A successful project

After running my business for over 10 years, I have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge, and have undergone a significant evolution in my opinions and approach. Along the way, I have stumbled and made mistakes, but these setbacks have allowed me to learn important lessons and develop a set of valuable tricks to improve my design process.

Throughout this journey, I have come to appreciate the importance of being adaptable and open-minded. In the fast-paced world of design, it is crucial to be able to pivot and adjust to new challenges and changing trends. By embracing a growth mindset and continually seeking out new knowledge, I have been able to evolve and improve my approach over time.

One of the key lessons I have learned is the value of collaboration. By working closely with people and seeking out feedback from clients, I have been able to gain valuable insights and identify areas for improvement. This has helped me to develop more effective and efficient workflows, and has allowed me to create some basic guidelines that might be interesting to share:

“Get it right — the first time!”

As a designer, clients frequently ask me for daily updates or other frequent updates on their projects. However, I’ve learned to avoid this practice for good reason.

Designing is a process that is constantly evolving and adapting as it progresses. During this process, early versions of the design may not be up to the designer’s standards or meet their vision for the project. In such cases, presenting the design to the client may not be productive since the client may also be unsatisfied with it.

In fact, presenting unfinished work to clients may make them anxious, leading to unnecessary changes in the early stages that could hinder the entire process. Refinement and exploration are key aspects of the design process that should not be hindered by premature judgments. This could result in ticky-tack changes, endless phone calls, or even additional mockups created by the client using tools like MS Paint, which can cause frustration for both the designer and the client.

To avoid this situation, it’s essential to set expectations with the client early on and to establish a workflow that suits both parties. While it’s not always possible to get everything right on the first try, presenting clients with designs that the designer is proud of and confident in can go a long way in building trust. As designers, we have the unique ability to see beyond the process and visualize the final product. Clients, on the other hand, often need to see the end result to fully understand the design.

In conclusion, avoiding frequent updates and instead presenting the client with designs that are refined and well-considered can lead to a better design process, greater client satisfaction, and a more successful outcome.