Blueprint for Design

The fourth step in the design process that I typically take my clients through is review. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

After you’ve finished the design, it’s now time to present your work to the client for the first time. Often, this can be the most nerve racking part of the process.  Depending upon your personality, this can be difficult.  That’s why, one of the most important aspects of working in the field of design is to have a thick skin.  To a certain degree, you just can’t worry too much about what other people think. You need to create work that you are proud of, and accept that not everyone will like it.  I’m straying off topic a bit, but it’s important.

Presenting your work nicely can have a huge impact on how the client perceives the work.  Try and mock something up.  If you’re sending a web design, send them the image inside of a web browser window. If it’s a package design, try and mock-up the package and place the imagery on it.  Give the client a taste of what’s to come.  If it’s a logo, start showing some sketches of how it could look on other materials such as business cards.  You need to figure out the best way to convey your vision to the client in a way they can visualize. You’re a designer, you have a vision, you have creativity, that’s why you were hired.  The client may not.  You need to create it for them.

If you know that the client will make revisions, make sure you have some sort of numbering/labeling system in place.  You or the client may need to refer to previous designs as the project moves forward. Clear marking can save some time.

The next phase is revisions, but it doesn’t hurt to start reminding a client of what the limits of the contract are.  I typically will give a friendly reminder when I present the drawings. Let the client know exactly how they need to present their comment or changes to you. Do they mark it up by hand? Do they mark up a PDF? Is it just written out? If they don’t know or don’t have a preference, suggest what process they should take.  Make sure that however it’s conveyed, it’s in writing! If you have a phone conversation, take good notes, then send a reminder email to the client to review what you talked about and what will be done.  It’s good practice to make sure everything is understood clearly so time isn’t wasted in the next phase of the project.