Traina

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Director of Marketing of Legion Athletics

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Legion sells high-quality sports nutrition supplements that are backed by science.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Traina to accomplish?

• To design the packaging and branding for a protein cereal product

SOLUTION

How did you find Traina?

Referral

Why did you select Traina over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Traina were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The primary goal of this project was to design a cereal box for a high protein cereal that looks premium and contemporary and is in line with Legion’s branding, that appeals to both sexes and is unique/stands out in the cereal and protein cereal categories respectively. The key deliverables were three, print-ready designs for the three different flavors of protein cereal that we were releasing (fruity crunch, cocoa crunch, and cinnamon crunch).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Several design concepts for the protein cereal that were in line with our overall company branding, yet unique and distinct within the protein cereal category. We trust Traina to put together good first draft design concepts that we can then collaborate with them on as a team to get to a final product that we're happy with.

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

Yes, they delivered the items on time, and they worked quickly to get us the items given the tight deadline we were under to get the designs finalized. They were responsive to our feedback and requests and were quick to turnaround all feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with Traina?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their designers are some of the best we've worked with. They have high attention to detail, know what good design looks like, and we can always count on Traina to deliver high-quality assets and designs from the get go. We're very picky and have high standards when it comes to design, and Traina is one of the only companies we've worked with that consistently meets our high standards and expectations.

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

Honestly, no. Traina did an excellent job with this project. They were professional, quick to get things done, and we were extremely happy with the final product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of marketing for the parent company of Camp Counselors and Acres.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina?
We hired Traina for their branding and website design services. We wanted trusted professionals to guide our decision-making process, so we went to them. On top of that, we wanted to create an absolutely new brand that was the best it could be. Our goal included generating more revenue for our business. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
Traina provided us with many services, including brand architecture. They looked into our current organization and made suggestions for the future. The team facilitated a series of workshops around our messaging framework, positioning, tone of voice, and style guides. We studied where we stood in the competitive landscape. They also did website and visual identity designs and handled typography, fonts, and color palettes.
Moreover, Traina created website outline. They created mock-ups, merging creative designs alongside the website layout. The team showed us examples, and we picked our favorites out of their selections. We then refined our choice until we landed on the final version. From there, they built the website. The key technologies they used included Figma and WordPress.
For features and functionality, we wanted the website to be mobile-friendly, clean, and modern. It had animations; as users moved around the website, things would appear and animate. This added extra style and context to the website. At the same time, we required the website to be clean, functional, and not overly complicated. 
What is the team composition?
We interacted with 12–15 teammates from Traina. They did multiple stages of the project with us, so there were various developers and teammates for different sections. Jes (Account Director) was with us throughout the entire project. We also worked with Mark D. (Creative Director), Cory (Web Developer), and Mark G. (Chief Creative Officer).
How did you come to work with Traina?
We found Traina through a third-party consultant, who helped us review and vet various creative agencies. He’s seen some of Traina’s work in previous years, so he recommended we speak to them. After going through calls and meetings with the team, we felt they were the right creative agency for us.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent around $10,000–$49,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project lasted from July–October 2023. We did a soft launch and went live with the website recently, but our team is working on launching it properly by 2024. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
After launching, we saw our website traffic steadily grow. Other early signs were moving in the right direction.
How did Traina perform from a project management standpoint?
Traina delivered the project on budget and time while communicating well with us. Jes served as the playmaker between various project elements. She ensured that we understood where we were in the creative process and what our next calls were. The rest of the Traina team did well, too.
To communicate, we used Slack for our daily communication and Figma for reviews and comments. Google Workspace and Zoom were among the other tools we used.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They humanized their brand and people.  We didn’t feel like we were talking to a corporate team, and our personal relationships grew over the last year. They truly got to know us, and we got to know them. Our partnership flourished because of this. We didn’t feel like we were having only transactional conversations.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there weren’t any. I was happy with their work.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Go through their early deep-dive phases. Traina truly wants to understand your brand. They won’t just come in and tell you what needs to be done. They’re going to sit down and do research with you to figure out a solution. As a result, the onboarding and deep-dive phases are important — it was one of the best things we chose to do with them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior product marketing manager at an entity of a medical device and digital health solutions company. We create extended reality (XR) premium accessories that enrich use time and enhance the overall wearability and comfort of XR devices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina?

