Ripe Media

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of external affairs for the LA County Justice Care and Opportunities Department. We’re focused on re-entry programs and servicing the justice-involved community.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

As a new department, we needed a new website that reflected our vision and mission. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We asked Ripe Media to redesign our website to align it with our mission. They built the modernized website from scratch using WordPress. They looked at our old website to understand the content and what we wanted. The team also assisted us with a brand refresh and made the website more of a storytelling one. Simply put, they looked at what we already had and built a design around it. 

We’re still engaged with them, and they provide technical support. They’re also working with us on possibly redoing another microsite, which we’ll embed into the new website. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Heather and another teammate.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

Ripe Media was a county-contracted website company, and they had to be vetted to become one. Given that, we already knew they were vetted. We’d also seen some of their previous work for other customers in the county and liked them, so we decided to hire the team. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement started in August 2024, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has been running for about 2–3 months now, and it’s won a MAC award — we’re happy about that. Moreover, we’ve received great feedback from our constituents using the website. They’ve said the website looks beautiful and is easy to navigate. All information is readily available, and we haven’t experienced any bugs or crashes on the website. 

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Ripe Media is great with deadlines. We have a working schedule, and the team has either met the schedule or completed the deliverables early. Overall, we’re happy with what they’ve delivered. 

We typically communicate with them on Microsoft Teams and have stand-up meetings per week. Additionally, we have a Google Documents file where we put all information, sharing changes and edits that we want to make on the website. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve brought our vision to life. They take our ideas and vision and deliver them exactly how we want them or better. Their responsiveness and professionalism are also excellent. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. We’ve had a truly great experience with Ripe Media. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear vision of what you want. Explain your overall dream website and what users should take away from it. Finally, make this information readily available when you begin working with Ripe Media.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of research and evaluation at Sentient Research.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?
We needed help developing three e-learning courses using the software Articulate Storyline.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
Ripe Media helped us develop three e-learning courses using Articulate Storyline. We developed the content and storyboards and programmed the courses using them. Each e-learning course was 6–8 hours long.

What is the team composition?
We worked closely with two teammates from Ripe Media.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?
Our company had worked with Ripe Media before and had a good experience. They provided a niche service with Articulate Storyline, which was what we were looking for.

How much have you invested with them?
We spent $85,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from September 2023–September 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Ripe Media was great at resolving issues and implementing our feedback. Their final work met my expectations in terms of quality.

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?
Ripe Media performed well in terms of project management. They delivered on time and within budget. We primarily communicated through phone calls, emails, and the occasional Zoom meetings. We also communicated through Articulate, where we could see each other’s comments and feedback on their work.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?
I would like to give a shout-out to Cris (Co-Founder & Technology Strategist). He worked around the clock to help us meet our deadlines and deliver a quality product. He made the completion of the project possible despite a tight deadline.

What did you find most impressive about them?
Ripe Media was flexible, hardworking, and easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?
We worked so fast to get everything done that there wasn’t much opportunity to have more Zoom calls to discuss or visually share something. It would have been nice to have more face-to-face interactions during the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an educator, author, and editor. I develop games and activities for learning.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

I wanted to develop an educational app for iOS and Android that caters to preschool kids.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I knew what I wanted to do and how I wanted the app to work, so I created a design document to describe how I wanted the app to work. After I contacted Ripe Media, we set up a meeting, during which I gave them the design document and walked them through all its different aspects. Once they had a good idea of what I wanted, we moved on to the design stage. Their design team showed me some examples of how the app would look, and we chose the one that worked best and was closest to the vision.

After that, Ripe Media began developing the app. During this process, we went through several steps for me to see how things were going and give my feedback. When everything was complete, they helped me publish the app.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with two people from Ripe Media: Chris (Co-Founder & Technology Strategist) and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

I worked with Ripe Media before at another company. I had a great experience working with them, so I knew I had to call their team to help me with this personal project. I also knew they would offer great value for my money, which was one of the main reasons I decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent under $16,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Ripe Media on this project from May 2022 until the summer of 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app met my expectations. I was very happy that they were able to make every aspect of the app exactly the way I wanted it; there weren’t a lot of compromises that I had to make.

