AI tools are pretty amazing, but without a unified plan on how teams will use them, everyone ends up doing things their own way. This can be great for exploring new methods, but more often than not, it leads to messy, inconsistent outcomes that still need a lot of human work to get them just right.
So, how can you avoid this common trap and get as much value out of AI as possible? The first thing to do is decide which areas are the highest value for the business or team and focus there first. For many this is usually around new customer acquisition, growth and generating qualified inbound leads.
One Team’s Example: Case Studies
One team I recently worked with identified case studies highlighting their recent work as a high-value area. Case studies were one of their strongest marketing tools and had proven to be a powerful driver of generating high-quality inbound leads.
While the value of case studies was clearly known, client work alway takes priority with limit time and resources to work on them. As ‘non-billable’ work, creating even just one case study felt like a herculean effort. If there was some way the team could more effectively use AI to generate high quality cases faster, all agreed that this would be a huge win for the company, especially since the actual visual creative assets were already available.
Using AI, but not effectively
Everyone on the team was using AI but independently and ad hoc on their own which meant that the varied input based were naturally leading to inconsistent outputs in messaging, tone, and quality. The process was still requiring the same amount of human review as before, which wasn’t speeding things up at all and only increased everyone’s frustration.
Two-Prompt approach
We had a quick discussion on the process, all agreed that standardizing our inputs and making them more comprehensive would be a good first step. We decided to create a two prompt approach:
Prompt 1 – Foundation: The first prompt would provide details about the agency, their target audience, tone of voice, and the desired story arc for the case study. This would become a boilerplate prompt anyone could copy and paste.
Prompt 2 – Project Details: The second prompt would provide specific information about the work to be featured and help AI complete the task of writing the case content. This would also be boilerplate template, with defined sections to be filled out with the project specific info.
The expectation was that by giving AI all the information in a standardized and consistent way, this would result in repeatable, high quality outputs. The standardized inputs would also allow the team to review the outputs and tweak either the prompt content or specific project content in order to improve the outputs.
Uber-Specific Prompts
Using a fictional agency and client for illustration purposes, here’s how the prompts for Major Butter (the agency) and their client, HappyGreens.
Prompt 1 – Foundation:
The first prompt gave AI all the necessary information about the agency and detailed how we wanted the case study written. This standardized prompt became the template for anyone responsible for generating a case study, ensuring consistency across all outputs.

Prompt 2 – Project Details:
The second prompt template had fill-in-the-blanks where specific case information was added. Here’s an example that we’d give to AI following confirmation on receiving the first prompt.

You can see the outputs from testing these out with four AI’s, all using the basic tier.
Perplexity
Here are 4 potential titles for the happygreens case study:
- Cultivating a Fresh Brand Experience: How Major Butter Helped happygreens Reimagine Healthy Fast Food
- Designing the Future of Food: Major Butter’s Partnership with happygreens
- From Farm to App: Major Butter’s Transformative Work for happygreens
- Sowing the Seeds of Success: Major Butter’s Branding and App Design for happygreens
Introduction
In the fast-paced world of modern dining, happygreens stood out as a beacon of hope for health-conscious consumers craving convenient yet nutritious options. Founded in 2010, the American fast casual restaurant chain built its reputation on a simple yet powerful mission: “Building healthier communities by connecting people to real food.”[1] With a commitment to fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a transparent supply chain, happygreens aimed to revolutionize the concept of fast food for a new era.
Challenge
Despite their noble mission and loyal customer base, happygreens faced several key challenges as they looked to expand their reach and solidify their brand identity:
- Preserving Authenticity: How could they further their brand without compromising the unique qualities that initially endeared them to health-conscious consumers?[1]
- Redefining Perceptions: In a world where fast food was often equated with unhealthy choices, how could happygreens convey the concept of delicious, convenient, and nutritious meals to a generation taught otherwise?[1]
- Elevating the Experience: With their customizable menu offerings, how could happygreens create a seamless ordering experience through a mobile app that extended beyond mere transactions and fostered deeper brand engagement?[1]
Solution
To tackle these challenges head-on, happygreens turned to the expertise of Major Butter, a product design and digital transformation company renowned for its innovative solutions. Major Butter’s approach was rooted in a deep understanding of happygreens’ ethos and a commitment to elevating their brand while staying true to their core values.
