We help businesses increase online engagement.
What We Do
We design, develop and maintain websites that generate leads, sell products and tell stories. We work primarily with financial and professional service firms, along with e-tailers and nonprofits. Our process starts with a deep discovery that teaches us about the nuances and goals of each organization.
How We Do It
Our teams collaborate from kick-off through launch by integrating strategy, design and development that keeps customers engaged. Our process will help you define a project plan to ensure a successful deployment. We’re precise, organized and consultative in our approach. We believe in sticking to timelines and using clear communication. After launch, we continue to work with our clients to enhance, secure and protect their websites on WordPress and Drupal.
Who We Do It For
We work with a wide range of industry including financial and professional services, E-commerce, education and nonprofit organizations. We specialize in WordPress and Drupal websites that produce measurable results.

headquarters
other locations
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United States
Focus
Portfolio
Our portfolio page showcases several clients. Here are just a few: Heffernan Insurance, UC Berkeley, Litman Gregory, TForce Final Mile, California Association of Food Banks, Center For Creative Land Recycling, MarsVenus

Alluma
The new site is a blazing fast, responsive website built on Drupal. Visually rich pages compel visitors to explore and interact. Case studies and a blog give them the tools to publish rich posts through a premium editor so visitors can keep up and learn about the company. The site focuses on the work, team and the Alluma mission. Prospects better understand the technology and consulting services the organization provides through evidence based case studies and examples. The site features a newsletter API and robust in-site search wrapped into a bright and powerful new brand. We provide ongoing Drupal security and maintenance support for Alluma.org.

Financial Connections
A responsive WordPress website that reduces friction between visitors and the firm. It’s easy for visitors to get in touch, book appointments and read news with custom page templates and call-to-action buttons. The cms makes publishing easy with a visual editor that allows administrators to add media, content and documents with various style elements.

Black Dahlia
A responsive ecommerce website built with WooCommerce on WordPress. Admins have the tools to manage inventory, reports and product data while visitors can navigate rich pages full of images and information. After a purchase, customers can easily communicate with Black Dahlia and leave reviews. The site integrates with ShipStation for inventory, Zendesk for support, Quaderno for tax management and MailChimp for newsletters. Publishing beautiful new pages is easy with the premium visual builder. Finally, we provide ongoing security and maintenance support to keep the site running as intended.

TForce Final Mile
The Goals
Tracking packages and finding information about the company and employment opportunities were the primary objectives for the new website. It was also important to highlight the company’s people which truley make the company. Since the old site was not responsive, they wanted to make the site easy to navigate on any device. Users need to feel engaged with the content to better understand the Tforce Final Mile capabilities and get in touch.
The Results
A responsive, multi-language, WordPress website that makes it easy for visitors to track packages, find employment opportunities or read information about the company. There are several custom page templates and clear call-to-action buttons make it easy to interact with content. The cms makes publishing easy with a visual editor that allows administrators to add media, content and documents with various style elements.

Zuli
Zuli is a group of engineers that love beautiful design and tech products that work. The Zuli smartplug communicates with a smartphone using Bluetooth Low Energy, giving unmatched control, monitoring and automation. The only Smartplug that senses when you walk into a room and adapts the temperature and lights to your liking.
The Goals
To develop an adaptive e-commerce website with shopping cart and help desk integrations. We had to build a custom back end and adaptive interface for a targeted experience that encouraged sales. The site was to be built on an open-source content management system and include features like a shopping cart, custom modules, plugins and third party integrations.
The Results
We built an award winning, adaptive WordPress site with interactive design features and custom css implementations. The website displays content based on screen resolution and features auto-play video, text and filter overlays, Shopify e-commerce, Stripe payment gateway and Zendesk integrations.

