Are you ready to do your designer a huge favor and be the best design client they could ever ask for? Are you ready to break the records, sore the best client charts, and win the best client award? Then you have come to the right place. I want a good design client, and you want good design, and good design is made easy through a good client-designer relationship. Next time you meet a designer, you can come back and thank me.

• Know what you already have

First look at what you already have. Do you have the copy you want for your brochure? Do you have the images you’d like to add to your website? Do you have the prices or data or information you’d like to add to your infographic? Make sure that whatever you’re particular about, you have it.

• Figure out your needs

Then look at what you need help with. Do you need design? Do you need help with printing? Would you like recommendations for the type of paper to use? Can your designer cut or assemble your packaging? Find out all of these things ahead of time so your designer can give you an accurate estimate of time/price. 

• Be timely

Be timely with what you have to provide. Provide that copy for your newsletter. Gather those images for that annual report. Or send the link/reference you spoke about at your meeting. Just be timely and know that every delay might push your projected deadline farther.

• Look beyond a hard deadline

While we designers do work with hard deadlines, always leave room for unforeseen delays. These delays can be time it takes to propagate a website, additional printing times, the couple of days it takes to get your listing or page verified, or even just the fact that your email might have landed in the Spam folder and was not seen until much later. #TrueStory

• Communicate

It’s not always easy to know how you want something designed or made. And that’s OK if you communicate. If you have a vision, seek out those images and show them to the designer. If you are looking for a certain feature to add to your website, find examples. And if you truly don’t care, that’s fine too as long as you communicate.

• Price and pay appropriately

Every additional change or detail adds time. And added time raises the price. So if you’re on a budget, let your designer know at the start. If you can’t afford a redesign, then make sure you’ve communicated your preferences. If you can only pay in installments, make sure your designer offers a payment plan. And lastly, never skimp. Unless your designer is super inexperienced, your money will truly be well worth the design.

• Be ready for surprises!

Just in case, be ready for surprises. As much as we don’t want any surprises, if you prepare for them or expect some, then there’s no way for you to be surprised at all.

If you’re looking for an experienced designer, who is communicative, can work within a budget or timeline, and executes the best for you, then look no further, I’m happy to get your project started. Get in touch today to get your logo redesigned, your website launched or your marketing campaign started.