A sufficient amount of time is necessary to complete a well thought-out project. Do not hurry! Time is your ally.
Design process
The design process should be carried out in stages, according to previously set deadlines agreed by both parties. This will help to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. At the beginning of the cooperation the mutual expectations, timeframe, remuneration, ways of cooperation and communication should be determined.
The Contractor–Designer should present the Principal–Customer variants of the design strategy differentiated in terms of the number of the designer’s versions of the project and its elements. The accepted practice is that the remuneration increases with the number of proposals prepared.
STANDARD | MEDIUM | PREMIUM
Brief
Is a short document prepared/filled in by an entrepreneur. It is nothing but condensed knowledge describing what „the principal expects from the designer.” The brief should be supplemented by all information materials made available for the design work. The meetings, conversations and personal thoughts are also of great value. But this one, two A4 pages constituting a brief give the project team key information, allowing them to focus on the most important tasks and problems to solve.
Research
Analyses, researches, information search, competition assessment, insight into consumer behaviour, review of internal documents, strategy, meeting with the principal’s representatives, employee interviews, walking city streets and having a glimpse on the surrounding „world of brands”, conversations with passers-by… in short, everything, which is related to collecting information, seeking answers to the „problem to solve.”
Research means study! It includes analysis of the market, competition, consumers, getting to know the entrepreneur’s business from the inside. Effective research also involves conversations with oneself, with one’s own design team, on formulation of theses and finding answers. In order to develop unique strategic concepts and creative projects.
Feedback
Feedback is a very important part of cooperation. There is nothing better for the designer than a good news about the brand success of the company that he cooperated with, the opinions of its customers, the positive reaction of the market/consumers to the new product. Also imitation by competitors is a kind of ennoblement for the designer! It is a good practice for the entrepreneur to be the first to give constructive feedback. Sincere feedback to the designer helps him to improve his own organizational processes, customer service quality, creation level, and work methodology.
Deadline
The meaning of the term is varied. Not only does this mean the final day of submitting projects. There are other important events behind the deadline. For example: brand launch day, presentation of the new face of the company, launching an advertising campaign, website publishing, date of the second amendment in the project. The final deadlines for the project are or should be clearly defined in the contract and schedule of works.