studio~humm

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Product of MyBenefits

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Providing a flexible benefits platform through which employees can spend their benefits budget on what matters most for them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire studio~humm to accomplish?

• Create a set of branding guidelines
• Create a new brand for us that would be in line with our new global focus
• Create a new SaaS presentation website for the new brand

SOLUTION

How did you find studio~humm?

Referral

Why did you select studio~humm over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from studio~humm were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

As we transition from a local solution to a global one and pivot our product proposition, we sought a new brand and website to match our ambitions. studio~humm assisted us in finding our new identity and making it visible through a beautiful, modern website.

The team at studio~humm helped us with:

• Finding a name
• Designing the logo
• Choosing the branding colors
• Shaping the overall brand concept
• Crafting our key messages
• Designing the SaaS presentation website
• Building the website

They delivered all of this with great quality, in a timely fashion, and maintained constant communication with us throughout the entire project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The shipment of:

• the logo
• the branding
• the website design
• the built website
• the deployment of the website

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

Our collaboration with studio~humm went very smoothly. The deliverables were received on time and they were open for each inquiry from us.

What was your primary form of communication with studio~humm?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their level of engagement and openess to feedback. It felt exactly like it should have felt: a true colaboration.

Are there any areas for improvement or something studio~humm could have done differently?

Not really.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Project leader, urban planning and design of TSPA

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

TSPA is an international urban planning and design firm that develops sustainable urban systems for a changing world. We deliver projects ranging from regional development to urban planning, from neighbourhood design to place-making.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire studio~humm to accomplish?

• Design a new website
• Update company's branding

SOLUTION

How did you find studio~humm?

Online Search

Why did you select studio~humm over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Company values aligned
• great portfolio

How many teammates from studio~humm were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

One of the main focuses of the assignment was on re-designing the website which was also transitioned to a different CMS platform to offer a better experience for the visitor, but also for the back-end management.  

Studio Humm also delivered a copywriting guide and new brand guidelines, including redesigning our company's logo, and business cards, and helped in updating the company's name. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

New website design was applied and we successfully launched the website. 

New logo and branding materials such as templates for presentations or other documents are now being incorporated into our day-to-day business and we have received very positive feedback from partners or clients when presenting our work by using Studio Humm developed templates.

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

Even tho the project was challenging, the team managed to navigate through the complexity and remain transparent and open. Weekly updates sent via email on the progress and activities were especially useful in keeping track of tasks. The team has addressed the challenges and responded to the needs with a creative approach, trying to find best matching solutions.

What was your primary form of communication with studio~humm?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Creative approach to issues and needs. The team was invested in finding unique solutions for our case, rather than applying copy-paste approach. Another great aspect was design workshop at the beginning of the project - where we did some exercises to determine our prefered styles

Are there any areas for improvement or something studio~humm could have done differently?

Despite a couple of technical difficulties we have experienced after the launch of the website, we were happy about the service. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the former project manager and product owner at a consulting company.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with studio~humm?

We worked with studio~humm on various projects for an automotive client. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at studio~humm worked with us on our website and CMS for a third-party client. They handled publishing pages and developed a creative approach to the way we presented vehicle information on the website. This information included general and safety features. 

Moreover, the information was translated from being technical in nature to storytelling-focused content that fit the client’s tone and sat within the limitations of the CMS. The content also needed to be in English, and studio~humm helped us with this because our copywriters were either booked out or not well-versed in the language.

The team didn’t create designs for us but worked on conceptualizing the site’s UX. They mapped out what information would be displayed on the web pages and what logic it would follow. The goal was to make the pages more engaging to end users. 

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with one teammate from studio~humm. He provided copywriting services and conceptual work. 

How did you come to work with studio~humm?

We found studio~humm through a referral. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $10,000–$40,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from March 2020–March 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measured project success through the timeliness of the delivery and the feedback of the third-party client, who reviewed the copy and greenlighted it. 

