Finding and working with a designer: a step-by-step guide

Over the next six chapters, we will cover:

• How to find a designer
  which includes links to directories of UK designers
• How to choose a designer
  things to bear in mind if you want to make the right decision
• How to agree budgets and costs
  getting the most for your money without exceeding your budget
• Writing a brief and getting the project started
  helpful tips for defining and running a successful project
• Working with your designer
  useful advice for making sure the project stays on track
• Completing the design project
  making the most of everyone’s hard work

If you’ve never commissioned a designer or design consultancy before it might well be hard to know where to start looking and how to select the best one for the job. It’s worth saying at the outset that, because all projects are different – and because the design process itself should be a flexible one – there is no absolutely carved-in-stone way to approach working with a designer.

However, there are definitely a number of things you should think about before undertaking such a project – and the purpose of this guide is to outline these considerations, leaving you well-prepared to make the process beneficial and, hopefully, enjoyable.

The guide draws on the experiences of people who have commissioned designers for the first time themselves, giving real-life context to the advice, so you can learn from people who’ve already done it.