We had an upcoming product launch, so we hired Traina to help us create tutorial videos for our accessory products to educate our customers on how to properly fit and assemble these accessories onto a head-mounted display or a VR headset.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Traina helped us film and produce tutorial videos for our accessory products. The first step was understanding the goals of the project and what we were trying to accomplish; our goal was to create two separate tutorial videos.

During this process, Traina built storyboards with high-level concepts of what these videos would entail. Then, we built out those storyboards over a couple of weeks, adding images to define how the video frames would look. We also worked on a script to define what the voice-over actor would say during the videos to describe the actions of the person in the video.

Once we refined the storyboards and the script, we had a few alignment meetings internally with a partner we were also working with. Then, Traina shot the videos in a studio. For this part of the project, their team also helped us hire a model from a talent agency, sending us various options for us to choose from.

In addition to filming the videos, Traina added some photography services to the scope of work as a last-minute request so that we could also get photos of our products. After the video and photo shooting, they sent the videos for us to review, and we had a few rounds of iteration and feedback.

Traina also handled the postproduction process, which included video editing and audio mixing. Moreover, they incorporated some brand and style elements into the final videos. On this project, Traina also acted as a thought partner for us, helping us think through some of the script, voice-over, and frame challenges of our video tutorials.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three main people from Traina: a project manager, the owner, and a designer who helped us with the storyboarding. Additionally, we worked with two people on set.

How did you come to work with Traina?

Traina was a partner of our core company, so they came highly recommended. Given that they already had a contract in place with our core company, and we were on a tight timeline, it made sense to us to leverage their capabilities for this project as well. Moreover, we loved their proposal because it was very detailed.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $43,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our internal team and our partner were satisfied with the videos and photos produced by Traina, and the model they hired for the video shoot was great. Additionally, their team was very helpful throughout the entire process, demonstrating a lot of experience in this space. This was our first time creating tutorial videos for a different audience than we normally address, so it was great having Traina’s input and direction.

How did Traina perform from a project management standpoint?

Traina was a fantastic partner on this project; they knew we were on a tight timeline, so they prioritized it and met the deadline we were aiming towards. Our project manager always kept track of the timeline, following up on us if necessary whenever we needed to reassess the timeline or provide them with missing items. Whenever we were at risk of missing a certain deadline, they were the first ones to notice it and follow up on us to get what they needed from us, which was really helpful.

Moreover, Traina’s professionalism was outstanding. There were a lot of stakeholders involved in the process, and Traina did a fantastic job collaborating with all of them. We also had weekly calls with them, during which they provided us with materials. Having Traina on those weekly calls was awesome; they usually came over-prepared and sent out pre-reads before these calls so that the team knew what to expect.

Traina was also always very clear with the deliverables and objectives of each meeting. Despite the large amount of work needed for the storyboarding and scriptwriting, I never felt like we wouldn’t accomplish what we had planned. During the process, I was very confident that the videos would ultimately be exactly what we had envisioned.

The video shoot day went fantastic, and the process was seamless. It only took them 6–7 hours to get everything done. Additionally, Traina was very responsive and flexible throughout the entire project. For example, they added photography services to the scope last minute and adjusted the process accordingly.

Besides the video shooting day, our collaboration was mainly virtual. As for collaboration tools, we used Google Docs to share documents and Dropbox to share the videos.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Traina has really great and genuine people on their team; that’s their strength. I enjoyed getting to know them as individuals, which made making business easier and allowed us to have a positive experience overall. I also enjoyed having them as a thought partner because they gave us great recommendations based on their experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any areas of improvement to pinpoint; the project was very positive for us overall.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Leverage them as a thought partner; Traina is not only a project executioner. They have a lot of experience, so they’re the perfect partner to provide expertise and help you make informed decisions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a pediatrician and am the medical director and executive director for the University of California Health Milk Bank. It’s a nonprofit milk bank and our goal is to collect milk donations from breastfeeding mothers, process it, and sell it to neonatal intensive care units to feed fragile premature babies and improve their health outcomes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina Design?

