My Design Process

Really my process is pretty simple…design, just takes a lot of time, sweat and sometimes tears (if I have a run in with my X-acto blade). Hours of work goes into a single logo or website. To many of the makers and artisan entrepreneurs that i work with, the creative and technical process is a somewhat familiar one and the process is a natural part of their craft. I find that if i don’t work with a process my work is subpar and half hearted. My design process is an integral part of my design toolbox and I feel most comfortable when I can work through each step. That's probably the detailed part of my personality. Most of my clients will say that they enjoy knowing what comes next.

This Is My Design Process:

1.  DISCOVER

This is after a contract has been signed and we are officially working together. I set aside an hour or so to discuss your handmade business in depth. We cover everything. What makes you tick. I really have to get to know you so I can really give you a solution that works for you. If we are working on a complete brand strategy we will talk about things like your competition, goals as a company, target audience, colors, textures, typography, etc. I will ask you some crazy sounding questions that help me determine your style and what your customers prefer. We will also discuss your business problems and areas where you feel your brand needs work. Basically, we just talk a lot about you.

2.  PLAN

After our meeting or phone call, I would dive into research. I will look at your competition, create user personas, discover your brand and all of your social media channels, research your target market, talk with people who might be in your target market and start sketching ideas and iterations. I basically do a brand audit. I will take a look at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and your competition.

3. PROTOTYPE

After I have had the chance to really research and understand your business I begin my iteration process. This is where I let my creativity go, jam out to dubstep or something like that and really dive in. I tune out everything and draw and sketch anything my brain thinks of. I often come up with the best ideas after having a few chai lattes and take a walk with my dog Lilly. This step takes me a while. It is my favorite part of the design process and I think its the most important. I love ideas and coming up with new solutions and custom design ideas.

4. EXECUTE

I would pick out the number of concepts that we agreed upon in your contract and begin drawing and refining them on the computer. This can take a lot of time sometimes but not always. Getting things just right and pixel perfect is my goal. Combining different type styles or hand written lettering to create the perfect number of options for us to discuss.

5. EVALUATE

We would have a client meeting to discuss finalized logo options and revisions. After approval, we would begin a stationary system design, brochure or another print piece that we decided upon in our proposal and contract and essentially the design process begins all over again.

With a website, my process is essentially the same except I have a few more steps. After step number 2 I would create a sitemap and develop wireframes. The sitemap and wireframe is a guide, they help us stay on track and guide our decision-making process while designing the final website concepts. After we choose a final design concept we develop it and launch.

In short, that is my process.

About The Author

Heather Bunker Branding Co helps you boot-strap your way to your own personal definition of success. She helps you work through the uncomfortable and necessary parts of business—the foundations—life, business, branding, design and marketing. If you are looking to find clarity, create systems, market your work, stand out in the crowd, develop more products that sell and work past any decision paralysis that is holding you back...she, is the business partner that will help you do it.

She offers done for you services like marketing and brand strategies all the way through to helping you get start up funds. She helps you leverage your creativity and adds in the business know-how so you can build a thriving creative business. She is the business "therapist" that you need to gain massive momentum as a professional creative—so you can bring your dreams to life. 

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CATEGORIES

BRANDING

BUSINESS

INSPIRATION

MAKERS

DESIGN