Steps, Stages and Strategy.
Clear communication and a well-defined process are essential for fostering successful partnerships. Below, I’ve outlined my client and design process to provide you with insight into each step and timeline.
Client Process
Initial Consultation:
Before any commitments are made, a brief 30-minute call will be scheduled to outline the project scope, deliverables, timelines, and budgets. This discussion ensures alignment on the essentials.
Proposal & Agreement:
Following the consultation, a detailed project proposal reflecting the agreed deliverables and pricing will be prepared. Upon Client approval, the project contract, briefing documents, and an invoice for the initial 50% deposit will be sent for review and signature. The project will proceed once these documents are signed and the deposit is paid.
Design Initiation:
Upon receipt of the signed contract, 50% deposit, and completed brief with moodboard, the Designer will commence the creative process. Each stage will be meticulously crafted to identify the best design direction that meets the Client’s needs.
Project Presentation:
After a few weeks of work, the Designer will present the design concepts. This session will include a walkthrough of each step in the creative journey, explaining the rationale behind decisions to ultimately arrive at one design. The Client will receive a copy of the presentation for reference during feedback.
Feedback & Refinement:
It is essential to allow the information to be reviewed for a day or two. Depending on the level of amendments required, they may be communicated via email or presented if further explanation or adjustments are needed.
Final Approval:
Once the design meets the Client’s satisfaction, the final invoice will be issued. Upon receipt of payment, the Designer will organize and deliver all files and exports in a user-friendly folder structure.
My Design Process
Brief analysis & research
After receiving your brief, I start by thoroughly analyzing the details provided. This helps me to extract the most important insights, which will guide the direction of our work. I then carry out in-depth research to gain a comprehensive understanding of your brand’s external landscape, including industry trends, and competitor analysis.
Word Mapping
During the briefing process, certain words often stand out as particularly important. Word mapping allows me to take these key terms and explore related concepts or visual expressions. This approach helps generate fresh ideas and deepens my understanding of your brand, building on the insights gained from the brief and research stages.
Concept Exploration
With ideas starting to take shape from the previous stages, this is where I begin bringing them to life. This phase focuses on rapid sketching—capturing as many concepts as possible without worrying about precision. Once I’ve explored all potential directions, I review the sketches to identify promising concepts to refine in the next stage.
Refining Concepts
At this stage, I select some promising ideas to further develop and refine. I typically redraw these concepts several times to explore different ways of executing them before transitioning to digital. Once a few refined sketches are ready, I digitize them, turning them into vector graphics. Often, one idea stands out as the strongest, and that becomes the focus as I begin to explore color, typography, patterns, and more.
Presentation
With the finalized design that best aligns with your brief and mission, I create industry-specific mockups to showcase how your brand will come to life in real-world applications. Next, I prepare a detailed presentation, guiding you through each stage of my process and explaining the rationale behind key decisions. We’ll review this together during a video call.
Finalization and Feedback
After receiving your consolidated feedback, I’ll make any necessary refinements or, in rare cases, create a new option. If the changes are significant, they will be presented in an updated presentation. Once the design is approved, I’ll proceed with any additional assets we agreed upon earlier, such as brand guidelines, branded materials, or packaging. We’ll hold follow-up calls to review any new work, following the same approval process until all deliverables are signed off and you’re ready to launch your brand with confidence!
