TL;DR: Design request templates make the design process faster, getting you your visuals on time without sacrificing quality. They also ensure you’re including everything your designer needs, helping them to get your designs right the first time.
If you’re working with the best design-as-a-service platform and still receive subpar creative work, the problem may lie in something unexpected: a poorly written project brief. Even the most talented designer can hit a roadblock when given vague or incomplete requests. This results in wasted time that could have been spent on more crucial matters. Thus, if you need that landing page or infographic quickly, make sure to craft the best design request templates. Here’s how.
What is a Design Request Template?
A design request template is a structured document you use to outline a project you want your designer to create. It includes all the details, such as goals, brand guidelines, deadlines, and many other pertinent information. It can also include a space to attach images, links, or other data to give them a clear idea of what you want.
This is what you’ll edit every time you submit design requests, filling it out with the relevant data for each project. Having these leaves no room for forgotten details, thereby reducing mistakes and revisions.
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Why are Design Request Templates Crucial for Fast Turnarounds?
When designers spend time, even for a short while, deciphering scattered or incomplete requests, it impacts the quality of their work. In addition, it takes time away from the real work, especially when they look for clarification. A structured design request template avoids these, thus reducing revisions, allowing them to get your designs right the first time.
Key benefits of a structured design request template:
- No more back-and-forth messaging: Including fields for project scope, assets, and deadlines means less of the emails asking for clarity.
- Predictable timelines: When your design partner has all the information upfront, they can readily give you an estimated time of delivery. Plus, it helps them stick to schedules easily.
- Best for design-as-a-service models: Graphic design subscription and on-demand graphic design services are built for speed. A strong request template allows them to handle multiple projects more efficiently without compromising quality.
What to Include in Effective Design Request Templates
Let’s get to what you need to include in your design request templates. Here is a full list you can use to start structuring yours:
What are the Design’s Objectives?
Each project starts with a purpose. Your template should include the goal behind the request. It could be to boost sales, build awareness, or support a campaign. This allows the design output to directly align with measurable outcomes rather than just look good.
Who is the Target Audience?
Your designs should be tailor-made for the exact people they are intended to be effective with. Look beyond the demographics, and find out what your audience cares about, how they will interact with the design, and what action you want them to take.
What Type of Design are You Requesting?
Of course, the design request template should include what the project is for: social media post, online ads, website assets, or pitch deck presentations. Add crucial details, such as Instagram stories or LinkedIn banners, to help the designers use the correct format.
Brand Guidelines and Visual Direction
Let your designers know about your brand rules. Include your logos, type fonts, color schemes, and any other visual assets you have. Use references that they can use for inspiration to speed up the workflow.
Copy and Content Information
Don’t forget to include copy. Your template should distinguish between final text, placeholders, CTAs, disclaimers, and legal notes. This allows your designers to work on your designs immediately, instead of waiting for revisions.
Formats, Sizes, and Deliverables
Not all platforms are alike. Let your designer know the right dimensions, formats, and files. Is the design for a Google ad or a print flyer? Files come in static, editable, and print-ready formats, make sure to include this.
Timeline, Deadline, and Priority Levels
Give your time expectations to your designers. This allows them to work as fast as needed. However, your template should set realistic timelines. Also, let them know which is priority, urgent, or standard. For example, you can batch similar requests instead of submitting them piecemeal.
Revisions and Feedback
Revisions are inevitable, they are part and parcel of the process. But they, too, need boundaries. An effective design template request includes how many revisions are allowed and what really counts as a revision. Furthermore, feedback should be specific and structured. This lets your designers know what you need instead of wasting time guessing.
Optional Fields
Include extra details, if possible, as these can significantly improve your design request template. Include inspiration links, references, or simple dos and don’ts that can give your designers a clearer picture of what’s on your mind. It would also be helpful to include accessibility requirements, compliance notes, or campaign context. This ensures accuracy and efficiency.
What are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Design Request Templates?
To make the ideal design request template, you should also be aware of the common mistakes you need to avoid. Here are the most crucial:
- Being Vague or Overly Subjective: Terms such as “make it pop” or “make it more creative” are too broad and leave too much room for interpretation. Designers need concrete direction to deliver work that matches your expectations, without the never-ending revisions.
- Sending Incomplete Requests: When you forget to include the copy, deadlines, or dimensions, you are forcing your designers to look for the missing details. This is one of the biggest causes of delays, so make sure your design request templates have them before submitting.
- Changing the Scope in the Middle of the Project: When you shift goals or add new deliverables to the existing project, it derails schedules. Changing the scope usually means starting over. It’s best to decide before sending your request.
Final Thoughts
To some, design request templates are additional work that brings no real value. But in reality, they aren’t just paperwork, but a competitive edge. They cut confusion and simplify communication, allowing you to get the exact design assets you need, fast and simple.
Ready for faster turnarounds for your designs? Penji’s on-demand design subscription gets you access to a team of professional designers. Standardize your request and let Penji handle the rest. Watch our demo video here or send your first design request through this link.
FAQs
- Can one design request template cover multiple design tasks?
No. Each request should focus on one deliverable. This avoids confusion and speeds up the process.
- Are design request templates good for working with design-as-a-service platforms?
Even more so. These platforms are built for speed, and the more detailed your template is, the faster they can deliver.
- What’s the biggest mistake brands make with templates?
Seeing them as an option instead of a necessity. Even skipping fields can be unproductive, so make sure you complete them.
About the author
Celeste Zosimo
Celeste is a former traditional animator and now an SEO content writer specializing in graphic design and marketing topics. When she's not writing or ranking her articles, she's being bossed around by her cat and two dogs.