- Immersive Discovery: The process began with conversations involving happygreens’ founders, employees, and customers, allowing Major Butter to fully absorb their passion for positively influencing the future of food through a profound appreciation for the entire supply chain.[1]
- Distinctive Branding: Major Butter developed a design system combining playful illustrations, unique fonts, contemporary photography, and a vibrant color palette inspired by nature. This flexible, distinctive style guided customers through happygreens’ healthy offerings while reinforcing their brand identity.[1]
- Seamless Mobile Experience: Major Butter was tasked with developing happygreens’ first mobile app, enabling customers to skip lines, order ahead for pickup or delivery, unlock personalized offers, and access exclusive menu items – all while fostering deeper brand engagement.[1]
Results
Major Butter’s transformative work for happygreens yielded remarkable results that exceeded expectations:
- Cohesive Brand Experience: The design system developed by Major Butter is now utilized across various touchpoints, including restaurant interiors, signage, marketing materials, advertisements, social media, digital platforms, product packaging, and employee uniforms, ensuring a consistent and memorable brand experience.[1]
- Soaring App Adoption: In the week of its release, the happygreens iOS app became one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in the App Store. During the first month, happygreens saw a 38% increase in orders, followed by a 27% monthly increase in order volume through the app within the first 3 months.[1] With over 100,000 ratings, the app continues to be one of the highest-rated food delivery apps on the App Store.[1]
- Customer-Driven Innovation: The app enabled the happygreens team to gather valuable customer feedback, which directly influenced the creation of new menu items, further solidifying their commitment to customer-centric innovation.[1]
Conclusion
Major Butter’s partnership with happygreens exemplifies their expertise in bridging the gap between design, technology, and brand strategy. By deeply understanding happygreens’ mission and values, Major Butter crafted a cohesive brand experience that resonated with health-conscious consumers while providing a seamless digital platform for engagement and growth.[1] The success of this collaboration serves as a testament to Major Butter’s ability to help clients unlock new possibilities and drive sustainable success through innovative design and digital transformation solutions.
Citations:
[1] https://www.happygreens.com
[2] https://amplitude.com/blog/digital-transformation-examples
[3] https://aqomi.com/8-must-read-case-studies-on-brand-transformation/
[4] https://sayyeah.com/case-studies/
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_SG5xMqecg
[6] https://sharpencx.com/netflix-digital-transformation-case-study/
ChatGPT
Fantastic! Let’s craft a compelling case study for Major Butter based on the information provided about their project with happygreens.
Case Study Title Options:
- “Greens on the Go: How Major Butter Transformed happygreens’ Brand & App Experience”
- “Serving Success: Major Butter’s Recipe for Reinventing happygreens”
- “From Salad Bar to Smartphone: Major Butter’s Journey with happygreens”
- “Crunching Numbers and Crisp Salads: Inside Major Butter’s Work with happygreens”
Introduction:
In the bustling realm of American fast-casual dining, one brand stands out for its commitment to healthier choices and community-driven values. Meet happygreens, a salad-centric chain dedicated to redefining fast food for a wellness-conscious era. Founded in 2010, happygreens embarked on a journey with Major Butter to revamp its brand identity and spearhead its inaugural leap into the mobile app arena.
Challenge:
Major Butter faced a trio of challenges as crisp as happygreens’ signature salads. Firstly, how could they elevate the brand without diluting its beloved essence? Secondly, how could they convey the concept of healthy fast food to a generation accustomed to compromise? And lastly, how could they craft an app experience that seamlessly integrated into the brand narrative, transcending mere convenience to foster genuine connection?
