Things To Tell Your Designer Before Starting A Project
Identify your goals.
As a designer, I've met with countless clients who have no idea what they want. They don't know their goals. They don't know the visual style that would best fit their product or service. They're overwhelmed by the possibilities and confused about how to navigate them, so they do nothing...until it's too late.
Good design is not magic. It's not an abstract concept or set of skills that are only useful in certain contexts. When done well, it simplifies choice and creates clarity by helping your users find what they need and understand how to use it — whether or not you can articulate those needs before you start working with your designers.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try! So before meeting with your designer for the first time, jot down some notes on:
Why you're creating this thing in the first place
What problem it solves for users and/or customers
What specific features your design will include
Give your designer creative reign.
When you hire a designer, you are hiring them because they have a certain skill set that you do not have. It would be like going to the doctor and telling them how to conduct your surgery. They went to school or have been practicing for many years so let them use their creativity. You can trust that they are going to make your project look amazing!
If you're worried about certain things, let them know! That's what they're there for. They will ask you questions if they need more information or if they don't understand something. If they need anything from you, they will get back to you as soon as possible with any requests or questions.
Also remember that designers are busy people and may not be able to reply instantly on the weekends (especially on Sundays). They will get back to you when possible with a proposal, timeline, etc...
Budget.
You can use this information to help you decide exactly what you want to spend your money on and how much you can afford to invest in your project.
In general, it’s best for both of us if we are upfront about what you can reasonably spend. There isn’t really a way to know your budget until we have a general idea of the scope of work, but I have had clients who are ready with their number from the start as well.
In my experience, clients who don't provide a specific dollar amount often end up spending more than they anticipated without realizing it—which is not fair to anyone involved.
If you don't know where to start, think about what price range you would consider reasonable for the type of site or portfolio that interests you. If this is your small business website and branding is important to your company image, then the numbers will probably be higher than they would be if this were purely an informational site that didn't need any custom design or special features.
Open up about your timeline.
Let your designer know about any hard deadlines.
Talk to them about any hard and fast deadlines. Unlike the soft deadline, this one is more literal and means that you need the project done by a specific date. This could be because you have an upcoming conference or event with a fixed date, and you need to have your marketing materials ready by then. Or it could be because of an industry-wide holiday or feature release.
The best way to pass on this information is to make sure you mention these dates early in the project, ideally in the very first meeting or email exchange with your designer. This will help them plan their schedule accordingly, ensuring that they can accommodate your request for a speedy turnaround time.
Tell them about soft deadlines too.
Once you’ve communicated all of your hard deadlines, take a look at everything else on your calendar and identify any other important events that are coming up soon—but don’t have set dates yet. These types of “soft deadlines” come up often when working with designers, so it’s good practice to share what you know as soon as possible so that there are no surprises down the road (and no last-minute panic).
Provide examples of sites you like and dislike.
Provide examples of sites you like and dislike. Many designers have their own "style" that they bring to all their designs. While this can be a good thing, it is possible you won't like their style. Providing links to similar sites can be very helpful in giving the designer an idea of what you're looking for.
When giving your designer examples, make sure to tell them what you like or dislike about each site. This will help them get a feel for your personal taste so they will be better able to design a site that suits your specific needs!
Be patient.
You might be thinking, “I want this done ASAP. I don’t want to waste my time or theirs.” You are totally right about wasting time. However, if you do rush the designer, it will only result in more revisions and wasted time—for both of you.
Patience is key here. Knowing that you have a wad of cash ready to pay each week will give your designer (and yourself) comfort in taking their time on the project. This doesn’t mean they won’t get it done quickly—it means they will make sure every little detail is perfect before moving forward with the project instead of just being done with it because they are on a strict deadline (which usually results in a not so great final product).
Having an open dialogue with your website designer will help them create the best site for you!
As I’ve been working as a freelance website designer and developer, I’ve realized that one of the most important parts of my job is helping my clients communicate what they want to me. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of things to tell your website designer before starting a project.
What do you want? Do you have a specific vision in mind? Or maybe you have some ideas about design styles or functions that you like, but need some help putting it all together. Either way, tell your designer! Even if you don’t know exactly what you want, it will still help them get started on creating something that fits your needs.
What don’t you want? It may sound silly, but this can be equally important! If there are certain colors or features (like Flash animations) that really bug you or seem outdated or gimmicky to your eyes—let them know! Your website should reflect what YOU and your target audience want; not just what someone else thinks might work best for everyone else out there.
What are your goals? Are there certain things (like selling products online) that the site absolutely must accomplish right away? Or maybe it just needs to look good enough until later on when time allows for more development work such as adding ecommerce functionality down the line. Knowing where things stand at any given moment will help both parties stay focused on achieving those goals sooner rather than later!
If you are ready to start working with a designer, reach out! I would love to chat about your project.