How did studio~humm perform from a project management standpoint?

studio~humm’s project management was great. They were always on time and had quick communication. Whenever something came up or the client gave feedback, the copywriter would address them even before we contacted him. This made my life as a project manager easier. 

They were highly responsive and light-footed when it came to direction changes. We used Confluence and Jira to collaborate. For communication, we used emails for broader conversations and alignment. Video calls were also used. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The ease of our communication with studio~humm was impressive. The team’s openness was commendable. Having them during our client meetings was also a huge help since I didn’t need to translate the client’s demands. Overall, they were adaptive when implementing feedback or guidelines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Define early how you want to communicate with studio~humm, and agree on the tools that you want to use. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director at Applica, an AI company that focuses on automating documents for businesses. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with studio~humm?

We engaged studio~humm to make our complicated technology more accessible to people.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Originally, we engaged studio~humm for web development. However, they were heavily into branding, so we ended up using them for all the aspects of this project. Our team did extensive research to determine our key buyers, our current messaging’s problems, and our new messaging goals. We then gave all of this information and competitive analysis to studio~humm to give them an adequate background. 

From there, they put together mock-ups of the direction we wanted to take from a visual perspective. Then, we worked together on our branding, colors, fonts, and more. We did a few iterations of those because we wanted to be more progressive than other companies in our space; we pushed studio~humm to be even more creative. 

Eventually, we landed on our current website’s design. It had a completely different color palette, fonts, typography, and imagery. After that, we continued working with studio~humm to put together a document that guided copywriters around the dos and don’ts of writing for our brand. It was a style guide that showed us what punctuations to use, which words to capitalize, and how we should speak about the company and our technology in terms of tone. 

Once we determined the overall look and feel of the website, we started sketching it out. I worked closely with studio~humm to determine how the sitemap would look like. Then, we created wireframes. Lars (UX Strategist) and I worked on the website’s copy, and then we turned it over to Adrian (Co-Founder & Brand Designer) and Dan (Co-Founder & Principal Designer). 

Adrian and Dan built the actual website on Webflow and handled the animation, imagery, functionality, and everything else. They also made sure that these things were linked to our existing infrastructure. After that, they tested the website and we deployed it.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was Lars, who also served as our main strategist, copywriter, and business development person. I had the most interaction with him throughout the project. Then, if I had more specific questions about the website functionality, I spoke directly to Adrian and Dan.

How did you come to work with studio~humm?

We Googled the best design and website development companies around, and we somehow stumbled across studio~humm. I sent them an email about the project, and they told us they were more focused on branding and web design than development. 

From there, we asked studio~humm and another agency to deliver mock-ups — we wanted to test them first because we’d been in a situation where a company promised us they’d deliver great work but didn’t. We ended up choosing studio~humm based on the ideas they had. Their creativity was different from anything else we’d seen, and that was what we wanted to use to stand out. As a result, we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €25,000 (approximately $28,000 USD) for the site’s branding and logo. Since our internal designer didn’t have the capacity to make new PowerPoint designs based on the new schema, we ended up paying studio~humm another €3,000–€4,000 (approximately $3,300–$4,500 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted for three months from August–November 2021. 

For context, we were in discussions with studio~humm for a long time. By the time our leadership team made the executive decision to start working with them, they were already contracted by another client. Because of that, we didn’t start this project until August 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of design, we had a basic look and feel before, but it became colorful. People were pleasantly surprised by it. We wanted something unique to reflect the progressive nature of our technology, and our leadership team was pleased with the final design. 

Specifically, our CEO said that studio~humm did an amazing job; they also cost a third of what most other agencies would charge for the same amount of work. That was my benchmark for success; our CEO was highly involved in the company, and making him happy wasn’t always easy.

From a business perspective, we looked more professional. As the website launched only recently, we didn’t have a lot of hard data to measure. However, our website gained better functionality, and we stood out in a positive way. Our internal team was pleased with it, and it was also received well externally. 

