Tips on How to Work with our Creative Team

One of the most valuable things we offer our clients is access to the talented creative team at CG Sports! Knowing how to get the most out of a creative team takes practice, experience and knowing how to communicate.

The best creative is made when a client can bring two things to the table:

1. A clear idea in their own head of what the design should look like.

2. The ability to clearly communicate exactly what the final creative should look and feel like. It's the latter that takes practice.

But no one ever teaches clients this!

Until now...

As someone who has worked with many talented designers over the past 10 years, here are the top tips you need to know before your first design meeting: 

1. The Creation Phase: The creation phase is sacred time between the designer and you. You are trying to explain what's in your head, while the designer is trying to learn your communication style. During the creation phase I try to work with the designer strictly 1-1 with no input from anyone else. The drafts, revisions, edits and improvements are only seen by myself + the creative team.

2. One to One relationship: To me this is the fun part. You are the Creator. They are the Designer. Together as a 1:1 team, you can make magic. A designer is only as good as a creator's ability to communicate what is in her head. This just takes practice. But don't ruin it by bringing in the ideas of others during this early process.

3. Trust: The designer is figuring you out and learning your style. You are learning how to communicate what’s in your head. During this phase, I rarely share mock-ups with others (almost never). I’ve found that while others may have input, their POV isn’t as valuable because they're not “in the arena” with me and the designer.

4. The Reveal phase: When the design is finally completed, only then will I share it with others to see.

5. Audience response: What I’m mostly looking for is their initial response to the logo. If I can, I try to be on video or phone with them as I reveal the logo. This gives me the truest sense of their response.

6. Closing thoughts: The best designs are the ones that are communicated the clearest, from the Creator to the Designer. They are always done in less than 4 revisions. If you find yourself going beyond that (which I definitely have done) it's a communication issue. Rarely a design issue.

Hope this helps! We look forward to seeing what you create.