Litman Gregory AdvisorIntelligence
Following a project strategy report, we simplified a complex process with a highly custom portal built on the Laravel framework. The responsive e-commerce platform includes a website in front of a paywall that showcases information about the company and curated research. Subscribers have access to a dashboard and premium research after signing a DocuSign agreement and paying through Stripe payment gateway. The custom CMS gives administrators the power to manage users, features and track real time data about the system in addition to categorizing, tagging and placing stories where appropriate. The device agnostic platform enhances their long term business strategy while streamlining the information delivery and administration process. We continue to maintain and support the AdvisorIntelligence system ensuring it’s up to date and secure on an Amazon AWS server.

Rogers Family Foundation
We built The Rogers Family Foundation an interactive, responsive website on WordPress. The home page features a custom design with full-fold slideshow, custom selection menu, entry points with rollover text and animation. Modules allow for staff management, graphic resource uploads, visual data short-codes and blog. It is a mobile friendly site so it loads flawlessly on tablets and phones, yet offers a rich experience on desktop browsers. The Foundation is focused on innovative, strategic and engaging work that can be measured with the new site. Since launch, we continue to ensure website security with ongoing maintenance.

UC Berkeley DCAC
A contemporary responsive website built on Drupal. The site won an award and has seen improvements in several major metrics. Features include a full-fold hero image, animated entry points and parallax imagery on the home page. The site features a hidden menu, manageable staff pages, filterable school pages and dynamic Drupal Views. The website provides information on schools, districts and funders while also highlighting the creative and effective work DCAC provides within communities throughout California. To inspire visitors and make the DCAC brand shine bright, we used minimalist web design. Also, we designed the organization a new logo to use for multiple programs.Lastly, we also maintain the website security for DCAC.

Hello Wonderful
The project started with an elegant yet playful logo which laid the foundation for the color palette. Next, we moved on to architecture and web design. Users browse thousands of activities, ideas and products and save their favorites by logging in with credentials or through Facebook. Content is displayed with an infinite scroll for fast load times. Users share content through social media channels like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ or leave comments though the Facebook Social Plugin. To encourage click-through rates, there is a dynamic API that showcases popular posts and recommendations based on site actions. Google Adsense provides a revenue stream. Hello Wonderful has been featured on Good Housekeeping and Buzzfeed and inspires thousands of parents everyday.
Reviews
the project
Web Design & Branding for Law Firm
“Their creativity helped them deliver a user-friendly site that aligned with my goals.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the president and attorney at a law firm.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
We were aiming to gain visibility for the firm after starting the business.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They created a website as well as branding assets for my firm. Their branding deliverables included the color scheme and fonts that could be applied to stationery, logos, business cards, and other design work. They created the website using WordPress.
What is the team composition?
I worked directly with Garrett (Managing Partner) as my main point of contact.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
I worked with them while at a previous law firm, and they did very well in that role. Because we were pleased with their work in the past, I was happy to hire them again.
How much have you invested with them?
I put about $11,500 into the website build and marketing assets. Additionally, they’re on retainer for $2,000 to maintain the site through 2021.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from March–September 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We just launched the site, so we don’t have hard metrics yet. However, I’ve received positive reviews and comments about the website by users who are blown away by the logo and color scheme. People really like the brand, myself included.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
I never had an issue with them because they were transparent and kept me updated. If I ever had an urgent request, they made it their highest priority. It helped to have one, central point of contact. Garrett was great to work with as a project manager. We communicated through phone, email, and Zoom.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their creativity helped them deliver a user-friendly site that aligned with my goals. They had familiarity with the latest tools and technologies, so the process was seamless. It was easy to talk about my requirements, and they integrated my requests with ease. I was thrilled with the final product.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can’t think of anything. I wish that I got the final website a bit earlier, but delays were on my end or due to COVID-19. They were very responsive and urgent.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
They’re creative, open-minded people. If you have wild ideas, share them because they don’t come in with limitations or predispositions as to what is possible. They’ll provide feedback and be open to exploring solutions options.
the project
Custom E-Commerce Dev for Local Scholarship Org
"State Creative made everything clear, so the project moved forward linearly."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We’re a local organization in Redwood City, California that awards scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate extraordinary levels of community volunteerism. Our criteria's simple. Students have to reside in Redwood City and demonstrate levels of volunteerism above and beyond what’s required by their schools.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
Our website was old and limited in functionality. Students specifically expect to be able to apply online. To have a healthy, robust organization that actually serves students, we needed to do a better job with our website and application process.
