- I now know what the scope of the project is
and have one or two designers chosen I want to hire.
Now it's time to ask for a proposal.
Depending on the size of the project,
this can be simple such as I need a logo,
stationary and website or it can be more complex
with many pieces.
The designer will ask questions about the timeline,
specific pieces and the budget.
I found the process is much smoother when
a client tells me the budget.
I can create a proposal based on this rather than
going back and forth with a guessing game.
And in 30 years, no client ever gave me a budget
that was radically higher than I expected.
From these answers, he or she will prepare a proposal,
typically broken into phases.
The proposal should have these contents:
The project assignment or brief, the individual
items of the project, design fees, timelines
for each phase of the project, terms and conditions
that include intellectual property and usage.
Now I'm a designer so I'm biased, but this isn't
the time to choose the lowest bid.
It's about the entire proposal.
Don't skimp on creative.
Choose the best fit and most professional proposal.
Once everyone has signed the proposal
and the scope is set, the designer will meet with you
to find out more information.
He or she will want to know what are your primary
brand attributes?
What is the desired result of the project?
Who is your current audience?
Who should they be?
How will the project be disseminated,
physically or digitally?
And technical information depending on the project.
For example, if you want a nine by 12 folder,
what will go into it?
Or do you have an existing content management system
on your website?
Your collaboration is needed at this initial stage
and at each presentation.
Together, you want to determine the best message,
audience and content.
The designer's job is to clarify the message,
determine the form and visual approach.
Your job is to make sure the visual solution
matches the attributes and resonates
with the correct audience.
While design is subjective, the project will be
more successful if the objective needs take
precedence over everyone's likes and dislikes.
You may hate red, but if your communication is about
energy, heat, and passion, red's probably the right choice.