2/29/2024 0 Comments Graphic design studio managementSubscribe now to make sure you don't miss future issues.Is it cliche to say that creatives are visual thinkers? Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that design project management software should be easy to understand, and even easier to use. This was originally published in Computer Arts magazine, the world's best-selling design magazine. "It doesn't matter who the client is, or what industry I'm designing for, I'm the one responsible for just how good, how interesting, how successful the result is." "One of the most important lessons I've learned? To treat every new project as if it'll be the best of my career," says Northern Ireland-based graphic designer and writer David Airey. Never write something off as something to pay the bills that won't make it to the studio's portfolio (note that this is another reason why you shouldn't give in to clients!) The sure route to success is to treat each project like it's just as important as the next, and that the results will be your best work. One of the biggest errors a design studio can make is to view some projects as "fillers" or less important than those that involve more work or a more prestigious client. Treat every project like it'll be your best That might sound easier said than done, but it can help to provide examples or explanations in layman's terms to back up your arguments when necessary. "Be firm and clear about the fact that there's a reason why you want things to be done in a certain way," advises illustrator Sarah Mazzetti. Ultimately, the client is paying you because you're the expert, and sometimes you'll need to make that clear – as tactfully as possible! So what should you do if you have a client who just won't give in to reason? Back down, and you could well be kicking yourself for a long time to come. Sarah Mazzetti created this giant wood "thing" for TICTIG exhibition at Casa Testori "At the end of the day, you, the designer, must be proud of the result, and the way to achieve that is to show the client only those options that you believe in wholeheartedly." 05. "The biggest lesson I've learned so far is that making the client happy isn't enough," advises Sagi Haviv, partner and designer at iconic firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv. If you can be selective about which clients you work with, that can help a lot, otherwise, sometimes the client will need a little coaxing to come around to your vision. No designer wants to see work they can't be proud of, regardless of whether that's what the client wants. While it's the client who pays and keeps you in business, you need to be happy too. One of the biggest challenges in running a design studio is keeping the client happy, but it takes a lot more than that. "Make sure that everyone is a superstar and that everyone has a life beside their job." 03. "Treat people like humans and with very little hierarchy," says Snask's Fredrik Öst. To keep motivation high, it's vital to respect all ideas, but also every employee's life outside of work. Horizontal organisation tends to work best in design studios, allowing everyone to express themselves, and to be themselves. This is a more general tenet to follow, and one that should help you achieve the first two tips on our list. "By making people feel valued through their contribution and giving them the platform to have input into the direction of a project, it can give team members the extra 10 per cent they need to turn a job from good to great," he says. Ownership of work and open communication is key, says Wolff Olins design director Dan Greene. Designers, and in fact anyone, can work better when they feel their voice is being heard and appreciated, so that should be made part of the studio ethos. Wolff Olins' work for media brand USA TODAYĪ key corollary to this is the skill of empowering your team.
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