(2 minute read)
When you need to outsource an upcoming project, the top item on your agenda will be to find the right person for the job. You may have existing relationships with preferred companies, but having an open and honest dialogue with a prospective designer will help to develop a great working connection. We recommend having this conversation before every project (perhaps over coffee and cake), whether you’ve used that designer before or not. This not only makes sure you’re hiring the best person for the job, but will help you feel confident that your project is in safe hands.
Here at Gradino, we’ve compiled the three things to tell your designer before every project:
1) The brief:
Did you ever play the twin picture game at school where you produced a drawing and then – without showing it to your friend – described it to them as they tried to reproduce that drawing? If you did, you’ll know that your idea of a pigeon riding a scooter looks very different to your friend’s idea of a pigeon riding a scooter!
Your prospective designer needs a clear brief. They need to know exactly what your expectations are: what are they doing for you? Give as much detail as you can. What is the purpose of this project? Is it to educate your existing users on a new feature? Is it to increase your customer base?
The more detail you can give, the better your designer will understand your requirements and the more likely you are to get what you’re hoping for.
2) The budget:
From the very start, it’s incredibly helpful to be very clear about your budget. This is especially important when it’s a new relationship between company and designer. You both need to be on the same page: if your budget is £50,000, your designer can approach highly skilled, experienced professionals to deliver the right tone. If your budget is closer to £500, your designer can work out where you can afford to economise without compromising the overall quality. Even if you don’t have a specific budget, discuss a ballpark figure.
3) The deadline
When does the final version need to be complete? Once your designer knows the deadline, you can work out a delivery schedule by working backwards from that date. Being clear on a deadline means you’re working on the same timescale. If it’s a quick turnaround, your designer can probably still work something out, but it may mean being flexible – can you schedule catch ups outside of normal working hours? If it’s a tight deadline, your designer may need to outsource work. Knowing this upfront means you’re much more likely to get what you asked for when you need it.
Being clear and honest with your designer about these things will make your working relationship much smoother and will help make sure you get what you want out of it.