How did studio~humm perform from a project management standpoint?

The studio~humm team was great at staying on schedule and providing updates. They used Asana, and they sent weekly email updates on what they were doing. They let us know if anything had fallen behind and if we needed to move anything around. Overall, they were on top of everything, and I appreciated that.

We communicated mostly over Slack, Zoom, or Google Meet. In the beginning, we did a lot of discovery calls through Google Meet, but for day-to-day communications, we used a shared channel via Slack. We used email for unified invoices. On top of that, our communication worked out well despite our time difference; they were six hours ahead. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The ideas they presented from a digital standpoint were unique. We typically saw a lot of the same structure among websites, especially for B2B businesses like Applica. None of the designs that studio~humm presented us looked like those websites — their design looked highly customized for their price point. 

Overall, their creativity and imagination were impressive. They could interpret our brand and bring it to life in a way that we liked. The team also took a lot of time to refine their output. They kept at it as we gave them feedback until we arrived at a place where everyone on my team was happy. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

If they were a bigger agency, they’d have greater work capacity, and we could’ve started the project earlier. However, we knew about this, and it was more our fault that we didn’t sign the contract on time.

In other words, though they were a small shop, what they produced was exceptional. They delivered everything they promised, met the deadline, and didn’t go above our estimated cost. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open-minded to studio~humm’s ideas — they’re creative people. You might have an idea of what you want, but they can present it in a way that you’ve never thought of before. Let them bring your ideas to life and trust them. The team has an amazing eye for design and can do things that others don’t have the skill sets to accomplish. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing manager at a global mobility company in Berlin. We offer relocation and language services to businesses hiring international talent and to individuals relocating to Germany.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire studio~humm?

Our company expanded fast over the past years and shifted its focus B2C to B2B mainly and we needed a redefined brand image and a new website to reflect this change. The brand was underdeveloped and the website evolved organically, none of this reflecting the rapid professionalization of our business.

SOLUTION

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

We found three companies online and requested quotes based on a very detailed briefing. After initial discovery calls and comparing the three quotes we chose studio~humm for their excellent price-quality ratio and for their engagement in the proposal formulation.

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

The project started with a discovery workshop interviewing the co-founders and managerial board about the history and ethics of the brand. The outcomes were a new brand positioning, redefined brand principles and a tonality and style guide. Once the new brand identity has been discussed and approved, the designers put together a mood board showcasing possible design directions, a custom illustration system, typography and a redesigned logo. There were three iterations and feedback rounds on the designs.

In parallel, the UX strategist worked with us on defining the new sitemap. In one month we had discussed and approved the new brand strategy, design system and website wireframing. In the second month, the developer (a trusted partner of studio~humm) started setting up the CMS templates and preparing the stage for the implementation phase. In the third month of the project, the high fidelity mockup pages, functional website wireframes and the first round of website copy have been completed. In the fourth month we did CMS training (we had shifted to a new CMS with this project), implemented feedback on design and content, and started testing on the server.

The project was completed in four months but the launch date was delayed mainly due to bottlenecks on our end. Throughout all this time, studio~humm and their partner consulted and supported us whenever needed, despite the project running over time.

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

We worked with the whole team: two designers, a UX strategist and content writer and an external partner for the website development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website and new brand have been made public two weeks ago and we have received endless praise from customers and partners ever since. In terms of hard data, we've seen a seamless transition from the old website and no significant drop in sales, despite having also switched domains with this project. We assume that the new website structure will improve the user flow and although we still need more time to measure this, we've already seen sales and leads for products that were buried under many layers on the old website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a timeline set up in Asana and weekly updates via email. The main communication channel was slack, where we'd discuss simple tasks, and for more complex decisions we'd set up Google Hangouts with the relevant stakeholders. Being a small team, we worked directly with the creatives so the communication was very smooth, without much time passing from idea to implementation - we took longer to make the decisions ourselves than it took them to implement our new ideas.