We wanted a really good branding campaign because we wanted to move away from traditional media, such as flyers, and move towards digital media and social media. We wanted to reach out to milk donors and really engage them. Having the right look, branding, and messaging was very important to us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided us with branding tools to help create a consistent brand that was aligned with the UC Health Brand. In addition to the distinct design they went through a brand guide and unique taglines.

They were very organized and they presented us with a template for the information they needed from us. We then asked our key stakeholders to provide that information.

After the first iteration, we gave them our feedback. Then they delivered the final product. They presented us with the guidelines and we used the wireframes they gave us in our customer portal.

In the middle of this project, we actually changed the name to a more powerful name under the University of California Health system. At that point, we had just finished the branding campaign, so Traina Design had to make adjustments for that.

What is the team composition?

In one of the calls, we had 5–6 people. At one point, they brought in a photographer to find images for us and modify them. They had a good team. David (President) sat in on a few calls too. He was quiet, but he was helpful and we knew he cared.

How did you come to work with Traina Design?

It was a referral through UC Health. They worked with Traina Design on another project and was pleased with the results.

How much have you invested with them?

It was $27,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2020 and wrapped up in June.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everybody was really pleased with the name logo. They developed a little bottle cap image that we could use as a watermark. We’ve made it into pins and stickers. It’s absolutely beautiful. It gives our brand a luxury feel. The feedback we’ve received from partners and colleagues has been outstanding. I was skeptical that we would find the taglines we liked in one or two iterations, but it was efficient and went pretty smoothly.

The photographs, the fonts, the layouts for the business cards and flyers have been really well-received. Even when we visited the accreditor, they said it was beautiful.

How did Traina Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They presented a timeline, vetted the ideas, and narrowed down the timeline. They were very helpful and they came up with taglines that our philanthropic donor really loved.

This was at the beginning of the pandemic, and we were trying to collaborate over Zoom, as we all were learning how to use Zoom. They were organized and extremely prompt. They were also very positive with their feedback.

There were several stakeholders; we have a philanthropic donor, and I’m a doctor and I don’t know much about marketing. Traina Design really helped us organize and bring this project together.

Our statement of work was very clear and we stuck to that. When things came up outside of the scope, they firmly and respectfully outlined what we were doing. When our CMS wasn’t ready, they held off working on that site until everything was finished. They were then able to wrap everything up in about 6–8 weeks. j

What did you find most impressive about them?

What impressed me most was their engagement. On the Zoom calls, everyone seemed involved and excited about the project. That seemed really valuable for a startup nonprofit like ours. They had a really good, optimistic, and collaborative outlook that benefited our project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really had no issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be fully engaged, especially in the early sessions. Presenting your mission and your values will really help Traina Design will help them come up with a better product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I do branding and operations work at a family-owned coffee shop.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina Design?

When we went to them, we were coming up on 10 years. We were a successful business but we hadn’t successfully built a brand. The branding that we had didn’t put out the message we wanted. So, we hired Traina Design to create a brand that reflected who we are.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We shared some inspiration with them, and Traina Design showed us four different routes that we could take, and we went from there. The team then helped to update our identity. 

They designed a logo, a tagline, brand packaging, and a menu board. Additionally, they provided naming services and created swag for us.

What is the team composition?

We met with 4–5 different designers, but Joe (Associate Creative Director) was the one who worked on our designs. We also worked with Kat (Senior Account Manager).

How did you come to work with Traina Design?

I found them online, and I liked what they had done. David (President) and Joe came by, and we felt like they understood what we wanted to do.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a little bit over $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2019–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our numbers have gone up. In general, we’ve seen people with our bags and t-shirts. Additionally, people often comment on how much they love our branding. The community is very excited about it. 