What was the scope of their involvement?
State Creative completely redesigned and rebuilt our website. They also added a custom e-commerce function. Usually, we have an annual awards dinner that’s attended by 400–500 people and each honoree. We wanted an e-commerce function for people to buy tickets to the event or enter a coupon code to zero-out the price. The e-commerce function essentially automated ticket attribution and table assignment.
Their team also build an online application process. Users could upload documents and fill out an application form on our website.
What is the team composition?
I had one point of contact.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
I searched online and asked five agencies for quotes. We found two agencies through referrals from board members. We found the other three from services such as Clutch. We had initial calls, looked at samples, and invited three agencies to give us a hard bid. We made our decision based on their track record, understanding of the project, and price.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent around $15,000 on this project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started our contract with them in April, and the project finished in September 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Anecdotally, everyone thinks the website’s wonderful. It looks better, and it’s easier to navigate. However, we haven’t entered our application or ticket buying seasons. We haven’t had a chance to test the functionalities in real life yet.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
State Creative communicated deadlines, expectations, and milestones. I worked on many websites with one company. As we repeatedly collaborated, we developed a shorthand. During this engagement, I had to learn a different system, so it was a learning curve.
What did you find most impressive about them?
There was no drama during the project. We didn't argue about what was or wasn’t in the scope. I wasn’t surprised by the directions their team took. State Creative made everything clear, so the project moved forward linearly.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There were a few moments when we couldn’t access our PayPal account because State Creative was linking it to our site. It would’ve been helpful if they told us when we wouldn’t have access to the account.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be clear about what you want. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
the project
Web Development for Arts & Crafts Retailer
"They're quick to help us find solutions and always open to helping us navigate issues."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
We are a consumer products company in the art/writing instrument space. I'm the Associate Manager of Digital Marketing as part of the Marketing team.
For what projects/services did your company hire State Creative, and what were your goals?
We hired State Creative to help us overhaul, redesign, and condense our existing websites into one, consumer focused site. Our goals were to create a website with a consumer focused user experience while minimizing the amount of work our internal team needed to do to maintain our previous sites.
How did you select State Creative and what were the deciding factors?
We found State Creative through a quick google search after speaking with several other companies all of who were referrals from other partners. The deciding factor for us was the price point given the size of the project, and the fact that State Creative was local to us.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
We had 4 different websites that all pointed our consumers in different directions on 2 different CMS platforms that was causing quite a headache for our team. It was outdated, and clunky to work with. State Creative gathered all of the necessary information and documentation from us in the beginning. We opted to go for Wordpress, migrate the website to a different host, and wanted something with more imagery and much less text.
We then went through 2 different design rounds, and after that, they worked on it until it was time for our team to fill in all of the content. The biggest deliverable for us was the Store Locator, making sure consumers can reach a place to purchase a product as quick as possible.
Project Steps went as:
- Scope & Documentation - information/inspiration gathering
- Design Round 1
- Design Round 2
- Demo
- Content & Copy Fill
- Launch
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
Two people from State Creative's team worked with us. Garrett, client services and Aron, the creative director.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
We've had a huge spike in website traffic since launch. General feedback about the deliverables for us was about an 8/10. There were times where things were forgotten about, that I as the customer didn't know weren't going to be brought up and assumed the State Creative team would remind us, given the scope of the project in the beginning and the ideas we had talked about many times.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
Overall, the communication was clear. We interacted via email, Google Docs, and even text towards the end for launch. The timeline was provided at the beginning, and we stayed on track.