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

That they were able to advise us on everything that we threw their way and always came up with smart solutions.

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

Nothing from my side. We really loved working with them and we're looking forward to continue our collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of content at Cara Care, a digital platform that helps people with digestive health issues.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with studio~humm?

We hired them to handle our rebrand project. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

studio~humm implemented a new brand identity for us. They did some branding workshops and created a design system and new logo. The team put together a communications plan and strategy and a copywriting guide. They also redesigned our website. They designed some presentations for us, including a pitch deck for investors. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from studio~humm, including Dan (Co-Founder & Principal Designer), Lars (Content Strategist), who was really pivotal in designing the content, copy strategy, and copy for the website, and Adrian (Co-Founder & Brand Designer), who was the main designer on the project. 

How did you come to work with studio~humm?

I actually didn’t hire them; I joined my company early on in the project, so I can’t speak to that. I came in to manage the web redesign and some of the copy and communications work.

How much have you invested with them?

I’d say roughly $30,000–$35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with studio~humm in March 2020. The project formally closed in July, but we’re still working with them to implement little fixes and tweaks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were really happy with the quality of service. They were fast, responsive and receptive to feedback, and forward-thinking on design. They knew when to challenge us on decisions that possibly affect the integrity of the work. I appreciated that as the project's lead; I like working with agencies that know when to really protect the integrity of their work, but also are really receptive to feedback. 

How did studio~humm perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a really great, transparent product timeline document that they created and updated each week on Google Docs. We got a weekly update on progress and where we were from Lars, who managed the project. In general, I was really happy with the project management. 

We communicated through Slack, email for larger updates, Google Docs, and Google Meet for conferencing. They used the design mockup tool Red Pen.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think that the team is really sharp and agile. Because they’re a smaller team, they work really quickly. They are very communicative and clear. They could easily distill what needed to be communicated and do it quickly, and I really appreciated that about working with them. 
 Additionally, their design work was top-notch and really elevated our brand.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It became a little bit challenging when COVID-19 hit and we had to do some of the creative work remotely, but that wasn’t something that was under their control. Honestly, I don’t have a ton of major complaints; we had little things here and there that were just miscommunications. Overall, we were really happy with the project.

Any advice for potential customers?

Definitely do it. They are really quick on their feet and forward-thinking, and they’ll push your brand to the next level. That sounds a little bit cliché, but I really think that it’s worth it to work with a really smart, small agency that just gets it. studio~humm just got it. It was really good working with them. 

I've worked with larger agencies, and I’ve found that there are often too many cooks in the kitchen. With humm, they were always aligned. We always knew exactly what we were going to get from them, and it was really easy to communicate and collaborate. We’re really happy with the outcome.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the editor-in-chief of a magazine. We act as a platform for emerging writers and artists, working in advertising, sponsorships, and a number of ancillary industries to promote their work, not only in print but other media.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with studio~humm?

We hired them to design our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

studio~humm designed a Kirby website from scratch.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three of their team members. studio~humm contracted someone who isn’t officially part of their team, but they worked closely.

How did you come to work with studio~humm?

Someone brought them to my attention, and we went through a number of phone calls with them. Before we made anything official, we outlined what we needed and wanted, and how that would look long-term.

How much have you invested with them?

Pre-vat (valued-added tax), it was €18,000–€19,000 (approximately $21,300–$22,500 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work together began in early-February. They have completed the project, but it remains an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work was excellent; I thought it was really fantastic.

How did studio~humm perform from a project management standpoint?

We set up a timeline, and then all of the stages happened fluidly. The coders worked alongside design to iterate a final product. There was never a single late deadline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very affable guys. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Any advice for potential customers?

Do it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communications manager for Marketing Pioneers GmbH, a creative agency for retail transformation. Our services include retail design, brand activation and communication, branded spaces, and anything else related to retail. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with studio~humm?