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team hit every milestone on time. They were also very communicative; they always let me know how things were going along the way. We mainly communicated via email and Zoom.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to shout out to in this review?

I would like to give a shout-out to their project manager. She was very responsive, helpful, communicative, and creative. Overall, she did a great job of bringing it all together. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ripe Media was very easy to engage with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything Ripe Media could’ve improved on.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs

If you come in with a really good plan, Ripe Media will do a great job of executing it. If you don’t have a plan, their amazing team will help you get to the vision you want.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Leasing Manager- LA MART Gift & Home of LA MART

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

LA MART is a wholesale trade mart for Gift and Home merchandise.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ripe Media to accomplish?

• LA MART Website redo
• LA MART Social Media overhaul
• LA MART Marketing Campaign messaging and graphics to reestablish business within the industry

SOLUTION

How did you find Ripe Media?

Online Search

Why did you select Ripe Media over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Active interest in the proposed project

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

RIPE MEDIA rebuilt the LA MART website and created a new registration system. Deliverables included:

• Marketing research
• website user experience design
• website look 'n feel
• website QA/Testing
• Website Launch
• Social Media overhaul including content marketing and advertising support
• email marketing campaign
• market graphics for website and onsite show
• backend user training. 

Registration System:

• Information capture and registration modes
• developing a seamless way to capture detailed registrant information onsite and online, preventing duplication
• Badge printing
• event-specific registration and categorization
• registrant profiles and search functionality
• credential capture
• report generation
• system testing and debugging
• backend user training.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Since the project's focus is to relaunch the LA MART within the gift and home industry using the 2024 summer market as the launchpad, it's too early to gauge success. There has been progress in that the new registration system is being used with little to no issues, and social media posts have received attention.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

RIPE has a process they like to follow, which worked well for me and this project. Because I had no experience creating a website or registration system and because the subject matter was specific, there was a learning curve for all of us.

RIPE took the time needed to understand the subject and was patient while I asked many questions and learned about their creation process.  Additionally, the marketing project and daily job responsibilities were a full load for me. We did get off schedule a bit, but the project deliverables, when delivered, went above and beyond expectations. 

What was your primary form of communication with Ripe Media?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I am impressed with their work ethic and the methodology they use in their projects. They are also creative, innovative, patient, and knowledgeable.  One unique thing is the humor they bring to each project. They make working with them fun and relaxing, which is excellent for those without a Marketing background. 

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

In terms of the project we worked on, no

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-owners of a transportation and tours company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

We purchased the business in 2019, but it was started in 2003 by the founder, so it possessed around 20 years of operational history. Its web presence began at a very elementary level and remained there for a number of years.

We hired Ripe to modernize our organization and bring us through to the next step in our endeavor of working with the public as, currently, 95% of our business is B2B. Our specific goal was to enhance our overall user experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our new website from scratch. If you go to the site, you’ll be able to choose what service you’re looking for and then click within five different tabs along the margin to get more details on those services. Like booking a hotel room online, you can choose where you need your service to originate, how many people it’s for, and where you want to be picked up. After a few more clicks, you’ll be able to input your payment method and then receive a QR code, email, and other documents for confirmation. We’ve also automated those items to be sent out via text massage as well. We haven’t started with the SEO or PPC yet, but Ripe was very supportive during the launch of the site.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with approximately 6–7 people in total, including Chris (President), Heather (President), Christian (Director of Operations), and a few other developers. Kristen, the director of operations, has also been involved. Everyone we’ve worked with has been wonderful and very responsive.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

I began working with a service coach to find a boutique web development agency that vibed well with our company. I wasn’t looking to hire someone that was specialized in the transportation sector, but rather a company with a medium-sized client list that would fit our size as a client. The search took around 4–6 weeks and entailed interviews with multiple potential partners. The final choice was between Ripe and a few other candidates, and Ripe’s presentation showed a no-frills, no-pressure approach that complimented our culture.

