Studio Gurr

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a travel agency which has been in business since 1992.

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Gurr?

Although the company was well-established I wanted a new name and brand as the original was dated and tired. The previous name, Oriental Express Travel Services, no longer conveyed my company's vision or core services. I wanted a new logo and a website in addition to a new name.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted a name and brand that appealed to the modern traveler, who is much different than our customers of 20 years ago. I wanted a slick and visually appealing website. Most small companies in my industry have very basic and unprofessional websites, names and logos. I wanted to stand out from the crowd.

How did you select Studio Gurr?

Studio Gurr was recommended to me by a client and I saw some of their previous work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We began with a couple of meetings in my office to discuss my needs and vision. He and his colleagues asked many questions including topics I hadn't thought of. A few weeks later then presented three different brand and logo options. I immediately picked one which jumped out at me. It was exactly what I was looking for.

I was thoroughly impressed by their work, ideas, graphics, design and wording. They also provided a list of at least thirty name ideas and again - one jumped out at me as perfect. Soon after picking the name and logo they designed my website. I could not be happier with all of the projects they handled for me.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with David on all aspects of the project.

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

I have received nothing but positive and enthusiastic feedback on my new name, logo and website. Clients, family and friends were all amazed at the quick transformation from an old and tired brand to a new and exciting one. Even now, two years later, I am hearing from clients who may not have used my services in a few years and are just now noticing the updates and improvements.

A few have told me that my website is the nicest they've seen in my industry.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Prompt, efficient and easy. I could always reach them by phone, text or email. Everything was completed in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was extremely impressed with their ability to adapt their skills to my industry - travel. To my knowledge I was their first client in the travel industry, though it felt to me as if they had vast experience with it. I appreciated their enthusiasm which made me even more excited about rebranding my company. They seemed as dedicated to my company's success as I was.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I truly can't think of anything although with more time and experience under their belt they will only get better.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a coffee roasting company with a retail location.

What challenge were you trying to address with Studio Gurr?

Initially, we wanted to refresh our branding. We ended up doing a lot of other projects to make our branding more cohesive across the board with everything that we do.

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we started off by doing a branding refresh of my logo. We were given several different options to choose from. Since then, they’ve designed coffee bags with labels, to-go cups, our menu, our café façade, our café interior, bandanas, t-shirts, and merchandise cups.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Dave (Principal Designer), but I know that there are three people in total that help make the designs we’re seeing.

How did you come to work with Studio Gurr?

We found Studio Gurr on Instagram, and we ended up going to the same coffee expo one year. We met in person and vibed really well together. They’re a small business starting up, and we’re a small business too, and we decided to take a chance and work with them on our logo to begin with. We enjoyed working with them so much that we continue to go back to them for design work whenever we need it.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $5,000–$6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in April 2018, and our work is ongoing.

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

Our biggest metric for success is people coming into our shop. With our coffee guides in particular, we noticed that our packaging and brand design stood out at grocery stores among our competitors. The designs made us look more professional and legitimate as a coffee company. It made such a big difference.

How did Studio Gurr perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. The communication is really great, and the decisions that they make are in the best interest of our overall mission as a company, and what we want to communicate to our customers. They always deliver on time, if not earlier.

Dave is very clear on communicating deadlines and expectations to us so that we’re never in the dark or need to inquire about what’s going on. We communicate mainly by email and sometimes via phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The creativity really stands out. The designs that Studio Gurr was showing us were things that I didn’t expect in the best possible way. As a small business, we had an attachment to certain things about our branding. It was challenging to let go of some things, but I always feel that Studio Gurr is able to listen and already use the elements that we love while also revamping them. They always think outside the box.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to have a good flow of communication and be clear about your expectations of what you want to get out of the project. Everyone at Studio Gurr does a really great job of being flexible and mindful with those conversations.