There were a couple of times where there was mix up of us vs. other client work they were working on, so things I had brought up before were forgotten about or mixed up. As someone who comes from a small business background, I could understand the challenges of the multiple client aspect, but it wasn't always well received throughout my team.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
How responsive they were! When small issues came up, I can shoot an email or a quick text, and they'd always get back to me and let me know the time frame in which they could work and figure it out. They're quick to help us find solutions and always open to helping us navigate issues.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
There's some room for improvement in communication. When I got the project timeline, it was general enough that I knew of the overall steps, but there were parts of the content filling that could have been more in-depth.
For example, I thought that the store locator database would be brought up at some point, but it wasn't until after I submitted all of the content for State Creative's team to populate, and my team was already in the midst of filling in the rest of the content on the website, that I realized the store locator had not been talked about. We ended up having to try to shave time from elsewhere to get the locator done, but I would've provided that information up front with the other copy/imagery if I had known it was part of that step.
Because of that, we're now in a Phase 2 for the locator to be completed. I definitely think it's a bit of lack of communication on both ends, but as the customer, I'd expect the developer to guide me through that process and remind me of things we had talked about/what part of the project it'll come up in.
the project
E-commerce Dev for Produce Company & Distributor
"State Creative made it so easy to learn and understand."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Western Mixers & Nuts, Inc. is a wholesale distributor. The majority of our business is retailers across the US.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
Our old website was deteriorating; it was built on the Magento 1 platform. There weren’t patches to keep up with the new Magento platforms, and PayPal stopped working with it. We needed a new website that would allow users to find products, make purchases, and make returns.
What was the scope of their involvement?
After we showed them examples of things we liked, State Creative built a new e-commerce website for us, based on the WooCommerce platform. They added modules and provided training on some of the new features.
What is the team composition?
Garrett (Client Services) was the main point of contact. He had an entire team working with him.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
Garrett had built a website for our parent company. We liked his work and wanted to partner with him again when this project came up.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent $23,000–$28,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from March 2019 – July 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The website has more flexibility and user-friendliness, strengthening our online store. It only launched 16 days ago, and we’ve already seen a tremendous increase of “will call” orders and impulse buys.
Additionally, it offers more flexible sizing options for purchase. We have also had great feedback from customers who love how easy it is to navigate the website. We are very excited about the results.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
They did well. We were in constant communication via phone calls, email, or UberConference. We were able to share screens, and talk through ideas, problems, and resolutions.
What did you find most impressive about them?
State Creative made it so easy to learn and understand. Garrett is calm and self-assuring, and he explains everything in common terms. They gave us guides for everything we needed to do, and how to look up guide pages with detailed instructions to refresh our memory, as needed.
Are there any areas they could improve?
It would’ve been good if they had had an order checklist so nothing got overlooked. There were a few times where our expectations were different than what was delivered and corrections had to be made.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Have a clear list of your must-haves. That allows them to face those challenges upfront, as well as assist in choosing the right platform with the capabilities you require.
the project
Website Revamp for IT Firm
"I appreciated the expertise and knowledge this vendor had about website design as well as optimization."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the Marketing Manager at an IT consulting company headquartered in Livermore, CA. We deliver a full suite of IT solutions to businesses with award-winning support teams and 20+ years of IT problem solving experience.
For what projects/services did your company hire State Creative?
Our company website had not been updated for roughly five years and was outdated. With our company growth we wanted our site to portray the image of our larger size and expertise. We needed to outsource the redesign because we wanted a more professional and clean look and the expertise and knowledge necessary to ensure our website performed at its max capacity.
What were your goals for this project?
We wanted our site to load faster and to attract more traffic to increase the number of inquiries that we received through our contact form. We also wanted it to have a more professional look that was organized to make it more user friendly and the right amount of information. Since we are growing, we also wanted it to appeal to future employee prospects who researched our company through our site.