We went back and forth with Ripe’s team for about two weeks to create a detailed prospectus and then modify it until it described what we were looking for: a tailored, customized solution that fit our web development and advertising needs in terms of UX, design, future build-outs, PPC, and CEO.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost was around $29,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since November 2021, and the site just launched one week ago in September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can’t comment on results yet, as the site just launched within the last week, but their work throughout the development was exceptional.

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They did nothing less than deliver exactly what we promised. We committed to a timeline, and they honored that commitment. If we went over at all, it was only by a day or two, which was completely acceptable based on our needs. They were right on in terms of hitting the budget as well. In fact, they came in under budget.

We were very hands-off in terms of project management, communicating only over email and Zoom calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re supportive, customer oriented, and accessible. Their impartial advice regarding implementing certain ideas has been great as well. They let us know if some of our ideas aren’t feasible or practical from a UX standpoint. Ripe’s people never sugar coat anything. On the flip side, if we have an idea that was better than what they suggested, there isn’t any judgement or critique. We had a collaborative relationship. This kind of back and forth often gets lost when working with larger agencies.

Additionally, they're creativity and responsiveness stood out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything negative to say at all; I only have positive compliments for their organizations and team members. It’s a pleasure to work with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open-minded.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for the County of Los Angeles, and I’m the marketing director for the Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (LA County WDACS), one of their 38 departments.

We oversee older adult services all over LA County, including community and senior centers. We also oversee the workforce development boards, America’s Job Centers of California, and economic and business development services for businesses in LA County.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

As our services serve such a widely diverse demographic, and we have such a wide target audience in LA County, we brought in Ripe Media to help us develop our brand identity as a department distinct from LA County. We also needed to create targeted marketing strategies that spoke to those specific demographics and allowed us to communicate with them better.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ripe Media provides a wide range of services, from general graphic design and marketing services to complex brand identity style guidelines to set the tone of our organization.

They’ve created graphics for our social media campaigns like the World Elder Abuse Day campaign we launched for our home safety program. They’ve been integral in creating custom marketing assets that have been recognized by millions of people across LA County.

Ripe Media has also assisted us with developing custom marketing strategies and assets to help us better target our different audiences. These marketing campaigns have been focused mainly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

One of the projects in which Ripe Media recently helped us was the summer kickoff of our youth work program. This is a program that serves youth aged 14–24 to give them the opportunity to find a career path within our county. This is a year-long campaign, but it didn’t have a distinct look nor brand association whatsoever.

Ripe Media helped us develop the brand identity for this program and created amazing custom assets that spoke to youth and businesses — employers and employees. This project is just one example of what they do. Currently, they’re assisting us on 5–6 high-level programs.

One of their current involvements is in an older adults' social media account for LA County. They’re creating an aging-related social media platform to better align our services and get our information out directly to the target audience. This is a major milestone because this didn’t exist before, and we will be launching it this upcoming year.

What is the team composition?

Over the time of our engagement, Heather (Co-Founder & Creative Director) has been my main point of contact. I’ve also engaged with Ripe Media in a variety of ways, so I’ve worked with several members of their team. In total, I’ve worked with around five different people, each with their respective team working behind.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

Ripe Media was initially contracted as a vendor for the county before I joined our current department, and they were initially hired for graphic design services. When I joined the department and started working with them, I established a good relationship with Heather. We were able to get in creative sync with each other and understand our workflow — we started producing great content for our department.

How much have you invested with them?

I believe that Ripe Media’s contract costs around $25,000, but I’m not sure because this is handled by the county procurement system.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2019, when I joined the department, and our engagement is ongoing. Thanks to our continued partnership and collaboration, we keep reaching new heights and pushing the boundaries of our accomplishments. I love working with Ripe Media, and I would love to continue working with them on future projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ripe Media has assisted us in creating beautiful content that speaks directly to our specific demographics. The impact of their work has been huge on our social media as well; they’ve created the most popular post that we’ve had on all of our social media platforms. This achievement speaks volumes about their creativity, their strategic insights, and their marketing abilities — they’ve been phenomenal.

