To all our readers and contributors during 2009,

Merry Christmas and very best wishes for the new year! Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing you again in 2010.

From everyone at the Spicy Learning Blog

Design work for a new client can be exciting and difficult at the same time. The novelty of working with a new brand and identity comes hand in hand with the challenge of unfamiliar ground. We’ve found the steps below really worthwhile at the start of the design process for a new client, so read on for our top tips for success!

1. Get to know them
It is crucial, before deciding on the approach for a specific project, to get to know the client’s ‘world’. Ask them to provide all the material they have got about their company brand and identity. Any brand guidelines or libraries are obviously fundamental. Also don’t forget to ask for any custom font and brand elements – at the highest possible quality.

2. Do your research
After you have analysed the client material, do some extra internet investigation. Take a look at the company website and see if there are any other country versions. See what images or webpages appear when typing the client’s name in Google. It can also often be really interesting and worthwhile to take a look at their direct competitors’ websites.

3. Hold a discovery meeting
Now you’re ready to meet the client! Hold a workshop to gather any extra information you need and get to grips with the client’s needs and project objectives. Come prepared with a list of questions, listen to what they have to say and don’t hesitate to ask about anything else that comes to mind. This is your chance to discover whatever you need to know.

4. Don’t start too soon
Before cracking on with the design work, you need to do a bit more computerless thinking. Organise a discussion with the key stakeholders to share information and ideas – about the requirements, goals, challenges and technical boundaries. At this point, you should be able to use this to finally agree the field of action your design will tackle.

5. Remember, your client is your partner
It’s design time! From this point on the client is your closer partner. Set up regular checkpoints to show them progress; it doesn’t matter whether it is ‘presentable’ and ‘polished’ or not. Involving them and making them feel part of the process will set up the trust and participation that is needed for the success of the project and for any further collaboration.

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Top ten tips for creating a look and feel for a new client

Whether it’s a new client or one you’ve worked with before, the way you begin a project sets the tone for the rest of the project. Here are our top tips for ensuring every project starts with a bang!

1. Research your client before you meet them
Make a good impression by researching the client, their company culture and history, their competitors and the industry before you meet with them.

2. Arrange the kick off at the client’s offices
Kicking off the project at the client’s offices allows you to get a feel for their culture and also offers the chance to meet everyone who’ll be involved, even if they can’t all attend the meeting.

3. Confirm information before the meeting
Send out a questionnaire in advance to gather basic information such as contact details. The meeting can then focus on discussions about project aims, learning objectives and timescales.

4. Invite the right people
As well as the project managers and senior stakeholders, invite the technical manager and any SMEs. Discussing their motivation and work schedules allows you to mitigate risks early on.

5. Ask the SMEs to bring relevant materials
Discussing content and agreeing learning objectives at the meeting gives you a good understanding of the subject matter and ensures that everyone is on the same wavelength.

6. Explain the project lifecycle
Take the time to explain exactly how you will run and manage the project, clearly highlighting your expectations of client stakeholders, risks and the impact of missed deadlines or scope changes.

7. Set up weekly progress calls
Agree a time for weekly conference calls about project progress. Even if the time sometimes has to change, a placeholder helps to maintain momentum and keeps the project on everyone’s radar. Developments in teleconferencing technology facilitate this possibility.

8. Establish a project timeline
Following the meeting set up a timeline of deliverables and face to face meetings, noting any periods of unavailability. Highlighting key dates lets people plan ahead and schedule review times.

9. Create a project definition document
After kick off, write a project definition setting out the approach, learning outcomes and content. Get client sign off to confirm that everyone agrees before beginning any instructional design.

10. Don’t assume anything!
Even if you’ve worked together before, confirm everything as if it were the first project. Getting the small details right from the very start will minimise hiccups throughout the rest of the project.

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Top ten tips for kicking off a project