Design Process

Having a well understood design process is paramount in ensuring that both the client and the design agency get the best out of the design solution and help to improve the effectiveness of design within Client businesses. By employing solid design management acumen both design agency and client are able to work together to augment successful design and creative solutions.

The design process listed below is intended to work along side that of Creative Contention’s the design brief & design methodology and should complement it.

1. Business case –

to secure funding/audience demographics/objectives, etc

2. Write brief – most important stage –

to capture the essence of the new product and incorporate key points from the business case and the key points from Client brand values (more detailed description of the design brief content follows on from the design process)

3. Agree brief –

between Creative Contention and the Client contact (provide the agency with any available copy (text), any detailing, research, etc.)

4. Brief agency –

a briefing meeting should take place to expand on the written brief. This should also ensure that both parties have the same understanding of the brief Creative Contention will at this point question the brief in detail

5. Agency quotations –

this should be based on the discussion held during point 4. – this information is important for the requisition form.

6. Agree brief & quotations –

this is the last opportunity both sides have to make changes to the brief and quotation before the work commences. It is important to note that Creative Contention may still charge for any additional requests not stated/agreed upon in the original briefing.

7. Raise requisition –

Creative Contention will be able to commence work once they have received a purchase order, without this they are at risk of not being paid for the work carried out.

8. Agency starts work –

the Client design buyer/manager should agree with the Creative Contention representative an agreed way of working. This may include checkpoint meetings, contact reports and deadlines.

9. Present concept –

Creative Contention will, (unless otherwise stated) present you with one well researched concept that they believe fits the set brief above, after considering several options prior to the client presentation. Our workings will also be available.

10. Concept evaluation –

this is the last opportunity to check the selected concept against the objectives in the brief.

11. Embodiment and detail design –

a ‘mock up’ product will be put together to simulate the final product, this helps to foresee any potential problems with the creation of the new piece of work.

12. Final proposal –

implementation/manufacture – Client will receive a copy of the final proposal before the artwork or pre-production code is generated.

13. Amend stages (average 2-3) –

this is the last opportunity for author amends to be made, no major design amends should be made at this stage

14. Production sign-off –

the final design proposal is then produced on the appropriate media, before it is sent to an appropriate production department.

15. Brief Production House –

Creative Contention (and sometimes the client) will be involved in briefing the production team and they will be responsible for quality control of all of the production. Creative Contention will prepare a production specification, which can be compared with a design brief for a designer.

16. Delivery –

Design proofs will be delivered to Creative Contention (and if requested the contact at the Client offices) to check and sign-off.

17. Feedback/follow-up –

This area is the responsibility of the Client and is often neglected by most companies. It is important that once a production has been launched, that the performance of the new production is measured for cost savings, increased efficiency or market share. Using this information the Client can analyse how the production process can be improved next time around. This can then be fed into the design brief for the next time that a production commences. Should the Client require any assistance in qualitative and quantitative measurement, Creative Contention will be happy to assist.