At the moment, this is what I do after I get a design request from a new client:
1. I arrange a meeting. It depends on the client's location, but I prefer to discuss the project with someone in person rather than over the phone. All of my previous jobs have had at least one face-to-face meeting with the rest conducted by phone and via email if distance was an issue. I like to get to know a client, it's easier to work with someone if you have a good relationship with them rather than them just being a name on the end of an email.
2. I bring a list of questions to the meeting and fill this in as I go along. These are questions which I think will help me to understand the business and client's needs. I have a basic question list that I can modify depending on the client. I also give a copy of the questions to the client so that they can read it afterwards and let me know if they think of anything they may have forgotten to mention at the meeting. After the meeting I type everything out in coherent sentences to form a brief for myself, as my note-taking tends to be illegible at times.
3. The next step is to quote. Once I know what the client is looking for I send a quote detailing what exactly I need to do and how much it is likely to cost. Some items have a fixed price, other work is completed at an hourly rate. I'm careful to outline what exactly is covered by a price, and what isn't. Other designer's rates seem to be a very elusive secret in the design world, unfortunately, as this makes it difficult to work out appropriate rates.
I recently found a blog called The Design Cubicle (lots of very helpful information there) which points out that we designers should be marginally increasing our rates annually as every year we gain more experience, knowledge and skills. So obviously someone working for ten years should be earning substantially more than someone fresh out of college, as you would expect in any career. I've learned that undervaluing yourself is a big mistake, no matter what industry you are in.
4. If the client is happy with the quote, I go ahead and start the project. At this point in the process I would also like to introduce a contract, which I'm currently drawing up for future clients. Following this, the design process begins, which I will explain in a later post.
Keeping Everything Together
This is the main part of my system that is constantly under review. I keep a new notebook for every client, which seems to be working well. It's finding the correct notebook and samples at the right time that's the problem, as they are all identical. I'm considering getting some big filing boxes (similar to the one below) so that I can keep my notebook, samples and everything else related to one project altogether and labeled so that I can find the relevant box easily. What do you do?
Kassett Folder, €3.99 from Ikea
My main reason for this post is because I'm interested in learning about how other people work - whether designers or not. How do you manage your workflow? How do you organise your filing system, both physical and on your computer? Do you have any suggestions as to how I could be more efficient with my own?
2 comments:
You are so amazing! I have a folder called 'The Folder of Important Things' which actually contains very little of anything important, and if somethings not there I panic and flail around my room knocking paint everywhere so you are SUPER ORGANISED! I know that's not very helpful but it should make you feel awesome heehee! ;)
Haha thanks Soph! You should sit beside me all day and making encouraging remarks, I would get so much work done hee :D
I also have a similar system to your 'Folder of Important Things' called 'Shoebox of Important Things' where I keep important documents and all my expense receipts etc. Dreading the day I actually have to sort it, but until then I shall continue to throw everything in it!
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