After two years, they’ve adapted to the way that our department works. The quirks and the interesting things that arise from working with the county have been delicately navigated by Ripe Media. They’ve been able to balance all the challenges that come from working with us — that itself is a major success.

We also look at the metrics in terms of how the assets that they create perform to see if they actually speak to what our programs are trying to accomplish. We provide insight and motivate them to replicate the approach of well-performing posts for other campaigns. We don’t have a formal process for doing this; we just approach this from a holistic perspective.

I can’t say enough good things about Heather and her team. Their creativity, insight, and strategies are great. They bring fresh and new ideas to the table, and they look at the county bureaucracy in a fresh and new way.

The fact that we can partner with this really creative agency gives me hope about us doing a better job communicating with the people that we’re trying to serve in the public sector. Ripe Media has been integral in doing that — I can’t thank them enough, and I keep telling them to look forward to many years of collaboration.

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Ripe Media’s project management is fantastic. We’ve been using Asana for several of our projects, and they’ve been able to keep me on track with my own deadlines. Being able to rely on Heather to keep our projects within deadlines and timelines is such a great feeling.

For other companies, it is easy to push the deadlines if the client is not reaching out. On the contrary, Heather reaches out to us with reminders. I get notifications from Ripe Media to make sure that we’re meeting all of our deadlines, and if there are any unforeseen external circumstances, we adapt.

They’re also very available, and they’re capable of jumping into quick calls, email exchanges, chats, and Zoom calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ripe Media’s creativity is impressive — they view every project from a brand new lens. They're able to take the content and see how to connect the people with the services that they need to get, and they deliver through creative ways that are not seen in the county, which is amazing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would love to see Ripe Media create bolder designs. Sometimes, I bring different ideas to the table, and they stick to them. Even though we sometimes have brainstorming sessions, I would like to see them come in, take my ideas, and make them their own. I know that my ideas can be a little limited, so it would be good to have more recommendations on how to improve my visions and evolve those ideas.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Connect with Ripe Media and don’t hesitate to reach out to them to ask any questions about any idea to get their insight. They’re always ready to help, and they’re open to any questions, comments, or feedback. They’re there for you, and you can count on them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive advisor for a Los Angeles County department for workforce aging and community and senior centers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

We were looking to create a more effective communication platform for participants of our services and needed help creating a brand strategy for our department. In addition, we wanted to create some digital assets around our COVID response, especially in the form of web pages.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ripe Media has been with us for almost two years, and they’ve helped us create digital and print assets, including pamphlets, portfolios, landing pages, and banners. They’re an all-encompassing branding and graphic agency for us.

They’ve helped us prepare two branding strategies, one of which was for our department as a whole. The scope of the work included refreshing our logo, defining our brand attributes, and delivering a style guide.

Ripe Media did a similar project for one of our service locations. The branding had already been defined by the federal government, so their job was just to create a style guide, ensuring that the service location’s branding integrated with that of the department.

They conducted extensive interviews with 90 of our employees and participants. We’re a relatively small department of 300 people, so that was a pretty big sample size. Ripe Media held workshops and in-person sessions to tease out what the brand attributes should be. That helped get employees engaged and to get really rich feedback from everyone.

Then, they helped us develop some web pages and digital and print assets. They had a call with us to understand the scope of work.

What is the team composition?

We’ve interacted with Heather (Co-Founder & Creative Director) and a project manager. I don’t know how many people they work with in the background.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

We have a list of 20–25 county-approved vendors, and I went through each one, looking at their websites. I found that a lot of them were just graphic designers and not marketing agencies. I interviewed 2–3 agencies in total.

I had a call with Ripe Media and found that Heather had worked with some big consumer brands. I come from the private sector, and I’ve been working on a nonprofit basis for the last two years. I could tell that Heather knew the work, and I selected them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve had multiple projects with Ripe Media, and I believe we spend $50,000 per year with them. They’re reasonably-priced.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Ripe Media in January 2019, and it’s an ongoing project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have our own limitations in terms of website performance. A lot depends on how we conduct campaigns on the landing pages created by Ripe Media.

