When you hire a graphic designer, you do it because you want someone with expertise to create something you have neither the time nor the skills to make, not because you want to constantly be in contact with them trying to get on the same page on your design preferences and needs. Here are a few tips to make this interaction smooth and ultimately more fruitful for you and your business.

The first step is to decide what you want. This may seem straightforward enough but there are a few steps that will ensure everyone is on the same page with a minimal amount of effort. Providing examples is an extremely effective way to show your designer what you’re looking for. These examples can come in the form of websites or designs you admire, but try and figure out what makes those designs attractive to you. This kind of information will be helpful to the designer as well as allow them creative room.

A couple other basic pieces of information you should provide are: Information about what your company does and what are the main objectives or goals you hope to achieve from your design project. Also be sure to detail the features you want included in the website (i.e. photo gallery, social media implementation, etc.) These may seem like no-brainers but forgetting to discuss these will almost ensure confusion and difficulty in getting the product you want as expediently and painlessly as possibly.

Another resource you may have on hand and not ever realize are past designs that have been done for you. If you have older solutions that you’ve grown unhappy with they are not just fodder for the trash can, they can actually be very helpful in creating a new one you do like. Definitely provide your designer with these and detail why you are dissatisfied with them. Sometimes it’s what you do not like that will give a designer a better insight into what changes to make.