Chase Design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner and Founder of Ruffled Apron Foods

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ruffled Apron Foods creates all-natural, gluten-free pies and pie crusts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Chase Design to accomplish?

• Design and create a new website
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Functional

SOLUTION

How did you find Chase Design?

Online Search

Why did you select Chase Design over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Chase Design were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Chase Design was hired to build a new website for Ruffled Apron Foods with a focus on creating a visually appealing, brand-aligned, and functional online presence. The scope of work included:

1) Aesthetic Design: Chase Design crafted a visually striking website that represented Ruffled Apron Foods' brand identity, using appropriate colors, fonts, and imagery to create an appealing look that resonates with my target audience.
2) Brand Integration: The design and layout were tailored to reflect Ruffled Apron Foods' brand, ensuring consistency across all visual elements to reinforce the company's identity.
3) User-Friendly Functionality: In addition to the aesthetic elements, the website was built to be easy to navigate and use, ensuring that our visitors could find information quickly and seamlessly.
4) Responsive and Adaptive: The website was designed to function well across different devices and screen sizes, ensuring a smooth user experience on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
5) Technical Development: Chase Design handled the backend coding and integration, ensuring that the website was not only visually appealing but also technically sound and functional; including interactive elements like our Instagram plug-in.

Overall, the scope focused on creating a balance between design, branding, and functionality, ensuring the website both looks great and serves its purpose effectively.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcomes from the scope of work performed by Chase Design for the Ruffled Apron Foods website project could include:

1) Increased Website Traffic

2) Improved User Engagement

3) Mobile Responsiveness and Performance

4) Customer Satisfaction

5) Technical Performance

These measurable outcomes provide a clear picture of the website's effectiveness in terms of design, functionality, and its impact on the overall business goals for Ruffled Apron Foods.

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

Chase Design project management was exceptional throughout the process, consistently delivering on time or ahead of schedule. They responded to every need swiftly and efficiently, demonstrating a proactive approach to problem-solving. Whenever challenges arose, they provided clear answers or effective solutions, ensuring our project stayed on track and met all expectations. Chris and his team's communication and attention to detail ensured a smooth workflow and a very successful outcome.

What was your primary form of communication with Chase Design?

Email or Messaging App

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

I was most impressed by Chase Designs' organization, creativity, and timeliness. Their well-structured approach ensured that every aspect of the project was meticulously planned and executed. Their creativity shone through in the design, perfectly capturing the essence of our brand. Additionally, their ability to deliver consistently on time or sometimes ahead of schedule was a testament to their efficiency and commitment to excellence.

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

There is nothing I would change about the experience working with Chase Design.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the executive officer for a government agency in Santa Cruz. We are a component of the state of California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chase Design?

We wanted to update our website because California laws are changing to require more transparency. We wanted to ensure our website had the necessary resources for our constituents in cities and special districts. We engaged Chase Design to revamp our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I shared my vision with Chase Design, and they created a plan to carry out the design. They analyzed our website’s backend, which is built on WordPress. They continued to develop the site using WordPress and updated the functionality to make it more user-friendly. They made it easier for our staff to update the website moving forward. 

They redesigned the website to provide easy access to our public talks, reports, meeting documents, minutes, and agendas. We conduct reports for our 80 agencies under our purview every five years. Chase Design took those reports and created a table that allows users to search for information more quickly and easily. 

They helped us get a new website host, which was a cost-saving solution. Chase Design created a detailed manual outlining how to maintain and update the site, and our team will maintain the website moving forward.

What is the team composition?

Chris (President) was my primary point of contact and development partner.

How did you come to work with Chase Design?

Chase Design had provided development services to one of our partners in Southern California, and we heard about the project's success through word of mouth. I reached out to Chris, and we moved forward with a contract.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $10,000 in the partnership.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Chase Design in March 2022, and they completed the project in June 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Chase Design redesigned our site to make it easier for our constituents to find the information they seek. They didn’t use a cookie cutter format; instead, they customized the site to showcase our work and the information we collect in a way that makes sense. The site is much more user-friendly, and we can update pages easily. 

