“I don’t feel in control of my design work anymore.” ‘Feedback’, ‘Comments’, ‘Suggestions’ are all coming in from every direction and I, just want to 'Pull my hair out'!!! What to do! Surely, there must be a better way to design communication?
A developer/designer’s ability to utilize his or her time relies on the room left to explore any creative possibilities. This room exists in form of time and a mental state that is clear and not strained. It is for this reason that the need to have an organization is an important factor for a design team. Not only does it increase the speed with which tasks are completed but it also makes it possible to address the attention of all stakeholders. A messy design communication affects a team’s ability to achieve these levels of efficiency. It further increases the margin for error. This is especially the case where there are many projects being worked on simultaneously.
Nobody ever likes a mess. Therefore, why would one have any other type of feeling towards messy design communication? When working in a team, it is important to ensure a certain level of efficiency is maintained at all times. However, if the channels of communication used are messy, it becomes easier to fail to recognize some prototyping aspects that may be of importance to the design. This, therefore, calls for the implementation of rather tedious tasks aimed at creating a means of classifying each need. The result is that more resources end up being used to make up for the lack of organization. This wastage can occur in the form of monetary value, time, or trust lost between the team members. The efficiency of the group may be threatened as such.
Outside of the group dynamics, messy design communications can affect the team’s relationship with clients. In the same sense that the members need to communicate with each other, so do the clients need a channel to address various issues. For one, they may need to have a feel of how the tendered project is coming along. Failure to address communications may cause them to lose faith in the team hence affecting its reputation. The clients may also need to consult on various contributions to the final product. If this channel is not efficient, the risk of failing to reach the customer’s specification looms on the team.
From the issues noted, it is evident that messy design communication has to be done away with to secure the efficiency of a design team’s operations. Achieving this would require a balanced approach that maximizes the group’s abilities and resources. In this light, one of the most notable ways of improving messy design communication is creating a system that streamlines communication within the group and with the clients. There should be a means of passing on messages without interfering with the designer’s work time. The clients should feel that there is a direct line of communication with the design team. Unifying all channels makes it easier to organize and address each customer’s needs without inconveniencing any single one. The same strategy can be implemented within the group to ensure that all communications are received and processed in time. Essentially, this level of synchronicity will reflect on how well each project is handled.
Improving messy design communication will also require all members of the team to pitch in and ensure the system in place runs smoothly. A computerized system, for instance, can improve messy communication by using pre-programmed functionalities within a prototyping tool. However, it remains ineffective if the team members do not follow the guidelines it provides. Both the clients and the group should agree to a specific method that serves the needs of all stakeholders. This can be achieved by integrating all communications to a single channel that easier to manage and less costly to maintain.
Regardless of the issue, design communication should be simple but comprehensive. A simple design communication is easier to use and therefore easier to implement for both the design group and the clients. Messy deign communication is often complex, which then causes confusion. The resultant reduction in time taken to interpret messages allows designers more hours to explore their creativity and work on various projects. Further, an uncomplicated channel within a prototype improves customer experience and may serve as an important campaign for the group.
Notably, improving messy design communication requires team members to realize the importance of being organized and contribute towards achieving this state. Since the objective of a group affects each team player and the client, it is important to consider all contributions to the creation process in the long run. Communication is an important part of this initiative processes hence the need to always reduce any mess that is associated with it.
Further, it makes it possible to unify diverging agendas in a bid to maximise the client’s satisfaction.
Design Communication Channel
Time after time, Designers and Creative teams are frustrated and are getting confused with feedback coming from their team and clients from multiple channels. For example; back-and-forth emails, face-to-face meetings, Skype, phone and IM to mention a few. On daily bases, Designers are having numerous time-consuming meetings with their design team and clients and they end up making, comprehensive notes/sketches on their feedback and suggestions. Not even mentioning the trail of back-and-forth email communication between their team and clients.
When side lined, these designers and creative teams tend to become more and more confused and unsure. What they crave most is a simple, effective means of communication of their design work to the people that matter most!
They spend so much time sorting through all communication methods but they are unable to keep track of their entire client’s feedback.
The answer to their problems is here!
Welcome to SavahApp
Design Collaboration and Prototyping Made Simple
SavahApp is a collaborative platform that streamlines feedback right to your design screen and allows designers to create high-fidelity prototypes for web and mobile apps without writing a single line of code.
Which = Happy Teams, Clients and of course Over the Moon Designers 🙂
Try SavahApp today Free @ www.savahapp.com let your design creativity flourish.
