Step One
Understanding your design project.
The essential thing that any designer or commissioned artist must understand is that when undertaking a project it is often someone else who must have the final say. One aspect of the work at notbobs that we are proud of is that we are often complemented by other professional artists/designers, entrepreneurs and members of the public in general on the same point. Professional designers have told us that it is refreshing to work with people who can relate to and understand their needs on an artistic or design-based level, agreeing with and following through on effective art and design principles. Established entrepreneurs have congratulated us on the ability to listen, understand their vision of a project and provide them with a solution that includes elements that they themselves would not have had the experience to suggest. Individuals and members of the community have been impressed by the human face that we provide, actively becoming a part of their projects, offering help and suggestions in order to better focus their ideas and take their work through to a professional level.
In short, your project will always be your project. We will always be happy to talk through your ideas, listen and ask questions so that everyone understands our goals, what we will need to do to achieve them and all of the implications of such. We will never charge for an initial consultation and so you can always take the opportunity to talk to either myself or one of the designers I work alongside without obligation or pressure.
Step Two
Finding the right budget for you.
Often there is a production process that becomes the climax of our projects. This can range from the printing of business cards, through to having your website constructed or upwards to the installation of large scale art pieces. Before a project starts we will obtain the best quotes possible for you from our suppliers or talk to the people that you would like to have working on the project on your behalf. It has always been a point of principle that notbobs will never add a percentage to production costs for our own profit. Many of the quotes that we use from our suppliers are given at cost. This means that if a contact gives us a quote for the printing notbobs' business cards, YOU will receive a quote for the printing of YOUR business cards at exactly the same price. You buy our time and skill but will never have to pay for our knowledge of the industry or contacts.
Having worked in the design and print industry I know that a customer can often walk into a design studio and commission a project completely unaware that the studio may not be able to meet the clients needs. In this situation I have seen other designers take on projects which they will then pass on to another studio to work on without the clients knowledge. These types of designers take hundreds of pounds from a project simply for picking up a phone and relaying the clients design brief to another business.
At notbobs concept and design we will always use our knowledge to benefit you. This means that if you are growing business we will give you a quote based on the lowest budget that we can work to, using the good will of our personal contacts to keep your costs low. If you require a finely crafted result we will apply the greatest level of attention to your project and your needs, working with you personally and professionally at every stage. If you find that your needs are large and urgent we will work in conjunction with the best international suppliers and producers to finish your project to whatever specification you require.
Step Three
Knowing your tastes.
Each project varies but in general, once we have established our goals it is notbobs responsibility to find out what you the client will react positively to. Perhaps this might involve taking preliminary photographs of your product, home or shop in order to take inspiration from the foundations of your idea that have already taken place. You may wish to see some initial ideas and sketches that we can send over to you by e-mail or if you feel a little overwhelmed by the design process you can always trust us to take the best option open to you and develop it to it's full potential. You will be consulted as much or as little as suits your own needs and we will never take a project into the final stage until you tell us that you're happy to do so.
I recall dealing with a client who needed some help in producing promotional posters as visual aids in explaining his services at a national trade event. Having tried to use a less reliable design studio previously he had been horrified by the results. After trying to explain the processes involved in his business to a graphic designer, the client returned having left a rough and simple flow chart so that the alleged designer could understand the technical names for the complex stages of service. To his shock, the client was charged for the design of a slightly larger version of the same flow chart that he had scribbled out himself. We were able to offer the alternative of easy to understand graphic icons which helped to break down the technical processes, clear concise case studies that were both edited and presented visually by our team as well as mock examples which used the bespoke icons to take the viewer through all the possible applications of our client's services. All of this was presented in a way that reinforced our client's corporate branding which we ourselves helped to refine.
At notbobs we will always listen to your needs and take your ideas to fruition, often in ways that you had not considered but always giving you options that we are sure you will approve of. We can be this confident simply because we always take the time to know and understand our clients.
Step Four
Obtaining your approval.
We will never pass a point of no return with your project until you are happy and totally satisfied. Once this happens any production processes will take place as quickly as possible and we will keep you updated with all the very latest progress reports and lead times. You will always know as much as we know as soon as we know it, because you are as much a part of the design team as we are. Notbobs has always done as much as reasonably possible to meet our clients' deadlines, even making personal deliveries on occasion. We want you to know that your projects mean as much to us and our professional pride as they do to you.
Step Five
Working for you when the project ends.
We know that using a design consultancy isn't always just about finishing a project. It's usually about forming a working relationship that we hope will endure for the life of your business or for as long as you the individual are in need of our services. That's why, months after a project, we are never surprised to get feedback from our clients and customers and are happy to be consulted on both future needs and any advice that we can give as an addition to your last project. Notbobs is always available to help both new and old clients and offer notbobs.co.uk as a contact point so that you can help us to better help you.
If you would like to make an enquiry, ask a simple question, make a comment or just leave a note to let us know how we've managed to help you, please just click on the link below and leave your details. We're always glad to hear from you and are just as happy to hear how our projects have developed without us, as much we enjoy the challenge of working with new clients.