Client’s Guide: How to Work with a Designer and Achieve Great Results
Collaborating with a designer should feel exciting—not frustrating. Whether you’re building a brand from scratch, revamping your website, or just need a killer Instagram template, how you show up to the design process directly affects the results. And yes, there's a method to the creative magic.
We’re breaking down exactly how to work with a designer in a way that saves time, money, and back-and-forth emails, because nobody has time for more emails. If you want to actually love the final product AND the process? This one’s for you.
🌟 Start with Strategy, Not Style
It can be tempting to dive headfirst into Pinterest boards and font choices, but great design always starts with strategy.
Before we open a single design file, get clear on:
What is the goal of this project?
Who is your audience?
Where will this design live (online, print, social, all of the above)?
What action do you want people to take?
The more context you can give your designer about your business and your goals, the better they can translate that into visuals that work. Otherwise, you're just picking pretty colors—not building a brand.
📅 Respect the Process (And the Timeline)
Design takes time—and that’s a good thing! Good designers aren’t just picking fonts and layouts at random. We’re researching, sketching, ideating, refining, and testing. Rushing through that process usually results in something that looks... meh.
To keep things moving smoothly:
Stick to the agreed-upon deadlines
Give feedback within the window provided
Avoid ghosting mid-project (please!)
And remember: your designer is juggling multiple projects and timelines. When you communicate clearly and stick to the schedule, you keep the momentum going and the creative energy high.
📈 Give Specific Feedback
"I don’t like it" is not feedback. #sorrynotsorry
The best way to get the design you want is to be specific. If something isn’t working for you, try to describe:
What part feels off: color, type, layout, tone?
Is it the emotion or vibe that’s not landing?
Are there elements you do like that we can build on?
Do you have an example of something that aligns with your vision? Share it!
Pro tip: compare it to things you love (and things you don’t). We don’t take it personally—it helps us dial it in faster.
📄 Be Organized and Clear on Deliverables
You’d be surprised how much time gets lost in back-and-forth emails. Coming to the table with organized assets and clear expectations is one of the fastest ways to a successful project.
Before the project kicks off, make sure you have:
Brand guidelines (or at least your logo + colors)
Any text, copy, or imagery that should be included
A short list of what you need delivered (e.g. "3 social posts and a landing page header")
And if you’re not sure what you need? That’s okay too. Just be honest about what you’re trying to achieve, and we’ll help shape the deliverables together.
🤝 Trust the Designer You Hired
Here’s the thing: you hired a designer for a reason. Ideally, because you saw their work, liked their style, and believed in their process. The best thing you can do is trust that process.
Creative collaboration works best when there’s mutual respect. That means:
Being open to ideas you hadn’t considered
Giving space for exploration
Not micromanaging every pixel
We want to bring your vision to life—but sometimes that means expanding or reimagining it in ways you hadn’t thought of yet. That’s where the magic lives.
Ready to Work With a Designer Who Gets It?
We love working with thoughtful, creative clients who care about doing things the right way. Whether you need a brand refresh, custom graphics, or a new website, we’re here to bring your ideas to life, and have fun doing it!
Let’s chat and get your next project rolling.