Session 4 Recap: Exchange Your Artistic Vision and Ideas with your Designer
#FCAAnnual looks a little different this year, but we are grateful to still be offering educational sessions for our members!
Here are five key takeaways from the educational session: It’s All Greek to Me: How to Exchange Your Artistic Vision and Ideas with your Designer.
Working with designers is an open partnership to better understand the needs of the organization.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions to designers if you don’t know what they are talking about (i.e. terms you’re not familiar).
Let designers know if you need to modify the design, they will create templates and to make sure the design is sustainable.
Internal designers should find an efficient process and organization (folder/file management) that works for you on the front end of any design project. Avoid a cluttered desktop!
Here’s what a designer is looking for in the beginning to get started:
Creative Questionnaires are provided at the beginning of the process to provide what and what NOT to incorporate into the design. They have never received too much information that wasn’t helpful. The more information the better!
Budget expectations, a range is helpful to offer solutions that fit within that budget.
Audience and what we are delivering to them.
Decision makers/gatekeepers for the organization.
Brand elements, existing assets or photos, anything they can see will be helpful for designers to reference.
If your background is not in visual or design, communicate emotions and feelings with designers.
Aspirational designs, what ideas do you have or have seen that are similar to what you want to accomplish. Clients are the experts of their organization, bring all your thoughts and wants to the initial conversation.
Provide key words that associate with the brand.
Use adjectives and feelings that you want to get across.
General feelings of the group, AVOID sharing your personal preference.
Provide ample time to designers to follow their creative process and to meet the need of the projects.
ASAP is not a good deadline.
There is a thorough process to create creative work.
Be efficient with your time: Clients shouldn’t spend too much time looking for assets (typographer, illustrators, colors, photos, etc.), designers can help guide these choices and may be able to provide better resources.
Give designers time to do their job, and let them do their job.
One point of contact for feedback on designs.
Design is a subjective field, it’s more efficient to have revisions all at once and from one person.
A good designer is not personally attached to the work they present you - don’t be afraid to share honest and constructive feedback. This is a partnership and we are all on the same team!
Be specific - which will lead to designers ask more questions. Present initial proof in a conversation to get better direction earlier in the process.
Click here to view the recording on 5/14.
This wouldn’t be possible without the credible and resourceful speakers, thank you for your time and expertise!
Bruce Tria
How to Exchange Your Artistic Vision and Ideas with your Designer
Bruce Tria founded Tria Designs in 2007 on one principle — everyone deserves good design. After graduating with his bachelor’s in communications from Virginia Tech, Tria went on to obtain a degree in graphic design at the Illinois Institute of Art. His experience includes eight years on-staff with the Sigma Chi Fraternity, senior designer and project manager for an award-winning Chicago design firm, and today he partners with values-based organizations and corporations to build and strengthen brand affinity. Tria Designs has received numerous industry awards for excellence in magazine design and layout, brand design, annual reports, and membership marketing for multiple FCA member organizations.
Karen McKenzie
How to Exchange Your Artistic Vision and Ideas with your Designer
McKenzie is both the Co-Founder and Creative Director at Rhyme & Reason Design – an Atlanta-based design shop that specializes in building brand champions through beautiful designs and smart ideas. A graduate of the University of Florida, she learned the Gator Chomp while honing her design skills and has worked diligently over the last decade to build a company that reflects the fun, creative and collaborative environment that helps designers thrive. Her work has appeared in Print Magazine and won numerous Create and Atlanta Addy Awards for branding, advertising campaigns and website design.
