Managing your design projects

If you manage the creative process effectively and encourage other people to generate ideas and solve problems, you should see the rewards for your business.

Managing a relationship with your designers

It pays to build a strong relationship with the designers you're working with, and manage it in a way that encourages their creative processes but also makes sense for your business. For example, you could:

• Create an environment that encourages creativity - designers may prefer working alone or in teams, so give them that choice.
• Give designers structure in their work with a schedule, and make sure deadlines are clearly stated.
• Make designers fully aware of the problem you need them to solve.
• Give designers time to work - an atmosphere of crisis or constant deadlines may stifle the process.
• Acknowledge designers' creative work. Give constructive feedback about what improvements would benefit the end user.
• Remember designers may need time out of the office to find inspiration and to develop professionally.
• Try to reward creative productivity rather than time spent at work.
• Provide a 'lab' environment in which designers can keep trying out their latest idea.
• Make sure that designers do not neglect the necessary but less creative aspects of the job, particularly the routine paperwork.
• Make designers aware of your budget constraints but don't overload them with financial information that they don't need.
• Involve designers right from the beginning - they may produce better results having been involved from the first brainstorming of ideas.

Involving designers right from the start of a new development project can help to resolve many other business challenges. Learn more about the choice between in-house or outsourced design.