How to add value to your design work

It’s a second coffee kind of morning. You’re rubbing your face to wake up, and yawning…ever had your eyes glaze over? Sometimes I just feel as though I cannot keep up with the work. Everyone wants everything FAST these days. How can you truly add value to the product you are providing to clients without slowing down over the long term?

Research

Research, for me, has really been the key to not slowing down. When I spend more time in the research phase, I seem to waste less time on production. It can be a challenge to get excited about every topic you write about, design for, or just produce. Let’s face it: updating a product sheet is not necessarily a thrilling project. Yet, I get myself excited about the topic I am writing about by looking for something I can learn. I look up everything on the internet about the subject, or make it my own by sharing something I learned with someone else. It can feel overwhelming. However, I once heard someone on Youtube recommend,

“Find something about marketing you like.”

This made so much sense to me. What I was doing wrong all along was to not view myself as a researcher. As freelancers we are paid for our expertise in creating something for a company. We really cannot add value to that project unless we research before executing. I could easily add value to any client project if I were to research their industry and make myself a specialist. This leads me to the next bit.

Photography by Helena Lopez

Ask the right questions

The only way a person can be viewed as a specialist is if they know what information they don’t have. When you know you need information to complete a project, you have to learn how to acquire that information. Usually the client can be the best source of information. Yet, there is a lot of research you can do prior to approaching them with your questions. When you do this research first, you will have a handle on the bigger questions you need to ask. These bigger questions are ones that help them target goals their company is trying to achieve. This positions you as an expert, or specialist in their field.

Revise with the client

Involving the client in the process of revision can make them feel as though they have control of the project. This can be a good feeling for the client. When the designer or writer owns everything, the client can feel as though they are left out of the process. Ask their opinion at the right moment. Get feedback on the work and always remember to agree with them. Agreement can turn any negative conversation around. If the client is unhappy with the work, you can easily turn an uncomfortable conversation into a positive by finding points at which you agree. This could mean stepping into their viewpoint. Imagining how they feel or what they are trying to achieve. This is extremely important in revising a project. You will be able to isolate if it’s more important to give the client what they need, or if what you wanted to achieve in the design will impact marketing objectives. Establishing this will help move conversations forward.

Talking about opinions never got anyone anywhere. Everyone has an opinion.

You can learn a lot from clients if you always remember to listen, discern goals, and research. Holding fast to an opinion can mean the death of a career and the end of learning. Research can inform your work, add value to the client’s project, and asking the right questions can make clients feel secure in working with you. Revising with the client will make them feel involved and foster a good relationship between yourself and the work. It can make the difference between a one off job and an on going relationship with a company or client!

If you enjoyed this post, please comment below or subscribe!

Breaking Pic Pexels Photo