Things to Tell Your Designer Before Starting a Project

Embarking on a design project, whether it’s for a website, a logo, a brochure, or any creative endeavour, is an exciting journey. However, effective communication with your designer is essential in order to ensure that the final result aligns with your vision and goals. In this blog post, we’ll explore the critical things you should discuss with your designer before the project begins. Clear communication from the outset will save time and resources and lead to a more successful and satisfying design outcome.

Project Objectives and Goals

Before diving into the design process, it’s crucial to articulate the objectives and goals of your project. Ask yourself:

• What is the primary purpose of this design project?
• What do you want to achieve with the final product?
• Are there specific outcomes or metrics you’re aiming for (e.g., increased website traffic, higher conversion rates, brand recognition)?

By sharing this information with your designer, you provide them with a clear understanding of the project’s purpose and help them tailor their design choices to align with your goals.

Target Audience and User Persona

Understanding your target audience is a fundamental component to effective design. Share details about your target demographic, including:

• Age group
• Gender
• Location
• Interests
• Pain points and challenges
• Buying behavior

If you have created user personas, these can be incredibly helpful for your designer. Knowing who the design is intended for enables them to make design decisions that resonate with your audience.

Brand Guidelines (If Applicable)

If your project involves elements related to an existing brand, share any brand guidelines or assets with your designer. These guidelines typically include:

• Logo usage rules
• Colour palette
• Typography choices
• Brand voice and tone

Consistency is key in branding, so providing your designer with these guidelines ensures that the new design aligns seamlessly with your brand identity.

Inspiration and Examples

Sharing design inspiration or examples of designs you admire can be immensely helpful for your designer. These references provide visual cues and insights into your preferences. Be specific about what you like in each example, whether it’s a colour scheme, a layout, a specific style, or a particular element.

Budget and Timeline

Discussing your budget and timeline upfront is essential. It helps both you and your designer manage expectations and plan accordingly. Be transparent about your budget constraints, and ask your designer for an estimate of their fees and any additional costs (e.g., stock images, printing expenses). Regarding timelines, establish clear deadlines for milestones and project completion.

Content and Copy

Content is a vital design component, especially for projects like websites, brochures, or social media graphics. Provide your designer with all the content and copy that needs to be incorporated into the design. If you don’t have finalised content yet, communicate when you expect to have it ready. This ensures that the design can be adapted to fit the content seamlessly.

Functionality and Features (For Web and App Projects)

Discuss the required functionality and features if your project involves web development or app design. Address questions like:

• Do you need e-commerce capabilities?
• Should the website be optimised for mobile devices (responsive design)?
• Are there any specific interactive elements you’d like to include (e.g., contact forms, chatbots, video integration)?
• What is the desired user flow and navigation structure?

Clearly defining the functionality and features will guide the designer in creating a user-friendly and functional digital experience.

Feedback and Revision Process

Establish a feedback and revision process early in the project. Discuss how you and your designer will communicate feedback, how many rounds of revisions are included in the project, and what the turnaround time for revisions will be. Having a precess that is well-defined ensures that the project stays on track and prevents misunderstandings.

Legal and Ownership Considerations

Address ownership and usage rights for the final design. Clarify whether you will have full ownership of the design files and whether your designer can use the work in their portfolio. If there are any legal agreements or contracts, make sure to discuss and finalise them before the project begins.

Testing and Quality Assurance

It’s essential to discuss testing and quality assurance for digital projects, especially websites and apps. Ensure your designer has a plan for testing the design on different devices and browsers to guarantee optimal functionality and user experience.

Communication Channels

Establish the primary communication channels you’ll use throughout the project. Common channels include email, project management tools, and video conferences. Clear communication is key to resolving issues promptly and moving the project forward.

Emergency Contact

In case of urgent issues or unforeseen challenges, provide your designer with an emergency contact who can make decisions on your behalf. This ensures that the project can proceed smoothly even if you’re temporarily unavailable.

Conclusion

Effective communication is the key element to a successful design project. By openly discussing your objectives, target audience, budget, and expectations with your designer before starting a project, you set the stage for a collaborative and productive working relationship. Keep in mind that ongoing communication and feedback are equally important throughout the project, ensuring that the final design is in alignment with your vision and meets your goals. When the lines of communication are clear, the design process becomes a creative and rewarding journey toward a visually stunning and effective end product.