Updated 6/2019.

I'm taking a break from writing, but want to share a short article from AIGA, a professional design organization. Consider this in how you work with a designer.

We offer the following framework as a way to help designers communicate with clients in order to make design an integral part of their business, and to allow designers to make success an integral part of design.

Design is a profession based on conception: on helping to define an opportunity, then develop a solution that will fulfill it. Subsequently, design includes the identification and management of the team that will bring it to life, whether it is a product, communication, event or place. We offer you the following process as a way to make design an integral part of your business, and to allow designers to make your success an integral part of design. It will make you an even more sagacious client. It is a method for partnering, a guide to the most effective use of teams, and the most potent, efficient, reliable way to get from A to B when you are not quite sure what B is.

12 STEPS TO SUCCESS, AT A GLANCE:

1. DEFINE THE PROBLEM
2. SET CLEAR OBJECTIVES AND DEFINE SUCCESS
3. DEFINE THE APPROACH
4. ELICIT BUY-IN AND SUPPORT
5. INFORMATION GATHERING
6. DEVELOP AND PROTOTYPE IDEAS
7. ANALYZE THE OPTIONS
8. MAKE THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS
9. MOBILIZE THE TEAM
10. PRESENT TO INTERNAL AUDIENCES
11. TAKE IT PUBLIC
12. EVALUATE SUCCESS.

Lisa Ghisolf

Designer + WordPress developer for 20+ years. Love design, travel, good food and the Iowa Hawkeyes.