moving right along

i like to break projects into smaller peices so we can focus clearly on each step and always know what's next. the timeline on the right seems to work pretty well, and i always strive to balance professionalism with a friendly, casual warmth as we work together making decisions along the way.

general project timeline

1. project questionnaire submitted
2. cost estimate provided
3. discussion / initial proposals
4. contract signed
5. % of total fee paid as deposit
6. further research / concept generation
7. fomal design proposal submitted to client
8. concept revisions and discussion
9. design approved by client
10. development + testing
11. work completed
12. remaining % of total fee paid
13. website goes public / files transferred
14. everybody flourishes!

some things kept in mind

the way i see it, communications design is all about taking an idea and translating it into an unmistakeable visual language it's audience will intuitively understand and respond to. design decisions have to be directly guided by the message, and every detail matters because on some level don't we always notice everything and search even the smallest gestures for meaning? in addition to unique strategies that evolve out of each project, here are a few rules i find very useful for arriving at effective communications:

• intentional simplicity = clarity, strength, elegance
• organizational relationships should be self explanatory.
• rethinking questions is often the best way to discover answers.