Solution:
The journey began with immersion, as Major Butter delved deep into happygreens’ ethos, conversing with stakeholders to distill their passion for wholesome fare into tangible design elements. Playful illustrations, vibrant hues, and a dash of contemporary photography formed the palette for a brand refresh that felt both familiar and fresh. Simultaneously, Major Butter crafted happygreens’ maiden iOS app, a digital extension designed not just for orders, but for engagement and empowerment.
Results:
The fruits of collaboration ripened swiftly. Major Butter’s design system sprouted across multiple touchpoints, infusing every interaction with happygreens’ newfound vitality. Meanwhile, the iOS app soared to success, breaking into the App Store’s top ranks within its debut week. The numbers spoke volumes: a 38% surge in orders within the app’s inaugural month, accompanied by a steady climb in customer engagement. With over 100,000 ratings, the app continues to shine as a beacon of convenience and community.
Conclusion:
In the salad bowl of fast-casual dining, happygreens’ partnership with Major Butter emerged as a testament to innovation with heart. By blending design acumen with technological prowess, Major Butter not only elevated a brand but nurtured a movement. Together, they proved that fast food can be both nutritious and delightful, setting a new standard for the industry.
Gemini
Here are 4 potential titles for the happygreens case study:
- Cultivating a Fresh Brand Experience: How Major Butter Helped happygreens Reimagine Healthy Fast Food
- Designing the Future of Food: Major Butter’s Partnership with happygreens
- Sowing the Seeds of Success: Major Butter’s Branding and App Design for happygreens
- From Farm to App: Major Butter’s Holistic Approach for happygreens
Introduction
happygreens is an American fast casual restaurant chain that has been on a mission to “build healthier communities by connecting people to real food” since its founding in 2010. With a focus on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a commitment to transparency in their supply chain, happygreens aimed to reimagine the concept of fast food for a new era.[1]
Challenge
Despite their noble mission and dedication to quality, happygreens faced several challenges. First, they needed to refresh their brand identity in a way that would resonate with customers while staying true to their unique qualities.[1] Additionally, they recognized the need to convey the concept of healthy fast food to a generation conditioned to view such options as neither convenient nor delicious.[1] Finally, happygreens sought to create a seamless mobile ordering experience that would not only facilitate transactions but also engage customers and serve as an extension of their brand.[1]
Solution
Major Butter’s approach began with immersing themselves in happygreens’s culture by conversing with founders, employees, and customers to fully understand their passion for positively influencing the future of food.[1] This deep appreciation for the entire supply chain, from farmers to servers, informed the development of a vibrant and flexible design system.
The new brand identity combined playful illustrations, unique fonts, contemporary photography, and a color palette of natural and vibrant hues, guiding customers through happygreens’s healthy offerings in a distinctive and memorable way.[1] Additionally, Major Butter designed and developed happygreens’s first iOS app, enabling customers to order ahead, receive personalized offers, and access exclusive menu items.[1]
Results
Major Butter’s design system has been implemented across various touchpoints, including restaurant interiors, marketing materials, social media, and employee uniforms, creating a cohesive brand experience.[1] The happygreens iOS app became one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in the App Store during its launch week, leading to a 38% increase in orders within the first month and a 27% monthly increase in order volume through the app within the first three months.[1]
The app also facilitated valuable customer feedback, directly influencing the creation of new menu items.[1] With over 100,000 ratings, the happygreens iOS app continues to be one of the highest-rated food delivery apps on the App Store, a testament to Major Butter’s ability to create a seamless and engaging digital experience that aligns with the brand’s mission.[1]
Conclusion
Major Butter’s partnership with happygreens exemplifies their expertise in crafting meaningful brand experiences that resonate with customers while driving tangible business results.[1] By deeply understanding happygreens’s values and translating them into a cohesive design system and innovative digital platform, Major Butter played a pivotal role in helping the brand reimagine the concept of healthy fast food for a new generation.[1]
