What to expect
We cannot speak for all creative firms, but we can share our work process and generally excepted rules of engagement.

Most new creative relationships will start with a meeting of some sort. A sit down meeting is preferred, but with today's technology and time crunches more and more of these meetings are handled online, by phone and via FedEx. At this meeting your creative team will want to get to know you, your philosophies and your demographic as well as possible. At this point you should also be trying to get a feel for the creative team you are engaging. During this process the design consumer will present the problem as it is perceived. The design team evaluates this perceived problem and either confirms the problem or suggests alternatives. Sometimes a design consumer makes incorrect assumptions about the issue at hand or is unaware of the true creative or business issue.

After the true creative problem is identified the process of establishing the Creative Brief begins. The Creative Brief is the vehicle that sets up the problem, objective, method, scope, results, and quantifying tools. The creative team will require a great deal of information in order to establish the Creative Brief, and strong back and forth dialogue will be needed.

After the Creative Brief is completed and agreed to, the design process begins, using the Brief as a roadmap to the final destination. The brief will layout due dates, consumer/producer responsibilities and all other info needed for a healthy relationship and successful project. The exact scope, back and forth etc. will vary from project to project. Keep in mind that if the scope of the project changes the cost of the project may change. If the design consumer misses deadlines, all subsequent deadlines will be pushed back.