Our Nine Muses
Qualities of a good project
Of note: we sat down two weeks ago at our semiannual strategy and positioning meeting to evaluate ourselves, our clients, and our projects of the past six months. Some common themes cropped up around our most fulfilling, creative and successful projects.
Also of note: as we have been asked by clients to apply design thinking to their business — we often find that these 9 muses are more true at the end of the project, than at its beginning. We all get wiser, creativity gets free-r, and projects get passionate-r. This is a good thing. 1. Wise Client The best client-partners know who they are and who their customers are — unequivocably. This also means they have a great understanding of who they are not. Because this client-partner knows their business so well, they expect us to know our business (design) very well. In short, the best client-partner trusts our expertise as much as we trust theirs. 2. Creative Freedom Wise clients understand that the best communications solution for a project means that the project should explore — and perhaps end up with — very innovative solutions. Freedom aids the creative process: any and all ideas must be tested to find the best result. 3. Integrity of Implementation The project will continue to be executed in the best possible manner because the final decision makers and key stakeholders will be involved in the design process. Design decisions are not made by middle managers, then taken to decision makers for approval outside of the design process. 4. Appropriate Compensation The fees we receive are appropriate for our time and expertise. Neither us or the client is purely doing the other a favor. 5. Finite Project Deliverables, timeline and overall scope of the project are clearly delineated. This gives a goal to be reached (think of a race or an athletic game) rather than indefinite maintenance (think of a hamster on a wheel). 6. Passionate If our client is passionate, we get inspired. We, in turn, inspire. And the gift goes on… 7. Balanced The client-designer relationship is healthy, that is we benefit from the relationship with our client as much as the client benefits from a relationship with us. Again: relationships, not purely favors. 8. Design Centric The project goal is to produce a design solution — that is, a visually and verbally oriented finish line. 9. Public Profile The client garners attention for the project, and we do too.