Citations:
[1] https://www.happygreens.com
[2] https://intellipaat.com/blog/case-study-on-marketing-management/
[3] https://www.columnfivemedia.com/examples-of-digital-marketing-for-saas/
[4] https://www.uwgb.edu/UWGBCMS/media/Phillip-G.Clampitt/hall-of-fame/case-study-3-compare-and-repair.pdf
[5] https://www.everyonehatesmarketers.com/articles/how-to-grow-a-company
[6] https://www.crowdspring.com/blog/branding-top-retailers/
Claude
Here are 4 potential titles for the happygreens case study:
- Cultivating Healthy Habits: How Major Butter Redesigned happygreens for Modern Appetites
- Blending Tech and Taste: Major Butter’s Mobile Journey with happygreens
- From Farm to Fingertips: Major Butter Elevates happygreens Brand and App Experience
- Reimagining Fast Food: happygreens Partners with Major Butter for Fresh Brand and Mobile Solutions
Case Study Title (Choose 1): From Farm to Fingertips: Major Butter Elevates happygreens Brand and App Experience
Introduction: In a world where fast food is often synonymous with unhealthy choices, happygreens has been pioneering a different approach. Founded in 2010, this fast-casual restaurant chain is on a mission to “build healthier communities by connecting people to real food.” With a core philosophy of cooking from scratch and cultivating a transparent supply network, happygreens has won the hearts of health-conscious diners seeking delicious, nutritious meals on the go. However, as the brand expanded, happygreens recognized the need to evolve their visual identity and digital offerings to better reflect their values and engage with customers in new ways. That’s when they turned to Major Butter, a product design and digital transformation company, to help them unlock fresh possibilities.
Challenge: Major Butter faced a two-fold challenge with happygreens. First, they needed to refresh the brand’s visual identity in a way that would resonate with modern audiences while staying true to the company’s authentic roots. Additionally, they were tasked with developing happygreens’ first mobile app, a crucial step in providing a seamless ordering experience and fostering deeper connections with customers. The app had to go beyond being just a transactional platform, embodying the brand’s ethos of healthy, sustainable living.
Solution: Major Butter’s team immersed themselves in the happygreens universe, engaging with founders, employees, and customers to fully understand the passion that fueled the brand. They discovered a profound appreciation for the entire food ecosystem, from farmers and harvesters to chefs and servers, all dedicated to a shared craft.
Drawing inspiration from this insight, Major Butter crafted a vibrant design language that combined playful illustrations, unique typography, contemporary photography, and a color palette reminiscent of nature’s bounty. This flexible, distinctive style guided customers through happygreens’ healthy offerings, evoking a sense of joy and vitality.
For the mobile app, Major Butter’s designers and developers collaborated closely to create an intuitive experience that streamlined ordering while unlocking exclusive features. From personalized offers to limited-time menu items, the app fostered a deeper connection between happygreens and its loyal fans.
Results: The impact of Major Butter’s work was immediate and far-reaching. happygreens’ new brand identity has been seamlessly integrated across all touchpoints, from restaurant interiors and marketing materials to product packaging and employee uniforms. This cohesive presence has solidified the brand’s position as a leader in the healthy fast-food movement.
Meanwhile, the happygreens iOS app became one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in the App Store during its launch week. In the first month alone, the chain saw a 38% increase in orders, followed by a 27% monthly increase in order volume through the app over the next three months. With over 100,000 ratings, the app continues to be one of the highest-rated food delivery platforms on the App Store.
Perhaps most importantly, the app has enabled happygreens to gather invaluable customer feedback, which has directly influenced the creation of new menu items, further strengthening the brand’s commitment to listening to its community.
Conclusion: Major Butter’s collaboration with happygreens exemplifies the power of design and technology to transform businesses and connect with audiences in meaningful ways. By deeply understanding the brand’s essence and leveraging their expertise in product design and digital solutions, Major Butter has helped happygreens thrive in a competitive landscape. From farm to fingertips, this partnership has elevated the brand’s visual identity, streamlined the customer experience, and paved the way for continued growth and innovation in the pursuit of healthier communities.
