Qualities of a Successful Design Firm

You know, there’s a lot of “noise” out there and sometimes it’s hard to figure out what works and what doesn’t. So, what makes a successful (and consequently an easy-to-work-with) design firm? Well, in my humble opinion, here are three traits that successful graphic design firms employ:

Listen to the client.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is so easy to get carried away and phase out after a client shares a few details about a project. It’s always exciting to be presented with a new challenge and sometimes designers get distracted really fast. I can’t tell you how many times my mind turns inward and I start building the site right then and there while they’re still talking. A designer should always remain present before beginning to plan.

Know your client.

This harkens back to the first point. In order to design effectively for a client, designers must first know whom they’re designing for. Before meeting with a client, do some research; find out what they’re all about (existing color theme, logo, business model, their clients, etc.). You probably wouldn’t design a bright and colorful website with loud music and large headline fonts for a funeral home. Chances are you’d go for something more subdued and professional.

Stay up-to-date.

Continually educate yourself!!! While Web 2.0 and clip art was “hip-to-the-now” a few years ago, web design is tending more towards flat UI that is content-focused and highly adaptable to mobile environments. Design trends change so rapidly that it is easy to fall behind; it’s important to always be reading and researching what’s new. Clients are smart…they can spot who isn’t keeping up.

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