5 Ways to Efficiently Work with Your Designer

Working efficiently with a graphic designer can make a real difference in the success of your project. Clear communication, detailed planning, and mutual understanding are key components of a great collaboration. Below are some five steps to make sure you and your designer stay on the same page and have a smooth and productive collaboration.

1. Complete a Creative Brief

Start your collaboration with a comprehensive Creative Brief. This brief outlines the project objectives, provides details about the target audience, and specifies the call to action. It’s a strategic roadmap that sets the designer up for success. A well-crafted creative brief ensures that both the client and the designer are aligned on the project’s goals, scope, and expectations. This helps streamline the design process, minimizes revisions, and ultimately leads to a more efficient and successful project experience.

2. Set Creative Expectations

Before starting the project, your designer will discuss visual direction with you. If you haven’t worked together before, it’s helpful to provide past examples that you found successful or a clear description of your expectations. Sharing your brand guidelines is also essential. If you’re unsure of what you’re looking for, want to explore different approaches, or prefer to “know it when you see it,” be sure to allocate additional time in your budget to accommodate the increased collaboration. And remember, your designer is a professional with specialized skills and experience. Trust their judgment and be open to their suggestions, as they can often provide insights and creative solutions that you might not have considered!

3. Provide Final Edited Copy

For the most finished initial design comps, provide all necessary materials, including approved artwork and logos, headlines, body copy, and calls to action. This enables the designer to make appropriate composition choices from the start. Editing copy during the design phase can be inefficient and costly, as it significantly increases the rounds of proofs required. Even small edits can add 15-20 minutes to a project, as the designer needs to open the file, make the change, proof it, save a PDF, and send it for review.

4. Budget Appropriate Time

Good creative doesn’t always come in a single flash of inspiration. Developing design solutions requires thoughtful consideration and time. Designers are passionate about their work and like to immerse themselves in the creative process, and they’ll also try to provide first comp solutions that align with your creative brief. There are a lot of moving parts, so allow your designer enough time for those first draft layouts. It might take one to two weeks, depending on the complexity of your project and their current workload.

5. Provide Constructive and Timely Feedback

Timely feedback is crucial to ensure your project stays on track. Prompt responses to proofs help your designer work efficiently and can prevent delays that might result in a Change Order and increased costs. When giving feedback, be specific and constructive. Instead of saying, “I don’t like this,” explain what isn’t working for you and why. This helps the designer understand your perspective and make necessary adjustments and be more efficient with future recommendations.

Conclusion

By following these guidelines, you’ll be off to a great start for a productive relationship with your designer, helping you achieve your project goals while maintaining a smooth and effective workflow.