Design Shop Creative Process
1. Pre Initial Client Meeting
a. Receive email, note or call from client about
interest in having a project designed by the
Design Shop
b. DS Coordinator or student team leader sends
client a questionnaire (see attachments)
2. Receive Client’s Questionnaire Answers
3. Initial Client Meeting with DS coordinator or VCOM
faculty member and at least one student
a. Define project
b. Discuss palette, look and feel, and site
architecture
c. Determine desired dimensions (for web: wrapper
pixel width; for print: various print specs)
d. Discuss marketing goals
e. Outline client's mission
f. Define target audience and competition
g. Discuss client’s questionnaire answers
h. Schedule date for next steps meeting
i. Follow up meeting with summary notes
4. Secure Verbal Agreement (via email or phone)
a. Client agrees to initial meeting notes as is or
sends written edit
b. Client provides written or verbal buy-in to
participate in the process
5. Class/Team(s) receive/discuss assignment and
initial client meeting
a. Review client’s questionnaire and summary notes
b. How/what to conduct research about for initial
client meeting
c. How to act in a client meeting
d. Define roles for client meeting
e. What to have ready for client meeting (e.g.,
questions, suggestions, printed/digital format
research)
f. Students sign agreement to move forward with
work
6. Initial Client Meeting with DS coordinator or
faculty member and class or student project manager
a. Summarize overall project for everyone
b. Examine target audience
c. Review existing marketing materials
d. Evaluate competition
e. Review messages
f. Analyze appropriate imagery
g. Review budget parameters
h. Discuss next steps, schedules and timeframes
i. Follow up meeting with detailed scope of the
work statement and meeting summary notes
7. Develop detailed estimate of costs
8. Write contract
9. Send client contract
10. Receive signed contract and deposit
11. Students sign contract
12. Brainstorm at the Studio and communicate if
necessary via email/phone/iChat with client
a. Review research
b. Refine Messages
c. Review/edit copy and images (as needed)
d. Conduct image search and or suggest photo
shoot(s) (as needed)
e. Discuss appropriate design concepts
f. Review production schedule
g. Schedule presentation date
13. Design Presentation to Client
a. Reiterate project goals
b. Present design proposals including printed comps
c. Select one (or more) design(s) for refinement
(often done after client leaves presentation and
has time to think)
14. Design Phase
a. Design layout(s) with final copy
b. Produce proofs for client review
c. Repeat above two steps as described in contract
d. If print: define print specifications and
estimates
e. If web: define domain and hosting specifications
and estimates
15. Production Phase
a. Receive approval on “rough” proofs from client
b. Prepare files for final production
c. Conduct web checks and/or prepress preflight
d. Communicate with client as needed
e. Produce final proofs for client review
f. Receive final written approval and payment from
client
16. Final Product Delivery
a. Deliver press-ready files to client-approved
printer
b. Check work on press if appropriate
c. Upload live site
17. Post Production Phase
a. Review process with student group (and client,
if willing)
b. Back up and maintain files
c. Provide maintenance services as requested