MiresBall

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a general manager at Lofta, an e-commerce company.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall?

We had an existing e-commerce site, and we wanted to adjust our strategy to focus more on the diagnosis and education of people with sleep disorders. We needed a company that could help us revamp the site to accommodate our rebranding efforts.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired MiresBall to redesign our existing Shopify website and help us with our rebranding efforts. They helped us with discovery and positioning and developed a new content strategy for us.

Aside from that, they created the ad format for our social ads and conducted keyword research for the site’s future pages. They also created our new logo, handled our copywriting, and helped us choose our brand’s typography and color schemes.

How did you come to work with MiresBall?

We met MiresBall through a referral. They were actually also involved in the initial development of our website. We had a great experience with them, so we decided to hire them again for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere around $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March-December 2021.

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

After the site’s launch, we saw an increase in our conversion rate. We were also able to decrease the monthly marketing spend on our home sleep tests because our branded content is searching much better than before. This allowed us to reallocate our SEM budget to SEO.

How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint?

MiresBall did a great job in terms of project management. This was a fairly ambiguous project — we started doing one thing, and we ended up doing another. But MiresBall really helped us stay on track and move straight ahead throughout.

We typically communicated through email and Slack, but we also had a weekly Zoom call where we went over our content and progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

MiresBall was very thoughtful about our brand impact and voice, and they were dedicated to making sure that both of them supported the business promises that we have with our customer base. Instead of just rebranding what we do, they served as our thought partners; they helped us refine what we did. There were some practices and policies within our company that stood out because of MiresBall’s work.

Every element of the things they created supported our brand promises in a way that a lot of people don’t even notice at first glance. But as people spend time on our site and our content, they feel that reinforced, and I think that helped improve the overall customer experience.

We also appreciated how collaborative they were. They helped us understand how the details of what we were offering and how we were operating either supported or detracted from the branding that we were going for, which was incredibly helpful for us going forward.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything that they could have done better. We had a really good experience with them, and the site has been performing really well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to be as collaborative as them and to treat them as part of your team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the executive director at the Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego. We are dedicated to presenting experimental art and learning — our mission is to question everything.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall?

Our organization resulted from the merger of the San Diego Art Institute and the LUX Art Institute. Upon merging, we had branding, communication, and marketing challenges to address.

What was the scope of their involvement?

MiresBall developed our branding and produced a website for us. They also provide some insight into marketing best practices. 

The branding process was very involved. They took an in-depth perspective of what our organization is about and how exactly to engage the community — it was most than just branding to them; it was about how our branding would fit into our overall marketing efforts. 

I provided them with the organization’s goals, mission, and vision. The MiresBall team then took that, had a few conversations with our board members and key stakeholders, and then fleshed out exactly who we are as an organization. They took that information then created several branding designs that eventually evolved into the final design after input from a core group of board members. 

The MiresBall team provided copywriting services to help expand on branding and gave us a toolkit to touch on different aspects of the branding and how to present it.

For example, our name is shortened to ICA San Diego. The ‘C' in the logo is emphasized and can change color, form, and size — it represents not only the word contemporary but also represents the work “to see.” That way, our branding becomes a type of language beyond just the logo — we use the form in our marketing and use the slogans “see something new,” and “see a brighter future.” 

They then developed our website on WordPress, and we purchased our own hosting service. The main goal was to design the website primarily for mobile use.

The majority of the people who use our website view it on their phone — we wanted a website that was more comfortable and adaptable through phone use. Users can engage with and understand our programs on the website and purchase items and classes from our online store. 

The MiresBall team will be doing some maintenance depending on the level of potential issues. We continue to request design items from them — we’re currently working together to determine the design templates we need as an organization. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Joanne (Senior Designer) and John (Partner & Creative Director), who led the preliminary conversations. We also work with the project manager, a programmer who developed the website, and an account executive.  

How did you come to work with MiresBall?

I’d been involved with LUX Art Institute before the merger, and MiresBall had done the branding and design for that institute for 15 years. So when we were looking for a company to do the branding and design for the Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego, John put forward a proposal. 

Our team was incredibly impressed with what MiresBall was doing and what they presented to us — we decided to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested well over $60,000 with them so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in October 2020 and our partnership is ongoing. 

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

The website has successfully launched, and we regularly get incredible feedback about our branding. MiresBall won an award for the branding they did for us! 

The logo they provided is very flexible — it allows us to be constantly changing. We live in an evolving world and it is essential for us to have flexibility in the way we present ourselves while still maintaining some level of continuity.  

How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint?

The MiresBall team has excellent project management — they’re always on top of messages and timelines. They’ve been incredibly clear about the scope of work. 

