Design guidance
The Division of Communications and Marketing's Design Team has vast experience in creating engaging, creative visual design. We work across multiple mediums with expertise in print, digital, film, photography, animation, interiors and infographics.
We can offer you creative support for all kinds of design and marketing campaigns, and if we’re unable to work directly on your project, we can guide you through the process with one of our approved freelance designers or agencies.
Planning a project
If you’re working on a University design project, we’d encourage you to plan the project thoroughly and complete a project brief. Here’s how we’d recommend you go about that:
What do you want to achieve?
- What outcome are you expecting?
- Are you informing people about a course, event or research project?
- What do you want them to do as a result?
What's the right format?
- Do you really need to get something printed?
- Do you have a website or e-newsletter that would be a better way to promote this?
- Is there already other marketing material in other formats you could repurpose?
- Would an infographic be better suited for this?
Who is your target audience?
- Who are you aiming your marketing material at?
- Will they understand what you’re saying to them and what you want them to do?
How do you want people to feel?
- How do you want to connect with people?
- Do you want them to feel excited, proud, part of something?
Who owns the project?
- Are you the main contact?
- Do you have the authority to sign off artwork?
- Do you have to get approval from colleagues?
What budget do you have?
- Never tell an external agency how much you have to spend. Find out what they can do for you and what that will cost.
Deadlines
- When do you need the project to be completed?
Schedule and delivery
- Always make sure you factor in enough time.
- Complete and approve a brief before proceeding with any design.
- Agree a realistic schedule.
- Confirm the production schedule and requirements from all sides.
- Confirm who’s responsible for what.
- Agree a delivery date.
- Agree a delivery contact and address (if required).
Completing a brief
When working with the Design Team, after our initial meeting we will complete a briefing document and send it to you for feedback so we can agree the process before any work begins., The brief is broken down into the following components:
Project background
We need insight into what your project is about. Understanding your requirements will help us to deliver the best creative solution.
Requirements
A brief description of what you require and when.
Design considerations
Is printing required for a publication or will it be in digital format. Do you require infographics? Understanding the requirements help to plan realistic schedules.
Additional project detail
Here you can note key content details and how information will be supplied.
Timings/budget
We will agree a detailed schedule and costs for your project.
Contacts
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding a project you would like to work with us on. Or feel free just to call for advice:
Jane Naylor
Design Manager
Tel: 52448
Email: jane.naylor@manchester.ac.uk