Reflection

Visualization

Challenge

Being a budding Branding / Communication designer in the industry, I find the ability to work well and  fruitfully on a client project of great importance. To possess an open and empathetic approach towards  the client’s requirements is a major start to lead a successful project. Since the client is not well  equipped to know what their projects really need in terms of design thinking and process, it’s up to a  designer to facilitate that service to the client at each step forward by keeping them in the know and  making them feel like a part of the process. So challenge here is to make the client aware that why their  existing design strategy is not working well. It’s important to make the problem clear that what exactly  needs a solution, which most client do not know and thus will be unwilling to invest in the project  further.

Selection

So for the above mentioned challenge I chose ‘Visualization’ as the tool of preference. The reason why I  found that visualization works best for the challenge is because it helps in starting out on a project with  an unclear brief or with seemingly limited outcomes, which is how most client based projects start out.  The design process of visualization aids in keeping a track of the project flow and not losing direction in  between. The structure provided here will ensure in coming up with most productive and functional  solutions and to take them up to prototyping and testing among consumers. This process is an umbrella  solution to most of the steps involved in coming up with a brand identity for a client, from confusion to a  cost effective and revenue generating solution.

Application

So starting out it’s important to have it out in the clear the aspiration of your client. After listening, I  write out the questions that need to be addressed in order to further proceed. Then I like to go through  their recent old projects, to try to understand their outlook on those and how they performed in  market. This gives me a chance to understand the client mindset better and include them in the process.  I read them out all the points I noted down and draw it out for them if possible, in order for them to  understand what works and what doesn’t and to make sure we’re on the same page. Afterwards I get to  do my own research on the given information and ongoing trends for the next pitch to the client. During  this interaction I briefly brush through the previously discussed points regarding the brief of the project.  After presenting my new ideas for the new project, I like to discuss with the client on why it works in  terms of design. Any changes from the client are done, and further worked on. I make sure to keep  building client’s confidence by providing evidence from consumer testing on a qualitative basis. This  helps in persuading the client to open up their mindset for the growth of the company by investing in a  seemingly risky but beneficial project.

Insight

Whenever I have conducted this approach with clients, it has always resulted in positive feedback from  them and even for myself. I have been told by few of them that how being involved in the design  process made them feel better about themselves as a creative, since working in black and white strips  them off the freedom to visualize. I even noticed how some people who were pretty adamant on  sticking to how they do things, eventually agree with the presented result from consumer testing  results. There is also much higher chances of satisfaction and appreciation among the clients at the  completion of project.

Approach

Ever since I learned visualization as a designer it has helped me better in aiding a client’s requirement  for a project especially to meet deadlines on time. Each step is clear and entire process is systematic  much to my way of working, which is why I will follow the same process of visualization further in design  development and while working for a client.

