Manifesto Agency

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing manager for FlexGen. We provide battery energy storage and integration and installation services for utility-scale batteries and commercial-scale energy-storage projects.

What challenge were you trying to address with Manifesto Agency?

We were undergoing a brand refresh and wanted a partner with deep expertise in our field to provide competitor research and niche market identification. We'd already created a new logo that we wanted to build our look and feel around. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

During the discovery and research phase, we had a kickoff meeting where they did a round of interviews with our stakeholders and leadership to identify our strategy. They honed our understanding of what our internal stakeholders felt the company stood for so, which allowed us to come up with the right mission and vision statements.

We then transitioned into our brand's visual guide, where we developed a visual concept around the logo we'd created. We were able to move into naming exploration, brand architecture, and messaging after that. 

They mostly helped us with the frontend of our brand, distilling our message about what the brand should stand for and aligning our leadership behind that point of view. In terms of brand deliverables in general, they put together a messaging matrix, insights around our visual identity, typography, photography direction, and brand voice. Some other concrete deliverables were a 60-page proposal template, our general presentation look and feel, and master slides around presentations. They also created business cards. 

At some point, we will want to do a website refresh, and they did provide guidance on what they that could potentially look like. If we decide to move forward with that, they have those services for us.

What is the team composition?

Though we started off with a larger group because there were more pieces at play, Chris (Account Director) was always our project manager. Allison (Director of Strategic Partnerships) was involved in the beginning, playing a critical role in understanding what we needed and helping us find the right team within Manifesto to assign to us. They have people that specialize in niche fields. As the project progressed, the people we worked with were narrowed down to only a couple. Everyone was nice to work with. 

How did you come to work with Manifesto Agency?

After some fairly extensive online research, we put the top five agencies through an interview process to find out who was going to be the best fit. I really liked the Manifesto team; they definitely stood out to us as really down to earth and knowledgeable.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent close to $180,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our engagement with them in mid-November 2021, and we worked with them until mid-July 2022.

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

While it was an ambiguous project, Manifesto did a great job sticking to the timelines and deliverables they promised. Rather than craft a campaign with specific metrics we could calculate, they helped our brand solidify its message and clarify its look and feel to ensure our customer base saw us as professional. Therefore, instilling confidence in us as a brand was our main takeaway. They helped us hone our messaging and create the look and feel needed to align with that vision.

Our brand awareness has definitely increased. I don’t know if it can be completely attributed to Manifesto's brand refresh, as the market is heating up overall, but everything that they did moved us toward having consistent look and feel for our brand and helping people understand the brand. 

Internally, people love the brand and are really excited. Our organization felt very industrial and masculine before, whereas now, the brand reflects the innovation within the company. We're more like a software company than we are a construction company. Speaking only of the visual identity that Manifesto crafted, our customers understand that we are not just a construction company, that we do so much more than what our previous brand showed.

How did Manifesto Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn't engage with them through any specific platform but we had a weekly meeting where we could chat through the upcoming deliverables and tasks that we'd gotten done, as well as give any feedback from leadership within our team. It was done through both emails and Zoom calls.

There were a few tasks that slipped through the cracks, but those weren't completely Manifesto's fault. We didn’t always get back to them in a timely manner. I didn't fault them for that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really liked how they instantly felt like part of our team. Allison, Chris, and their CEO met me for coffee in Nashville when I was at a conference, and we just chatted. They were very willing to understand our business and go the extra mile to help. Having someone that's kind and also excited about your brand is half the battle; it was very much a pleasure to work with them. Our collaboration didn’t feel forced, and Manifesto was happy to move our brand forward in the market.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Engagements could always be cheaper, but Manifesto certainly delivered the quality that we paid for. This type of engagement is always going to be expensive, and as a fairly young company, sometimes it’s hard to come up with the budget to allow that, but we did some fundraising and were able to continue our mission.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as responsive as possible so that their creative team has enough time to move forward and complete tasks within their deadlines. I think this was probably the most crucial aspect of the project. Manifesto was great about having open conversations and brainstorming sessions so that we could really work through all the different aspects of our brand. Go into the project with an open mind and provide Manifesto's team with the time that it needs to do all the discovery work.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Chief Marketing Officer for Ascension Wisconsin Healthcare.