The project manager oversaw the timeline, required content, and deliverables. She coordinated between both companies to ensure that both teams had what they needed to move forward during the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s always essential to have strong communication in a working relationship, and our relationship with MiresBall feels more like a friendship than a working relationship. The strongest part of our friendship is how we're able to be clear about expectations and needs while also being very clear and honest. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

First, hire them! 

Second, it’s important to be clear and honest about expectations and trust their process. Also, a few unexpected things popped up during the project that we didn’t initially build into our scope of work — it’s important to strive for clarity on all needs from the start. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in global marketing for a microphone manufacturer. Our products serve as conferencing solutions.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall?

We were launching a new product that addresses a new trend in the industry. Their team was tasked with gearing our messaging effectively toward our audiences.

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the new product release, we had to launch marketing collateral that would include press releases, digital strategy, and brochures. Additionally, we had to create sales enablement toolkits that would contain videos and other resources on how the software should be sold. Typically, we’re a hardware-focused company, but we needed these extra materials for our shift to software. 

Their team helped us build the right collateral to reteach our audience and internal staff. They also pitched in with building some elements of training collateral for the new product. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with three individuals, which included a project lead, the president, and a content writer. Aside from that, there was a larger team working in the background. Information was always handed off by the project lead. 

How did you come to work with MiresBall?

They’ve been working with our company for about 20 years, so we already trusted their experience and knowledge of our company. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $300,000–$400,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project itself kicked off in February 2019, but I worked with them from July 2019–February 2020.

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

We were able to achieve effective messaging through their creativity and fantastic writing skills. The majority of the material they created matched our tone of voice, even if the concept was built by their team. Everyone loved the new campaign because the messaging stuck. They were able to simplify technical concepts into messages that our audience understood. 

Additionally, our internal staff indicated that they were appropriately prepared to walk into the field with a full understanding of what they were selling.   

How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint?

They were responsive and respectful. Instead of just taking orders, they were willing to challenge us on our ideas to ensure that we were thinking critically. It was also helpful when they would ask questions to make sure that they completely understood our needs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

After a little bit of pushing on my end, they were able to think outside of the box and create a campaign that is different from others we have run. They’re a very creative team that was able to put themselves in our shoes. The team was able to act gracefully and calm under pressure, building connections with my team on their own. I knew they would represent me well because they have such a strong team.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be helpful if they could prioritize certain assets upfront that will need more nurturing in the long run. Their assets were always strong, but there were times when our collaboration could have benefitted from more proactive planning. Additionally, they’re on the expensive end of their industry, so maybe they could sharpen their pencils a bit in that area as well. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be yourself and openly communicate your needs. They’re small and nimble, so they encourage you to speak directly to make your project successful. If they fully understand your needs, you can trust them to deliver high-quality deliverables.

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the partner of Matter Real Estate Group, which is a real estate development and investment firm based in San Diego.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall? 

We needed help creating a brand name, as well as all the supporting brand aesthetics and strategy.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Starting with interviews about our company and our intentions, MiresBall used that research to develop what became the Matter brand from scratch. They did brand exploration and brand identity work in order to create the brand voice and position.

They developed the digital expression of the brand by designing our website. They also created a logo, supporting collateral materials, and a brand style guide. 

What is the team composition?

The team was anywhere from 1–5 principals and third party vendors. 

How did you come to work with MiresBall? 

I came across the company years ago as being listed one of the best creative agencies in Southern California. I previously used them on another project prior to joining Matter. 

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spent $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working together in early 2018 and they concluded the brand work five months later. We still use MiresBall for a variety of work.

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

I know good work when I see it. I also know good people and they’re the kind of people I like to work with. I’m very happy with the essence of who they are. Their work product speaks for itself. 

How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team is excellent. I've had the chance to work with large global companies and small boutique firms. I default to MiresBall when I want a partner that’s intimately involved with brand strategy. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

The team at the interview and the leaders of the company are the same people that take part in the collaboration and the workshops. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, I enjoy my relationship with MiresBall. The evidence is that I continue to hire them for new jobs. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Invest in time up front to make sure that they understand your personality, values, and interests. Then let them loose to do their work. I've had to learn to defer to their judgment over my own opinions because more times than not they’ve been absolutely right.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Christy White Associates. We’re a certified public accounting firm that handles auditing for colleges and school districts in California.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall?

We hired them to update our branding.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked with us to design a new logo, which subsequently led into updating the branding across all of our materials. They’ve created new images, text, and style guidelines that refreshed the company’s look and feel. Design updates included business cards, letterhead, proposal documents, and all of the images we use on our trade show backdrop.

