Studio Vene Design

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a food safety training and consulting business based in South Africa. I work both nationally and internationally.

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Vene Design?

My website was first developed in 2012 on a Joomla platform. This became outdated and was not very user-friendly. Studio Vene Design re-designed the website from scratch using Word Press. The website needed to be clean and easy to navigate.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

This vendor was recommended to me when I started seeking marketing assistance. I requested quotes from different companies, but what stood out about Studio Vene Design were several aspects: flexibility, personal touch, professionalism and price.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

An initial meeting was held during which I explained what I wanted using other websites to draw some examples from. A follow-up meeting was held during which examples of designs were shown to me and adjustments were made as I requested. Thereafter, the design was finalised and Studio Vene Design assisted me in populating the website with the information I desired. I then underwent training with the vendor to enable me to use the back office.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

1 person worked with me i.e. the owner of the business, Studio Vene Design.

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

The website is much cleaner and far more professional in look and feel, which ties in perfectly with what I wish to portray about my business. Things are placed logically and users find it easy to navigate. I too, find it very easy to change, delete or add media, information, pages etc.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked one-on-one and I was able to ask questions at any time and the vendor was always available to assist.

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

I am astounded by the depth of experience and knowledge that Studio Vene Design has. Whenever there was a query on my part that the vendor could not immediately solve, the vendor would find the solution and assist me in implementing it. The personal touch and exceptional and prompt service stands out for me. There is no such thing as automated service numbers given out where you have to wait for 24 hours to get assistance or automated emails telling you your query is being attended to.

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

As this is not my field at all, you don't know what you don't know. So it would be helpful to be shown or warned about something up-front.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Senior Specialist Scientist at a Research Company. I use the Environmental Health Research Network to keep researchers and practitioners informed of research in this area.

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Vene Design?

My website is updated and my listserve, the main way I connect with the EHRN members, is maintained.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I heard about this vendor when I was at my previous institution (CSIR) and even when I left the CSIR, I continue to work with this vendor in my personal capacity because the vendor is excellent at grasping look and feel, and always being ready to assist me.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We had several meetings to set up the EHRN website and listserve before it went live.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with the vendor herself.

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

The EHRN network has grown over the years and I get many requests for more information via the listserve. This has helped raised the national profile of the EHRN.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Working with the vendor is an absolute joy. We had in-person and telephone meetings to ensure the best possible outcome which exactly met my requirements.

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

The vendor gave me excellent ideas on how to make the network work well, especially in the academic/research community. I have a slick website and an effective running listserve.

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

None from me!

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of the Editors in Chief of an academic journal on air quality in Africa.

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Vene Design?

We needed to develop a website and online presence for our journal. Also, we needed continuing help on the layout of our journal.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected this vendor due to the high quality of their work.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Vene first developed the website for our journal and assisted with the original layout, design, everything really, as well as working to help us grow our online presence. She currently continues to help with the layout and design of all our online content.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We work with Vene herself.

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

The impact of our journal has grown since we have been online. This is seen in the increase in the submission of articles, the increased variety of where the authors are (the journal used to only get submissions from South Africa), as well as the increased citation of our journal.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow is very effective. When we started we used emails and dropbox and have moved to a more streamlined communication method online that has really helped.

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

We are always very impressed with the quality and consistency of the work. As well as turnaround times for such high quality! We have specific deadlines we have to meet with publishing, and Vene is always accommodating to even help with last minute submissions.

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

None

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a founding partner in an insurance general agency that specializes in commercial insurance programs.

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Vene Design?

To create our logo and company branding in addition to designing and building out our company website.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Referral from current client.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

3 meetings in total to completion of project. Project took a total of 4 weeks.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Just Vene.

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

We were completely satisfied with Vene’s work from the initial meeting through project completion. She was timely and reasonably priced and the end product exceeded our expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was excellent.

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

The quality work product for such a reasonable price.

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

None

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the Managing Director of a Marketing Consultancy company from 2013 to 1997 in Pretoria South Africa. During that time we project managed the Innovation Hub's bid and successful hosting of the IASP's World Conference - a first on the continent of Africa.

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Vene Design?

IASP's World Conference Southern Education Research Alliance [SERA – the CSIR & University of Pretoria partnership]

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I have had the pleasure of knowing Vene and her work ethic and creativity for 31 years. She is adept at immediately grasping the context of a project and the target market. Her creativity always 'speaks to' the intended recipients of the website content. Added to that is that she's great fun to work with and good at thinking 'out of the box'!

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

All the marketing communication projects we worked on included... strategic planning project workflow and management design briefings for sourcing concepts promotional material production briefings and management website briefing and oversight management.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Vene

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

IASP World Conference...more than one 'first'...

• First time the event was hosted on the continent of Africa: from 14 to 17 September 2008.
• Record attendance: 528 delegates and dignitaries from 60 countries.
• Highest number of abstracts received in response to the Call of Papers.
• The Innovation Hub was elected to Chair the IASP newly formed African Division.
• Election effect: participation from 14 African countries including Ivory Coast, Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Cote D’Ivoire.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The above outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the website design, development, and maintenance by Vene. Registration for the IASP World Conference was online and the content and functionality needed to be multifaceted which Vene handled with ease.

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

They understood strategy, branding, marketing communication, and the client's environment. I am currently working as a freelance consultant with a Client who pre-appointed - in this 2021 'Age of Unreason' a website development company. My frustrations abound - how I wish the Client had appointed Studio Vene!

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

No

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a researcher and lecturer at Stellenbosch University.

For what projects/services did your company hire Studio Vene Design, and what were your goals?

We needed a website to present information to prospective students, as well as to document our activities and highlights for funders and interested public audiences.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I was familiar with work done by Vene Musket from organisations where I used to work before.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Vene was able to understand our needs, since she is familiar with creating online materials for academic and scientific research organisations. We met online as needed, but she mostly took own initiative to update and add materials, with very little guidance needed.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Only Vene Muskett.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The website served our needs well and we were able to use for people to register for events, and enrol for courses.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We mostly used email to communicate and provide materials for updates.

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

Their service was fast, effective, and friendly. It is combined with design skills and knowledge of the latest web design software and tools.

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

Not that I can think of.