Getting the most out of a graphic artist usually depends on how good one is in communicating. If a website owner wants exceptional results, single-line briefs just won’t do. For most graphic designers, their best projects don’t always call for several email exchanges every day, but simply clear messages that are straight to the point and express what needs to be done.

Here are tips on how website owners can get their ideas across to ensure an effective and savvy graphic design. These tips are general application – they apply to the demands of Chicago web design as well as to other area-specific graphic styles.

1.  Exercise clarity.

Every designer starts with a blank canvas. To develop a design that the site owner imagines, the designer requires as much insight and information to capture the visual images. Unclear briefs, poor outlines, and ambiguous instructions will inevitably cause a mark-missing design. If the site owner doesn’t inform the designer what he wants, he simply won’t get it. Instead:

• Be crystal clear on the design’s ideas and objectives. Add visual details.
• Impart as much information as possible about the business, the product or campaign and the brand’s target market. The graphic design must reflect the tradition and customs of the company. The more the designer knows about the brand, the more accurate the design will be.

2.  Respond to queries promptly.

A graphic design brief is a stepping stone for the designer. However, to reach the final product, there will be lots of back and forth communication. The site owner must be present whenever the designer requires his assistance.

• Give regular feedback to the designer. This is essential in guaranteeing that the end product is what was originally planned.
• Use communication tools such as email, Skype or other messaging apps provided by crowdsourcing services.
• Let the designer know right away if the design is a yay or a nay. This way he can either improve his work or proceed to the next task on the project.

3. Create a mood board.

Visualization is an important part of the design industry, and both the site owner and the designer must visualize their ideas using a mood board. A mood board is a presentation of colors, pictures, designs and inspirations that aesthetically display the design concepts and ideas of the project.

• Use programs such as PowerPoint and platforms like Pinterest to create a mood board.
• Share the board with the website designer.

4.  Spell out the absolute “No’s”

A site owner must have a good idea about what he wants out of the design. Likewise, he must also know what he doesn’t want.

• Clarify what designs or concepts to avoid. These include trends, photos, colors, and ideas
• Provide visual examples of the no-no’s to make the point clear.

5.  Get technical.

The majority of the crowdsourcing questions will pertain to technical specs and features. It’s in the best interest of the site owner to convey this data upfront.

• Include specifics of size, resolutions, file format and type, font types and size, and so on.
• Present the specific branding color of the company that the designer must use.
• Explain where the final design will end up. This vital information helps the designer to determine what ideas will and won’t work.

When dealing with a graphic designer, it pays to speak up at the onset to avoid confusion or miscommunication.