It is the sequence of actions needed to bring a design from concept to completed product.
Isn’t it simple? There’s a lot more that goes into making this process go smoothly and efficiently. When everything comes together, though, your team will be able to produce designs more quickly and effectively (and likely be a lot happier, too).
Whether you’re starting from scratch or wanting to improve an existing process, here are 5 graphic design process phases to consider:
The creative design process begins with a creative brief, which establishes the overall tone for the project. It is the first and possibly most crucial stage in the visual design process, as it will guide the ideation phase in generating a design that fits the criteria.
A creative brief is a document that helps designers understand the scope of the project and what is expected of them. You should offer as much essential information as possible to avoid misunderstanding and back and forth.
If the project is more involved, we also suggest talking through creative briefs in person or over video. This helps both sides to iron out any kinks and ensures everyone is on the same page, which enhances issue resolution.
Depending on the scale of the project, you’ll want to include as much useful information as possible in your creative brief to reduce the amount of time spent on this phase. However, it is still incredibly beneficial for designers to do their own research in order to have a deeper knowledge of the audience for whom they are building (and how to make it work for you).
Before a designer dive into a project, ask them to develop some ideas and offer them to you. This will reduce any frustration throughout the creative process. Remember to include this step in your creative brief!
If the project owner (who prepared the brief) has very strong views about how the final designs should appear, they should include any relevant links or inspiration in the brief for maximum clarity.
Once the designer has presented you with 3-5 concepts from their brainstorming and ideation process, determine which one you want to pursue. This will result in a fluid graphic design workflow process that produces the best outcomes quickly.
Check in with designers throughout the design process when identifying milestones in your creative brief. The 10/50/99 feedback method guarantees that you check in at the most critical points of a project, enabling you to provide the appropriate comments at the appropriate time:
10% completed — The final design’s skeleton, shape, or wireframe. At this point, you may provide input on the vision and direction of the work.
50% completed — The main elements are coming together. Leave your input at the door since the direction is no longer up for discussion. Instead, consider whether or not the vision you established is reflected in the design.
99% complete — The last design modifications. Finally, you may start adjusting things like space, colors, and so forth.
People often ignore these review restrictions and begin providing suggestions on topics like color selection or typefaces when the designer has merely sketched out a skeleton. This is not only annoying for the designer, but it is also inefficient! Follow the design review steps outlined above to keep your projects on track.
Yay! The design is finished. It’s time to obtain the final files (and an invoice if you’re working with an outside design resource) and start putting the designs into action. If you want to go the additional mile, get input from your designer on how they found the process, what they believe may be improved or changed, and then iterate your approach. You’ll be able to successfully grow your design process over time.
Your designers aren’t psychics. The finest kind of communication you can provide to help bring your vision to reality is feedback. Provide comments if the design does not match your brand.
However, delivering feedback isn’t just about what you say; it’s also about how you say it. Remember to always lead with empathy and collaborate with your designers to assist them help you.
Here are some items to consider while providing design input, according to UX Collective:
Contextualize your remark. Always relate your input to the project objectives that were established at the outset. Perhaps the call to action is not obvious enough. Perhaps the colors chosen are absolutely unrelated to the brand. Whatever input you get, connect it to your objectives.
Be detailed and clear. Don’t just state, “I don’t like it.” Instead, be succinct and explicit about what you don’t like. The color palette used here is a little duller than we’d prefer.”
Describe issues but do not provide answers. This one is difficult for many individuals since everyone wants to tell you how. Instead, concentrate only on the why of your comments. Overall, being explicit and providing examples or references are the keys to providing excellent design input. When you say something like, “This has to be more interesting,” don’t assume designers will comprehend what you mean.
If you like design and want to make it a great career, Brainsol Technologies is for you. If you follow the directions in this article, you’ll be on your way to give graphic design services for small business. Everything you need to know to make your dream of becoming a graphic designer a reality has been covered, from choosing your specialty and establishing a strong portfolio to networking with other professionals and effectively a small digital marketing agency. So, what’s keeping you waiting? Begin right now!
