This is a breakdown of procedures that demonstrates how strong design management is essential to good design results, incorporating the details of the design process and the design brief.
1.0: Preparation, Research
Preparation
– Assign project job number
– Assess budget with cost benefit analysis
– Understand time frames and set schedule
Research & Insights
– Determine if any research is needed and the depth of knowledge required
– Research report generated and discussed
– Gather consumer and/or business insights
Stage 2.0: Briefing
Define brief
– Set communication objectives
– Listen & understand product/service and brand
– Provide and explain any relevant information to creative production team
– Discuss visual & verbal expressionism.
– Provide costings to Client project leader for approval
Stage 3.0: Concept creation
Define underlying unique theory
– Address theory to audience profile and correlate with the intended usage of communication tool
– Create colour visuals from information provided by client and the researched market sector knowledge base
– Ensure communication objectives are being followed
Stage 4.0: Presentation
Open discussion
– Meeting and presentation of concepts
– Discuss issues and redefine details
Stage 5.0: Refinement
Honing of the design concept (Art direction)
– Sharpen conceptual execution into a detailed format
– Communication tool is given creative treatment and refined appropriately as discussed at previous meeting
– Commission creative elements for project
– Redefine costings based on approved design concept.
– Check that nothing has changed from the original brief which may effect costs
– Provide Client with revised costing, break down and explain new costs, if necessary
Visual and verbal communication expressions
– Ensure clarity of communication
– Question every part of the communication, does it make sense, does the communication express itself and is the underlying theory still in place?
– Does it make the right emotional connection for the brand?
Stage 6.0: Design execution
Communication roll-out
– Check content and communication process
– Proof read thoroughly and check typography
– Check all any photographs in detail for content
– Provide Client project for approval
Stage 7.0: Sign-off
Sign off for reproduction
– Creative/Design Director signs off and indicates satisfaction of design
– Client signature to the final colour laser proofs allows the production and reprographics to commence and says you are satisfied that everything is correct
Stage 8.0: Pre-production/technical delivery
Final checking process
– Further proofs from this stage on are chargeable as authors corrections
– Discuss and approve any new costs necessary once project has been re-evaluated with original design brief
– Prepare design for production
– Check all digital information is set up correctly and ready for release
Final proof read
– Read content and understand what is being said
– Re-draw files if special production is required
– Check content integrity
– Raise any issues with client
– Release to client colour splits and colour mock-up
– Release to producer contained in one project folder clearly annotated
– Check pre-launch digital integrity
– Make sure client is completely satisfied
Stage 9.0: Project delivery
Quality Assurance
– Check communication product and ensure highest quality is delivered to client
– In the event the quality delivered is not acceptable by us then the project will be reproduced at the expense of the supplier
Stage 10.0 Effectiveness measuring
Post delivery research
– Research report and independent critique is produced
– Where possible financial & emotional response will be measured
– Quantitative data is collected and response measured for client assessment
– Qualitative data is collected by workshops, forums and tele-research. This is measured for client assessment
Stage 11.0: Appraisal & discussion
Appraisal
– Any issues during the project are raised by both parties to help create a tailored methodology that will allow for future time efficient project management.
Discussion
– Ways forward are discussed and any administration issues with formats of estimating and/or invoicing are discussed, agreed and resolved.