When it came to developing the branding strategy, they researched our competitors and companies similar to ours. They also conducted interviews with our staff in order to get a sense of the business and what we were looking for.

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with our account manager and with the owner. They’d also pull in designers or other creative team members as needed.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2018 and the project is ongoing.

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

We’re still wrapping up the work, but we expect to have a stronger presence in our industry based on how we present ourselves in these new materials. They’ve been great about communicating with us throughout the process so that we know we’re on track.

How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive and well-organized. They also stuck to our timelines well and were willing to meet with us whenever we needed. We also appreciated the fact that their owner took the time to participate in every discussion we made during the rebranding process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had a great reputation and some major clients, so it meant a lot to us that they not only took us on, but also gave us personal attention. The head of the organization works closely on our account and it feels like we’re just as much of a priority as their larger clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

None that I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them know what you’re looking for and set your expectations clearly.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CMO of Jetty Extracts. We are a cannabis vape company here in California.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall?

Since we began our business in 2013, the cannabis market has evolved considerably. Our industry became a recreational adult use consumer market rather than medical only. Consequently, we needed to refresh our logo, packaging, and overall identity. We also had to accommodate that new identity and packaging to new regulations in the cannabis market.

What was the scope of their involvement?

For packaging, we already had the form factor with a child-resistant mechanism, so MiresBall focused on our identity and overall design. The team provided a range of designs; we considered a variety of identities—from revolutionary to evolutionary. Next, they visited our dispensaries to conduct research to supplement our emerging market’s minimal user data. Ultimately, MiresBall delivered a logo, packaging, colorways, and a general style guide.

What is the team composition?

There were three people on the core team. We worked with John (Principal & Creative Director, MiresBall) on the creative direction side and Shawn (Designer, MiresBall) on the art direction side. They onboarded illustrators and designers as needed.

How did you come to work with MiresBall?

I had worked previously with MiresBall and knew their team and capabilities well. We interviewed them along with a couple of other agencies. They were the strongest and best choice.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2017–July 2018.

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

The new packaging launch resulted in significant growth. Currently, we continue to expand while several competitors have either gone away or now hold a diminished presence in the market.

How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was difficult because government agencies changed regulations in real time. Consequently, we had to react by adding warning information and moving things around. To compound the challenge, we ended up working with a new vendor on packaging production. MiresBall did a great job because they kept us on track as we navigated these hurdles.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creatives’ execution of designs accurately reflected the briefs. The team doesn’t do design for design’s sake; they understand the value of design and its needed function from a business standpoint. Holly (Managing Director, MiresBall), who runs the account, had considerable business experience. She went well beyond project management and severed as a business advisor as well, which was very valuable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything is always urgent in our industry, and MiresBall certainly felt that. Turnarounds could have been quicker at times, but we also demanded timelines that most vendors are not used to. Having said that, timing was never a real issue. They got everything done on schedule.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Create a solid brief and ensure that everyone is committed to it. Once they have that, MiresBall will be in good shape to deliver in adherence with scope specifications.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the former global marketing and communications lead for Samsung. We're a global electronics company based in Korea.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall?

At the time, we were getting ready to launch one of our products: an external SSD, which was uncommon at the time. We were one of the first companies to launch and commercialize this. As such, we had to explain the everything from scratch. We needed to make sure that our potential customers understood the product’s functions, either visually or through text and headlines. I reached out to MiresBall to help us with some of our brand works, ranging from POS to positioning within our markets. We wanted to figure out how to message our products and what it would take to make us stand out to the customer.

What was the scope of their involvement?

In general, their team helped us prioritize new product launches (including the external SSD), making sure that we had all the necessary information in the POS materials to educate our target markets. They provided a broad scope of services but mostly worked on design and messaging.

They also helped us extensively with our website design and social media. Before we launched a product, we would develop a playbook with assets that we could pass on to different regions around the world. They developed our social media content, which involved online posts, images, and videos as well as some of the copy and headlines.

What is the team composition?

I had one main point of contact, but there was a team of people working behind the scene. At one point, I had a conference call with about five of their members, but I’m not sure if there were more people working on our projects.

How did you come to work with MiresBall?

I’ve known them for over a decade, now, having worked with them at numerous companies in a variety of capacities. I’ve always enjoyed collaborating with them, so I reached out when I moved to Asia.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from January­ 2015–May 2017, though I left the company around that time. We hired them based on our project needs, so I’m not sure if they’re currently working on anything with Samsung.

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

Because we provided MiresBall with a very specific direction, I’m not sure how much of our success was necessarily driven by their efforts. However, in terms of sales, all of our metrics trended upward. Both our customers and sales reps gave positive feedback about their materials and what they accomplished: whether the customer clearly understood the product or what the customer liked about our collateral. Additionally, they knew how to get the most out of our assets by reusing them in different applications beyond their original context.

