Polarity Design TeamPolarity Design TeamPolarity Design TeamPolarity Design Team
  • Home
  • Custom Websites
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Custom Websites
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Trusting the Design Process

pdtcseo2023-01-16T11:17:08-07:00
Marketing

We have a story about how important it is to trust the design process when you hire a designer. Many clients become discouraged when their designer doesn’t come up with the perfect design on the first try. Remember, though, that we’re not mind readers and will almost never be able to do it on the first try. Embrace that change happens and edits and re-works are common throughout the process. 

Change is Hard

Whether you’re a startup or are undergoing the massive task of rebranding, change is hard. The road to change is hard, too. And we get it. It is, after all, our job. We understand that the first draft of your new logo/website/marketing materials will never be the final draft. We just need you to understand that, too. These changes will never be an easy hole-in-one.

This is especially true when we have very little information up front about what you want. Vague adjectives or goals (the words “dynamic” and “make it pop” come to mind) don’t give us a lot to go off of. So we springboard off of literally nothing just to get the ball rolling. This looks like a handful of concepts for you to like or dislike. Then you provide feedback on what you’d like to see differently. 

However, the problem also comes in when a client thinks they know what they want, only to finally land on something completely different at the end of the day.

change is hard; trust the design process

The Design Process Story

The aforementioned story comes in from a taxidermy company in Michigan who wanted a logo. Since we’re in Utah, we couldn’t feasibly meet in person with them. Instead, they gave us an idea of what they wanted over a Zoom call and got to work. After a day of brainstorming concepts, we sent off a first draft and went home for the day. 

The next morning we woke up to a panicked email because none of our first concepts were what they wanted. They were upset we didn’t come up with exactly the image they wanted on the first try. They worried they paid good money for something they didn’t like. 

Our designer patiently explained that it was expected to reject everything from the first draft. Re-works and edits are part of the expected design process. The client had no idea what that meant. They thought they would be charged every time they sent feedback. They were afraid they were being exploited. 

It’s worth stressing at this point that every agency has different policies when it comes to mockups. Many work it into their pricing as an expected part of the process. Others only give you a set amount of edits before charging again. Some charge an hourly rate and you’re billed for the time it takes to choose a design you’re happy with. Be sure you’re aware of and understand the policies up front and when possible, get a quote in writing. 

In this case, our designer explained that a price was agreed upon, so they would not be hit with surprise charges (Polarity Design Team prides themselves on upfront, honest pricing). He better explained the process so the client could know what to expect going forward. After all, the basis of disappointment is unmet expectations. 

Design Process Graphic

So What Is the Design Process?

The design process is simple, if you know what you’re getting into. First you discuss wants and needs in a consultation. Possibly you have a concept in mind, and this is where you’d present that to your designer. 

The designer will do one of two things at that point. They either take that information and run with it, or they give ideas for something that’s a better fit for your company. Together, you land a loose direction. Your designer will then mock up several concepts, usually varying in styles, and oftentimes includes one or two variations of the same concept. 

This is your chance to be involved and engaged in your branding. You don’t have to choose a concept you’re unhappy with. 

You can say something along the lines of, “I like where we were going with this. Maybe we could try xyz with it?”. Or “Is there a way we could combine concept A and concept D?”. Maybe you don’t love any of them, so you can say, “Can we try something with bold geometric shapes and features our name more prominently?” 

Together you’ll brainstorm new changes to make, and the designer will hit the drawing board again.

This stage of the design process can require many redos, lots of feedback, and quite a bit of give-and-take until the final product is something everyone is happy with. Sometimes we have to trash an entire concept and start from scratch in order to best serve your business.

The Bottom Line

Once our client knew what to expect, they had fun bringing ideas to the table. It only took two more tries for them to find exactly what they wanted (you know what they say about the third time being the charm.) They walked away happy campers, and we learned a lesson in explaining the design process to clients who may not know what to expect when hiring a designer. If you’re ready to start your own process, you know where to find us.

Share this post

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google + Email

Related Posts

11JulJuly 11, 2022

Copyright Infringement

We’re talking about copyright infringement in this blog post. Before we dive in, it’s worth noting that we’re obviously not...

Read More
24FebFebruary 24, 2023

SEG Fabric as a Marketing Tool

Fabric projects as a marketing tool are often overlooked - possibly because many people don’t know they exist! SEG (silicone...

Read More
19AprApril 19, 2023

How to Build Brand Trust Every Day

These are tips you can do daily to build brand trust in your company, regardless of size. In today's market,...

Read More
18MayMay 18, 2022

Graphic/Web Designer: Freelancer or Agency

If you’re debating between hiring a graphic/web design freelancer vs. hiring a graphic web/design agency, you’re not alone. Is one...

Read More
02MarMarch 2, 2023

The Great AI Graphic Design Debate

AI graphic design, and AI art in general, is a controversy that’s seemingly everywhere right now. The ethics of AI...

Read More
02MayMay 2, 2023

Pros and Cons of Vehicle Wraps

Vehicle wraps can be an investment that pays off when small businesses use them as a marketing tool.  Vehicle wraps can...

Read More
07JunJune 7, 2022

A Good Graphic Designer Is Your Digital Stylist

A good graphic designer should be your digital hairdresser. Not only should they be able to make you (read: your...

Read More
15AugAugust 15, 2022

Business Cards and the First Impression

Business cards are often the first impression potential clients and customers get of your business. The message your business card...

Read More
25JanJanuary 25, 2023

Is A Premade Logo Good Enough for Your Business?

Considering a premade logo is a checkpoint many new business owners pass through. We understand the appeal. Premade logo generators...

Read More
12JanJanuary 12, 2023

The Perfect Client-Designer Relationship

There are 4 key elements to the perfect client-designer relationship that leaves both parties happy with the project. As with...

Read More

Recent Posts

  • 6 Ways to Improve Employee Morale
  • Why Breaks at Work Are Vital
  • Why You Need Both NFC Cards and Traditional Business Cards
  • Pros and Cons of Vehicle Wraps
  • How to Build Brand Trust Every Day

Archives

  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022

Categories

  • Marketing
Polarity Design Team. © 2022. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy
Facebook Instagram
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT