Things to Tell Your Designer Before Starting a Project
You decided to hire a brand and/or web designer for your next project, but now what? What do you tell your designer to help them make the project a success? Determining what information to share can be confusing and overwhelming when you have no idea where to start.
You don’t want to wait until the last minute to figure out your wants, needs, and goals. It will delay the project timeline because your designer won’t be able to begin the process without key information.
To help, carve out some quality time to sit down and get a deep understanding of your business. Now, let’s get some clarity on what you should tell your designer before starting a project.
1. ) Your Website Goals
Before your design project can begin your designer needs to know key information for the project to be successful. One important aspect is the goals of your website. Your goals can affect the overall design.
Do you want to increase your email subscribers?
Do you want to sell more products?
Do you want to increase the number of booked calls?
Do you want to encourage more people to register for your events?
When you’re clear on what your goals are, then your designer can tailor the design to fulfill your target audience’s needs, which will help get the results that you desire.
2. ) Your Ideal Budget
No matter what your budget is make sure you tell your designer early on because it will help them determine the best solution that fits your budget. Some things may not be possible or need to be scaled down to accommodate. Also, many designers have a minimum rate that they charge, so knowing your budget upfront will help them know if you both will be able to work together.
3. ) Describe Your Brand
Take a moment and think about how you would describe your brand. Now after you develop a description break it down into several words. Five descriptive words would be a good start.
Is your brand quirky or serious?
Is it outdoorsy or sophisticated/luxurious?
Make note of these.
4. ) If You Have Brand Guidelines
If your designer wasn’t the person who designed your brand identity then make sure you provide them with your brand guidelines and all other brand identity files. Brand guidelines can be a simple one-page document or it can be in great detail that informs how to properly use and not use your brand assets (e.g., logos, color palette, fonts, and brand imagery).
5. ) Your Target Audience
It may be tempting to decide that everyone is your target audience, but please refrain from doing this because it can hurt your business. It’s key to narrow down who your primary audience is because you can’t effectively design for everyone. Designing for vegan health coaching clients is different from designing for children.
When you have a clear target audience the proper design can be created to help attract more of that same audience. If you are offering a $750 vegan spa package, it won’t be beneficial if you are attracting mostly college students who may have a budget of $50 and can’t afford your services.
6. ) What You Want Your Website to Do—The Functionalities
Be specific about your needs. A designer needs to know what functionalities your website needs to have to factor that in during the designing process. Do you want an online shop, a contact form, an email subscription form, online ordering, or booking options for services?
Also, do you want to be able to make minor content updates on your own after the project is finished? You should also have your website be mobile-friendly and voice this to your designer, even though they should be already designing with mobile in mind.
When you decide on the functionalities that your website needs, make sure you inform your designer, so they can properly plan.
7. ) The Things You Currently Struggle With in Your Business
Informing your designer of the struggles you face within your business can help them gain a better understanding of how they can help solve problems through the design. You will gain more value from the design process by sharing with them.
8. ) If You Need Additional Services
Be clear and specific about your needs. Whether you need branding, custom icons, social media graphics, copywriting, or search engine optimization (SEO) services please make sure that all your needs for your project are shared upfront to prevent any miscommunications and to help keep the project on schedule.
If your designer doesn’t offer certain additional services that you need, such as copywriting, you may need to hire someone for that service. If you need branding services and your designer also provides this, then you can minimize the number of people you need to complete your project and ask to have that service included.
It’s key to always be upfront with what you need early on. The ultimate goal here is to make sure everyone involved in the project is happy with the results.
9. ) That You Would Like Your Designer’s Advice
Your designer most likely has a plethora of knowledge and would be happy to provide advice on creative solutions. Don’t hesitate to ask them for their opinion. By doing so, your web design results could improve by helping to make your life easier, increasing your visitor’s experience, and helping to improve your chances of reaching your goals.
10. ) Your Timeline/Milestones
Speak to your designer about deadlines that are set in stone. You may have a specific date that your project needs to be finished by because you have an upcoming event with a date that can’t be changed. You may need to have a new website and promotional materials completed before then to be able to effectively promote the event.
Inform your designer before the start of the design process. The earlier the better because it will help them plan the project timeline to ensure they meet the deadline.
Also, examine if you have any other upcoming events without set dates yet. If you do, please still inform your designer and if something suddenly comes up during the project let them know immediately, so they can try to anticipate and accommodate as much as possible.
11. ) Your Competitors
Knowing who your business competitors are will help your designer determine what the standard is in your industry and how to make you stand out.
12. ) Your Likes AND Dislikes
Providing your designer with examples of brands and websites you like and dislike is beneficial.
Do you like a brand because it has a fun and quirky personality?
Do you like a website because it has a clean and modern design?
Do you dislike a website because it has a cluttered design and seems outdated?
When providing examples please keep in mind that your designer probably will not use the exact design of a brand and website you like. Designers don’t like to copy another designer’s work. They can use the provided example to create something that may have a similar look and feel but is tailored to you.
13. ) Explain What Would Make Your Project a Success.
Kindly let your designer know what success looks like to you regarding your project. Not only will it be helpful in the design process, it will be much appreciated. The more details the better. Your designer should know beforehand to help you reach your goals and to save time.
14. ) The Designated Person for Contact and Decision-Making
(This is for co-owners and teams.)
Decide on who will be the designated person to make decisions and for direct contact to make the process go as smoothly as possible and to help stay on schedule. Once you made a decision speak to your designer, so everyone is on the same page.
When you are communicating with multiple people it can delay the process of receiving feedback on revisions given within a specific timeframe, which will delay the project end date. Extending a project end date may not be possible right away if it will interfere with any other projects the designer already has scheduled.
Start on the Right Track
Starting with this list will help your designer figure out what creative solution will help to fulfill your specific needs and reach your business goals. Please remember to be specific in the details you provide and be patient during the process. It helps tremendously and is greatly appreciated!
Having an open dialogue and being clear and specific about what your needs are will help lead to a successful project. In the end, the goal is to help you succeed at your business goals.
Are you ready to start on the right track?
If you are interested in receiving help to achieve your goals and reach your intended audience, then please take a look at my services and book a free discovery call by clicking the button below.