The Benefits of a Buddy for the Solo Designer

Are you a home-based studio or freelancer? The benefits are many for the solo designer, but feeling isolated can spell trouble.

Bertucci, Janet and Julianne Nardone. Design, Typography and Graphics (2004). Careers>Graphic Design>Collaboration

Icon Design Through Collaboration  

A Motorola technical communications team and a University of Illinois writing class collaborated to research and develop a set of icons to use in manuals and in an online information retrieval system. This paper describes this joint venture, reporting on icon design criteria (list of criteria and how they were derived); design testing; design proposals and rationale; and the results.

Harr, Robert G. STC Proceedings (1994). Design>Collaboration>Graphic Design

Picture This: An Effective Relationship Between Writers and Illustrators  

Writers and illustrators often find themselves in an adversarial relationship rather than working toward a single goal. The main reason for this is that writers don’t know enough about how illustrators work. By learning more about the similarities between the process of writing and illustrating, by reviewing the main characteristics of technical writing, and by treating illustrators as professional colleagues, writers can implement a strong collaborative work environment in which to create effective, accurate documentation.

Gadomski, Kenneth E. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Collaboration>Graphic Design

Ten Tips for Talking to Artists  

Explains some of the terminology used to describe graphics and explains the roles graphic designers play in the production of technical art.

Lyons, Chopeta C. Intercom (2004). Articles>Collaboration>Technical Illustration>Graphic Design

Working With a Designer

Katherine Huck, owner of Keystone Design, explains 'all the stuff you never knew you wanted to know' in a short and simple handbook entitled Working With a Designer. This hanbook is designed to create a bridge between the designer and the non-technically trained client, explaining in very simple terms key concepts that will make the designer and client's lives much easier.

Huck, Katherine. Elisabetta Bruno. Design>Collaboration>Graphic Design

Working with Graphic Designers  

Offers suggestions to technical writers or project managers on how to successfully communicate design specifications to graphic designers. According to Petersen, an ideal design specification should include an introduction stating the purpose of the document and its audience, tender requirements, a list of elements that need designing, a list of document limitations, a list of necessary hardware and software, design suggestions, printing and distribution information, a list of people involved in the project, and design and project schedules.

Petersen, Judy H. Intercom (2000). Careers>Collaboration>Graphic Design

Jim Coudal of Coudal Partners

Manufacturing, distribution, marketing, sales, customer contact – all of that is supremely manageable by a very small team. In the traditional model, you have this big corporation where the creative department is in the back, and they’re those wacky people with the Tabasco ties and chattering teeth in their cubicle, and everybody is a little afraid of them because they’re so “wild.” The rest of the company is the marketing, production, distribution, all of that. Well, our idea was that the little creative team could do everything.

Coudal, Jim. Design Glut (2009). Articles>Interviews>Graphic Design>Collaboration

Dos and Don'ts for Designers Dealing with Business

Some clients genuinely don't and never will 'get it.' But think long and hard before laying the blame for a poorly executed project at the feet of the non-designer. A critical part of the designer's job is to explain why something has to be done a certain way. If you can't convince the client, who chooses to go another, disastrous route, that's not actually his or her fault. It's yours.

Walters, Helen. Core77 (2009). Design>Graphic Design>Communication>Collaboration

Analysis of Team Design Review

Every other team meeting, three team members get 30 minutes each to talk about projects they are working on, and they get to demonstrate some of the cool things they are integrating into the project. As a team, we look at the project and both learn from what they’ve done, and make suggestions on how they might improve the project.

Pehrson, Paul. Technically Speaking (2009). Articles>Collaboration>Graphic Design>Assessment

Editors and Designers: 6 Ideas for Better Collaboration    

Demonstrates how collaboration between all involved in a project can improve the final product, improve the bottom line, and improve your own knowledge base. By understanding the point of view of your collaborators, you can present information better and be sure they understand your point of view better as well.

Hallmark, Erin and Marla Sowards. Intercom (2009). Articles>Editing>Graphic Design>Collaboration

Design Reviews and Posting Without Answers

In our design review sessions, a couple of members from our eight-person team share what they’re working on and ask questions about challenges they’re facing. We provide feedback and critique their project. If you’ve ever participated in a creative writing group, the design review works similarly. Team members use common sense and experience to guide their questions and reviews. Somewhat in contrast to a creative writing group, though, you don’t have to bring a finished piece to share.

Johnson, Tom H. I'd Rather Be Writing (2009). Articles>Graphic Design>Assessment>Collaboration

Speed Racer: Collaborative Sketching Saves the Day

Give 3 designers 4 weeks to create multiple conceptual designs for 8 features and what do you get? If they are team of innovative designers you might get the designs and a new process. If they are a team of committed designers you might get the designs and an improved collaboration. We were lucky. We got all three.

Sherman, Melissa. Designing the User Experience at Autodesk (2009). Articles>Collaboration>Graphic Design>Case Studies