With the growing need for businesses to have an online presence, web design has never been more relevant. Digital agencies are promoting their brands on every type of online platform – social media, digital advertising, email marketing, and of course, websites. Each of these platforms has its own limitations and parameters and this is where graphic designers need to closely collaborate with their web designer.
Graphic design is more linear, but designers still have to communicate and assemble information with text, images, and illustrations to create an engaging story. Web design is similar, but there is more interactivity with the viewer. What our tribe has found is that working together closely, in the beginning, is very helpful, as is checking in at each milestone. Here are 4 tips for collaboration:
1. Always Research
We all should know that if you want to create a successful brand you need to do your research. Doing research for the brand you are designing for will help give you a good idea of what design approach will work best. Once you have your main notes, get with your web designer and compare your research, and discuss what are the best ways to communicate this information for the web. This has helped me tremendously. It gives me a starting point of what we need in the future even if we don’t really know what I will look like yet.
2. Collaborate on Moodboards.
Once you have compared research, go and create a mood board together. Don’t worry about making it all look the same. I have found that having a variety near your goal can help prevent creative blocks. Then come together and filter out your mood board and discuss information flow and layout styles. Don’t get too specific, keep in mind a mood board is a general starting point for your brand.
3. Create Together
Once you get a thumbs up from your client or your agency, go and create! As the designer, you should create plenty of branding elements for your web designer to use. For example, creating 2-3 different patterns to be used as textures. Colors and some imagery to relate to the text. Collab together just to make sure the website is evolving with the developing brand.
4. Add The Final Touches
Once you feel like you have a good grasp on the brand and have a brand guide, get with your web designer one on one and go throughout the site for any final details. The layout can mimic print and other digital work the team creates for the brand. This ensures that the final product is on-brand.
These strategies have helped my tribe and I create amazing work and keep the headaches at a minimum. Every team works differently but one thing that always works is communication.
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