How do you prepare for a commercial design pitch?

1 Know your audience

Before you start working on your pitch, you need to understand who you are pitching to, what they are looking for, and what their pain points and goals are. Research the client's industry, market, brand, competitors, and target customers. Ask them questions about their budget, timeline, scope, and preferences. Use this information to tailor your pitch to their specific needs and interests, and to demonstrate how your design solution can solve their problems and add value to their business.

2 Define your objectives

A clear and concise pitch should have a main objective and a few key messages that support it. Your objective is what you want the client to do or think after hearing your pitch, such as hiring you, approving your concept, or giving you feedback. Your key messages are the main points that explain why and how your design solution meets the client's needs and expectations, and what benefits and outcomes they can expect from it. Write down your objective and key messages, and use them as a guide to structure your pitch.

3 Craft your story

A compelling pitch is not just a presentation of facts and features, but a story that engages the client's emotions and imagination. A good story has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and follows a logical and coherent flow. The beginning should introduce yourself, your design approach, and your objective. The middle should present your design solution, using visuals, examples, and evidence to support your key messages. The end should summarize your main points, restate your objective, and call the client to action.

4 Practice your delivery

No matter how good your content is, your pitch will not be effective if you don't deliver it with confidence, clarity, and enthusiasm. Practice your pitch several times, preferably in front of a mirror, a colleague, or a friend who can give you feedback. Pay attention to your body language, voice, eye contact, and timing. Use gestures, pauses, and intonation to emphasize your points and keep the client's attention. Anticipate possible questions and objections, and prepare answers and solutions. And most importantly, relax and enjoy the opportunity to share your passion and creativity.

5 Prepare your materials

A well-prepared pitch should have a few essential materials that support your content and enhance your professionalism. These include a pitch deck, a portfolio, a proposal, and a contract. A pitch deck is a slide show that summarizes your pitch in a visual and concise way. A portfolio is a collection of your previous work that showcases your skills and experience. A proposal is a document that outlines the scope, deliverables, timeline, and budget of your design project. A contract is a legal agreement that defines the terms and conditions of your collaboration with the client.

6 Follow up

After you deliver your pitch, don't just wait for the client's response. Follow up with them within a day or two, thank them for their time and attention, and remind them of your objective and value proposition. Ask them if they have any questions or feedback, and address them promptly and politely. Keep the communication open and friendly until you get a final decision. And if you win the project, celebrate your success and start working on it with enthusiasm and dedication.