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Does your book designer listen?

  

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Do you find that some graphic designers do not listen attentively to your requests, and often get too caught up in their own goals?

For more than 16 years, Vern Associates has built its reputation on the firm belief that listening effectively to our clients is the only way to give them the products they want and need. It is also a basic courtesy, and we strive to be courteous at all costs.

Perhaps the single most important step in arriving at a successful book design is meeting with the client at a project's outset. During that meeting, the majority of the discussion originates with the client, and I must listen effectively, which comprises a three-step process:

1. Listen as the client describes his or her vision for the project, establishes the goals of the publication and the requirements it must address, and summarizes problems that need to be solved.
2. Reflect back what I have heard, to confirm my understanding and correct any misperceptions.
3. Follow up with a design memo that outlines specific methods and approaches that I recommend employing in order to resolve the specific issues discussed.

But I've been told by too many clients that this is not part of a typical meeting with their designers, so I'm curious to learn how your book's designer has not listened to your instructions or fulfilled your requests. Along with that, it would be good to know when and how you determined that miscommunication had occurred. Tell me about the problem you have (in the comments box, below), and I will reply with some ideas about how to readjust how you work with your designer to accomplish your publication goal.

A number of my blogs concern the nuts-and-bolts aspects of illustrated book design and the ways in which effective preparation helps to avoid unnecessary revisions, costs, schedule delays, and a great deal of stress all around. Three of them are:

• The 5 Ws of Illustrated-Book Design (Parts 1 and 2)

• Production pitfalls to avoid in illustrated book design

• Content as words and illustrations, not empty calories

Please take a look and let me know what you think.

Thanks, Peter

illustration courtesy Dr. ZAx / Flickr