3 : designing identity
Phase 3
Presentation The first major design presentation is the decisive moment. A design team has worked hard to get to this point, and it is the culmination of months of work. The expectations and stakes are high. Clients are usually impatient during the planning and analysis phase since they are so focused on the end goal, which is their new brand identity. There is usually a sense of urgency around scheduling this meeting. Everyone is ready to hit the ground running, even though the implementation phase of the work is not imminent. Careful planning is essential to ensure the successful outcome of the meeting. The smartest, most appropriate, and most creative solutions can get annihilated in a mismanaged presentation. The larger the group of decision makers, the more difficult the meeting and the
decision are to manage. Even presenting to one decision maker alone demands planning in advance. Delivering a good presentation is something that a professional learns through experience and observation. The best presentations stay focused on the agenda, keep the meeting moving within the scheduled time, set out clear and reasonable expectations, and are based on a decision-making process that has been predetermined. The best presenters are well prepared and have practiced in advance. They are prepared to deal with any objections and can discuss the design solutions strategically, aligning them with the overall brand goals of the company. Larger projects routinely involve more than one presentation and numerous levels of building consensus.
Don’t expect the work to speak for itself. Even the most ingenious solutions must be sold. Suzanne Young Communications Strategist
Showing your concepts in a field of super brands helps decision makers make better decisions. Pentagram used this slide when they were designing Citi’s identity.
Citi: Pentagram
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