How did Traina Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Kat managed the project, and she was very hands-on and easy to reach. We could tell that she was close to project because she knew what was going on and she kept everyone on schedule. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Traina Design captured what we were trying to do better than we could’ve imagined. They were able to capture the direction we wanted to go with the designs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. There was a little bit of back and forth with the designer, which is very common in these types of projects, but overall we were very pleased. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared and do your homework before the engagement. Additionally, make sure you have a single vision. When we came in, we hadn’t done this kind of work before, so we didn’t have cohesive ideas.

What I learned is that with graphic designers, you can’t give them every idea; you have to throw out a single idea and let them get creative. They helped us through the process and helped us figure out who we were and who we wanted to be.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the owners of Mellogold, which is a medical cannabis company based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mellogold’s a secondary brand of another company called Alterra.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina Design?

We needed to create separate brand identities. We wanted them to look different to reach two different demographics.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Traina Design created separate aesthetics for our two brands. We had a loose idea of what we wanted, so their team helped us with the strategy and clarified our vision. They came in at the ground level and built our brands' identities.

They helped us work out the differences between the two brands. Alterra has a high-end medical feel whereas Mellogold has more of a recreational feel. They developed the brand identities and figured out what kind of verbiage we wanted to use for copy. Their team did all of the design work, which involved logos and packaging.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with two people.

How did you come to work with Traina Design?

We found Traina online and compared them to other agencies. They were the most responsive and had the best communication. Their team also worked with industries that were similar to ours. We loved their designs. They had experience creating the types of designs that we wanted to use.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between March–November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The state of branding in the Oklahoma cannabis market’s terrible. Traina helped us to come out swinging early. Their team gave us a professional look and feel to our brand. We tripled the number of sales we expected. Last month was our first month of sales and we did about $450,000 in revenue.

How did Traina Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Traina performed well. It would’ve been difficult for us to go through the whole process ourselves, especially since we didn’t know what we wanted. It was a big deal to have a mentor that guided us through the process. Their team stayed on top of their tasks, so we didn’t need to push them. When it was clear that we didn’t know what we wanted, they helped us through that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Traina Design knocked it out of the park the whole time. They were good communicators. They helped us understand where we were and what they were doing throughout the whole project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I don’t have constructive feedback.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t skip the brand identity portion. It can feel tedious at times, but I’m glad we went through that process with Traina. Pay attention to that and don’t gloss over the details that their team asks for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of a startup that researches the genetics of cannabis cultivation. We’re based out of Oklahoma and officially started up in August 2019.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina Design?

We were looking for a company that had experience in various industries that are related to ours, and the goal was to build a comprehensive branding and design profile from start to finish. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project started off with some phone calls to understand our business, our market, our competitors, our position within our market, and our target audience. Traina also tried to understand our vision for our company in the short term and the long term, including some of our strategy and the direction we wanted to move.

We spent several months going back and forth discussing our value propositions and the language that we wanted to use with our customers. Once we developed that, we started on the second phase which was launching the actual design process. During this phase, we had multiple calls with Traina to come up with a look and feel that was tailored to our target audience. 

From there, the team started presenting concepts, and we went through three or four different rounds of in-depth presentations for each. We eventually chose a base primary design, which allowed us to begin working on packaging designs and other creative collateral needs, like sales sheets and similar items.

What is the team composition?

I had a primary point of contact that I coordinated with from start to finish, and we are still in communication. There was a lead designer who was also present on calls, and a branding specialist who would join as needed.

How did you come to work with Traina Design?

I believe that I found Traina on Clutch. I searched for design firms in a specific set of cities that would have firms on the forefront of design. I made a list of the top ten companies that I wanted to reach out and eventually went into serious dialogue with 3–4 of those firms. Traina was the company that stood out when we started receiving proposals. They stood out very clearly; it was an easy choice. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our initial phase contract was around $22,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the conversation with Traina in March, and the first phase concluded in November. We’ll be working with them in the future as well. We’re currently planning to launch another full package of creative collateral for a separate brand. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In meetings with suppliers and other businesses, it’s clear that our branding stands out from our competitors in the field. It’s a huge contrast. We have a professional and sleek image from a design and branding standpoint, which is exactly what we were going for. 