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

We faced an internal challenge of rallying our primary care physicians around a future strategy for the company. There was little engagement around the mission of our healthcare system. And primary care physicians needed to know that they were being heard.

How did you select this vendor?

I had previously engaged Manifesto around opportunities while I was Communications Director at GE Healthcare. Having acquired a series of local hospitals across the region as part of a national acquisition strategy, we came to discover that doctors in our own network were sharing candid feedback with their patients that demonstrated they didn’t believe in the mission. And most importantly, that they didn’t feel heard. We engaged Manifesto to work with an executive team to craft a strategy and create an event that would bring these doctors from across our region together to share in casting vision for our future.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

We asked Manifesto to develop a comprehensive strategy and event plan that would bring together our primary physicians from across the region and help cast the collective vision for where our healthcare company is headed. It included all elements of strategy (including key stakeholder interviews, multiple presentations to an executive team as well as planning and executing the event.

DELIVERABLES OVERVIEW:

• Concept & strategy, account service and creative development within the estimated scope of hours of this agreement to shape the look, feel, experience & content for the event.

DISCOVERY

• In-person interviews with key groups (serve line leaders, HR AMG groups, etc. within scope of hours, and within planning parameters)
• Review of model community survey results
• Identification of KPI’s agreed upon by both parties
• Audience definition (Benchmark belief identification in strategic framework that informs event architecture, content and approach)

CONCEPTING

• Development of a strategic approach, event construct and run of show (choice of video, presentation style, featured speakers) solidified in a singular deck for internal key stakeholders.

INITIAL EVENT PLANNING

• Event design & ideation
• Content delivery ideation (choosing what videos, stories to be told, etc.)
• Venue prospecting, negotiating & booking
• Element bidding, pricing, etc.

EVENT PRODUCTION

• Asset production (videos, presentations, photography, collateral, etc.)
• Event production including but not limited to:
• Staging, A/V, Lighting
• Event execution & event staffing
  • Event elements including but not limited to:
  • Food & Beverage,
  • Signage (CTA),
  • Giveaway items

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

The Manifesto team consisted of an account lead, a senior level strategist, some of the partner’s time, an account coordinator and designer at a later stage of the project.

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

The event was considered a success, but also came just before an unexpected announcement around staff reduction. Because of the sensitivity surrounding workforce engagement, we were unable to leverage the content created on-site for further employee engagement. If given the opportunity, we would work with Manifesto again.

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

We had weekly meetings. The Manifesto team was very inclusive, proactive and responsive.

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

Manifesto's sweet spot is employee engagement and brand alignment. I felt that the Manifesto team really stayed focused on new ideas on how to engage our primary care physicians and clinical specialists. They cared about our mission to serve the poor and underserved with personalized and compassionate care.

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

Nothing I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director of Marketing, Neurology, Quest Advanced™ Diagnostics

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

Manifesto was hired to help us create an Alzheimer’s awareness campaign for Quest Advanced™ Neurology and our ongoing role in helping to shape the future of early dementia detection.

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

We were interested in a strategic collaborator that could help us take our positioning to the next level.

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

• Strategy and campaign approach framework
• Essential message & narrative creation
• Development of treatment (writing, visual direction)
• Creation & curation of anthemic video content
• Social launch strategy for campaign

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

The team included an account lead, a creative lead, senior copywriter and involvement from the partners at varying points in the project.

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

Manifesto had been an ally in helping us at Quest make bolder moves. They were an extension of our team. We like to think of 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective - the team has been attentive to our needs and timelines.

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

Most impressive is the team I get to work with. The Manifesto team is composed of servant-hearted people who really care about the individuals behind the brands they serve. When fully engaged, they help us solve strategic business challenges through the work we do together—whether arming the sales force with a rally cry or capturing the nuanced narrative of an Alzheimer’s awareness initiative.

