy with them every step of the way for each and every project.