Our corporate identity, website, and, and content strategy all needed makeovers. After four years in business, we felt the copy, branding, and user experience we were offering weren’t in line with the direction our company had grown in.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at studio~humm supported us throughout the entire process. We had an initial workshop to introduce our company and discuss our goals and expectations. Then, they developed mock-ups and a wireframe for us, and we moved forward with the project. 

Together, we came up with a copywriting guide to determine the direction of our content. After landing on a brand identity, studio~humm designed business cards and envelopes, our email signature, and presentation templates. They also helped us implement aesthetic consistency throughout our social media platforms.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from studio~humm. There was a project manager, who is the lead designer, a web developer, and a content strategist.

How did you come to work with studio~humm?

I know one of their team members personally, and was confident studio~humm would be able to accomplish all of our goals.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €27,000 (approximately $29,000 USD) on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2019, and we launched in January 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the website very recently, so we don’t have any specific metrics that speak to its quality. However, we’ve received very positive feedback both internally and externally on the upgrade, and we’re very pleased with all of the design outcomes.

The team was very flexible and insightful. They were able to come up to speed quickly on our industry, which they hadn’t previously had experience with. 

The designers have a dedicated thought process that informs every decision they make and how it relates to our company.

How did studio~humm perform from a project management standpoint?

We had regular phone and video calls, as well as meetings whenever necessary. We also communicated over email, Google Docs, Slack, and Whereby. 

The team was always available to answer questions or concerns. Everything was delivered on time, and they were patient with us when we had delays on our side. Overall, it was a very smooth process. 

Every member of the team had knowledge of what the others were working on, so they could individually provide support even if the dedicated point person wasn’t available, which was a really impressive aspect of their work. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

From the beginning, it was clear studio~humm understood our organization and goals. The team is friendly, helpful, and supportive, and they bring a valuable level of professionalism. 

Going into the project, I never expected that every decision studio~humm made would be the product of such a degree of thoughtfulness.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This was a mistake I made on my end, but I think the project could’ve been improved with more streamlined communication. We had too many channels, and it became confusing towards the end of the engagement. Apart from that, I’m really happy with our relationship with studio~humm.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t hide anything. Be honest about your organization’s values, strengths, weaknesses, and goals, so they can really understand you and provide the best solutions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a management consultant for a small payment consulting firm in Berlin.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with?

Our website was outdated and we were looking to rebrand our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

studio-humm redesigned our website, templates, and presentation assets, such as business cards. They produced a brand guide based on the new style they created. From there, they helped us form and launch a social media strategy. We also implemented several electronic tools to manage the posts every month.

Outside of the main design and branding work, they also supported our other efforts to improve our presence. This included guiding us toward what equipment to purchase for our podcast efforts, editing and publishing the first few episodes, etc. They also took professional photographs of our staff to include on the website as part of the rebranding.

What is the team composition?

Four teammates were working on our project from studio-humm, but I primarily worked with two of them on a regular basis. Within their team, they provided a designer, a content manager, and a few teammates who worked on our coding and backend needs.

How did you come to work with studio-humm?

I searched for the best web designers in Berlin and chose them based on my research.

How much have you invested with them?

Overall, we spent roughly €20,000 (approximately $22,300 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2018–March 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any metrics yet because we only recently launched the new brand, but we expect to see positive results soon. Internally, we’re all thrilled with the work studio-humm did for us and the engagement was a success.

How did studio-humm perform from a project management standpoint?

They were an incredibly professional team to work with. We used Slack to communicate and they were responsive throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understood the importance of a personal touch within a brand and were invested in our success. Flexible in their approach, they showed a genuine interest in meeting our goals. Their team was also warm whenever we interacted, and we felt comfortable trusting them. They ensured my company had a better image than we did before starting the engagement.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were great—there’s nothing to be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just because they’re a small team doesn’t mean they don’t have the ability to successfully complete your project. Trust that they can handle a larger workload.