What inspired the founding of Kief Studio?
Our goal is to help good people do good things. Without the technology and creativity, everything blends together mindlessly, which is boring. We breath fresh life into the projects we work on.
How does Kief Studio blend creativity and technology?
It's actually fun to look at technology implementation more like an art form. We see and map the whole picture before we start, then we fill in the missing pieces until the whole picture is completed. Sometimes the parts are code, sometimes it's video, sometimes it's audio, and sometimes its.. well, art.
What types of clients does Kief Studio typically work with?
We're familiar with heavily regulated industries due to years of working with consultants for UNICEF, manufacturers responsible for making and processing chemicals, and we're master certified in cannabis. Aside from that, we often work with content creators, live streamers, musicians, research teams, scientific labs, colleges, retail, e-commerce, and b2b companies.
Can you describe a standout project Kief Studio has completed?
Sure, a few come to mind - we built a cool automation system as part of an exit strategy for a major data company back in 2018 to assist with boosting sale value, we also worked with growers during the California Clean Green movement in order to figure out how to qualify companies using natural growing methods for cannabis. We also worked with Baron's Confections to get their story out in the public, which landed spots in PopSugar, CBS news, and a couple other media outlets netting a viral 2m+ views, and a fresh look at the cannabis plant's potential as a medicine for patients with brain trauma and seizure conditions.
How does Kief Studio approach a new client project?
Simple, we listen. Nobody knows your business better than you. For some projects we can kick off a typical process - build a website, build social media accounts, build a strategy and get to work, but it really depends on your story. Sometimes typical isn't the right approach. A good example of this is the efforts we kicked off for Baron's Confections - we didn't just build them a website and start posting on social media, instead, we focused on getting them involved with various organizations that assisted medical patients with seizure disorders and got them a video interview with their local business directory, which in turn, landed in the lap of people over at PopSugar. They saw the story, and the rest is history.
What services does Kief Studio offer for startups looking to establish their web presence?
All of the digital presence stuff. We make sure the site is solid, the messaging is clear, and the idea is shown to the right audience.
How does Kief Studio support enterprises in developing custom applications?
We can do bug checks, improve QA/QC, test builds, and fill in the gaps. Alternatively, we can lead the team to get the job done from a fresh angle, which often leads to innovations that weren't possible from a usual process.
In what ways does Kief Studio help businesses leverage data and AI for growth?
First things first, we provide a copy of the book we wrote 'The Crossroads of AI Integration', which is an enterprise resource overview of AI. With the book, businesses can really understand the right questions to ask, since the book covers everything from ethics to what goes into AI, and what comes out of it. Once there is a clear understanding of the what, why and how, we customize a solution based on various parameters, such as desired workflow, access levels, and department requirements. Using AI in a marketing department is wildly different from using AI in an accounting department. The concept is the same, simplify workflow and improve output, but the way it's implemented changes, then it all kicks into one dashboard so it can be monitored for effectiveness, and tweaked as needed.
What unique solutions does Kief Studio provide for the cannabis industry?
Being an approved partner of METRC gives us a unique value proposition - we can build customized tools and software, including full ERP solutions. Combine that incoming new data with AI through our approved business deployment access through Anthropic, and you've got yourself a monster set of capabilities. We're also master certified in cannabis, which means we know everything from growing to licensing. Our staff has worked as a budtender and a marketing director directly in a cannabis business, so they are well versed on all the nuance of the industry. We've been around the industry since 2018.
How does Kief Studio cater to the needs of creative professionals and content creators?
We've worked with YouTubers, Twitch streamers, Instagram influencers, Facebook streamers, musicians, gamers, podcasters, bloggers - you name it. We build OBS assets, animations, graphics, videos, moderation tools, discord bots, and we're well versed in community building. We can help out with basically everything from starting a channel, to growing and monetizing it.
What is Kief Studio's approach to design and artistic projects?
Fun. That's the trick. Keep it fun, and the art will flow. Sure, deadlines need to be met and organization is required, but when it's fun, it's easy to get into that creative space to get amazing results. We make sure the whole artistic process is focused around your vision and idea, then we make it happen.
Can you detail Kief Studio's capabilities in e-commerce platform development?
