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Okay, you’ve just closed the deal. You’re shaking hands, or clicking buttons. Time to begin the work for your client’s project. You may have been briefed a little or none at all with what exactly your client is seeking, but you start the brainstorming process. Besides being creative, your roles of a designer is to link with the person or company’s ideas to help get them where they want to be. I will discuss the different scenarios you may encounter, pre-determining what you need to prepare for, and tips to help you with brainstorming techniques.

The Situation

Through time you will encounter different clients and your scenario maybe:

• On prompt. Your initial meeting is a success. Sold. They just made it even better because they give you a handout detailing the specific needs and process of their project. Most likely there will be very little you need to do or come up with. Usually, you would not need to come up with extra ideas. That will just add more time to the completion of the project. Make sure to point out anything that maybe out of the question to do. Go over their ideas and come to a conclusion to whether you can meet their needs or not.
• The meeting went well. The customer just gave you some general ideas, but you may need to further consult with them. You may find yourself adding on to their ideas which should be no problem. Usually, another scheduled meeting can finalize the thinking process. The first meeting can be the greet, and the second will be where the ideas will become concrete.
• Contract is done, and initial deposit is transferred by one click. The customer just gave you some general ideas, but in your mind it seems to be an unclear, unworthy path to take for their brand. Remember you are a designer, part of your work will detail the ability to point out a direction for your client. Do not be rude, but remind the client that this is your profession and your thoughts may differ from theirs. You will find yourself consulting with your client a little more, but remember you are here to provide quality work that will work best for their project. Trust you instincts and judgment.
• You are questioning about this one. They are seeking a website design and development, but have no clue on how the theme should be and what will the content read. Well, either you can take a shot and discuss what you can do or you can jump ship and let them know that you will not be able to complete their project. It is a gamble. Expect more time added on while working on the service. In the long run it might be wise just to not deal with it at all.

With each of these scenarios you will want to learn how to cope with each one. It will take time, but you can have your own flow of operation when coming up with ideas.

Pre-existing?

Designers, developers and other freelancers will note to their clients that they charge for all consultation fees.  Myself, I do not. I like to figure that in on the final project fee. During the first meeting I like to think through the direction or ideas I got from the client. If it seems to me that we will need further discussion in the future then I will know that there will be a need for more communicating, taking time away from working. It can stretch out the time- or deadline. Then there will be others who give you exactly what they want equaling to less hours. Both ways affect the idea of working with that business. How?

I look at other factors like if they seemed organized with their meeting. If I did not get much detail, and the client did not seem organized when coming to me at first, I can see myself getting into a mess or possibly have a designer block since I have no ideas to go by. Now it can also lead into a freedom situation to where you will have full control of doing your own thing, where you really should be. Sometimes if I am presented with this kind of situation I get permission to just go with what feels right to me. The client has full faith and predicts an successful outcome. So if a company comes to me with full detail of the project itself I can get signs of either an easy client to work with because that’s how it flows or a really picky one. Vice Versa.

The thing to know is that you will encounter numerous situations, and to continue with your career you need to know how to collaborate with each client. A very useful way of selecting your clients in the future is to understand how to predict what may happen when you take on certain projects.

Brainstorming!

Everyone will have their own ways of reaching a creative understanding with the business they are providing a service for. Here is a list of some things to do:

Really ask them the Five Ws (and one H)

• Who?
• What?
• Where?
• When?
• Why?
• How?

Yes, who are they? Do they have an presence already?

What do they specialize in? You can get the general idea of what they are about.

Where are they located at? Location can play a big part on the company itself and who they are targeting.

When is it? Is it for a lifetime or maybe just one night like a holiday.

Why? Maybe it’s a benefit that has a target market or you can tell what they are contributing and to whom.

How? Is it possible? Really, there maybe some special process that people need to know that will attract them. How does it benefit? It helps the earth, think green!

Display something visual in front of their eyes

Quickly show them ideas. Most times you maybe close to some sort of connection to the web, I now am with my G1! If a company is seeking a website design show them some css galleries and scout through the list. Know that in most you can search for their industry. It can help them understand what their competition is doing and how they are displaying themselves to the public.

I have a contact form on my website and it asks a brief description of their project. Most times I get a description about what their business is, and before if I knew I was not going to be around any computers to show them I would look for businesses that are in the same boat and print out the various design inspiration to get my clients creative process going.

Look at the Competition

As mention from above looking through the client’s competition is not a bad idea. The way they have branded themselves might be a good indication on how they have been successful. Do not steal their ideas, but be inspired for what they have done or used in their marketing materials. Think of the things they have not done yet or been displayed as.

Illustrate

Make sure to bring a notepad or something you can doodle on. You get into situations where you may want to quickly draw out an idea because your client can not visualize what you are talking about, or vice versa. Do not necessarily sketch them a masterpiece, but remember that these are going to be notes for you so keep it clean and organized. You can use such things as an action book to sketch and write notes on!

Take A Trip

You may find yourself in need to see what your client actually does. Get a feel for their environment which could lead to inspiration and ideas by going to their office or location. It can be really interactive with some companies, and also it gets you out and about from the desk!

Seek the dislikes and no-no’s

Say you are helping a company brand their identity, but they have no clue on how they want to be branded as. Take a different approach and ask them what they do not like. Maybe they have a few color choices that they do not want to approach. If they are in the need of name for a product just cycle through some words that may not be suitable. Ultimately, this will cross out the non-favorable choices and get you closer to the direction you want to take the project.

Think as the market

You can understand a client’s goal of reaching their target market by thinking like their target market. Put yourself in the position to where you are the one receiving the product or service. What do you want to see, or what would want to make you be interested in the client’s service or product. Ask others like friends and family with their opinions. Use email marketing and find out what people are saying. One place you can do this at is Stream Send.

Be in a state of mind

Sometimes if you know you are going to be in a meeting where you are going to have to brainstorm, or you have a deadline by next week to get a logo design you have to prepare yourself to be able to think.

• Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Your mind cannot function well when you do not sleep, well for creative people I can speak for.
• Do not think about the negative things! Stop worrying about the deadline, and do not worry about the possibility of losing your client. Thoughts like these will prevent you from continuing on a successful completion of the product.
• Have your body be relaxed. Try deep breathing techniques. A clear mind can mean a clear view of an approach that you are going to take on the project.
• Daydreaming is not so bad! It can be very effective.

So next time you are having trouble brainstorming just remember these practices mentioned above and apply it to yourself and the client you are working with.

Tags: Clients