5 Tips for Business Owners Working with Designers

As a business owner, having the right designs is essential to engage your customers and clients. However, working with designers can be a challenge if you don't have the right tools. We'll look at five tips for collaborating successfully with designers to produce impactful visuals that deliver real results for your business. By taking these steps into consideration when commissioning design work from external teams or freelance individuals, you’ll be one step closer to achieving the best design for your brand!

1. When asking for a specific design, try to communicate it as clearly as you can.?

When you have a specific design vision in mind, it's essential to be as specific as possible to avoid confusion. Rather than saying something generic like, "I want a modern website," try to describe what you mean by "modern." Do you want a minimalist design with lots of white space and clean lines or something bold and colorful with eye-catching graphics? The more details you can provide, your designer or developer can understand what you're looking for better. Try jotting down a wishlist, drawing a quick sketch, or pulling some inspiration images - whatever you need to do to prevent future miscommunications.?

2. Give specific design specs.?

Design specifications, called design specs for short,? can either make or break the overall impact of any graphic design project. Business owners who may not be well-versed in the technical aspect of design often overlook this crucial aspect when communicating with their designers. However, providing specific design specs that suit your business needs is a must-do. Design specifications can include:?

• Dimensions: The size of your design is one of the most important design specs to be aware of as a business owner. When determining the dimensions, you must first know where the design will be used. If it’s for print publication, you’ll need to clearly understand the print dimensions and ensure you give your designer exact specifications. If it’s for digital publication, the size of your design should fit the device or social media website it will be viewed on.
• Margin Width: Margin width refers to the empty space left between the edges of the design itself and the edges of what it will be on. Design without a good margin width can feel cluttered and unprofessional. A good rule of thumb for the outer edge margins of a design is to add a white space of at least 1cm to 3cm to make your designs look polished.
• High-Resolution Files: A high-resolution file is necessary for high-quality printed designs. Without a high-resolution file, your design may appear blurry, pixelated, or discolored. Always be sure to request a high-resolution file when creating printed materials.?
• File Type: File type refers to the type of file the design is saved as, for example, a .png or .jpeg. File types determine what software and post capabilities are compatible. You can’t post a .pdf to Instagram! Requesting the right file types will make sure you’re able to utilize your design to its fullest extent.?
• Orientation: This is especially important when it comes to video content. If you’re creating a video, you’ll need to decide if it will be horizontal or vertical.?
• Size: It’s important to decide the right size for your project. Various platforms have different sizing requirements, and sometimes even different sizing requirements for different types of posts.?

3. Know that designers are visually creative, so don’t expect them to write copy for you.

There is a common misconception that designers should also be responsible for writing copy. This is simply not true. Designers are responsible for creating a visual representation of your brand image – they do not specialize in writing copy, that’s a copywriter’s job. It’s important to set realistic expectations from the beginning and avoid placing an undue burden on your designer. Expecting them to be a one-person team (designer and copywriter) is unrealistic and could lead to sub-par results.?

4. If you don’t know what you want, be willing to give a little extra guidance.

If you’re unsure what exactly it is you want - but know you’ll know it when you see it - have patience. Design is a process, and it takes time to get it right. Be patient with your designer, and be willing to give feedback along the way. Investing time and effort upfront can save you money in the long run by avoiding costly redesigns later on.

You could also benefit from creating brand guidelines for your business. Brand guidelines outline the key elements of your brand, including your logo, color palette, typography, and imagery. It will pay off in the long run by ensuring that your brand is consistent across all touchpoints.

5. Understand that good design will be worth your investment.

Design is often undervalued or overlooked in many businesses, but beautiful design can set you apart from your competitors to demonstrate professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail. Before a customer interacts with your products or services, they interact with your website, logo, or packaging.

Design experts spend countless hours developing their skills, experimenting with new techniques, and keeping up to date with the latest developments in their field. Working with an experienced designer can enhance your company's image, increasing the likelihood of customer engagement and ultimately impacting your bottom line. It’s considered best practice to provide them with as much clarity and information as possible.?

Overall, having an amazing graphic design for your business is a great way to make a lasting impression on potential customers. From realizing what you need in your graphic design to understanding the importance of being clear, these five tips can help guide you as work with a designer to bring your brand to life. Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us; we look forward to hearing from you soon!