Lionel Lowery
October 01, 2025
Learn the crucial things you need to share with your graphic designer to get the best results. Save time, money, and frustration with this step-by-step guide.
“Good design is good business,” Thomas Watson Jr. once said. The challenge? Design doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it’s built on communication.
Maybe you’ve been there: you asked for “modern and vibrant,” but the designer delivered “minimal and overly colorful.” Somewhere, the message got lost. And when that happens, both time and budget slip away.
The truth is, most design missteps aren’t about talent—they’re about unclear communication. Let’s walk through how to bridge that gap so your designer has what they need to create work that doesn’t just look good, but also works for your goals.
What to Communicate With Your Designer
Here’s a quick overview of the essentials:
- Set clear goals.
- Know your audience.
- Stick to your brand.
- Detail your content.
- Discuss your budget.
Now, let’s break these down.
1. Set Clear Goals: What’s the Vision?
Great design starts with a clear purpose. Before you brief your designer, ask: What do I want this design to accomplish?
Is the goal to draw people to a fundraising event? To boost engagement on social media? To introduce a new product or service? Be specific.
Example: Planning a fundraising gala? Your goal might be to create bold, eye-catching flyers and ads that make it easy for donors to RSVP. Naming that upfront helps your designer focus on what matters most.
2. Know Your Audience: Who’s It For?
Steve Jobs once said, “Design is not just what it looks like… design is how it works.” For design to work, it has to speak to the right people.
Your designer needs to know who you’re trying to reach. Are you talking to Gen Z, corporate professionals, parents, or environmentally conscious consumers? Each group responds differently.
Example: If your audience values sustainability, sleek tech imagery might send the wrong message. Instead, earthy tones, organic shapes, and natural textures would connect more effectively.
3. Stick to Your Brand: What’s Your Style?
Your brand is more than a logo or color palette—it’s the story you’re telling. Designers can only reflect that story if they have the right tools.
Share your brand guidelines: logos, fonts, color palettes, voice, and tone. Even a simple PDF or shared doc makes a huge difference.
Example: If your organization champions eco-friendly practices, your designer will know to lean into natural colors (especially greens), images of growth, and clean, approachable fonts.
4. Detail Your Content: What Needs to Be Included?
Even the most beautiful design falls flat if key details are missing. Be specific about what copy, calls-to-action, or required elements need to be there.
If possible, provide a design brief: length of text, hierarchy of messaging, images to include, and what’s non-negotiable. It saves rounds of back-and-forth.
Example: “Headline must say X. Include QR code. Balance: 60% visuals, 40% text.” Clarity here is a gift to your designer.
5. Discuss the Budget: What’s Realistic?
Budget conversations may not feel exciting, but they’re essential. Being upfront about what you can invest helps set realistic expectations and prevents surprises later.
Example: Limited budget? Tell your designer early. They might suggest digital ads instead of print, or reuse existing templates to save on time and cost. Transparency keeps the project on track.
Share Examples: Show What You Like
If you’ve seen a design that made you think, “Yes—that’s the vibe I want,” share it. Mood boards, screenshots, even a color scheme you love—all of these spark creativity and align expectations.
Final Note
Clear communication with your graphic designer is about more than avoiding mistakes—it’s about unlocking their ability to deliver their best work for your brand.
When you share your goals, audience insights, brand guidelines, content details, and budget, you give your designer the framework they need. Add examples for inspiration, and suddenly what felt vague becomes precise and collaborative.
The result? Designs that don’t just look good, but serve your mission, engage your audience, and move your goals forward.
Thanks for reading! Strong branding doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right plan it feels a lot less overwhelming. If you’d like hassle-free design support and a clear path forward, click here to schedule a Clarity Call.
