Effective communication skills for Designers — Part 1
Proficiency Level: Intermediate
Communication is a 2-way process. For anyone working in today’s modern workforce, communication is an integral part of their career. You might already know- the way we communicate can positively or negatively affect our relationships at workplace. But how important is communication for designers as well? Let’s talk about it!
According to popular belief, designers aren’t client-facing and hence do not require strong communication skills. However, when a survey* was conducted among designers and the following question was asked- “What do you feel are the most important skills for a designer to have/develop?”, the most popular answer was “Communication skills”. (* Survey by Steven Snell — Vandeley Design)
It’s refreshing to see how more and more design professionals are discovering the benefits of good communication skills and looking out for DIYs to learn it.
If you too are a designer and looking for tips and tricks to improve your communication skills, you have come to the right place. In this blog story series split across 2 posts, we’ll cover a few simple things you can do to improve your communication skills that will take you a long way.
How to improve your communication skills?
1. Lead your conversations with “Yes”
Whenever you communicate with your clients or team members, try to be active and say “yes” wherever possible. That doesn’t mean you agree with whatever is being said, it just indicates how actively you’re participating in the conversation. Saying “Yes” also provides a comfort level to your clients because they sense how much are you grasping from the conversation. Also, try keeping your tone positive and lead the conversation.
2. Become an Active Listener
You might wonder- this blog is about communicating, what’s it got to do with listening? Well, listening is an important part of communication and beneficial in ways more than one can imagine. With good listening skills, a designer can become more productive. Listening carefully allows you to better understand the task being explained, making your output more valuable. Thus, good listening skills can help you come up with better responses, pose you as a smarter individual and ultimately help you become a good public speaker.
3. How to be heard and understood?
Speak more clearly so that your client can understand exactly what you’re saying and what you mean. Choose precise words so that your message is passed on well. Break down longer sentences to short ones. What that does is to make your messages shorter thereby ensuring that the listener does not lose you at any point. Try to be more interactive and engaging while explaining designs or presentations. Make use of your strengths, i.e., visualization techniques. Try and paint the picture for listeners to imagine in their minds as you speak. When the presentation is over, ask for feedback, understand the questions and answer them politely. Most importantly, be open to receiving feedback.
4. Get comfortable with client conversations
Design Solutions Delivery is a part of Client Servicing
Client service is an integral part of any design role; be it freelancing or otherwise. Any project requires strong and effective communication between both parties in order to be successful. Majority of that is required between the designer and client. Assume that you are the best person to represent your work and hence be ready for client conversations. Build relationships with your clients and treat them with respect. Especially when sharing feedback, direct discussions between you and your client will ensure that your work goes through lesser number of iterations due to the effectiveness of your communication.
Clients Don’t Know What You’re Talking About
It’s safe to assume that your clients may not be as well versed with the design terminologies as much as you. So it’s best to start by explaining your thought process in simple words and then diving deep into any technicalities associated with the design. Secondly, a visual aid boosts the chances of your work being understood better by other parties. Quick tip: Make a small prototype or presentation to ensure that your clients get a clear view of your concepts.
We have lined up some more tips for you. Stay tuned for Part two in the ‘Effective communication skills for Designers’ series, to delve in deeper. In the meantime, we recommend you start practising these aforementioned tips to progress instantly.
Originally published on 17seven.co on August 13, 2019.
