‘The owner of a local bookshop wants to create some sort of campaign that gets people talking about books and generally ‘starting a conversation’ about the enjoyment of reading. The client also wants to celebrate and publicise the differences and benefits of a real bookshop over larger virtual ones. They think your typographic skills are perfect for the job, especially in terms of the leaflet they envisage as a solution to the campaign.
In preparation for your first meeting with the client, what information do you need before you can creatively respond to the brief – and what questions do you need to ask to get it?
Document any initial creative ideas you have to answer the brief, or any potential expansion of what is being asked of you. What are you going to propose to the client in terms of how you’re going to approach the brief?
How might you develop a schedule to undertake this project? How many times do you think you’ll need to meet with the client and where do these points of contact fit with your creative process?’
Before meeting the client, or any client really, it is important to gain as much knowledge and information about what it is they are really looking for – this will give me a headstart on the project. One of the first things to do, is have a look at some of their existing work. The website and current branding are always good places to start as they give a first impression and good idea of where they stand, visually. It is also good practise to double check that al the relative contact details are correct and up to date, this will save any annoying miscommunications along the way.
Obviously here, the client is after a leaflet. In this instance it would also be advantageous to see if you can look at any of their existing printed ephemera, and make notes on how you could improve it. This type of information will impress a client, and confirm to them that you are the best choice. You could also spend a little bit of time exploring what scope there is to expand or develop on what it is they want done. This may lead to some further work, or at the very least, show that you have considered other possibilities.
Visually I think it would help the campaign, to have a very striking style. Something that is visually bold and exciting. Whether that be posters, tote bags, digital adverts, or even clothing merchandise (could be seen as a bit ‘tacky’, but I think it would actually be pretty effective at getting a message out there and subliminally across to people.
In terms of the frequency of meeting the client, I would estimate a check-in email every 2-3 days, and if possible a video call/physical meeting around once a week, depending on the size of the job in hand.
Jon Lawrence Learning Log 