Are you struggling to define and promote the value of your design work?
You are NOT alone.
Many people within the creative community have a hard time articulating what they bring to the table and often end up getting “abused” in the sense that they are overworked or underpaid. Understanding your value and being able to deliver it in a compelling and attractive promise of value is key to claiming respect for your work. Yeh IDeology have put together a quick guide to help you through this process.
1. Understand the Design Process
Understanding the design process upfront can make all the difference. Crafting a document that outlines every detail involved in your project is crucial for communicating to clients
Before taking on any task, it is important to understand what it really takes to complete it successfully and communicate that process to your clients. We recommend outlining a document with all the things involved with the project.
Many companies do not understand that design can be complex and full of decisions – it is therefore your job to communicate that and how you can add value.
Let’s pretend you are redesigning a living room. There are a lot of decisions that go into creating the ideal solution for the client – picking the right paint color, flooring options, furniture, and more. Design is much more complicated than just doing a mockup – it takes many decisions that will each have consequences. Here are three key questions to ask yourself:
What decisions will I have to make as part of the design process?
What impact will my decisions have on the company/outcome?
How long will it take me to finish the design and what are the stages involved?
2. Set Expectations with Your Clients
Before beginning a project, it is important to set an expectation about the project goals and required outputs
“First for yourself to realize what it takes for you to execute then for your stakeholders (Clients or Senior Management).”
Once you have completed this document, it is critical to communicate this to managers and how it can affect the bottom line. We have gathered a few common reasons where design directly impacts a business.
3. How Does Design Impact Business?
As a design professional, your decisions will have a huge impact on the success of the business
We have outlined a few common reasons below. Make sure you write down how your design will help your client and present that to them with your suggestions.
Designers can save clients’ time
many times, designers are also project managers that strategically order deliveries/installations for certain timeframes to complete the project most efficiently. Think again of the living room. You may paint the room before you put down floors, as this will save time and resources.
Designers can help companies avoid costly mistakes
You can save your clients from making mistakes by creating mock-ups that can be tested in front of users.
Designers can help companies spend their money better
By avoiding mistakes and helping clients visualize a project, they can help companies save money by not investing on the wrong iteration that the whole company might push down the line too prematurely.
Designers can help companies build trust and confidence
By providing a visual of a product, it is easier for companies to test and get buy-in from investors.
These are just a few main ways that you as a designer can add value to a business.
Make sure you articulate what value you bring. This will help you get the respect you need and the compensation you deserve.
Interested in learning more tips?
Check YehID MasterclassThrive By Design program here and book a complimentary career strategy call: https://www.thrivebydesign.today/
Contact us for more information at info@yehideology.com