Graphic Designers: What’s one step in your process you never skip? When I start a design project ...

Graphic Designers: What’s one step in your process you never skip? When I start a design project ...Graphic Designers: What’s one step in your process you never skip? When I start a design project ...

The network for creativity

Join 1.25M professional creatives like you

Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free

Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started

Back to feedPost

Lillian Ingabire

pro

• Jan 7

Graphic Designers: What’s one step in your process you never skip?

When I start a design project with a client, one of the first things I ask them to do is to choose 3 keywords that describe how they want their brand to feel and to share images that visually align with those words.

This simple exercise changes everything.✨✨

Two people can agree on a word like “modern” but imagine completely different aesthetics. Images reveal these differences immediately, preventing misalignment later in the process. When design decisions are made later—type, color, layout, imagery—they’re measured against an agreed-upon foundation rather than personal preference.

I like that through this exercise my clients and I are on the same page from day one!

Graphic Design freelancertips clientonboarding

Cara Ellis

max

• Mar 13

why is it so much harder to brand yourself than it is to brand a client?

I'm working on a MUCH needed rebrand for my own studio at the moment and the amount of second-guessing involved is genuinely shocking for someone who does this for a living. You're just so close to it! My studio is my baby, and I suppose it’s quite hard to assign a single five-colour palette to a baby…

That being said, I’m starting to really fall in love with the direction its moving towards and am so, so excited to share the final visual identity (including a new website!) once it’s finally ready. I’ve grown so much since I started two years ago, so I’m very much looking forward to having a brand that’s been caught up to speed.

rebrand brand brandidentitydesign

Ebad Ahmed

• Mar 14

Its so true, ahah!

BTW, just wanted to ask how to post like this, like a courousal style on contra, where you can swipe up the slides??

Morten Korshavn

max

• Mar 13

I’ll tell you why you haven’t heard from me in a while:

👶 Recently became a dad for the second time. 🏝️ Took some time off with the family. 🎆 Working on some exciting news.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the people I’m trying to help. After working in the tech industry for 15 years and freelancing for the past 3, I’ve experienced both sides of the table.

And one thing became very clear: freelancing is hard.

There’s a lot of trial and error before you think you’ve found the perfect setup... And even then, it’s often still not great...

So I’m releasing two things soon that I’m really proud of:

CONTINUES IN COMMENTS… 👇👇👇👇👇

freelancerlife freelancertips Contra

Morten Korshavn

max

• Mar 13

1. The Contra Guide A practical playbook for experienced freelancers on Contra who want better clients, not more applications. Learn how to position your profile, present your work, build credibility through reviews, improve your discovery score, and handle client...

Daniel G Bright

max

• Mar 13

The most expensive skill gap in design isn't taste.

It's the ability to explain why you made the choices you made.

Most designers present work and hope it speaks for itself.

If you want to show you're serious about your work. You have to make the argument before the client asks.

designstrategy taste tips

Akinkunmi Ayo

pro

• Mar 13

Absolutely spot on! Being able to articulate your design choices is just as important as the work itself. Clients don’t just hire designs they hire the thinking behind them. Presenting your rationale upfront shows professionalism, confidence, and clarity.