How did you select this vendor?
I searched online for web designers in our area and compiled a list of 5 based on their experience and expertise. I conducted a meeting with each and narrowed it down to 2. I received a formal proposal from each and decided to choose this vendor based on their proposal. It was clear they had listened to my needs and wants and I valued the option of a maintenance program post website launch. Their price point was also in the middle of all the vendors we considered and thought it was fair.
Describe the project in detail.
Once we selected this vendor, we had an initial meeting to go over expectations and dates. I was given a questionnaire to help designers plan. I then was provided mock up page designs which we went through a couple rounds of editing. Once they were finalized they then worked on creating the pages with content that I was supposed to provide. We went through a few rounds editing those. Once they were complete, the vendor required two weeks to have everything done in the back end prior to the site going live.
What was the team composition?
I was assigned a project manager who is the only person I communicated with at the company. He communicated with the designers on his end.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Our site launched a month ago and we already have received inquiries through our new chat feature. We also have seen an uptick on visitors to the site.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
The project manager that we were assigned was easy to communicate with and provided us frequent updates. He ensured we followed the initial schedule and provided follow up answers to questions directed at the designers in a timely manner.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I appreciated the expertise and knowledge this vendor had about website design as well as optimization. This is what we were relying on them to have. Their ability to accommodate us was also impressive. Towards the end of the project the deadline date was moved up almost a month so the site could be revealed at our yearly company review meeting. This vendor pushed to have something in place for us to show to our team on this date which achieved great reviews from our staff and management.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Overall, I was very satisfied and happy with the project and final product of our site. There were some misunderstandings on my part in regards to providing content and the ability to make changes after certain deadline dates. I am not a web designer or developer and thought this vendor would include or design generic content that I was not able to provide but that was not the case. However, the project manager worked with me and went above and beyond what they understood was to be done and they were responsible for.
the project
Branding, Web Design, & Dev for Policy Company
“We found their adaptability to be incredibly valuable.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the digital communications manager for Alluma, a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California. We develop solutions for integrated eligibility systems.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
We had recently changed our name and were going through a rebranding process. We needed to replace our outdated website with one that was mobile-friendly and aesthetically relevant. We hoped that a new website would generate leads and promote our newsletter.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Our previous agency, who had overseen our name change, had provided us with some technographic information and brand guidelines, which we passed over to State Creative. State Creative then gave us a questionnaire so that they could discern our exact goals.
They then created a sitemap for the Drupal platform. They focused on creating a site that was intuitive and user-friendly to navigate for our target demographics: our clients, as well as policymakers and other non-profit entities. We also had high security requirements, since our platform deals with financial records.
Now, they provide ongoing maintenance services for the website.
What is the team composition?
My main point of contact was Garrett Goldman, who served as a project manager. He managed the team working on web development.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
I wanted to work with a local company, based in Oakland, to support my community. With that being the requirement, I found State Creative through a Google search. Security was their strong suit, and they were also familiar with Drupal development. Finally, they were experienced in working with mission-driven partners like ourselves.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent around $50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The website, from start to launch, lasted between April–September 2019. We have an ongoing relationship with site updates.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
While I don’t have exact numbers, yet, I’ve seen a measurable increase in newsletter sign-up. We’ve also seen a boost in our web traffic—both from referrals, and organically. Those numbers have definitively gone up, which we’re happy about.
While we had high security standards, they succeeded in creating an engaging and visually modern website while abiding by stringent requirements.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
Garrett was extremely responsive and flexible. The turnaround times for tasks were very quick. Although we can be high-maintenance, they were great at handling our requests and demands.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were flexible—they agreed to develop our Drupal site, although Drupal isn’t the most flexible CMS. And, they managed to create something visually captivating, within the CMS’s boundaries. I was impressed by how they managed to make our website look. They were also flexible in terms of how much content we could provide them with. We found their adaptability to be incredibly valuable.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can’t think of anything. I really had a great experience with them.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be prepared to know your audience. It’s key to share as much information as possible with them.
the project
Web Design & Dev, Branding & SMM for Law Firm
“They not only prompted us every step of the way; they also carried us across the threshold.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I work at a law firm that specializes in trust and estate issues, particularly estate litigation. I’m the firm’s administrator.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
Our firm had a very outdated website that lacked a modern design, like drill-down features and links. We knew that we needed to change it, but we didn’t have the resources or time to do so.