How did Chase Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Chase Design was able to meet our demands ahead of schedule, and we launched the website early. They had a rapid turnaround time.

Their proof of concept was impressive; they understood how we wanted to present ourselves through the website. They created a very detailed scope of work and outlined exactly what they would do and what it would cost, and they did it perfectly. 

I liked that they checked in with me consistently to ensure they met expectations and hit milestones. By the time the website was ready to launch, I had seen the many iterations, so I was certain about what the site would look like and how it would function. They exceeded my expectations, and I’ve been sharing the positive experience with other government agencies in our area. 

Their communication was also a massive component of our success in navigating the project. Chase Design kept me in the loop and maintained open communication via phone and email, which I enjoyed. It was a very satisfying engagement overall. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was very impressed with how well they understood our organization. They asked many clarifying questions and worked hard to learn why we wanted to update the site and what we didn’t like about it. They presented us with ideas on improving the site and would always confirm before taking action. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any constructive feedback; it was a very successful partnership. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to take advantage of their willingness to understand your business and your goals. Be upfront about what you’re looking for out of the project; that way, they can cater deliverables to meet your needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Agape Pediatric Clinic, a pediatric therapy clinic.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chase Design?

It was time for us to change our logo. We were previously called Agape Therapy Services, so we changed our name to include the word “pediatric” in our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we had an hour-long phone meeting with Chase Design to go over my mission, vision, and values. We also talked about my clinic and our needs. Then, I sent them design examples of things that I liked, as well as colors that I liked, so that they could get a good sense of what we were looking for.

After that, Chase Design sent me various proposals for the new logo, and we discussed over the phone what I liked and didn’t like about their proposals. Thus, we went back and forth until we reached the logo we wanted.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Chris (CEO), although I believe he had other people from their staff working on the project.

How did you come to work with Chase Design?

Another pediatric therapy clinic owner who I know had used Chase Design for their branding, and I loved it. After looking at various other vendors, I call them. When I first communicated with them, we had a 15-minute call where they told me about their services, and I told them about our needs. We realized we were a good fit, so we decided to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–July 2022. However, they could have completed the project sooner, but there were some delays on my end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of my staff loved the new logo. Additionally, I really loved working with Chase Design. Now, I recommend them to all my clinical owner friends.

How did Chase Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Chase Design’s project management was wonderful. Our collaboration was very simple; they sent me designs to review, and we communicated over the phone to discuss.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Chase Design was very professional, and having the opportunity to deal directly with the CEO was great. He had previous experience designing logos and websites for other clinics in my field, which made him very knowledgeable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything was great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do it!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive officer of a state commission. We oversee jurisdictional boundary changes to cities and special districts throughout the Orange County area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chase Design?

Around two years ago, our board felt that we needed to rebrand the agency so the public and local agencies could better understand our mission and what we do. It was challenging because what we do is unique and isolated, so people often don’t know we exist. We had to change the look on our website, review our mission statement, and more.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chase Design is working on our brand identity, which has included our logo, letterhead, report covers, and more. They’ve also taken a look at our website and provided consulting on its new look. The team has used InDesign to do the logo and some report covers.

We initially spoke with them about our challenges at the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). They had researched our mission and projects before our meeting, so they asked additional questions. They ran with all of it and came up with some thoughts and ideas on what would be a good approach, which led us to rebrand the agency logo and work on some other things.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Chris (CEO).

How did you come to work with Chase Design?

My colleague shared the good work they’d done for San Diego LAFCO. So, we contacted Chris at Chase Design, and he provided us with additional work he had done. It was pretty impressive, and the company seemed to fit our size and what we were trying to accomplish.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent slightly less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2021, and Chase is continuing to work on other items.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have specific metrics. However, some board members have expressed positive feedback on the logo.