We’re also seeking to create credibility. The branding has helped with that tremendously; when people see our branding, they immediately know that we’re trustworthy. Traina’s work is going to be one of our most significant strategic advantages moving forward.

How did Traina Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated almost daily, and they were very responsive. We probably had calls at least once a week, but that eventually shifted into primarily email communication. The frequency of each varied depending on where we were in the process. We also used a proprietary messaging platform of theirs as a sort of workbook to communicate.

Overall, the project management was excellent. Traina was flexible and incredibly in tune with our needs. For example, our scope changed pretty drastically due to a shift in the direction that we wanted to take, and Traina worked to make that happen. The process did become longer, but they were always very reasonable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only are they an incredible design company, which is the reason why I hired them, they’re also very professional and attentive. The level of support that they provided was refreshing. In other words, their strongest attribute is the fact that they are easy to work with. It was an extensive process, but Traina was phenomenal from the beginning, and I was thoroughly impressed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm having a hard time trying to think of something they should change. Compared to other firms, Traina does everything so well. I can’t think of a single thing that I’m not happy with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen and follow along with their process. Their approach is extensive, and it’s important to trust that they will follow through. Don’t push back too much; if you let them work in their own way, the results will be outstanding. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of MotoSonora Brewing Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina Design?

We needed some initial branding assets and help building a company identity. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial meeting with Traina Design and discussed our concept for the brand. They took that information and came up with a bunch of ideas. We continued to have subsequent meetings, during which Traina Design presented different options in PDF format on a big projector at their office. My team shared what we liked or disliked or thought was appropriate or inappropriate. They refined their ideas based on our feedback.

Traina Design ultimately created our brand identity. They delivered several logos and fonts that we liked and did packaging, tap handle, and can designs. We still haven’t received the can designs, but that’s not through any fault of theirs; we just aren’t ready to do cans yet. 

What is the team composition?

We typically work with 2–3 people, including David (President, Traina Design), Kristi (Director of Account Services, Traina Design), and someone from a rotating cast of graphic designers. 

How did you come to work with Traina Design?

We hired a guy who used to work for another brewery’s marketing department to come up with some logos. When he was unable to continue the work, he told us that Traina Design wanted to take on our project. Traina Design had just redone a well-known brewing company’s website, so clearly their work was up to our standard.

How much have you invested with them?

My company only spent $5,000. This was a serious discount on what they’d normally charge because this was an opportunity for them to craft a brand that didn’t exist yet. I know they charged substantially more to design the bigger brewing company’s website, but they already had an existing brand to work around. I think getting their hand in something that was just getting off the ground was appealing to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from August 2018–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everybody seems to like the logo design and script that Traina Design came out with; their work has struck a chord with people in a big way. Feedback is often unsolicited, so it seems like people really like their work. 

How did Traina Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Traina Design was excellent. They had great communication and hit their deadlines. They were clear in everything that they did. We communicated at least once a week, either via phone or email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m very satisfied with the designs, which is obviously what I really wanted. I wouldn’t accept anything less than something that I really liked. From a project management standpoint, they were very good at coordinating all of the parties involved. Their ability to effectively communicate where they were and what was happening impressed us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any criticism. They were very good. We both had our own ideas, and anytime those diverged, it was pretty easy for me to get them back to where I wanted to be.   

Any advice for potential customers?

Just check your email and answer your calls. They were complete professionals across the board. There was no trick to manipulating them to get what we wanted.

As the client, you need to be available to them and participate in the creative process. If you want the product to come out exactly as you want it, you’re going to have to be involved. I’m sure they’d still do a good job if you let them do everything, but it might not be what you had in mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president and owner of Texture, Inc. We are a cabinetry company based in San Diego, California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina Design?

We wanted to have a focus on design in developing our new brand, so we were looking for a company to help with our brand identity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Traina Design built our brand identity and style, including our logo, tagline, and website. Our teams first met in person to talk through what we were trying to achieve and what our vision for the company was. They asked us some questions about our style preferences and for examples of branding we liked. Traina Design asked the right questions to shape the right language for our brand.