What was the scope of their involvement?
State Creative built a new WordPress website from the ground up. First, they met with us and explained how they typically work, forecasting what the process would look like and what parts they would take care of. They identified a timeline. The team also educated us on modern-day web design and what consumers expect a website to do.
State Creative helped us with a lot of branding. They taught us how to promote articles. They also helped us with print, photos, and the wording of presentations and lectures. The team educated us on how to describe events on our website. Besides making sure our website was current, State Creative also helped us with social media.
Once the website launched, State Creative established a maintenance relationship. They told us about the services they’d continue to provide and how we should communicate with them. Now, we can call them whenever we need to and ask them to make a change or add something to the site.
What is the team composition?
My only contact was Garrett (Client Services, State Creative). I know there was a bigger team because whatever the issue was, he distributed it to the right person. We didn’t have to navigate who did what, and Garrett always responded immediately whenever we reached out to him.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
My company formed a committee that interviewed quite a few website developers. They came to our office and pitched their ideas. State Creative came to us through a referral, but only one person on our committee knew that referral, so the rest of us were indifferent. We were really open to all of the presenters.
State Creative had an easiness about them; they made us feel comfortable. We were stepping into an area we didn’t know much about, and they really carried us through the process.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $15,000–$25,000. My company paid a set amount to launch the site, and now we pay an annual fee for maintenance. What you want drives the price. I was amazed at what could be done for such low prices.
What is the status of this engagement?
State Creative worked on the site from January¬–September 2019. They probably could’ve done so in six weeks, but my team wasn’t helpful. They continue to provide maintenance.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It’s changed everything for us. Our old website was affecting our recruiting; when we tried to hire new attorneys, they looked at our website and were not impressed. Now, they are, and we’re actively recruiting.
We’ve received lots of praise from candidates and clients about the website. In our email signature block, we’ve even included a line encouraging people to check out our new site, and that’s prompted a lot of response; people really like it.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
When they were doing web design and helping us with marketing, communication was constant. There was a period when we spoke almost daily. Sometimes, we sent long emails detailing what we wanted, and almost immediately, we’d get a response from State Creative letting us know what they’d completed. They were very efficient via email; I never had to figure out who to call.
State Creative kept the whole process moving. They looked at the old site and created a shell of a new website to prompt us along; if they hadn’t, we would’ve been stuck. They not only prompted us every step of the way; they also carried us across the threshold. The team was good about doing the work in stages so that we weren’t overwhelmed.
Garrett was very approachable. He emphasized that we should be okay with what we didn’t know, which was why they were there to help us. He was also encouraging and kept coming back to us with new ideas. He really drove the ship.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They did whatever they could to keep us moving forward. We also got immediate responses from them, no matter what the issue was. If they couldn’t make things clear in an email, they quickly set up a call to have a lengthier conversation. So much of what they had to do was educate us. They were incredibly helpful and calming; they knew how to speak to an audience that lacked their technical expertise.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I don’t think so. They’re fantastic.
Any advice for potential customers?
If you’re building a whole new website, stick to the timeline. When you’re not sure of something, call them; they will help you. They don’t hesitate to tell you if something may not look good or isn’t really industry-standard. State Creative pointed us in the right direction. They know this business, so be open to their insights.
the project
MediaWiki & WordPress Web Design & Dev for Media Org
"They found solutions to any problems that came up."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the executive director of China Digital Times, a news site collecting info and news about China.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
We needed them to update our main site to improve its appearance and user navigation and highlight older content that was otherwise hidden. We also have two other websites, and we wanted State Creative to connect and integrate them with our main site to make the connection more obvious from a visual perspective.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They started by providing us with a questionnaire about our goals and targets for the project, and they then gave us an estimate and an outline of what they could do. We met with them in person and went over our current website, discussing what we wanted to change and how we wanted to change it, and then they went back and worked on it.
