WHERE WE START

The first step is all about gathering information. Before we can begin on anything, we need to know what you, our client, needs. When we are approached for a new job, we immediately set up a meeting to discuss the scope of the work. This is our chance to gather as much information as possible. In this session we ask questions such as:


• Who is the audience?
• What is the message?
• What is the primary goal of this project?
• What is this project comprised of?
• What are the dimensions?
• Is there a specific budget?
• Is there a deadline for completion?
• Can the client provide examples of design they like to further their explanation and provide a base for inspiration?

The answers you give us to questions such as these give us a huge understanding of the direction we will begin to move in.

INITIAL GAME PLAN

Using the information collected in our meeting we will be able to develop an outline of the content and goal of the project which we can present to you as our client for approval before proceeding. When presenting a content outline for a website, we will discuss each section and the content within, this includes dimensions and hierarchy. For print work, an information hierarchy will also be discussed as well as theory behind any given layout design.

CREATE IDEA STREAM

This is where the creativity gets thrown into the mix. Before we jump straight into the design we take some time to fill ourselves with inspiration, a necessity when great design is to be created. We will use your examples of work, if you have given us any, but ultimately our goal is to build something new and different which will separate you from the sea of bland design. During this time we will visit some of our favorite places for inspiration:


• Getty Museum
• Norton Simon Museum of Art
• Echo Park
• Griffith Observatory


Los Angeles has so many magnificent places to walk as well as a slew of architectural sites throughout the city. While heading to any of these locations, we are always sure to carry our Moleskine notebooks to capture that spark of inspiration when it strikes.

DRY RUNS

And the drawing begins! During the dry run we create simple sketches of the layout. This will give you an idea of where we are heading with the design without spending an unnecessary amount of time with the creation using design software. At this time you have the opportunity to pick and choose which ideas suit your needs best as well as give insight to guide us onto the correct path, if we had stumbled off. These sketches usually include logo concepts, layout wireframes or even handmade items to show how particular designs work in the case of package designs and the like.

WET RUNS

We have done our research, sketched our concepts, finalized ideas and received approval from you. Now the fun part begins and your design starts to come to life. During this stage, we move the design from paper to computer software. We will create multiple mockups of different versions of the final design so that you, the client, have the option to choose which final design suits you best.

CRITIQUING

During the critique stage we will present you with the final design mockups. This is your chance to choose which design you would like us to continue working with. Also during this stage, as the name suggests, you have the opportunity to critique the design and tell us what you would like to be tweaked and changed before we finalize the product.

EDITING

This is where we bend to your will and change whatever it is that you would like to be changed. We will quickly take a step back to the sketch board to make changes and quickly re create the mockup with design software. The critiquing and editing stages may bounce back and forth between you, the client and us for a bit, depending on the design before we move into finalization.

FINALIZATION

In finalization you have two options. Either you receive all the files for the finalized work and have them printed or coded or we can have the design printed and coded for you while you sit back and relax.