Worthwhile steps on setting expectations for the next project

Congratulations to you on taking on a new client and getting started with their work right on time. Winning a new round of work is a sort of a victory itself. It is an exciting moment especially for creative professionals because they’re engaging in a new round of work and other tasks. 

But just before the dotted line is signed, it is important to ensure that both you and the client are on the same page. It should be like that for the project’s duration as it helps prevent last minute snags from showing up.

Are new design projects much better?

In the obvious sense they are, and in absolute terms too.

Without a doubt, each new design project can open the door to very good long-term professional relationships that are on very good terms. However, even the most experienced designers can run into roadblocks.

Relationships with clients can somehow get sour due to a multitude of reasons. Among them are scope creep and the never-ending revisions to delays in feedback or disagreements with clients.

Design professionals can protect their time, relationships and work (plus their patents for company profile design) with ease. Clear terms will give both design professionals and clients proper guidance if anything goes out of the ordinary. Clear boundaries need to be set upfront. This helps both sides say no whenever it is needed.

Discussing the deliverables properly

Clients send their designers a creative brief and it might seem to be easy enough. However, there is a catch that should be properly thought of. Professionals of Logo Design Dubai explain that clients need to specifically mention how many designs and variations they need in a project.

Let us consider a case where clients want a logo. Designers should actually ask clients what they need as numerous brands have a varying set of logo deliverables for digital and physical assets. Here are some questions designers must ask clients:

• What does the client actually expect?

• Will they require a variety of sizes to ensure the legibility of the logo/visuals?

• The amount of color options needed.

• Are there any badges/Wordmarks?

• Any extra details like animations, brand accents, ornamentations, patterns, etc.

• Are they assuming a brand guide is already present?

Designers and their clients might be defining the logo project in very different terms. It is hence key to agree on these expectations in the beginning to make things more amicable. Outlining project deliverables at the start with clients helps itemize each deliverable and additional work is hence charged nominally. This prevents scope creep in the long run.

Reaching consensus on the file formats

Communication errors regarding file formats can create setbacks for designers. This happens if they are in the project’s ending. This is why they must check with clients about the kind of file formats they need for either individual or multiple files.

Consider the instance where a designer works with a non-profit client needing an editable brochure and logo design templates. They both have gone through multiple revisions and the designer is ready to wrap the project up.

The designer sends the client a file in Adobe InDesign that is editable and makes the final invoice. However, the client ends up being confused and calls the designer. They tell them that they lack Adobe Suite and prefer the materials to be file formats suitable for MS Office Suite and Microsoft Essentials. This may be due to the fact that those are the software they use.

It should be understood that not all clients are well-versed in graphic design. Designers must guide them throughout each aspect and step of the process. They need help in understanding what file formats they require. 

This is why designers must ask clients what designs applications and software they know how to use. If they are unsure, they must guide them through so they know how to use an editable file. They should also ask clients what they plan on doing with the design once it is completed. 

This information will give designers much-needed insights into the kind of file formats the client requires. It will also help them skip last-minute roadblocks and snags when they receive the final designs.