How Do You Adapt Your Design Style to Fit a Client's Needs?
In the ever-evolving world of design, professionals are often tasked with the challenge of tailoring their style to meet diverse client needs. We've gathered insights from Graphic Designers to Marketing Managers on this very topic. From adapting design through discovery workshops to tailoring healthcare design to convey trust, explore the four compelling stories shared by our experts.
- Adapting Design Through Discovery Workshops
- Transformative Branding for Nonprofit Advocacy
- Bridging Traditional Branding with Modern Design
- Tailoring Healthcare Design to Convey Trust
Adapting Design Through Discovery Workshops
My design style is quite minimal and neutral, but last year I worked with a client who wanted a bold and modern brand design. Like all of my projects, I started with an in-depth discovery phase that included a comprehensive brand workshop. This process ensures we fully understand and capture the client's brand vibe, involving detailed consultations to grasp their vision, inspirations, and target audience. Once that's complete, we move on to providing two creative directions.
By doing this, the client has a clear vision of what their brand will look like before any design takes place. It's only after they choose a direction that we begin the main concept and refinements. Even if they have a very different idea of the best look for their brand, my job is to ensure they are happy at the end of the day, so this process helps a lot. In the end, they loved their brand, and even if it's not the perfect portfolio piece for me, I'm always happy when my clients are happy.
Transformative Branding for Nonprofit Advocacy
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is a national nonprofit with a mission to advance awareness, research, treatment, and education around brain injury—and to improve the quality of life for people living with brain injuries. Ratkaj Designs was entrusted with crafting a transformative campaign that addressed both the diverse challenges faced by individuals at varying stages of their disability journey.
Through visionary branding, Ratkaj Designs spearheaded initiatives that elevated brand visibility. These efforts not only attracted a dedicated community of advocates but also galvanized support for legislative measures crucial to improving the lives of patients affected by brain injuries.
A little bit of what we did:
- The Challenge! Magazine: The Challenge! combines BIAA’s work around education and advocacy by elevating stories of brain injury survivors, sharing affiliate news, and publicizing the latest brain injury research.
- “My Brain Injury Journey”: Tasked with designing the visual branding for the organization’s new National Brain Injury Month campaign, Ratkaj Designs worked with the organization’s stakeholders as well as survivors to craft a logo, color palette, fonts, and illustrations.
The campaign, designed to ignite change, artfully captured the deeply personal journey of living with a brain injury. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of design in driving meaningful impact and shaping a brighter future.
Bridging Traditional Branding with Modern Design
I was working with a client who had a very traditional, conservative brand image but wanted to explore a more modern, minimalist website design. It was a challenge to bridge the gap between their existing aesthetic and their desire for a contemporary look.
To achieve this, I began by immersing myself in their brand guidelines and existing marketing materials. I wanted to understand the core elements of their visual identity and find ways to subtly modernize them without alienating their target audience. We then collaborated closely, discussing their vision and concerns. I presented them with mood boards and design concepts that incorporated clean lines, ample white space, and modern typography while still retaining a sense of familiarity and professionalism.
To further personalize the design, I incorporated subtle nods to their industry and target audience. For example, I used imagery that resonated with their customers and color palettes that evoked trust and reliability. By incorporating these elements, I was able to create a design that felt both fresh and aligned with their brand identity.
Ultimately, the client was thrilled with the final result. They appreciated the modern aesthetic while recognizing the subtle nods to their existing brand. This experience taught me the importance of flexibility and collaboration in design. By truly understanding a client's needs and finding creative ways to merge their vision with my expertise, I was able to create a design that not only met their expectations but also elevated their brand.
Tailoring Healthcare Design to Convey Trust
When working with a client in the healthcare industry, I had to adapt my typically modern and bold design style to align with their need for a more conservative and trustworthy aesthetic. To achieve this, I focused on using softer color palettes, incorporating calming blues and greens, and opting for classic, serif fonts to convey reliability and professionalism. I also simplified the layout to ensure it was user-friendly and accessible. By closely collaborating with the client and iterating based on their feedback, I successfully created a design that met their specific needs while maintaining a high standard of visual appeal.
