Beds4Kids provides kids in need with a place to sleep and dream. Can you believe that hundreds of kids in our own communities have never had a bed of their own? To date, B4K has provided 400 beds to kids - that’s pretty incredible. We were excited for another opportunity to work with Lauren Glass of THROW. (You might recognize this project!)
Like every project, we kicked it off with a meeting. I was excited to find that Lauren and Brandon had done research beforehand. Not just some research - they had a solid idea and outline of what they wanted to communicate. I think it was that planning in the beginning that allowed the project to flow so smoothly.
It got me thinking on how I could help clients and non creatives get ready for working with one of us.
We can be an odd bunch, let's just admit it!
For design projects like this, it helps to have the copy all the text written out ahead of time. Often times designers have trouble quoting out a project without an outline of content. After that, it's incredibly helpful to have photography ready or at least considered. If you're considering a project with a designer, schedule a call with them to find out all the bits and pieces you'd need ahead of time. My bet is, they will be delighted you asked and your project will flow just as well!
Here's why Preparation is key:
01
Getting a clear idea of what you want to communicate with your design piece beforehand allows the designer you’re working with to focus their energies on what you hired them for - design.
You may not have everything nailed down, and that’s okay. Most designers are more than happy to work through an outline and give suggestions. You’ll bring the rough draft and they can bring their creative energies to the meeting. You get extra credit if you send your rough draft to your designer before the meeting.
02
Have a solid outline can help shorten the timeline and keep the project within budget.
You can get where you’re going much quicker if you have a map, right? You're also less likely to drive around wasting gas if you know where you're headed. Design is the same way! If you come to your designer with most of the details ironed out, they can dive right in.
03
Visuals can be very subjective and explaining them can be confusing.
Bringing visual examples of what you like will help the designer establish a clear sense of visual direction. The lines between icons, infographics, and brand illustrations can get blurry. Especially in longer pieces. It’s so great to be able to point to a design feature and say, “I want something like that.”