The use of online talent marketplaces and crowdsourcing has opened a world of opportunity for designers to 'meet' businesses that need designs. However, some issues can come up when design professionals and businesses work together through these channels.

Many of these problems can be attributed to a poor project proposal. If businesses take the time to make quality project briefs and designers carefully review the information, then there is less of a chance these following common problems will arise.

Vague objectives and goals

One thing designers will often have a problem with is clients who are unclear concerning the objectives and goals of the project. If the project brief is unclear in this regard, it is recommended the designer contacts the client to get clarification.

When the designer has an understanding of what is expected, they put themselves in a much better position to make a design that will meet the needs of the client instead of just guessing. This saves time and frustration on both sides.

No budget outlined

The budget is obviously an important part of a project briefing. Businesses sometimes want to leave this out, hoping designers will offer rock-bottom bids to compete with each other. However, the designer needs to have an idea in regard to the type of budget they are working with to even know if they are interested. This also ensures there are no surprises when it does come time to pay the bill.

Unrealistic scheduling restraints

Many businesses will set a tight schedule for the projects that they propose. In some cases, the schedule might be unrealistic. If the client sets a schedule that either can't be made or one that will compromise the quality of the end result, the designer should to communicate these concerns right away.

No target audience defined

Finding the target audience is an important element of successful design, and it is also an element many clients either leave out of the project brief or define vaguely. As a designer, hitting the mark means knowing the target. Before a designer begins work on the project, they should ask the client if they have a detailed description of the intended audience for the design.

Undefined project scope

Most designers find some projects are a little more involved than others. Without knowing the project scope, there is a chance the designer can overshoot or undershoot the expectations of the project. This could cause budgeting and schedule issues if it is not clear from the beginning. It is important the entire scope of the project is defined up front, this way no one gets in over their head.

Not Sharing existing promotional materials

With many projects, the design is not going into uncharted territory. The business is likely to have existing marketing material and other resources that the design may need to work with. If the business has not provided any files or references of existing material, then it is a good precaution for designers to ask. It is much better to get these beforehand to save time.

Not sharing examples of what they want

The business probably already has an idea of what they want from the design, but they might have a hard time articulating these desires. If their wants are unclear, the designer can ask them for a few examples of designs that they like. Including a business proposal template in the initial discussion can also help structure their ideas and expectations more clearly, making aligning the design with their goals easier.

Not sharing what they don't want

Almost as important as knowing what a client wants is knowing what they don't want. Clients rarely provide this information, but it can be vital in making a design that will satisfy. Designers should also ask them if there are any design features for which they are particularly averse.

They think they can cancel at any time

Most clients start projects with the intention of finishing them. However, there is the occasional situation where they might want to cancel halfway through. To avoid this, each project should have a contract in writing with a deposit.

Poor project briefings are often not made out of any sort of bad intention. Many clients just do not realize the level of information a designer needs to complete the project successfully. If designers come across a project brief that has some missing information, it is best to save the precious time and energy by discussing the details beforehand.

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Written by Jessica Walrack on Thursday, May 5, 2016

Jessica Walrack is a professional freelance writer with a background in sales and marketing. After 7 years in the corporate world, she stepped into the online sphere and has now been freelancing for 4 years. She specializes in helping businesses to create a stellar online experience for their audience in order to build industry authority and increase profitability. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys traveling all over the world with her family.