How did Chase Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. Chase Design has been so adaptable and gracious about adjusting the deliverables. We started just testing to see the quality of their work, so the scope grew because we were impressed with their response time and quality. They’ve done a great job, and their team is great to work with.

We communicate by email, phone, and Zoom meetings. Everything has gone well, and Chris has been very responsive to our team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a very creative team. Government is viewed as bureaucratic so it’s hard to communicate what we do in a way that’s appealing aesthetically and professionally. It became apparent early on that they could achieve that.

Moreover, we were looking to modernize our brand, and they had the experience and technology to make that happen. They didn’t need a lot of discussion and guidance compared to other firms we’ve worked with, and since time was limited, that’s something we’ve certainly appreciated.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important to have some general ideas of what you need them to create or rebrand for your agency before you meet with them.  Also, be open to utilizing their experience and creativity. Chase Design doesn’t need a lot of hand-holding, and they can take your ideas and run with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an Estimator and also handle our website, media, marketing, etc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chase Design?

Our website was designed by myself and I had taken as far as I could. I needed a company to come re-design, update, modernize and make it function and look professional again.

SOLUTION

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

I vetted and received other quotes from 3-5 companies. Chris responded promptly and was very good listener and understood my goal for the website and what needed to be done to take it to the next level. It was very clear that he was the one I was going to hire and he followed up appropriately without being overbearing.

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

After agreeing upon the cost for the scope of work. We spoke on the phone multiple times about plan of action, start and end date, amount of hours, etc needed to be done. We consulted via zoom with Chris and his team, lead designer to get an idea of what I was looking for and make clear we are not overhauling and building a brand new website. We are taking the bones and foundation and elevating it, and in doing so, I, myself worked very closely with his designer and provided necessary info and media for the new website.

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

His team was a designer and analytic director to help with traffic and friendly clicks for the website. His team was extremely organized and we constantly in touch with me along the way. Constantly on emails and sharing google docs with each other, and always open to ideas and never forcing their way onto your website. THeir suggestions were always appropriate I must say.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website just went live as of 1 week ago and have already received multiple comments from clients and vendors on the professionalism and clean look/layout to the site. Easy to navigate specifically.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

His team was extremely organized and we constantly in touch with me along the way. Constantly on emails and sharing google docs with each other, and always open to ideas and never forcing their way onto your website. THeir suggestions were always appropriate I must say.

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

We were extremely satisfied with their performance, communication, and work day-in and out. I couldn't be happier with the way our website turned out, everything I communicated and asked for was delivered and on time, with no mistakes, extra fees or headaches. Very pleasant and easy project, very very happy with my decision awarding them the job.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Ryan Video Productions. I produce brand-new strategic videos for small and large businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chase Design?

I had a client who wanted me to create a video for their business. However, they had a very fragmented brand identity that wasn’t very clear, so I needed someone to help them before I could go and make the video.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I started the project by introducing Chase Design to my client. My client's branding was very disorganized, so they’re working together with Chris (CEO) to make it more structured. He’s now helping them create a unified design that is strategic and clear. Their work is almost finished, and the client will soon be ready to move forward with the video project.

What is the team composition?

I only work with Chris. I don’t work too much with his other teammates.

How did you come to work with Chase Design?

I met him at a Chamber of Commerce mixer. I went to his website to see his work and asked him to give me a presentation. I was impressed by their qualifications, so I decided to move forward with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

My client is the one who’s directly paying him, so I don’t know.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Chris has been producing some great material. The feedback has just been positive. It wasn't until the client spoke with a brand strategy expert that she realized she had a blind spot — Chris gave them powerful insight into the importance of marketing and branding. The client is proud of the design, so we're getting close to moving forward with the video identity. I'm very impressed with how the client's identity was implemented into the graphics and how it carries through on their websites.  