That being said, everything they’ve done is impressive. The user flows are easy, and the sites are visually appealing. We have a bounce rate of less than 40%, so there’s high engagement as well.  

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re on top of the work, punctual, and easy to communicate with. If they have any questions, they won’t shy away from picking up the phone and calling us.  

They use Asana for project management, where we have communication on deliverables and timelines.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their marketing and web design knowledge, along with their responsiveness are impressive. Ripe Media is on top of things.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their response time has been lagging since COVID. These are exceptional times, and I don’t have anything to mention beyond this. It’s been a spectacular work experience with Ripe Media, and we definitely plan to continue.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients have to be very clear on what they’re expecting. Heather does best when she has a dialogue with people and understands why she’s doing something. They really want to be a partner and discuss client goals.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and executive director of Wildwoods Foundation. We’re a nonprofit organization that conducts outdoor programs with schools and families in the Los Angeles area. Our mission is social, and we use the outdoor ecology and experience as a framework for human relations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

We’ve worked with Ripe Media on a couple of different projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For our first project, we had an idea for website building template for elementary school kids. We wanted to use these kids’ photos to build this website. We did two different photo expeditions with kids—one in the neighborhood around school, and another out in the mountains. We wanted the kids to be able to access their photos, and they needed to build a website about their program experience so they can compare and contrast their community with nature.

Then a few years ago, a coalition we’re a part of hired them for another project that was more focused on messaging. They did some logo development and interactive game modules.

Recently, they did the logo for our newest program that is a support network for home gardeners that we launched during COVID-19. The whole idea is about people sharing produce, seeds, and seedlings to address food insecurity.

The other recent project was two interactive games that we designed based on existing program curriculum that we needed to put online because of COVID-19.

What is the team composition?

I work with Chris (Co-Founder & Tech Specialist), Heather (Co-Founder & Creative Director), and Kristen (Partner & Director of Client Services).

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

We had several quotes that were way out of the ballpark. I happened to meet a guy who did some work with some big nonprofits, and he recommended this startup for me. That was Ripe Media. I took this idea to them, and they were able to bring this project to life for a price we could afford. Everything aligned perfectly.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $30,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2008 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had an event shortly after finalizing the logo, and I’ll never forget the first reaction to the design.  We made a banner, and when I went to pick it up at the print shop, the person behind the banner asked what we did because the logo was so cool. The logo did exactly what we wanted it to do; we wanted people to ask us about our work.

The interactive pieces they worked on were fantastic as well. That was make-or-break for us and the purpose was to unlock the sponsorship dollars for the year, and the other objective was so the client would want more. Based on the work we did with Ripe Media, we created our proposal for our sponsor to continue to develop new programs and activities. As a result, we got the contract.

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

It was incredible. Especially when working with the coalition we’re a part of, they’ve been able to manage all partners. Even when the project has been unstable, they’ve been solid and maintained momentum.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ripe Media is a stand-up company because of the combinations of their skillsets. Yeah, their tech is solid; when they make something, it’s reliable. Their design work is great, too. But what sets them apart from other companies is their ability to build a consensus among a group, and their ability to get to the core message of an organization or campaign.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want and have a clear understanding of who your audience is. Also, be open to the process. I’ve learned that the more flexible we are, the better the experience and end product is. They always brought something to the table that was above and beyond what we had considered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and communications for iMentor, a nonprofit that increases educational equity by providing mentoring for first-generation college students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

Originally a local New York City organization, we’ve evolved into a national organization with locations in four cities and partnerships across the country. We wanted to elevate our visual identity to reflect our growth.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We launched a website in celebration of our organization’s 20th anniversary, and Ripe Media designed and developed the platform. It’s an interactive storytelling site that shows how we’ve grown across various videos, photos, and testimonials about the organization’s impact. It engages the students we serve thousands of mentors we work with every year, donors, and corporate partners that support our programs. Ripe Media has also provided print services, created social media content, and improved our SEO.

What is the team composition?

