lggodesign: questionaire?
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- DutchBoy0
i never use a questionaire..
usually a solid conversation about the company, alittle tour thru the company (if possible) and some history and future stories will do to get a solid idea of the culture and identity of the company.
- chach0
thanks guys
i acknowledge both points.
i was intending to use it as the 'ice breaker' as i have a client that's, let's say, not too savy.
...and of course i'll follow it up with a discussion. ;)cheers!
- winter0
i used it once. my secret plan was to have the client working on a few ideas but it doesn't work really...
i believed in strategies back then... now i know that most clients not only don't want that sort of bother as when they do they just come up with clumsy clichés and THEN you get stuck on that and then you can't create nothing really interesting. the client's own vision always (ok, 99%) sucks. imho.
- mr_snuggles0
I have a fairly ambiquous but good design brief that I give to new clients for intiial project goals, I could send that, but it's kinda generic...
There are some good things here, but again not logo/ID specific..
- DutchBoy0
winter has a point.
- mr_snuggles0
what point is that? I think they're a great way to get started when you know nothing about a clients objectives initially.
- DutchBoy0
yes, winter has a point in the sense that over 90% of my clients can never be bothered with questionaires and paperwork.
for real, they enjoy the proces because it is something more creative then their day to day work..
So if you sit down with them and transform the essence of your questionaire in a nice engaging conversation they are more happy and more eager to listen to your suggestions..
better for both parties.ask yourself:
do you like questionaires?
- winter0
mr_snuggles, do you really have those goals in mind when designing a logo?
or, let me put this otherwise, are their goals so distinctive from any other biz? as far as i've heard they all tell you the same. i'm not talking about the specs, i'm talking about the biz atmosphere that the logo should convey. It's your vision not theirs that does the trick.
- mr_snuggles0
Personally I do. I'd much rather take 20 minutes to fill out a form in one fluid thought process, than having a conversation which ultimately gets sidetracked into the fact that my clients daughter likes lavendar.
DB I agree with many of your points re: clients liking to be involved with process, but I'm always much clearer when they fill out the form.
I've never had a client not fill out the brief. some of them take longer to return it, but I find they also enjoy the process of getting their thoughts/concerns/needs together initially.
- winter0
but hey, it's a nice ice-breaker. i just doubt that the Quiz is useful after that.
- mr_snuggles0
Winter, yes I do. I have them list competitors in their market, which in some cases I have no clue who'd they actually consider competition, so that helps. Then they'll tell me if thy want to be perceived similarly or differently, which helps. I agree this can be done through conversation, I'd just rather not converse right away before they are solid on what they are trying to accomplish, who they are speaking to, and who they (the client) actually is.
- surfito0
i used to work and an ad agency and they would hand me questionaires filled by the clients, and really, it never helped.
things like whats your favourite colors and stuff, and choose which type of logo you like best dont work for the designer, might help a bit, but that doesnt work, you come out with crap.
but, the good thing is that if you run into the type of client that calls you every two days with a new suggestion and changes and revisions and that changed his mind about the colors, and then at the en of the job he says he doesnt like it as an excuse to rip you off, well, you can tell himm you did exactly what he asked for i guess.
so i got it somewere in my my stack of paper.
- winter0
you have a point too. if it comes to a nice chat you end up forgetting important stuff and the form assures some precise feedback.
- mr_snuggles0
Let me just say this is really only for my freelance stuff, which is generally a smaller client then my day job would take on, and my bosses don't use this stuff at all, and you're right, because a bigger client generally wouldn't bother to fill it out. But even in terms of keeping a paper trail, it helps. If the project is getting really out of hand, I can refer back to what was initially identified as the scope of the project.
- DutchBoy0
"Personally I do. I'd much rather take 20 minutes to fill out a form in one fluid thought process, than having a conversation which ultimately gets sidetracked into the fact that my clients daughter likes lavendar."
well, that simply means you have no control over the conversation.
but hey, to each his own.
i just know my clients go all "eeeew" when they find me putting forms on their desk..
- mr_snuggles0
Exactly DB, sometimes it's pretty hard to keep others focused, especially initially when they're often not sure of what they want.
- DutchBoy0
it's practicing.. the start is the hardest part..
but in the end you'll get to grips with it.
i have had tons of these conversations and learned from every single one of them.
also, after the conversation (during which i make notes, depending on the size of it all) i write everything down and email it to them to see if i picked up their intentions well.
- winter0
well snuggles your work really shows your efforts. props.
it is very consistent in style and approach. it's beautiful. i wonder if all your forms are filled in a similar wonderful manner...
;)
- mr_snuggles0
Agreed.
Communication is definitely an underestimated artform.
- mr_snuggles0
cheers, winter. I actually really dig my forms :)
I was completely engrossed with text book design from the 60's and obviously approach things from a more "clinical" point of view, rather than overly "emotional"