Client Questionnaire Here are some questions to think about in order to effectively define the parameters of the design problem and create truly unique and appropriate solutions.
1. What is your business like today? What products and services does your company provide? How do your products and services compare to your competitors? 2. Who are your major competitors? 3. What regions/territories will the organization service? Today? 5-10 years from now?4. Who is your audience? Who are your major clients/customers? Who would you like to have as customers? What personality traits or values do they have that make them your target audience?5. What would motivate them to take action? What do you have to offer them?6. What are the positive attributes of the name? What kind of image should the identity and collateral project?7. What else differenciates your product from the competition? What else differentiates your company from the competition?8. Does the company have any relevant market research material? What is the company's mission statement?9. Briefly describe your product philosophy.10. Briefly describe your customer service philosophy.11. What pieces will be included in the job? Please list needed applications.12. Does the job have to be consistent with any existing materials or advertising? Please provide samples of current materials, if available.13. Are there any existing graphics that must be accommodated? Logos, charts, screenshots, photographs or illustrations?14. How will the job be delivered into the hands of its target audiences?15. Are there color preferences/requirements?16. Are there any size, color, resolution or production limitations?17. Who will be approving the final designs and layouts?Download the Client QuestionnaireMS Word | PDF | Text fileThe 12 Questions for my SDSU and Baja California, Mexico studentsThe clearer you are about who you are and where you want to go, the easier it is for people to help you get there.1. Being involved in your design community is essential. You must know what's going on. What are your competitors doing that blows your mind? What are they doing that blows your employer's or clients' minds? Are you doing that? Should you be doing that?2. Plan with the end in mind. If you could do absolutely anything in the design field and could not fail, what would it be? Are you in a mentorship situation now or on a learning path towards that goal? (Envision an important goal, then do whatever it takes to get on the path. Interning is sometimes a really good way to get in. And you'll learn more making copies for a genius for a year than being an assistant art director in a position that doesn't lead to where you want to go.3. What is your core value? What is the most important thing you have to offer an employer? Why is that important to you? Why would that be important to an employer? For most art directors, typography sets you apart. Whatever it is for you, don't be afraid to be as specific as possible.4. In your wildest dreams, what do you want people to be able to say about you, your design talent and knowledge? What is necessary for people to be able to say that? Position yourself to be thought of for the things YOU want to be remembered for.5. What more could you do that adds value to the firm? (Could you learn a new software program that would help the firm be more creative or productive? Do you have music skills that the firm doesn't have but needs for its multimedia projects? Could you bring a cultural perspective that helps that firm entera new market?)6. How are you involved in your communities and the culture you live in? From my experience, the greatest designers are the ones who live their lives fully involved, whose understanding of cultures and their community is real and deep and not faked. That authenticity is reflected in their work.7. What are three major changes shaping the industry over the next three to ive years? In what ways are you positioned to participate in those changes?8. What is happening in other industries which could be adapted to your business? (Simple mindshifts can lead to innovative ideas. Think outside the design industry box, outside the traditional paths of success.)9. What are the key needs of your employer or client? Do your homework. Be aware of the history and the work of the firm and person you're interviewing with and be prepared to tell them how you could fit in. Match and target your skills to address their needs. And you may even save time and heartache by findingout that that employer may not be in a position to fulfill YOUR needs.10. Why would you like people to hire you in terms of how you would improve THEIR lives? How are you going to make their business faster, smarter, and better? Go beyond just showing off how much you know about them, and use your background data to support an idea or ideas that shows them that you have imagination and insight.11. What are three things you'd really like to do which would make a significant difference to your employer or clients, but have a good reason for not doing? How valid are those good reasons?The last question is really the primary question. We come full circle to the one that all these previous questions are designed to help you answer.12. What vision, goals and values are embodied in you? Are they reflected in your portfolio, resume, cover letter and interview presentation?Again, the clearer you are about who you are and where you want to go, the easier it is for people to help you get there.That's it.Download the 12 Student QuestionsMS Word | PDF | Text file