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

Their strengths are creative and strategy, with an ability to leverage collaborations to accomplish a wide variety of deployment. To shore up their offering, they work with agencies (like a PR firm) or a production company so they can be more full-service when needed. They’re more specialists than generalists. Also, sometimes they are so focused on the strategic goals of the program, it can impede them from diving into the work immediately. This is a pro and a con. Some other firms might start developing content faster with little to no direction. Manifesto prizes strategy and getting off on the right foot, so you’ll never be short on strategic input from Manifesto. Overall, we are very pleased, which is why we continue to use them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the chief admin officer at Mount Mary University.

What challenge were you trying to address with Manifesto Agency?

Student enrollment was declining and we thought that our brand wasn’t well-understood. We wanted to hire a partner that could help us redefine and bring new life to our brand while honoring our history.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked with us to define our brand through a series of conversations. They identified how we viewed ourselves and the language we used. Then, using that information, they created a brand manifesto for us. Our brand identity outlined what images, templates, and language we would use for our ads so messaging was consistent.  

Once we were in agreement, they worked on digital content including a video that described our brand at a high-level. Then they created several videos that showcased our strengths. For example, we have a great fashion program, so they focused on that.

In addition to creating digital content, they created print ads, radio ads, billboards, and social media ads. We also refreshed our college magazine so it would consistent with our new brand.

In summary, they helped us create a story that was interesting and engaging for our audience — young women looking to go to college. We came up with a new campaign called “Here’s to the Bold,” which was a nod to our history and we hoped would inspire a new generation of women to get their education here.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Tim (Chief Storyteller & Managing Partner). Then we worked with 2–3 team members on copywriting and design.

How did you come to work with Manifesto Agency?

A friend of mine introduced me to them a few years ago at a conference. I was blown away by their boldness and the vision they had for their own company. They seek to do things greater than themselves and want to help their clients create success.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent upwards of $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started around January 2014 and wrapped up sometime around July 2016.

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

We accomplished what we set out to do — we increased awareness and understanding of our brand. There was a lot of buzz about our rebrand and it increased enrollment.

We were able to make a cultural shift and change how we viewed ourselves. In that, people began to believe in what we were trying to achieve. Our employees definitely became more engaged.

How did Manifesto Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

I always felt well-informed and my team had a good rapport with them. As expected, we hit some bumps in the road, but I always knew that I could call Tim and he would be responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re radical creatives. They’re able to look at things with fresh eyes and see things other people don’t see. Then they bring that forward with the right visuals and messaging to appeal to people rationally and emotionally.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, it was a great experience, but they could have provided more support when we rolled the manifesto out to the academic side of our organization. There’s a divide between the administrative side of our organization and the academic, and it was difficult to get the academic side on board with the new brand. Change doesn’t come easy, so more support on that would have been helpful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would definitely recommend them to anybody considering them. I can’t imagine that they would take on a project that wouldn’t be successful because they come up with these radical ideas that make clients feel like there are endless possibilities.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Chief Marketing Officer at a healthcare oranization

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency?

We faced an internal challenge of rallying our primary care physicians around a future strategy for the company. There was little engagement around the mission of our healthcare system. And primary care physicians needed to know that they were being heard.

What were your goals for this project?

We faced an internal challenge of rallying our primary care physicians around a future strategy for the company. There was little engagement around the mission of our healthcare system. And primary care physicians needed to know that they were being heard.

How did you select Manifesto Agency?

Manifesto has a philosophy of “friends first, business second.” I had the opportunity to work with Manifesto during my time at GE Healthcare. I helped bring them into their first project at GE Healthcare and since then we have maintained a working relationship. One of the partners, Tim, has also become a friend over time.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We asked Manifesto to develop a comprehensive strategy and event plan that would bring together our primary physicians from across the region and help cast the collective vision for where our healthcare company is headed. It included all elements of strategy (including key stakeholder interviews, multiple presentations to an executive team as well as planning and executing the event.

DELIVERABLES OVERVIEW: - Concept & strategy, account service and creative development within the estimated scope of hours of this agreement to shape the look, feel, experience & content for the event.

DISCOVERY - In-person interviews with key groups (serve line leaders, HR AMG groups, etc. within scope of hours, and within planning parameters) - Review of model community survey results - Identification of KPI’s agreed upon by both parties - Audience definition (Benchmark belief identification in strategic framework that informs event architecture, content and approach).