How did Chase Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Chris is a very organized person. He's very good at simplifying and applying a strategic approach to designing brand identity.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their work is just great. The team has a stellar approach to building a brand identity that applies both online and offline. The design is clean, intelligent, and very well-done. More importantly, it's very strategic — both the words and the graphics are right. It makes my job easier because I’ll have a very clear template and messaging to go by when I create the video.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project has taken a long time because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that is entirely out of his control. The client became busy as well, so the project has been going on for a long time. It was just an uncontrollable cultural situation, so it wasn’t his fault. If the circumstances were different, I would’ve liked him to speed things up.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't treat him like a graphic designer, but see him as a design consultant. Be open to his ideas — he'll come up with solutions that go beyond just the logo. He’ll dig into something more strategic and show you what you're communicating with your brand identity. Let him deliver beyond the designs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at Natural Health Strategies. We offer a combination of natural health services including naturopathic consulting, RBTI Testing, Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis and more. I am the founder, owner, and lead naturopath at Natural Health Strategies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chase Design?

I hired Chase Design to redesign the home page of my website. I was having trouble effectively conveying the different service offerings at Natural Health

Strategies in a way that made sense to people who are new to natural health. I was also having trouble making the website look unique, professional, and display the personality of the business all at once.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted the homepage to flow better. I wanted the service and product offerings to be clear immediately. I wanted it to look personal , unique, and unlike any other website.

I was hoping that this would connect potential clients immediately to my business and effectively communicate what I offer.

SOLUTION

How did you select Chase Design?

I was not actively looking for a web designer. Up until recently I did all of my own web design. I knew I could improve upon my website but most web designers I had spoken with proposed very generic looking sites.

Chase Design reached out to me and told me about their experience and sent over a few example sites. I was impressed and decided to try working with them.

Describe the project in detail.

I had a few concept calls with Chase Design. I described what I was looking for in detail but also said that I was open to their ideas and feedback. They sent over a draft homepage. I reviewed it and sent over suggestions, changes, etc.

They were very responsive and very helpful. They sent over an updated design with my proposed suggestions. I loved it and it is the homepage that my website currently uses.

What was the team composition?

I worked with Chris (the owner), Joon (the creative web manager), and Kevin (the digital marketing specialist). The size of team stayed the same during the project. I was the only who they collaborated with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I just implemented the new home page last week. But clients of mine who have seen have complimented me on great it looks and how much more professional/yet personal my website now comes across to viewers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very effective. Chase Design is very responsive and very easy to schedule with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are SO easy to work with. The are incredibly responsive to emails, calls, etc. They provide creative ideas and deliver timely results. They actually listen to what I say and do it.

It sounds simple but similar vendors I've worked with have never been this easy to work with and usually delivered dissappointing work. Alternatively, working with Chase Design was a great experience.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not on my project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner and co-founder of The GreenHouse Group, a full-service real estate consulting group and mortgage planning firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chase Design?

We partner with Chase Design in order to keep our branding and media presence relevant in our competitive and changing market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chase Design provides a comprehensive marketing kit for our firm. From a branding perspective, the team has worked on our logo, color scheme, fonts, letterhead, business cards, and all other promotional material. 

While they focus mainly on design work, they’ve also been available to brainstorm and collaborate on further marketing ideas.

What is the team composition?

We work mainly with Chris (CEO & Creative Director, Chase Design), as well as with a project manager who assists with design.

How did you come to work with Chase Design?

Chase Design was referred to us. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in 2009, and we have no intention of ending our engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For the most part, we don’t track any metrics around the branding work specifically, although we’ve been exceptionally happy with the work they do for us.

We rank in the top 1% of real estate firms in our county, and Chase Design has played a big role in getting us there. 

How did Chase Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Chris is extremely collaborative and a branding and design expert. He has an invaluable ability to bring new ideas to the table and add insight to our strategy. He makes the project better by being involved in it. 

