I had the great opportunity to work with “Crash Test Dummy“, a driving school in Australia that offers lessons in MINI Cooper cars. As unique as this driving school is, I had to make sure I also created unique mascots which would catch people’s attention and reflect what this business is all about. David from Crash Test Dummy already gave me the idea that he wanted a crash test dummy for a mascot. After presenting him with a few initial sketches we ended up with two mascots instead; a girl and a boy crash test dummy with a bit of robotic style to it. I used geometrical shapes for the body parts to make them as minimalist as possible.
Aside from the Crash Test Dummy logo I was also given the task to design their business cards and banner for their website www.crashtestdummy.com.au.
David was also kind enough to write me a very detailed testimonial about the work I did and the process he went through while working with me. Here’s what he wrote:
“Recently I wanted to engage a graphic designer to help me spruce up my website. I looked around for days before my adult son recommended me to Michele. He had previously had some work done by her and I was impressed by the results.
I contacted Michele and received a reply in a number of hours. I outlined what I wanted to achieve in broad terms – a new website header, a company mascot and a new logo. Over the next couple of days as Michele worked on my requests, she kept me up to date constantly on her initial sketches, revisions to those sketches and then a final draft for my approval.
I must admit that being the first time I had engaged a graphic designer I probably hadn’t spent enough time considering what I wanted to achieve but Michele was always patient with me, even after changing directions mid-course a number of times (I even ended up getting two mascots designed).
Through my fog of vagueness Michele managed to bring together a final product which went beyond what I hoped to achieve. My exact words to her when she revealed the final draft, were “Wow! Wow! Wow!”
After my final payment Michele organised to have my files uploaded to DropBox so I could easily access them. This was another “wow” moment. As I went through the provided files, there were not only multiple instances for black, white and transparent backgrounds but multiple sizes for logos and mascots, different file formats and just about everything I needed to take what Michele had done and use it in any situation.
Finally I want to mention something about price. I had never been interested in shopping on price. That is why I spent days looking at different designers’ websites, bookmarking some and rejecting others based on whether I believed they could achieve what I wanted to do. My job was fairly small, but it was important to me and very quickly I ruled out a lot of very cheap designers when I didn’t like their work. There were several design companies which I liked but they tended to have brand name clients and no prices, which led me to believe they may be outside my budget.
When my son showed me the work Michele had achieved for him and the price which he paid, I was astounded. Similarly when I received my final account from Michele I believe it would be around one third of the price I would have been charged in Australia and I’m sure I would not have received the care and commitment and most importantly patience which Michele brought to the job.
I have no doubt that if you engage Michele and keep communicating she will achieve for you what she did for me; a wonderful job and just as importantly a very positive experience.
When I need some graphic design in the future and I already have a few ideas brewing, I will definitely engage Michele if she is still available and hasn’t been snapped up by a high priced agency. She certainly deserves to be! Thanks Michele. Thanks for the “wow” factor.”
– David Colston, www.crashtestdummy.com.au
You can view the Crash Test Dummy branding package in my portfolio here.
If you’re interested in hiring me for branding, character design or illustration work feel free to contact me through the contact form or through email at contact@sugaroverkill.com.
