Having a streamlined process is essential to run your business efficiently. Not only does it make the experience stellar for your client - it makes it so much better for you! The entire process becomes completely stress-free when you have a good flow in place.

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Before we dive in, let me ask you: what is a design process?

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It’s how you work from start to finish with your client! Every step of the way - from the first inquiry to the final delivery of their project. It’s important to map out your client journey so they know what to expect when working with you.

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(If you need some help with this, a super easy way to break this down is to take some sticky notes and write out each action you and your client would need to take to get to the next step.)

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It’s important to be clear with your client from the very beginning on what each step will entail. This way, your client isn’t wondering what’s coming next. Don’t be afraid to be transparent about your process! Also make sure you’re sharing the different platforms you’ll be using just in case they’re not familiar. Be ready to explain why each step of your design process is important to the final outcome.

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Need some guidance? Here’s an overview of my design process to help get the ball rolling:

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Get in Touch

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Your client has finally decided they’re ready to take the leap and invest in their business! Woooo! Have your client fill out an intake form to gather information about their business and the goals they want to achieve through working with you.

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Discover Call

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Once you’ve received their inquiry, follow up with an email for them to book a call with you. On this call you’ll dive deeper into their business and the goals they have. You can then explain to them how you work and what exactly you offer. Allow your client to use this time to ask any questions they may have about the process so that they are perfectly prepared going into it.

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Proposal

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After the call, put together a proposal outlining what you spoke about on the call. Explain your deliverables and break down the pricing for them. Be sure to provide them with some add-on options that pair well with the services they’re getting from you. It’s an easy way to add even more to their package.

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Client Homework

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Now’s when you wait for your client to do their homework. Make sure you get an accepted proposal, a signed contract, and the first portion of the invoice paid. Also be sure to send them a creative brief for them to fill out to make sure you have all the information you need from them before getting started with the actual designing.

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Design

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Time to get to work! Once you have everything you need from your client, you can begin your design process. Come up with some concepts, research your client’s industry, and come up with a strategy that’s aligned with your client’s business and their overall branding. This is where it gets fun!

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Review

This will be a back and forth process for a bit just to make sure your client is 100% happy with their designs. Send different design concepts to them and ask for feedback. When they do offer edit suggestions, adjust the designs accordingly before sending back to them for further review. You want your client to be happy!

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Refine

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You’ve taken all of your client’s feedback and are finalizing their designs. This is where you’ll refine the design concepts, strategy, and final branding. Get your client excited! It’s almost time for the big reveal!

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Launch

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Grab the champagne! Your client’s design is complete and ready to launch! Now’s when you assist your client in getting their new designs up and running. It’s a nice touch to offer support for a period of time after the launch to ensure things go smoothly.

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And there you have it! My design process!

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It’s so important to have your design process streamlined to make sure your client’s know what they’re getting when working with you. It not only eases their mind, but also helps them know what is expected of them.

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I’d love to hear from you - do you struggle with creating a streamlined design process?

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