There are so many choices out there when it comes to hiring a designer that I have found it is often just as important to explain the processes of project management as it is to show a prospective client your portfolio. To that end, I offer this short article to explain some of the milestones that I employ for most of my client's projects.
Initial Contact- A prospective client will contact me either by phone or email or my online quote request form. At this point, a first meeting (preferably in person but by phone is acceptable) is scheduled. If the meeting is to be by phone then I will typically send, or encourage the client to download, the Architectural Discovery Worksheet.
First Meeting- During the first meeting with a client, we will discuss the scope of the project be it a simple graphic design or complex website project. If the project is a website then the data from the Architectural Discovery Worksheet is reviewed so that I can get a better idea of the needs and goals of the client. At some point during this initial meeting I will try to provide the prospective client with a rough idea of the cost for the project. If the client is agreeable to this estimate then I will provide the client with a proper proposal.
Client Proposal- The next step in the process is the generation of a formal proposal. This proposal is either sent to the client in hardcopy form or emailed as a .pdf attachment. This proposal will outline the full scope of work, my specific recommendations for the project, as well as providing the client a more accurate quote and storyboard diagram detailing the specific deliverables for the project. If the client is in agreement with the proposal then a contract is drawn up and the client is sent (either by hardcopy or .pdf format) the Creative Discovery Worksheet.
Contract- If the client agrees to the articles of the proposal, then a contract is drawn up for the client to sign. The contract lists the legal details relating to the project as well as the estimate due date, payment arrangements and spec sheet listing the contract deliverables. Once the contract is signed and initial payment is received, then the project begins.
Initial Design Phase- Once the project proper begins, I utilize the data taken from the Creative Discovery Worksheet to work up comps for the clients approval. After any necessary revisions, the project proceeds to the build phase. The initial design phase of the project is usually the longest.
Project Build Phase- Once the design is signed off on, the project is "built". During this phase of the project I typically work closely with the client (especially true with website projects) to integrate any mid-project revisions.
Project Completion- During the final phase of the project (once again, this is especially true for website projects) I am in almost daily contact with clients to make sure that any last minute revisions are integrated into the completed project. Once the graphic design materials are signed off on, or the website is launched, and the final payment is received, the project is officially closed. If included in the contract, the client will receive a disk with a copy of the original project files.
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