CONCEPTING Development of a strategic approach, event construct and run of show (choice of video, presentation style, featured speakers) solidified in a singular deck for internal key stakeholders.

INITIAL EVENT PLANNING Event design & ideation Content delivery ideation (choosing what videos, stories to be told, etc.) Venue prospecting, negotiating & booking Element bidding, pricing, etc.

EVENT PRODUCTION Asset production (videos, presentations, photography, collateral, etc.) Event production including but not limited to: Staging, A/V, Lighting Event execution & event staffing Event elements including but not limited to: Food & Beverage, Signage (CTA), Giveaway items

What was the team composition?

The Manifesto team was comprised of an account lead, a senior level strategist, some of the partner’s time, an account coordinator and designer at a later stage of the project.

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

Great attendance from our physicians, providers and Ascension leadership team. We spent the evening sharing "Stories of Transformation: Mission and Values in Action" and linking our strategic priorities with our priorities and design teams, and really helping with clinician engagement and well-being. Nice videos, storytelling, discussion and networking.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very easy workflow with Manifesto! Weekly meetings followed a detailed project plan.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I really appreciated Manifesto's focus on employee engagement. They created a special, curated evening for primary care providers across our Milwaukee and Racine communities. This was planned especially for providers that needed to link to Ascension's strategy, growth, and mission to help the poor and under-served.

Are there any areas for improvement?

This was a brand new idea for our employed providers. We had a nice turnout, but there were some emergency factors beyond out control that kept some doctors in their clinics and unable to attend in person.

However, Manifesto produced a really nice summary video to provide a quick snapshot of the event, and we got nice feedback from folks who were sorry they missed it and looked forward to the next one.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief marketing and communications officer for the Wisconsin Foundation Alumni Association. We try to increase pride and affinity among our alumni base as well as raise philanthropic support on behalf of the university. 

What challenges were you trying to address with Manifesto Agency?

We hired them for experiential marketing support. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Creative concepting was a major portion of their work, as was creative execution, digital design, and actual activation support. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with several people including Tim (Partner & Chief Storyteller), Matt (Managing Director), and a project manager. 

How did you come to work with Manifesto Agency?

I was introduced to them by the CMO of my former place of employment. 

How much have you invested in them? 

We’ve invested $400,000–$450,000 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I’ve worked with them for about three years. We probably started working together in October 2016. Our relationship is ongoing, however, we’ve put things on hold since there are no public events this year. 

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

Their strategy and creative conceptualization are very strong. They use their insight on consumers to find unique ways to market our ideas. They’re also excellent storytellers. The team knows how to make our activations work.  

How did Manifesto Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a designated project manager who we had weekly calls with. They have their own project management organization that I’m not privy to. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re extremely easy to work with. I’ve worked with other agencies, but Manifesto feels like part of our in-house team. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They outsource some of the technical work which sometimes makes things go a bit slower. However, any issues we ran into were manageable. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Don’t let their size dissuade you from working with them. They’re flexible and work well with their clients. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was in charge of communications for the innovation team within the strategy department at Cisco Systems. Since then, I have moved to a different team within Cisco.

What challenge were you trying to address with Manifesto Agency?

We were participating in an internal company event called the Innovate Everywhere Challenge, and we needed help getting people within the company on board and shifting the culture to make sure that people believed that we had the opportunity and permission to innovate internally.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us with a variety of tasks around the development of an internal website called innovation hub, including naming, a document called the “articles of innovation” to help brand the effort, and the look and feel of the innovate challenge as a whole. All of those elements were part of their big picture role as our partner in the branding of our company culture change.

What was the team composition?

We worked with around 5–6 people, including the principles, a copywriter, an art director, and program managers.

How did you come to work with Manifesto Agency?

I knew one of their principles from another relationship, and so we included them in our search for different potential partners. In the end, we decided to work with them in part because they hadn’t worked with Cisco before and we wanted a fresh eye, but also because they had done some innovation type work with other major tech companies and easily grasped what we were trying to accomplish.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $160,000 on the project in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from about August 2016–August 2017.

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

We really enjoyed the process of working with them because they were very flexible with our needs. They listened, brought creative ideas to the table, and then arrived at really refined suggestions in the end. We just loved their concepts and process, which was a huge benefit to us.

