Design is a Job — a summary in 743 words

Hanna
Hanna
Aug 28, 2017 · 4 min read

Notes and takeaways from the book by Mike Monteiro.

I just finished the book ‘Design is a Job’ by Mike Monteiro from Mule design published by A book apart. It’s a great resource for designers that want to start freelancing, build their own design studio or just understand how to treat design as a job. While Monteiro focuses the book on his experience running Mule Design, his stories and perspective offer designers insight into how they should present and sell their designs, manage feedback and work together as a team.

Mike’s writing is entertaining and I recommend reading the book if you’re thinking of going solo. The book helped me to more clearly define how to work with clients, set boundaries for the design scope and get paid for it. Here’s my personal takeaways and summary to help other designers scope, sell and get paid for your work. Basically, to treat design as a job.


Design is a Job — a summary in 743 words

Design is a job, treat it that way. And make sure to get good clients! Make clients pay you for your hours and expertise. Set clear goals, check in and ask for feedback early and often, if something changes from the plan — make sure the client understands the changes in cost and time. Conduct research on the product and it’s audience but also research the client you’re working with to know what they need. Sort out the bad ones early and trust your gut.

Set expectations; design equals profit

The client need to understand that a designer is a problem solver and that your work includes strategy, not making pretty pictures. Producing something a client thought out is not the right job for you. When selling design, explain that design is an investment in infrastructure that keeps the wheels of business turning smoothly. Design = profit.

Get clients and sell design

You are not doing design, you are selling design, which is a valuable service. Charge as much as you can, deliver honest value. You’re trading your time, energy & expertise with their money. Negotiate price, don’t compete on price. Compete on quality, value and fit. Before signing, figure out what’s included in your work and set expectations. Figure out if you’re dealing with the decision makers, if the client have content strategy & research internally and finally check if the client will run out of business, to ensure that they can pay you.

Clearly define your services

Make sure the client knows exactly what services they are being charged for, and more importantly, which ones they are not being charged for. When a client hires you, they are hiring your process. You need to sell them on that process as the reason you do good work.

Get ready to sell

Meet in person with the decision makers and go over the key benefits of the proposal. You sell benefits. You are convincing them to hire you, not accept your proposal. Negotiation is a sign that it the price is good. You’ve charged too little if the client agrees right away.

Contract

A contract establishes the nature of the relationship between all parties, builds trust and makes the important stuff clear to everyone involved.

Designing

Stick to your process. Assure the client that the project is going well by showing them results and that you’re on track. Make sure to set expectations on what to expect when. If the project won’t meet the deadline, let the client know and charge for it.

Presenting design

You’re presenting a solution to a business problem, and you’re presenting it as an advocate for the end user. The client needs to know that you’ve studied the problem, understood its complexities, and that you’re working from that understanding. Ultimately, your job is to make the client feel confident in the design. The goal isn’t always to present finished work: it’s to present work at the right time.

Managing feedback

Identify stakeholders, document agreed upon feedback. Make sure it’s meeting the deadline. Feedback guidelines: Re-iterate key points. Tell the client what decisions are relevant at this point, what to ignore and what needs further clarification. The feedback is not about you, it’s about the work.

Organise feedback; Separate actionable feedback from non-actionable. If you don’t agree, present your case rationally and let the client know how their decision might run counter to the project goals.

Getting paid

Good terms, clearly defined agreements & relationship building = ensures payments. Don’t settle for terms you’re not comfortable with, negotiate. Make sure your payments are tied to clear milestones, never tie a payment to a metric.

Working with others

  • Share your work often and early with other designers. Start by clearly defining the goals.
  • Involve others in the beginning. Figure out what they want, and make sure they understand what you want.
  • The web is made of content, design is what holds all the content in place, get a content strategist.
  • Stay away from the jobs that take you away from the thing you love (to design). If you want to lead, design the teams that do design.

Conclusion

Whatever design you do, your work exists in a space between physical artefacts and human attitudes and perceptions.

As a designer, you are as good or as weak as you choose to be. We have an opportunity to leave our mark of good work on the world. Go do the thing!


The summary cannot replace reading the book, buy it and tell me what you think.

)

Thanks to Mohammed Abid

Hanna

Written by

Hanna

Product Designer @Facebook

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