Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
The one thing I really enjoyed about them was that they were never in a rush when thinking about a project. They were always very logical and analytical, thinking and asking the right questions. It was a great two-way conversation. They would go off and strategize and come back with a solid plan and options. What they came back with was always what you asked for along with 2 or 3 more options that were even better. They listened, and the relationship was collaborative.
Their work was well received by our internal team. They did a lot of the main creative for the development forum and would then hand off the creative to another agency to implement. For example, Jack Morton would be the agency to bring it to life, but MiresBall would create the design guidelines around it. I was not focused on consumer marketing but on B2B, which is not the same. B2B companies like their bite-sized chunks of information, statistics, and direct fluff-free content. MiresBall understood that about our target and was able to deliver strong, compelling content that an IT decision maker would really believe.
How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management was always customer focused. There was never a time I didn’t get what I asked for. There were always options for how to do it better. One thing I appreciated was that if I sent a project their way, and they couldn’t do it in the time allotted, they would let me know right away. I’d have to find someone else to do it, but I’d always go back to MiresBall because they were honest with me.
What did you find most impressive about MiresBall?
John Ball [partner/creative director, MiresBall] was always a good listener. He asked really great questions. The only way he could do that was by hearing what we were saying. He knew our target, our product, and our company brand so well. He listed to me, thought about what I said, and then answered me. His comments were always thoughtful, and the strategy side was always on target.
I don’t like to work with agencies that engage in “terrorist billing,” which is when they get the whole project done and then tell you that you went over budget. That never happened with MiresBall. They were always good with billing.
Are there any areas MiresBall could improve?
There’s always room for improvement, but I can’t think of anything negative about MiresBall.
The team’s business acumen and strong design skills maximized results. They kept the project on schedule by efficiently updating designs to comply with fast-changing industry practices. MiresBall went above and beyond to provide expert advice and assist with an external production process.