Things you should do before you hire a designer.
Being properly prepared to collaborate with your designer is a gamechanger when it comes to a successful project. Independent businesses come in all shapes and sizes; each and every one is different. But, regardless of where your business sits, there are a few things that you can be doing to make sure you're going to hit the ground running when you work with a designer.
1. Make a five year plan. Your designer is going to want to know where you're hoping to go in the next few years. What do you want your business to look like then? What do you hope to achieve? What are your plans for growth? Having a good idea of where you see yourself and your business further down the line will give your designer better chances of creating branding that you can grow into and use for a long time.
2. Consider a branding photoshoot. There are many things that go into successful branding, including professional and relevant imagery. A photoshoot is the best way to add your own personality to your business and evoke trust within your audience. You could have an incredible portfolio and website, but your audience still want to see who you are.
3. Start collecting inspiration. Inspiration comes in many forms - it could be a colour, a webpage, a pattern, a piece of clothing, something you see on your commute or even just a sentence. Be sure to spend some time collecting different pieces of inspiration before your project beings, so both you and your designer have lots to pull from.
4. Make sure you understand the core of your business. It might sound silly to tell someone that they need to understand their own businesses but, the truth is, as your business grows and evolves it becomes much easier to lose sight of your values. Before you start working with a designer, spend some time really getting to know your business and what it is you stand for. Why do you do what you do? What do you love about it?
If you're planning on working with a designer some time soon, I hope this post has given you some helpful tips on how to prepare! Working with a designer is a collaboration and requires and attention from both sides. Treat it like an extension of your business and you'll already be on the road to a successful project.
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