Results
According to the team, after standardizing the prompt formats and approach—first to provide the foundation and the second for context—the output they got were significantly more in-line with their expectations.
The new process led to benefits in these 4 areas:
- Time Savings: Reduced time spent wordsmithing and rewriting, allowing more focus on quality inputs and minimizing back-and-forth adjustments.
- Consistency: Standardized prompts led to more consistent and efficient outputs, ensuring reliable results every time.
- Input Clarity: Improved understanding of how input details affect outcomes, making it easier to gauge and refine for better results.
- Proactive Information Gathering: Templates helped collect critical information during the project while it was fresh, ensuring key details were captured and utilized effectively.
Taking the time to create more in-depth prompts and templatizing the format took some time at the outset but led to the team being able to create five case studies in the time it took to produce just one before.
The unexpected and biggest challenge of this effort turned out to be getting agency leadership to focus on defining key agency messaging and positioning for the foundational prompt. But once we had alignment and captured these on paper, these clear and precise inputs were immediately applicable to creating AI processes for other high-value areas like creating proposal and email marketing.
Final thoughts
The key takeaway is to identify high-value areas of your business that could benefit from a well-thought-out AI strategy. Investing a little time upfront to provide specific and detailed inputs will lead to significant efficiency gains with AI. Quality inputs are crucial for achieving the best results. I hope this post helps you refine your approach or provides a starting point on what to do next.
*Prompt Templates*
Here are the prompt templates slightly abbreviated you can use as a framework to develop your own case study creation prompts.
Prompt 1: Foundation [TEMPLATE]
Fill in specific details in the [ ].
Company details
[company name], is a [company, mission]
Target audience
Our target audience includes [target audience 1] that cares about [what target audience 1 about], and [target audience 2], that cares about [what target audience 2 cares about].
Task
We want case studies to demonstrate how our expertise has helped our clients succeed. Clearly communicate that our work helped clients solve a business problem and that the solutions provided were effective. Below is all the information on our brand tone of voice and guidelines on format we want you to follow in order to write these case studies.
Brand Voice and Personality
Your tone of voice should be [the tone of voice you want], your writing style should be [the writing style you want, etc.]
Guidelines
We want to [explain your objectives for the case study, what should it accomplish, what do you not want. etc.]
Past examples
For example, here are examples of successful results from the past: [insert relevant references]
Confirmation
ChatGPT [or AI you use], are you ready to get the topic and background information in order to write this case study? Please confirm that you've understood this request.
Prompt 2: Project Details [TEMPLATE]
Fill in specific details in the [ ], anything in italics is guidance content and be deleted before using.
Client Information
Company name: [Client company name]
Industry: [Client industry]
Client Background: [Client story/background]
- Company name: Acme Retail
- Industry: Retail
- Background: Acme Corp is a leading retailer with over 50 years in the market, known for their wide range of household products.
Project overview
Project focus: [what were we asked to work on?]
Project scope: [what were we asked to do as part of this engagement?]
- Project focus: website redesign
- Project Scope: We were tasked with redesigning Acme Corp's e-commerce website to improve user experience and increase online sales.
Challenge
[What were the challenges we overcame with our work?]
- Primary challenges: The existing website was outdated and difficult to navigate, leading to a high bounce rate.
- Secondary challenges: Acme Corp's online sales were declining, and their brand needed a refresh to appeal to modern consumers.
Solution
[How did the work we did overcome the challenges/achieve our goals.]
- Approach: We conducted user research to identify pain points and redesigned the website with a mobile-first approach.
- Key actions: We implemented a new, intuitive navigation structure, modernized the visual design, and optimized the site for mobile devices.
Results
[What were the results of our work?]
- Outcomes: Online sales increased by 30% within the first three months, and the bounce rate decreased by 20%.
- Client Feedback: "The new website has significantly improved our customers' shopping experience and boosted our online sales."
- Long-term Impact: The redesign has positioned Acme Corp for continued growth in the digital space.