Sure, we do everything from WooCommerce to custom platforms on Python and Node.js. We started using Next for some cool platforms as well. We don't work on Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify - we need our wings to be free when we build, we don't put rubber bands around the creative wings to fit the mold required by Wix, Squarespace or Shopify.
How does Kief Studio integrate AI and chatbots into client solutions?
There's a few cool ways to go about putting AI or chatbots into a website. Our favorite so far is to build a chat interface and embed the website content in the LLM so the users can just ask questions about the info on the website and get quick answers. We don't recommend embedding any new technology to a production database for your whole website, so instead we make a separate database just for the AI to interact with. This opens up the possibilities quite a bit for adding in additional functions and tools without reducing the website's performance.
What is Kief Studio's philosophy on client partnership and collaboration?
Partnership is at the core of what we offer, good things for good people. We want to make sure you get what you want, but we'll guide you on best practices and implement your ideas in a way that is cohesive to producing the desired result. If your goal is ROI, we'll tailor your ideas into that goal, just like if the goal is to have something totally different and new, then we'll implement what is proven methods while spinning the creative flair whenever possible to make it a one of a kind project.
How does Kief Studio ensure compliance and security in its tech solutions?
We use SSL, Cloudflare, and we use various techniques to ensure best practices are implemented for your server. Each client gets their own server, this way the project is walled off from other projects as well. We minimize the surface of your server dramatically by not using unnecessary applications like CPanel or WHM. We use the command line, run regular backups, and use monitoring tools to oversee everything.
What training and seminars does Kief Studio offer, and who should attend them?
We do a few, usually by request only, but sometimes we've been known to schedule and host a webinar where appropriate. We train staff on AI tools, like image generation and content generation. We offer training when the projects launch to get everyone on board with any new info they will need to effectively use the provided tools.
How does Kief Studio's leadership team's background enhance its service offerings?
We're artists with a heavy technical influence, which is unique. We've worked with various sectors, from regulated industries like cannabis to content creation, YouTubers, Twitch streamers all the way to medical companies and data companies. Our experience brings one of the most unique blends together, which gives our clients a strategic advantage.
Can you share how Kief Studio's values influence its project outcomes?
At the heart of Kief Studio are values that emphasize integrity, innovation, and impact. We believe in helping good people to do good things. Our commitment to these values ensures that our projects not only achieve their intended goals but also contribute positively to the broader community.
What measures does Kief Studio take to stay ahead in technology and digital trends?
We read, all the time. Many times, as new technology comes out, we've known about it for a while, since the research tends to be the first phase for many inspiring projects in technology. We see the posts on Reddit, we follow the Github feeds, and we've been pretty good at vetting which projects will take off and which ones might take a little longer to become widely adopted or feasible. In short, we read the stuff that leads us to the trends, and can generally predict which ones will go further from years of experience both creating and observing technological changes.
How does Kief Studio manage the balance between innovation and user experience?
It depends on the audience how far you can push the norms. For gamer audiences, you can get away with a lot more in terms of how interactivity occurs with various functions, but if the site's audience will not be gamers, it's probably a good idea to start off with the basics and add in extra eye candy in other ways, like slight animations or fading text, like we use on our site. Aesthetics and functions should align in order to provide the best experience, knowing the audience is key.
What role does consumer psychology play in Kief Studio's strategy development?
Understanding the mind of the consumer is key to developing effective strategies. At Kief Studio, we integrate principles of consumer psychology into our work, tailoring our solutions to meet the emotional, psychological, and practical needs of the target audience. By applying insights from consumer behavior studies, we can create more engaging, persuasive, and memorable digital experiences. This deep dive into the psychological aspects of consumer interactions helps us craft strategies that not only capture attention but also foster lasting connections between brands and their audiences.
What's next for Kief Studio? Are there any upcoming innovations or expansions in the pipeline?
The future for Kief Studio is very wide open. We have a lot of technical skills and interests, but also with the arts. Because of our unique approach to technology and aesthetics, we keep our options open. Often times we'll build out alpha apps for one another to mess with, getting additional ideas into the build. If we find it useful, we'll do more with it. There's a lot of micro apps on the way.