How did MiresBall perform from a project management standpoint?

I enjoyed working with them, and, to a certain degree, I viewed them as an extension of my team. I always had a point of contact who informed me about the project status, and they consistently delivered on time and under budget. Despite changes to the branding direction, they accommodated our needs and produced successful results. They were flexible using the available resources to find creative solutions within our time lines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was phenomenal working with them, and I considered them a guiding partner throughout the projects. Beyond taking the time to understand our product lines and goals, they were flexible and listened actively. They understood that business objectives might shift and stuck with us to find solutions. Compared to other agencies, they were extremely receptive to feedback, working to incorporate them into better end products. I knew that the team would stick with me until they got it right, which was worth its weight in gold.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be transparent about what you want to achieve early on. The more insight that the client can offer, the better the work will be. MiresBall is more than happy to work with their clients to ensure that they’re happy at the end of the day.

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I was a creative producer for a global tech company. We were working on global advertising, producing digital and print content as well as out-of-home collateral for the B2B side of the house.

What challenge were you trying to address with MiresBall?
I engaged with them on several occasions to help create the content and programs we needed and educate our field and target audience on our product offerings. We wanted to create compelling content that would empower and engage our internal or external target audience, and then prompt them to take action. From an internal perspective, we wanted users to take the content, learn from it, and be able to use it to be able to sell servers, laptops, or desktops. From an external perspective, we wanted to educate users to want to learn more so that they would buy a server, laptop, or desktop.

What was the scope of their involvement?
One of the last projects I worked on with MiresBall was a brand site. They created the materials for the website and also executed its build. I had them develop a brand site for an internal audience where we housed all our brand assets and where our global agency partners could log in and access the logos, messaging documents, and visuals specific to our B2B branding campaigns. This would allow them to create creative assets from that content. MiresBall was instrumental in making sure it was branded with our corporate identity but from a specific B2B perspective. They were able to manage the login and password. We would get new assets that we would need to upload, and they would upload those. Sometimes they would be one of the agencies that needed to leverage some of the content to be able to create content.

Besides the branding site and all of the assets, MiresBall might work on something for a larger event such as the consumer electronics show. They might create all of the visuals for the booth space as well as kiosk demo content, sales collateral, and content displayed on a monitor or through the demo. It was a fully integrated brand experience. Around that event, we might have them do something out-of-home, for example, a takeover of the side of a building for which they would help develop and implement the creative elements.

We had a very collaborative relationship. We’d look to them for strategy development for how we might develop and promote the branding. Because they were an end user of the branding as well, they also helped strategize the functionality.

How did you come to work with MiresBall?
When I started working for the company in 2000, they were already an approved vendor. I learned of them through my manager who had been using them. She recommended that I use them for a specific project. We engaged, and it was a great experience.

How much have you invested with MiresBall?
We spent $10M over the course of 16 years.

What is the status of this engagement?
I started working with them in 2000, and I left the company in 2016. I don’t know if they continue to work with the company.

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.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m founder & CEO of Audira Labs LLC, a leading executive coaching, leadership development, and strategic planning consultancy. We focus on helping leaders, teams, and organizations live their mission and achieve their vision in accordance with their values.

For what projects/services did your company hire MiresBall?

We needed help to design and create our corporate logo.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a logo that is impactful, evokes the focus of the brand (listening, learning, leading), and translates visually across multiple platforms.

How did you select this vendor?

I worked with MiresBall extensively while at another company. I knew they were the best choice for this project because I trust them implicitly. They’re outstanding partners as they are highly client-focused and able to produce powerful designs.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

MiresBall met with us to discuss, review, and synthesize our brand positioning. They also focused on associated elements such as target segments, key services & benefits, and brand differentiators. Then they translated that brand positioning into our desired visual design. They executed it for ease of implementation across multiple platforms (print, social media, web, etc.).

What was the team composition?

We worked with John (principal, MiresBall) and Meghan (account lead, MiresBall).

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

We’re extremely pleased with the design itself as well as the external feedback. Our clients describe the new logo as impactful and engaging. The colors help to differentiate it from the competition, and the overall design translates well across multiple platforms.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their workflow was seamless and the communication was excellent. They held several planning calls to identify objectives, scope, and milestones. We had several rounds of drafts to review. MiresBall asked outstanding questions to ensure we got what we wanted. They also kept us accountable to the timeline.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

John and his team display outstanding character in terms of customer focus and overall integrity. They have the ability to listen and identify what the client wants. The overall execution and account management was outstanding.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I’d like to see them keep growing.