Why the Beginning of a Design Project is So Important

Photo courtesy of mconners of MorgueFile.com

How do most design projects start? Someone wants to solve some sort of communication problem by creating something. That something requires a look and feel that influences his target audience. So now, the designer that he chooses must start off on the best possible foot.

Why is this so important? Well, the way a designer starts a project determines how the rest of the design process progresses and the success of the final product. For instance, if the designer jumps too quickly into discussion of colors and style with a client without understanding what the client really wants, the designer will find herself in a meandering process and an outcome that misses the mark.

So, what's a good way to start a design project? That would be to not design anything at all. Designers must take the time to not only understand what the client wants, but to ensure that she and the client are in agreement on what they are trying to accomplish. That's why it's important to take the time to listen, to develop reasonable expectations, to create a workable contract, and to have a creative brief that the designer and client can agree on.

When the designer begins this way the design process will be off to a good start.