Heather (Co-founder & Creative Director, Ripe Media) was our primary point of contact and Kristen (Partner & Director of Client Services, Ripe Media) focused on our SEO.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $40,000–$45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in September 2018 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ripe Media delivered an incredible product. The new site helped us reach both existing and new audiences. Internally, we all praise Heather’s design work. In addition to the design, we’re happy with our growth on social media.

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Heather was a constant professional. She provides great insight and understands what our priorities are. She makes my job so much easier. They’re super responsive and are always willing to pitch in if we have a last-minute request. When they commit to a deadline, I can trust that they’ll deliver on time. I’m really pleased with the level of service they provide.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

My predecessor hired them, but Ripe Media was chosen based on their proposal and the wealth of services they provide in addition to design.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a rare combination of creativity and efficiency. They’re always able to come up with what we’re looking for while ensuring that everything goes smoothly. While I’m pleased with their product, I love the ease of our entire process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see anything that needs to be improved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the western regional director for the Harm Reduction Coalition, which is a national organization aimed at reducing the impact of drug use in US communities. We provide training, technical assistance, and advocacy in order to promote harm reduction strategies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ripe Media?

We needed help developing an e-learning platform and online training modules for a contract with the California Department of Public Health. Our team had the content knowledge but nobody in-house had the technical expertise to convert our in-person workshops to digital ones.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our e-learning platform and ensured that it was compatible with our website. We needed a series of self-paced modules with multimedia components like audio narration, images, and video. Their adult e-learning specialist worked with us to understand the content and collected all of our materials for conversion. We discussed how to divide the information into each module, the order they’d go in, and then the kinds of learning assessment tools we’d need. Features we ended up using included quizzes and personal reflections.

After those details were ironed out, we wrote the content, collected the visual materials, and coordinated with their engineers to get the modules programmed. After they were ready, Ripe Media also handled pilot testing for us and returned the feedback from those users so we could make further adjustments.

What is the team composition?

Their creative director served as a project lead. One of their co-founders served as a technology strategist and we also worked with an adult learning consultant.

How did you come to work with Ripe Media?

We issued a request for proposals, prioritizing organizations local to California, with portfolios showcasing topics and expertise adjacent to our subject matter. Ripe Media was the top candidate selected by our review committee, so we entered into a subcontract agreement with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The final cost was around $43,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from January–August 2018. We ran a few months behind schedule.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

These modules have made our work much more accessible to people who can’t go to our offices for in-person training. We work in several urban areas but also have a lot of one-off clients in more remote locations, so this has been a great way to let people master basic information if we can’t get to them for an in-person session. We’ve given the option for people to receive a certificate of completion, which is valuable to health workers in the field who may not have full college credentials.

How did Ripe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager was very communicative and well-organized. She used a tool called Smartsheet to highlight deadlines and track different elements of the project. We always knew what was happening and she would let us know if there were any delays. We also used Box in order to exchange documents. I was impressed by how well they kept those files organized and up to date.

In terms of communication, we had an initial meeting in person to discuss our vision for the project and then had scheduled audio or video calls at least once a month. We’d also do occasional screenshares in order to preview the modules they were building and iron out the style guide and image choices.

With regard to the timeline, we ran into several delays from our end and their team handled those very professionally. Our financial backer provided more feedback than anticipated, which resulted in quite a few changes after the project was already underway. We also had some issues getting ahold of all the images and videos we needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were transparent and invested in our project. They were interested in understanding our values, our work, and the information we wanted to share. When it came to collaborating, I appreciated how open they were to learning from us. That hasn’t always been my experience with contractors, so it was great to work with a company that was communicative and responsive to feedback. It was clear that they weren’t just ticking off boxes to get the project done—they wanted to meet our unique needs. They created a collegial atmosphere and truly felt like part of our team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think we could have streamlined the process more efficiently and managed our expectations better if they’d given us a clearer picture up front of what the learning modules would look like. Our team had to write the material and plan the visual content, and if we’d known the format we could’ve made better decisions and saved time going back and forth with Ripe Media’s team. The first draft was essentially organized like a slideshow with audio narration, which didn’t suit all of the material being taught.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I can’t think of anything right now.