Here's how you can present design ideas to clients effectively.

The brief phase is essential before starting any research. This is an exchange where the client must have more than 70% of the speaking time. Active listening and empathy will help them feel comfortable and help you understand their problems. An onboarding questionnaire can help prepare a pre-brief and supplement it with other more specific questions during the video meeting.

Before meeting with clients, I dive deep into their industry, company culture, and even their competitors. It's like putting yourself in their shoes to see what truly resonates. This approach not only demonstrates your dedication and thoroughness but also shows respect for their unique needs. Remember, the more personal and relevant your presentation, the stronger your connection with the client will be. Tailoring your pitch makes your ideas easy to grasp and hard to resist!

Think of it as setting the stage for a successful show. Before any presentation, I always outline clear, measurable goals that align with what the client is seeking. It's like saying, "Here's where we're headed, and here's how we'll know we've arrived." This clarity not only boosts your confidence but also demonstrates to clients that you're focused and results-oriented. And let me tell you, seeing that nod of agreement because you're speaking their language? That's the sweet spot. Aim for it every time.

Think of it as showing a movie where your design is the protagonist overcoming challenges to achieve its goals. This approach not only captures their attention but also makes complex concepts easily digestable. Remember, a story well told is a vision shared and understood.

You can use tools like Notion to create a client area template that you can customize according to the project. This makes it possible to follow the process in real time, bringing together all the information and deliverables. Personally, I create categories corresponding to each phase of the process to organize the process and allow the customer to provide feedback.

Indeed, it is very important that the client understands your choices to follow your thinking, because he cannot read minds! The ideal is to always give the client the opportunity to react to each phase of the creative process. This avoids going back too far and making it active in your reflection. Particularly if your client is an independent or founder of a small business or a startup. It’s about supporting them creatively and technically towards a result that suits them. Let him be comfortable defending this project.

Establish an open and transparent communication channel where clients feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, questions, and concerns. Define clear timelines and checkpoints for feedback throughout the design process, ensuring clients understand when their input is needed. Share iterative design iterations and progress updates to demonstrate responsiveness to previous feedback and to invite new insights. Ask clarifying questions to ensure a clear understanding of client feedback, especially when comments are ambiguous or broad.

Send a follow-up email or message promptly after the presentation or feedback session to acknowledge the discussion and summarize key points discussed. Address any unclear points or questions that arose during the session, seeking clarification to ensure mutual understanding. Highlight the iterative nature of design and emphasize ongoing collaboration to refine the design based on feedback received. Use visuals to illustrate how feedback has been integrated into the design, providing clarity on modifications made.