As a graphic designer, I’m often assigned briefs where I have no idea what’s expected of me.
Whether this be from a lack of clarity, information or assets, it can be frustrating for both me and my client when I can’t effectively fulfil the brief.
But…
We can develop this simply by improving communication!
This is my guide on how to improve your relationship with your graphic designer: what you need to ask, provide for and discuss with your designer to get the most out of your collaboration.
What do you need from your designer?
As there are so many different aspects of graphic design, it can be difficult to know what to ask for.
Let’s keep this simple and say you need a logo designed for your business.
You have your branding, typefaces etc. all sorted, but you’d like a new logo.
Maybe your current one is starting to look a little outdated.
So, what are your specifications?
How big would you like the logo?
What file format do you need this in? PNG, or maybe a vector EPS file?
These are all questions you should be asking yourself before going to your designer.
How much are you willing to pay?
If you’re going to outsource a designer from an agency or hire a freelancer, it’s good to have a rough idea in your head of how much your budget is for your logo.
Get quotes from different designers to see what suits your needs, and remember to check their portfolios to see if any previous work they’ve created is something you like the look of.
Another thing to consider when getting quotes is what’s included in the price.
Ask how many variations you’ll get, and the number of revisions your designer will allow.
Most of the time, your designer will create a few concepts first for you to choose which ones you like, and then you can develop from there.
However, it’s important to limit this.
We often have a plethora of projects we need to get cracking on, and we can’t afford to keep revisiting a design every time you have a new idea!
What can you provide to your designer?
In the past, I’ve received briefs from colleagues with zero context whatsoever.
And to be completely honest with you, it drives me up the wall!
To be clear, “I need a logo” is not a design brief.
Do you need copy on there? Perhaps a tagline? Any specific images you’d like to be used?
Trying to design something without any copy or images to use is like trying to write an essay without a subject.
It is SO important that you provide these things for your designer.
Trust me, we’ll be able to output your designs so much faster if you actually give us something to work with!
When do you need the work completed by?
This is THE most important point I will make here:
GIVE. A. DEADLINE.
However, you also need to give your designer some leeway.
Consider every step along the way, and give us plenty of time to finish the project without feeling rushed – this way we’ll deliver a high quality design for you.
Make sure your designer has enough time to complete the project, and avoid saying things like:
“I just need this quickly – it should only take half an hour”.
It’s impossible to design something ‘quickly’ or in 30 minutes (and if we do, it definitely won’t be our best work)
Remember – if you want something high quality, you have to be willing to wait for it.
I’d like to leave you with a few more tips before I go:
- Us designers are more than happy to help with questions if you’re not sure what it is you need, but please remember that we’re not mind-readers! And being told to make something look ‘amazing’ is not adequate (sorry!)
- If you see any work you like the look and feel of, send these to your designer so we can get an idea of what it is you’re looking for. We are visual people after all - and anything you can show us will help!
- If you’re outsourcing a designer, remember to give some insight into who you are as a business. Outline who you are, what you do and provide a brief history and summary of the products/services you provide and distribute to your consumers.
I hope that my guide has not only given you some insight into the complex mind of a graphic designer, but also helped you to understand how to best navigate your relationship with us!
That’s all for now…
Happy designing 😊
Sophia Amireh | Creative Marketer
