A Pre-Project Checklist Before Hiring A Brand Or Website Designer

Pre-Project Checklist: 8 steps to prepare your brand or website before hiring a designer

Before embarking on a branding or website project, it’s essential to get familiar with the core aspects of your business. Using a pre-project checklist before hiring a brand or website designer will help you clarify your mission, values, and audience, so you’re better prepared to create a cohesive, professional brand. This checklist is designed to help you organize your thoughts and understand the building blocks of your brand before diving into the brand strategy phase with a designer like me.

Taking these steps will not only make the project more seamless but also ensure that your brand’s vision shines through in every design decision.

1. Define your mission statement: what is your big ‘why’?

Before hiring a designer, make sure you’re clear on your mission statement—the big “why” behind your business. Your mission sets the foundation for your brand strategy, helping your designer understand the driving force behind what you do.

• Ask yourself: What motivates me to serve my clients each day?
  
• Your mission will guide the tone and messaging of your brand, making it easier for your designer to capture the heart of your business.

2. Clarify your brand values: what do you believe in?

Your brand values define how you operate and communicate with your audience. These values are essential to share with your designer, as they shape your brand’s identity and how you want to be perceived in the market.

• Consider your core beliefs and how they should be reflected in your brand’s visual elements and tone.
  
• Sharing your values upfront ensures that the designs align with what you stand for and connect with your audience.

3. Identify your core offerings: the transformation you bring to clients

Your core offerings are the services or products you provide. By clarifying these before starting a project, you help your designer position your brand around the transformation you deliver to clients, not just the services you offer.

• Focus on the results your clients experience by working with you.
  
• Clear core offerings give your designer a solid framework to create messaging that resonates with your audience.

4. Craft your brand story: the journey that kickstarted your business

Your brand story helps your designer understand the journey behind your business, making it easier to create designs that reflect your personal and professional history.

• Share the pivotal moments that shaped your business. Why did you start, and how have you evolved?
  
• This context helps your designer connect the dots between your past and your vision for the future, creating a story your audience can relate to.

5. Define your target audience: who are they, and what do they care about?

Knowing your target audience allows your designer to tailor your visuals and messaging to the people who matter most. Who are they? What are their challenges? What do they value?

• Create a profile of your ideal client, highlighting their needs, pain points, and goals.
  
• Understanding your audience ensures your designer can craft a brand that speaks directly to them, making the project more targeted and effective.

6. Conduct competitor research: what can you learn from them?

Before your brand strategy session, take a look at your competitors. Understanding what works (and doesn’t) in your industry helps your designer develop a strategy that positions you as unique and impactful.

• Analyze your competitors: What are they doing well? Where do they fall short?
  
• Competitor research informs your designer’s approach to differentiating your brand in a way that resonates with your audience.

7. Invest in content: professional photography and copywriting

Content is the foundation of your website and branding materials. Professional photography and well-written copy bring your brand to life, helping your designer create cohesive, polished visuals and messaging.

• High-quality visuals and copy help your designer maintain consistency across your brand, from your website to social media.
  
• Investing in professional content early on sets your project up for success, ensuring that all elements of your brand work together seamlessly.

8. Focus on brand visuals: what you hire me for!

Once you’ve clarified your mission, values, and audience, your brand visuals are the final step in bringing everything together. This is where I come in to help create a cohesive, professional brand that aligns with your business goals.

• Share your insights from the previous steps with me, and we’ll work together to create visuals that reflect your brand’s essence.
  
• Consistent, strategic design across all platforms will make your brand memorable, recognizable, and trustworthy—key factors in business growth and success.

Get ready to make the most of your brand and web design project

This checklist is designed to help you get clear on your brand before working with a designer. The more prepared you are, the smoother your project will be, and the stronger your brand will become. By defining your mission, values, offerings, and audience, you’re setting the stage for a successful branding or website project.

Ready to start your branding or website journey? I’m here to help bring your vision to life with a well-crafted brand strategy and stunning design. If you’re unsure whether you need a full rebrand, check out my recent blog post, Signs Your DIY Brand Is Holding You Back. Let’s chat—book a consultation today and take the first step toward transforming your business.