Two of our sites were on WordPress, but one site was on MediaWiki, and we wanted to keep that platform. They were not as familiar with MediaWiki, but they did a lot of research and figured out enough to keep it on that platform while keeping the WordPress sites on their platform.
They created front page demos for each site and all of the interior pages. We reviewed them and made changes through three rounds of revisions before they presented the final design. They then worked on coding and development. They recently migrated all the content over and we launched the new sites.
What is the team composition?
Our main point of contact was Garrett (Managing Partner, State Creative). They had two or three developers with whom we were in touch during the migration.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
We needed a partner with extensive WordPress experience. We update our site multiple times per day, and not every vendor can handle that. In addition, we wanted someone who felt comfortable working with MediaWiki.
We asked around for references and read online reviews. After selecting some companies that we liked, we conducted interviews, and we were most impressed with State Creative. They seemed confident in handling our project and we liked that they were local.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $10,000–$50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from Feb.–Sept. 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from our readers. We don’t have the exact numbers yet, but it’s definitely been successful from our perspective. The new websites feel cleaner and more modern and they’re easier to navigate.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
They’ve managed the project well. We’ve had two in-person meetings, but we communicate mostly through phone calls and emails. We were in touch about once a week on average, but there were times when it was every day or every other day, and on the other hand, we sometimes went a couple of weeks without contact.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were very responsive whenever we had a question or wanted something to change. They did their research quickly and got back to us. They found solutions to any problems that came up.
Are there any areas they could improve?
This was a big project that may have been larger and more complicated than what they were used to. There were some little details at the end which we had to ask them to change because they had been overlooked during the process. But I think that's inevitable in any project like this and it’s not necessarily a criticism.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
They’re very open to communication, so if there are any issues or questions or problems that come up, just speak to them directly about it. They will work with you to resolve it as best they can.
the project
WordPress Web Design & Dev for Educational Nonprofit
"State Creative’s level of detail and professionalism have made it so easy to work with them."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a client manager for Kos Read Group, a public affairs and communications firm.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
We’d been working with our client Educate78. After auditing their materials and public communications, we decided that their website needed an update.
What was the scope of their involvement?
State Creative took the lead on coding and developing the WordPress website. They helped create the initial design based on Educate78’s specifications, including their desired color schemes and look and feel. As a designer, I then changed up the designs using their original plans.
The State Creative team also helped train me and my team on how to use WordPress, such as updating modules and making edits. They taught us best practices about how to manage a non-profit website and retain people.
What is the team composition?
I directly worked with Garrett (Managing Partner, State Creative), but he had a full development team behind the scenes that we’d submit bug reports to.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
I wasn’t involved in the search process. I believe that my boss was aware of Garrett and State Creative and that their proximity to our offices was a factor in our choice.
How much have you invested with them?
I believe we spent around $10,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project ran from November 2018 until August 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We haven’t launched the site publicly yet, but our client’s board members really love the new website. It makes Educate78’s services and impact on the community that much clearer. The new site is also more user-friendly and has seen more traffic. State Creative helped integrate Google Analytics into the backend so that we can track visitors and our bounce rate. Overall, we’ve received nothing but positive feedback and haven’t seen any errors so far.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
We communicated with Garrett all the time. He was always quick to respond whenever we had an urgent question or needed updates. He claimed a 24-hour turnaround, but I never had to wait longer than 12 hours to hear back from him. He also made every deadline, even when we’ve had to move some timelines up to meet our client’s needs. Garrett’s also always had a great attitude about handling any changes.
