5 Things To Ask Your Designer Before The Project Begins

We think there is nothing more exciting than starting a new project. You get to hear brilliant ideas and work with really talented people. But if you’ve never worked on a creative project you might be wondering — where do you even start?

Don’t worry, we have a list of questions to ask before you embark on any project.

We know we have already spoken about why a great designer and client relationship is so important but this week we want to talk about what to ask your designer before the project begins. This is all the nitty-gritty boring stuff. By having clear and upfront expectations you save a lot of pain in the long run.

What is the Scope of Your Project?

We often hear this term being thrown around but what exactly is project scope? Think of it as your game plan. It outlines who will be involved in the project, any constraints or limits and final deliverables. For example, your project might only be between you and a designer, the limits might be the final due date and your deliverables might be 3 types of packaging design. This is also when you need to work out a clear timeline.

It also stops scope creep. This is when small additions or changes get added onto a project — before you know it, you’re working on five types of packaging even though the original brief was only for three.

What Is Your Previous Design Experience? 

Just like when you hire anyone it’s important to have an understanding of their previous experience. Is your designer more into animations and graphics, or do they do more creative design? When choosing a designer for a project you don’t necessarily have to pick someone with the exact same background but it is important that you love elements of their design.

We even have a whole blog about what every good designer should be able to do. Use this guide as a checklist to make sure you’re getting someone who really knows what they’re doing. If you don’t think your designer matches don’t feel bad about looking for someone else. After all, you’re the one paying for their services.

Where Do You See This Project in the Market?

When we create a design we don’t want it just to look good. We want it to encapsulate your entire brand. A great piece of design also knows where it sits in the market.

Don’t feel like you can’t stand out, even in an overcrowded market! That’s what brilliant design is all about. A great designer can clearly see the gap in the market for your business and can help you shape your branding to match. Having great foundational knowledge ensures that you will be getting a suite of creative that really aligns with your vision.

If your designer can’t visualise your project it might mean that you’re not a perfect match. That’s not a big deal — there’s plenty of fish in the sea.

Do You Have a Design Brief?

When taking on any new clients at Bellman we make sure we go through a process called a briefing session or onboarding. These sessions are used to ask a number of questions both about yourself and your brand. This helps us establish a complete design brief.

Think of project scope as a more formal document whereas your design brief is more creative. That is where you can bring in your Pinterest board or colour choices. A design brief is much more emotive and gets to the heart of your project. Plus, they’re pretty fun!

What Do You Aim to Achieve With Your Brand?

This is a massive one. When creating a design or creative branding there are many paths to go down. Is your brand flirty and fun, or is it factual and educational? Do you want to spread joy, or is your brand looking to be an authoritative voice?

Your answer can include everything from target audiences to brands with a similar feel as yours. They don’t even have to be in a similar sector! Just remember that a lot of the creative process is revisions. So make sure both you and your designer are on the same page with regular dates set for refinement of any concepts. That way you can both achieve what you set out to do. Which is what a successful project is all about!

Do you need some creative guidance? Come and have a chat with the creative branding experts today at Bellman Agency.