In terms of results, it’s hard to say except that the Innovate Everywhere Challenge is still ongoing and making an impact within the company to this day. The only reason we had to stop working with them was because of pretty significant changes at the corporate level.

How did Manifesto Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

They used Slack to communicate internally, but we mostly used email and Excel spreadsheets for documentation. They always did a good job meeting deadlines and communicating with us to make sure that our team was always on the same page about what we were working towards next.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been in comms and worked with other agencies in the past, and I was really impressed with the way they package everything. They were just an excellent partner to work with from the very beginning and were more than willing to dive in alongside us in the work. I would absolutely work with them again if given the opportunity because this project remains one of the best pieces of work I’ve been a part of in my career.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The hardest part for us was the budget, because we wanted to be able to do a lot with it, but due to their prices just didn’t have quite the wiggle room to work with that we were hoping for.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a former Director of Social Impact for a large, global, purpose-driven, consumer products brand

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

Sustainability Strategic Messaging and Master Platform Development: The work outlined in the scope covers strategic, creative and administrative work

How did you select this vendor?

Manifesto came recommended for another project for the brand. That work did not proceed, but the impression made and connection built in the scoping of that project positioned them to be asked to take on this project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Phase 1:

• Kickoff & Immersion
• Client Team Kickoff Meeting
• Alignment on working roles and responsibilities
• Overview of three month working schedule
• Initial dive into thoughts and considerations for strategic and creative direction
• Alignment on KPIs
• Discovery Review of existing research, data, and project/market background information and partner sentiment
• Immersion with key Store Managers, employees and other key internal stakeholders (employee comms, etc.)
• Recap deck from session that would include initial insights and an outline of strategic recommendations on campaign approach
• Full-Day Immersion Session
• Full-day session to prioritize programs and key messages and develop ideas and starting points for our
• Creative process

Phase 2:

• Messaging and Campaign Exploration
• Messaging Framework Development and refinement of recommended messaging framework based on previously aligned direction from partner immersion and other key factors.
• Campaign Ideation
• Development of three (3) overarching campaign platforms that include: Narrative for each concept Headline and/or call to action Mood board/mood images Visual look and feel Activation Ideas (2-3 activation tactics for each idea) Timeline and roadmap for deployment of selected concept

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

2-4 throughout the project. CEO Head of Comms Account Manager Project Manager

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

The time spent with Manifesto was beneficial in a variety of ways from helping us think about our goal from an outside perspective, to conducting the discovery phase and hearing from important internal voices that we had not heard from before to pulling it all together into an achievable, focused plan.

The greatest challenge I think they faced in working with us was in helping to gain greater internal alignment. At the beginning of the project, there was very limited attention and interest in the work. Our internal teams were at odds with the priority. But, by the end of the project, there was a room of ~25 cross-functional team members excited about how to use this body of work going forward.

That internal alignment could not have been achieved without the effort, understanding and patience of the Manifesto team. While there was a pause in launching the project, the plan was later infused in major company announcements and strategies.

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

Working with the Manifesto team was both easy-going and completely structured. The account manager and I spoke weekly by phone and as often as needed by email. Milestones were clear and achieved consistently by the Manifesto team.

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

Working with Manifesto was unique and enjoyable due to their deep branding expertise and knowledge. They really took the time to understand our brand, mission and goals. Throughout the time we worked together, it felt more like they were part of our brand and team rather than an external consultant.

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

None come to mind.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder of Urban Light a non-profit based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We PROTECT boys and young men by meeting their basic needs and EMPOWER them through education, training, and counseling—all to give them FREEDOM to choose a life beyond exploitation.

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency?

Urban Light was fortunate enough to have been chosen as a pro-bono client of Manifesto in 2016. The challenge of every organization is in crafting a cohesive message, a visual movement and content that tells a story about your work. Manifesto has assisted Urban Light with enhancing our communication strategy, our global message, as well as amplifying our visual presence online.

What were your goals for this project?

Urban Light was a passion project with zero budget for marketing, ads, and website design. Manifesto's team transformed the Urban Light brand into a mature, professional and competitive charity within the global anti-trafficking arena.

How did you select this vendor?