In the beginning, I talked to him about five times a week. Sometimes, when things got really hectic, we spoke twice a day. We received weekly updates, monthly maintenance reports, and heads-up if there’s anything that needs fixing. Even after the soft launch, Garrett has stuck around to help us optimize the site.
What did you find most impressive about them?
State Creative’s level of detail and professionalism have made it so easy to work with them. We’ve had so many frustrating moments, and Garrett’s patience and diligence in working with us as we went through periods were much appreciated.
State Creative is also excellent at turning around urgent changes very quickly—such as when we sent out a marketing email and find out one of the blogs isn’t updating or the links aren’t working—even though they’re not a 24-hour service.
Lastly, their team has never had to redo any part of the project. Their work is error-free every time. I’ve always been impressed with their ability to take our requirements over the phone and turn them into something beautiful.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there’s nothing I can think of off the top of my head. It’s always good to give constructive feedback, but I can’t think of anything I’d want to be done differently.
Any advice for potential customers?
State Creative regularly gave us all these tips and tricks, but they often got buried in our email threads. I’d recommend taking notes on the information State Creative gives you. They also created a guide page for us to solve specific problems later, which we found immensely helpful.
Also, don’t be afraid to get on the phone with them to communicate something as quickly as possible. Garrett was always happy to answer our calls.
the project
WordPress Web Redesign for Insurance Company
“Customer service is their best quality.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the social media marketing manager for Brown & Brown Insurance. We’re an independent insurance intermediary that through its licensed subsidiaries provides a variety of insurance products and services to corporate, public entity, institutional, trade, professional, association, and individual clients.
What challenge were you trying to address with State Creative?
We needed a development firm to redesign our outdated website.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Once the engagement began, we went over how their input could align with our goals. After several rounds of feedback, we finalized a design layout. State Creative successfully implemented the redesign in WordPress. They included features that tied our culture and branding to social media accounts. For example, they put a widget on our careers page that links to our Instagram. Part of our service package with them included a two-hour WordPress training seminar that taught us how to edit the site independently. Additionally, they incorporated SEO and relevant plugins to the site’s backend. Now, they provide ongoing maintenance and support.
What is the team composition?
Garrett (Managing Partner, State Creative) was our primary our point of contact, but they also had a team of people working on the project.
How did you come to work with State Creative?
We started looking at other websites within our industry to get an idea of how we wanted to update ours. State Creative happened to have made one site that impressed us. I googled them and called their office. I quickly got in touch with a project manager and we had a conversation regarding the general design we were looking for. They emailed me more information and a sort of proposal. After some internal deliberation, we decided to move forward with them.
How much have you invested with them?
The web redesign cost $15,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The main project took place from April–August 2017.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
One of the reasons we wanted to update our website was to increase lead generation. We don’t sell insurance online, but we want to share our story, products, and services to potential clients. We’ve seen measurable success with new business reliably coming in through the website. Within the first four months of its launch, we closed 50% of the leads it produced.
How did State Creative perform from a project management standpoint?
Web design isn’t my area of expertise, so I had trouble articulating the exact design aspects we were looking for. State Creative asked the right questions to lead us to the verbiage we were trying communicate. A few changes had to be made throughout the process, but that didn’t throw them off track. They stuck to the schedule they’d given us and accommodated our edits. They’re great partners and Garrett was especially excellent to work with. He contacted me on his wedding day to let me know he was out of the office.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Customer service is their best quality. We like the website, but working with a company that asks questions to accurately address our issues was great.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
My advice is to make sure that State Creative includes the WordPress training package with the project. I’ve never used WordPress on a large-scale and found the training extremely helpful. Not having to rely on someone else to edit your website is incredibly convenient.
The team has impressed internal and external stakeholders alike with their high-quality design work. Consumers praised the engaging colors and final logo, appreciating the look and feel. Their expertise in the design and development industry made communication and milestones seamless.