How to Speak Designer

Too often, projects that start off as exciting and full of potential wind up over budget, emotionally draining, and disastrous. In my experience as a designer, one of the biggest contributing factors to the success of a project is whether clients are prepared and able to convey their needs to a designer.

My goal is to facilitate better communication and understanding between clients and designers, leading to more successful projects. This session will teach potential clients how to get the most out of designer engagement, while hitting deadlines and saving money. I am going to explain how to:

• Determine your design needs: Do you need a designer, and what kind? Should you take your project to an agency or a freelancer? I will show you how to answer these questions.

• Select a designer: In order to see the best results, you need to partner with an individual who can deliver them. I’m going to tell you what to look for in a designer or an agency.

• Provide visual direction: No matter how amazing your designer is, he or she will rely on feedback from you throughout the evolution of the project. I am going to break down how to communicate your thoughts about design, even if you have no design experience.

Learning how to “speak designer” will pay off in the form of style tiles, branding assets, static comps, and final deliverables that more efficiently and successfully achieve the goals of your project.