I spoke to a number of current and former clients and was able to learn about the incredible reputation of the entire Manifesto team.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Once Manifesto conducted an extensive audit of our website, content and vision the Manifesto team worked very closely with myself and the Urban Light team to design a visual campaign and strategy that would allows us to make the most impact in our work in Thailand.

What was the team composition?

Throughout our 5+ year collaboration I have had the pleasure of working with almost every team member within the Manifesto family. I have worked with talented web-designers, articulate story-tellers helping me to craft the organization's message, as well as the Founder. Each ladder of expertise provided sound wisdom and incredible hand-holding support.

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

Since Manifesto's creation of Urban Light's new organizational logo, messaging and visual storytelling we have seen an increase in engagement online, an increase in donations, a surge in new followers via social media, and more noise and interest for allyship.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Both teams had to work virtually as our teams were located on two different continents and time zones and yet the Manifesto team has always been stellar with communication. Team members aim to be available at the client's need and is always extremely accommodating to any urgency we might have surrounding new projects.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The innovative thinking and clear communication from the team is what impressed me most with the Manifesto team. My expectation of Manifesto has surpassed excellent, with every project they tackle the end-result is never anything short of amazing and thoughtfully curated.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I normally recommend that companies address and build upon their Corporate Social Responsibility division, however Manifesto is not only already tackling this effort they are thriving in their support and care of the non-profit world. Manifesto is an absolute pioneer within this space and I applaud them for that.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Harvest Group is an omni-channel retail growth agency that specializes in coming alongside CPG brands every step of the retail journey. We represent small, medium, and large brands at key retailers such as Walmart, Sam's Club, and Kroger.

I serve as both the Vice President of our Kroger Division as well as the Brand Director/Chief Marketing Officer

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency?

We hired Manifesto to engage in a visual identity rebrand, as well as to help us more clearly tell and communicate our story (differentiators). This included new logo, wordmark, manifesto, tagline, and color palette.

What were your goals for this project?

1. New visual identity which evolves with the maturity of our brand
2. New manifesto to engage and solidify our company culture and story
3. New business development pitch deck for meeting/discussing with new brand partnerships

How did you select this vendor?

We engaged with 5 different agencies from all over the country, small to large, and evaluated design talent, dedicated resources, and overall client service strategy. We chose Manifesto based on the 360 creative support, the dedicated approach, and the heartbeat behind the company from the top down.

Describe the project in detail.

We engaged Manifesto in December of 2019 to develop a new visual identity for Harvest Group. They began by executing a one day, on-site, deep dive with our team. This, for me, was the key element of the success of the project.

They then did a study of our industry, and presented back to us the strategic white space they discovered for our marketing and messaging. We then moved in to the brand identity work, while parallel pathing the manifesto creation.

Ultimately, we finished up with the tag line and the presentation deck for New Business Development All along the way the team brought new ideas, fresh thinking, and new visuals for communicating our story.

What was the team composition?

Their team ranged from the Founders to the creative team and everywhere in between. We met designers, researchers, copywriters, etc. There was a core team, but then different elements of the project included folks with a unique skillset. Each team member was well versed in the project, our business, and our desired outcomes.

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

We launched the new branding recently, and it has been unanimously well received. We have received positive reviews from current clients, potential clients, and the industry. We also recently signed a large new client and we believe an element of the reason they chose us is due to the intentionality of our design work which Manifesto created.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We utilized Slack for team communication which enabled quick response and feedback for rounds of design and next steps. Their team also consistently provided notes and recaps of meetings and documented next steps. The 'account management' element of the Manifesto team is as good as I've ever experienced at a creative agency.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

1.The creative skillset combined with the strategic thinking of the entire team - they took the time to truly learn our industry, understand our business from end-to-end, and then bring their creative talents to the design elements

2.The dedication of the team throughout many changes and delays. There was never a loss of passion during the extension of timing on this project

3. The 'yes' based culture - their team never said "we don't do that". While they ensured we stayed close to in-scope, they went above and beyond in every aspect of service.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only misstep we had along the way was the first round of brand logo presentation. I'm not quite sure what the miss was, but once we provided feedback that the first round of design missed the mark, the 2nd round of design far exceeded expectations.