The following are the basic questions for you to first, ponder upon as you consider your project. Second, it gives us some info to familiarize ourselves with you and the project ahead. If you don’t find a project that suits your needs, you will be able to still get an idea of what information we might need, since most of the following is jotting down the basics. Nevertheless, a good conversation will seal all the gaps.
Shared information for all new projects alike:
- What is your company focus?
- Define your company personality?
- What keywords best describe your business?
- What is your target audience?
- Who are your competitors?
- What sets you apart from your competitors?
- Any existing brand guidelines?
- What colors do you like/dislike?
- Provide similar project samples that you like/dislike, and why?
- What material will you provide for the project (text/images/logo/templates/die-cuts)?
- What is the time frame?
Logo:
- Is the logo subsidiary to another company’s?
- What is the purpose of the logo?
- What do you want your logo to say about you?
- About the logo itself:
- Any wording and/or case preference?
- Byline?
- Legal add-ons (Ltd, Inc…)
- Composition: Typography only / Type embedded in symbol / Symbol and type apart / No preference
- Alignment preference: Vertical / Horizontal / Need both versions /No preference
- Color limitations, base on reproduction type? (Default logo set includes: full color, 2 colors, BW and there negatives versions)
Posters:
- What is the purpose of the poster?
- What will be the main subject of the poster?
- What impression do you want the poster to leave?
- Where will it be displayed?
- Indoors Vs Outdoors
- Viewed from close/far away?
- Viewed in a seated or walking environment?
- As a backdrop for a booth?
- Dark/light environment?
- Behind glass?
- Others…
- Print:
- Where will you print the posters?
- What type of paper and finish will you be using?
- What type of special mounting will you be using?
- Color specifications or limitations?
- Any other custom specifications?
- Size: ??W x ??H
Brochure:
- What is the purpose of the brochure?
- What will be the main subject of the brochure?
- What impression do you want the brochure to leave?
- Where and how will you distribute it?
- The final output for the artwork, electronic or print?
- If a printed method will be used:
- Do you know what print-house you will be using?
- Are you thinking of using a recycled or color based type of paper?
- Color specifications or limitations?
- Fold type:
- Tree-fold (6 sides)
- Half-fold (4 sides)
- Accordion fold (7 or more sides)
- No folds, double side
- Want a special die-cut?
- Any other custom specifications?
- Size: open (??W x ??H), closed (??W x ??H)
Booklet:
- What is the purpose of the booklet?
- What will be the main subject of the booklet?
- What impression do you want the booklet to leave?
- Where and how will you distribute it?
- The final output for the artwork, electronic or print?
- If a printed method will be used:
- Do you know what print-house you will be using?
- Are you thinking of using a recycled or color based type of paper?
- Color specifications or limitations?
- Binding type?
- Page numbers including front and back cover? (some binding types require a number that can be divided by 4)
- Want a special die-cut?
- Any other custom specifications?
- Size: open (??W x ??H), closed (??W x ??H)
Catalog:
- What type of products will be listed in this catalog?
- How many products will be listed?
- What impression do you want the booklet to leave?
- Where and how will you distribute it?
- The final output for the artwork, electronic or print?
- If a printed method will be use:
- Do you know what print-house you will be using?
- Are you thinking of using a recycle or color base type of paper?
- Color specifications or limitations?
- Binding type?
- Pages number including front and back cover (some binding types require a number that can be divided by 4)
- Want a special die-cut?
- Any other custom specifications?
- Size: open (??W x ??H), closed (??W x ??H)
Web Sites:
- What type of website you are looking for?
- Personal
- Online Business Brochure/Catalog
- Informational
- Blog
- E-commerce
- What impression do you want the website to leave?
- Do you need web design, web development, or both?
- Provide a site structure of pages (it’s a MUST)
- Any special features? (i.e. blog, gallery, etc.)
- Do you need content management system?
- Single site cross platform or separate sites for computer and mobile devices?
- What should the home page feature in contrast with the inner pages template?
- Any template preference?
- Navigation: located at the top or left
- Secondary navigation
- Drop-down menus
- Number of columns
Package:
- What product is the package for?
- Please have in hand the actual product for us to see.
- Is the package for freight or for display?
- If display, what impression do you want the package to leave?
- Do you have preexisting package specifications for us to design the graphics to, or do you need us to offer suggestions? (see print specifications)
- Where will it be displayed?
- Print:
- Where will you print it?
- What material will be used?
- What type of finish will be used?
- Color specifications or limitations?
- Any other custom specifications?
- All packages with die-cuts should eventually be tested and accurately designed by a package specialized print-house.
Presentations:
- What is the purpose of the presentation?
- What impression do you want it to leave?
- Are you interested in only a template design or the entire presentation with content integrated as well?
- Where will it be displayed?
- In a conference room?
- In a large scale conference venue?
- Over the web?
- What format do you want the presentation in?
- PDF (more flexible from a design perspective, but editable only with Adobe Illustrator)
- Power Point (more design constraints, but easily editable on client side)
Icons:
- What will the icons be used for?
- Is there an interface design they should fit in with?
- Provide a list of all icons needed in the set
- Explain what each icon represents
- What file format is needed for the final output?
- Color specifications or limitations?