We went through a few different iterations of proposals for the logo. Once we settled on a logo design, Traina Design expanded upon that and created different graphic applications that included the new logo. They gave us sample signage, taglines, and van graphics, to choose from. Their team also developed a static website. Traina Design was able to apply the brand identity they created to all facets of our company.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Dave (President, Traina Design). He was heavily involved in the project and had 2–3 members of his team that came in and out of the conversation at different times.

How did you come to work with Traina Design?

I was referred to Traina Design by a friend. I interviewed Dave over the phone to talk through what we wanted to accomplish. He sent me some work that they had done, which was really the decision-maker for me. We wanted to achieve a certain style and I felt like they were the right partner for that. It was less about a competitive pricing situation and more about someone we felt could meet the style we were looking for. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested about $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Traina Design ran from March–December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s been a slower takeoff than we expected, due to another business I own absorbing most of my time. However, we’ve started to get some traction and people are really intrigued by our branding. We invested in the style and logo upfront, which isn’t the approach most people take. In our industry where design is emphasized, it’s been well received by potential trade partners.

How did Traina Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Traina Design does a great job of managing projects. We communicated with them every couple of days and most things were handled internally. Everything went really smoothly. Our teams set timelines and they set expectations about how long things would take. They were able to achieve all of those timelines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their creativity and flexibility towards my input, they made me part of their team. Not only did they show leadership on the design side, but they also talked through their decisions with me and created the style that I wanted to achieve. They absorbed my vision for the brand. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I haven’t engaged with companies on a creative level like this very much but I felt like it was a successful partnership. I didn’t have clear expectations going in besides knowing what we wanted to achieve. I was really impressed with what they delivered. Two years later, it still feels like a highly successful project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Going into a creative project, you need to be able to give a sense of direction. What helped our process have a really solid start is that I was able to communicate my vision with Traina Design, and they could then take my input and convert that into a successful outcome.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a product manager for a medical device company. Our branch manages a portfolio of products for the United States and Canada, and we have international branches that serve other regions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Traina Design?

We started a pilot program to instruct users and patients on product setup. We wanted interesting new ways to outline the usage instructions that was more in keeping with other products on the market. We have a large marketing team, but wanted someone with more experience and a fresh perspective.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a face to face meeting and talked about our goals and what we hoped to solve. We gave them the specific product, and they tested the user experience before delivering creative ways to present the instructions.

We went over several iterations of the piece we built internally, and they gave us a few options to choose from. They created a video segment with the help of a secondary recording studio and videographer. They booked all the necessary resources, and we did the voiceover portion one day and the video shoot the second day. It was a fun experience, and was exactly what we needed for this piece.

What is the team composition?

We had two primary points of contact for the duration of the project, but we met with other individuals for the voiceover and video pieces.

How did you come to work with Traina Design?

Our internal marketing team works with several outside agencies and recommended Traina as a good fit for this project. We met with them and decided they were a perfect match for our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $35,000 for this project. We’ve worked on several other projects, so I don’t have the exact numbers for our total investment.

What is the status of this engagement?

This particular project ran from February–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They provided exactly what we were looking for, and they sent us all the source files along with the final product. They knew we would continue to pilot and test the product, and we have the option to make revisions ourselves. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the video received good feedback. People really like the assets they provided, and while we haven’t launched this project yet, everyone is very happy with the process. I have no reservations about bringing them back for round two of development.

How did Traina Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very clear with expectations, and we always knew how long things would take. They were great communicators, and we met or spoke as often as we needed. We spoke over the phone or email, and they didn’t hesitate to reach out and ask questions or get our feedback. I always felt up-to-date.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their positive attitude, creative thinking, and their great communication are my three favorite things about them. They connected with us, were very welcoming, and the caliber of assets they found was impressive.

They were fantastic to work with, both responsive and professional. They were always willing to meet and go over details, and they truly understood what we were trying to accomplish. In the end, we went a little over time and over budget, but are looking forward to working with them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m extremely happy with their performance and don’t have any negative feedback or criticism for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly outline your expectations. They’re very easy to work with.