Why Process is Everything
Thoughts from Amanda, Studio Manager at Noble Studio
Ask anyone at Noble Studio, and they’ll tell you that Process is Everything.
We’re big believers in the fact that a smooth project process, where everyone is on the same page throughout, helps to dodge mishaps, avoid misunderstandings and swerve overspends. (Trust us, we speak from experience.) It also results in a more enjoyable time for everyone involved – clients get exactly what was promised, and our designers are able to focus on what they’re best at, without getting snarled up in email chains or derailed by unexpected requests.
Starting things off on the right foot.
Process is so important to us, in fact, that we make a point of sharing it with clients ahead of any new projects, to keep things totally transparent and make sure everyone’s clear on what’s going to happen before anything does. We love it, and we live by it. Want to see it?
One Process. Three Phases.
The Noble Studio Project Process is split into 3 key phases. It all starts with…
Planning & Set-up
Asking the important questions.
Instead of diving into a new project blind, we prefer to start by Scoping out the work. This is where we ask all the important questions to identify any challenges, objectives and deliverables that might arise during the project. Basically, we want all the cards on the table before we begin.
As soon as we’ve got our answers – that’s when we write a Proposal.
This is where we form a project outline and quotation, which we send to the client to agree and sign off. Once everyone’s on board, that’s when the fun stuff can begin.
A Kickoff meeting or call is set up for a quick check in, to make sure everyone is aligned and has what they need to get going. Then off we go!
Design & Delivery
Next up, we move into the Design & Delivery phase.
This monster section is split into three sub-stages – Development, Building, and Refining.
Development begins with one of our talented designers creating some initial visuals, for example layout sketches or moodboards, to capture the fundamentals of the proposed design. This is shared with the client to review, with all feedback channelled into what we call a “Style Sample”; a spread layout of the design brought to life using draft content and existing brand assets.
Then it’s back to the client for sign off before the Building begins.
Welcome to the Building phase! This is where the final proof-read content, whether that’s text or data, is delivered to us from the client. With this, we’re able to produce a “1st Design Draft”, which we use to get all style decisions finalised and approved by the client, ready for the Refining stage.
The Refining stage is where any last design tweaks and minor content edits take place and the Final Design is approved. Hurrah!
Invoicing & Evaluation
Perhaps not the most glamorous phase of the process, but certainly one of the most important. With the final files delivered, either to the client or to the printer for production, it’s time to send our invoice.
You might think thats it, but there’s one more key step.
Following this, we hold an internal evaluation where the Noble team reflects on the project and the process to discuss what worked and raise any learning points for next time. We then do the same externally, to give stakeholders a chance to chat about what they enjoyed about the process or if they feel there are things we could build on. Anything that comes up in these conversations is used to inform future projects – and so we consider it a crucial stage of the process, and one we’d never be without.
So that’s it. The Noble Studio Project Process.
The structure that preserves our sanity, has kept many a project on the straight and narrow, and the secret (we think) to the affable, long-standing relationships we’re able to maintain with so many of our clients.
If you’d like to hear more, or hear how it could work for you, get in touch at amanda@noble.studio.