When we need to collaborate on a project, we have face-to-face meetings, but the team is also always available by phone and e-mail.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designers, especially Chris, aren’t just creative for the sake of being creative. They have the ability to come up with great design ideas while always keeping the end goal of our project in mind. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should come to Chase Design with a clear idea of what you want to accomplish and the budget that you’re prepared to accomplish it with. Then, feel comfortable letting them do the rest. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Life Redefined with Judi. I’m a health coach, focusing on working with families and children.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chase Design?

I hired Chase Design to help me create a logo. I had only launched my business recently, so I wanted something to help represent my company before people knew who I was.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began with a kickoff meeting in which they asked me several questions to nail down what I was looking for. We went back and forth a few times about the colors and design. They produced several versions of the final logo for me to use for business cards or web design in the future. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people from their team, including the owner.

How did you come to work with Chase Design?

I’ve known of them for a while, and they sponsored my children’s school. I’d heard great things about them and followed them on social media, so then I reached out for their support. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent under $1,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June–July 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have nothing but positive things to say about the work they did for me—I’m beyond happy with the logo. Their willingness to work with me while I was starting my business was great. I know that if I want to rebrand in the future, they’re there for that.

How did Chase Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They were awesome to work with. We primarily spoke through phone and email, but we did do in-person meetings. Whenever I wasn’t able to make it to the office, they were accommodating to phone calls. They were always on top of deadlines and checking in with me. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They truly understood what I was going through with starting my business and all of the expenses that come with that. Their team had a very full picture of what I needed. It was also great to see that they can work with bigger clients like hospitals as well as someone like me, who is just starting out. They really took a lot of pride in their work, it wasn’t just about making money.

Many times they asked me to talk with them for a few minutes to make sure we were on the same page, which I really appreciated. They knew when I wasn’t satisfied, and I was amazed by the end product. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I had a positive experience, so I don’t have any areas for improvement. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Definitely use this team. They’re willing to work with companies where they’re at, so you’re in good hands. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Nelson is a staffing and recruiting company that was founded in 1970. We’re in the top 1% of all privately held staffing companies in the United States in terms of revenue. Our team handles recruiting and staffing services for startups and Fortune 500 companies, serving any position from distribution to C-level.

I’m the VP of marketing. In my work, I handle marketing initiatives, activities, strategy, and implementation for Nelson and all of its brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chase Design?

They helped us with web design and UI/UX implementation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After our team provided the copy and content, they handled the UI/UX and design on the site. We relied on them for the selection of technologies: platforms, code languages, and a CMS. At this point, we have them on retainer for ongoing updates for three brand websites. We completed a project together under a year ago, and we have two projects coming up with them soon.

What is the team composition?

To date, I’ve been working with Chris (CEO, Chase Design) and Joon (Senior Web Designer, Chase Design) on all of our projects. There are members of my team that may work with others, but they’re my points of contact. 

How did you come to work with Chase Design?

I walked into the relationship because they had an established partnership with Nelson when I came on about 4 years ago. After interviewing them and understanding their capabilities, I didn’t see a need to go with a different vendor. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in November 2013, and our projects are ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the sites we worked on together was award-winning. They’ve worked with us to accomplish everything we needed in our web design. Whether its increasing downloads or making our forms more accessible, they’ve helped us achieve our own KPIs through their design work.   

How did Chase Design perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great communicators, holding us accountable to get things done. When we give them the green light, they’ve been honest and forthright. We’ve never experienced a scope creep, which is a breath of fresh air when dealing with this industry. Their updates are accurate, and they’re able to deliver. If deliverables and project plans aren’t followed, its always on our end. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re tried and true with their promises, delivering quality without any scope creeps. Our team is always impressed with their ability to produce quality work on budget at a very reasonable cost. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would’ve been helpful to have more proactive communication regard what technologies, upgrades, and UX best practices we should focus on in the future.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want and be able to articulate it so they can make it come to life. That’s how we work with them, and the process has been great.