Collaborating with the right design agency can help directly in boosting the sales of your company and building a compelling online presence that can attract a plethora of customers. While design agency services can be an absolute game-changer for any organization, it is also quite complex especially if you are a first-timer.
The Dos & Don’ts of Working With a Design Agency:
Here is a list of certain dos and don’ts that you must take as gospel if you want your collaboration to be a hit:
Do: Make Your Goals Crystal Clear:
It’s crucial to have a clear grasp of your company’s aims and objectives before hiring any design firm. This will help you communicate your demands to the agency easily so that they can develop a design that is more consistent with your ideas. You need to determine who is your target audience! What are the key messages you need to give out? And, what are your anticipated outcomes? Communicate your requirements in detail, be it the color schemes you want, the graphics, or the typography – make sure to communicate it all. Also, share any pertinent details such as the history, and principles of your business.
Don’t: Hiring an Agency Solely Because it’s Renowned
Do not fall for big names, some design agencies are very well known, however, they might not be able to deliver what you want. Some agencies produce very high-quality visual designs but they might lack enterprise UX understanding. You need to find a design agency that excels in your preferred area of expertise.
Do: Establish Budgets and Deadlines That Are Realistic:
A healthy partnership relies heavily on establishing realistic goals, timelines, and budgets from the very beginning. This not only helps the other party to have a clear grasp of the project’s scope but eradicates future misunderstandings. Transparency is key – if there are budget constraints, do not hesitate in expressing them. Give the agency enough time to complete the process if you want the work to turn out as you wish.
Don’t: Disregarding the Agency’s Command:
One way to sabotage your partnership is to discount the agency’s skills and experience. Design firms have worked with a gazillion organizations, giving them the knowledge and troubleshooting skills required in developing any design. You and the agency are both aiming for the same goal. You have the upper hand but they have the expertise. Be respectful!
Do: Assigned Point of Contact:
For a smooth flow of information between both parties, one point of contact needs to be clearly defined, be it a project manager or any employee that is tasked with dealing with the agency. Also, make certain that the agency also has a point of contact. This helps remove any delay in communication, miscommunication, and confusion between the company and the design firm.
Don’t: Consider the Agency a Foreigner:
Trusting external design firms can be a difficult task for many businesses but if the collaboration is not built upon mutual trust then it is not going to succeed. Let them get to know your company’s values, culture, and mission. Recognize their presence by including them in meetings and discussions.
Do: Communicate EVERY detail:
A detailed explanation that includes all the necessary discussion points and clearly communicates your company’s ideas is the simplest way to get the best-finished product that is up to your standards. You can always provide constructive criticism and suggest alterations needed to be made because, at the end of the day, it is going to represent your company. Extend this principle to the brief that you curate as well. Make sure the brief you provide to the agency is comprehensive, detailed, and understandable. Give examples and references if need but make sure the agency gets a clear idea of your vision after going through the brief.
Don’t: Expecting Too Much Too Fast:
The first draft of any piece of work is never perfect so it is unfair of you to expect flawlessness in the very first draft. You need to be patient, as developing a design is a repetitious process that needs a gazillion refinements and touch-ups to achieve somewhat of a desired result. Take one step at a time and work towards your common goal collaboratively; identify the lacking and correct it.
Do: Product Review by a Third Party:
It is very beneficial to include a third party to look at the end product, especially if you are short of user experience resources. The third party can be anyone; an online UX team or a nearby one. We often miss out on certain shortcomings if we review the products ourselves but an external opinion highlights things you miss.
Don’t: Breathe down the Agency’s Neck:
While it is very natural for businesses to micro-manage and constantly give input in everything, you have to allow the design agency to be innovative with its ideas. As a company, you need to be open to new ideas and perspectives that could potentially be very fruitful. Trust your agency.
Do: Usability Testing for the Win
If you want to gain confidence in your product, and arrange your ideas, run a user test. Let the audience tell you where you stand. It’s best to run those tests in the middle of the project and toward the very end. Whatever response you receive from the users, forward it to your design agency. This way, all the stakeholders have some input toward the end product.
Don’t: Collaborate Remotely:
This may come off as a shocker because hiring an online web design agency is so common these days, but know that it is very important to hire an agency that can work around the same time as you. Nobody likes waking up at odd hours to have discussions that practically shape their entire product. As long as it is feasible for you to work with the agency, at times that you are comfortable, then it is fine.
Conclusion:
As tricky as it may be working with a design agency, if you are well aware of these Dos and Don’ts, it’s going to be less hectic for you. Before proceeding, know that these are just a handful of the so many things you need to keep in mind when you are hiring any agency. Be very careful, thoughtful, and direct as a business when collaborating with any other entity. Ask questions, as much as you can, because ultimately, it is your dream that you are striving to turn into reality!
