Before You Request a Design: 7 Things to Gather First
Updated: Sep 7
You have an event coming up. You know you need a flyer, social media graphic, and a presentation slide. What should you have ready before the design process begins?
A little preparation can make a big difference. It helps your designer understand what you need, reduces back-and-forth, and helps make sure the finished piece communicates the right message to the right people.
Before you submit your next design request, here are seven things to consider gathering.
1. The Purpose
Start with the most basic question: What is this piece supposed to accomplish? A flyer announcing an event has a different purpose than a graphic encouraging people to volunteer.
Try to finish this sentence: “After someone sees this, we want them to ______.” Register. Attend. Volunteer. Learn more. Remember something. Visit a website.
Knowing the desired outcome gives the design a clear direction.
2. The Audience
Who needs to see this? “Everyone” is tempting, but it usually isn't the most helpful answer. Consider whether you are primarily communicating with church members, parents, teenagers, volunteers, visitors, or another specific group. Knowing the audience can influence everything from the wording and amount of information to the images, colors, and overall feel of the design.
The goal isn't simply to create something that looks good. It's to create something that communicates well to the people who need to receive the message.
3. The Essential Information
Gather the information someone needs in order to understand the message or take the next step. For an event, that might include:
Event name
Date and time
Location
Cost
Registration information
Contact information
Website
Important deadlines
Remember, not everything you know has to appear on the design. Include what your audience needs to know.
4. Your Most Important Message
If someone only remembers one thing, what should it be? That information should usually receive the greatest visual emphasis.
One of the challenges in church communication is that everything can feel important. The event name is important. The date is important. The location is important. The registration deadline is important. But when everything is emphasized, nothing is emphasized.
Deciding what matters most helps establish a clear visual hierarchy so people can quickly understand the message instead of having to search for it.
5. Your Church's Branding
If your church has established brand materials, gather those before the project begins.
Useful files may include your:
Church or ministry logo
Brand colors
Preferred fonts
Brand guidelines
Existing templates
Examples of other materials that should coordinate with the new design
Don't have formal brand guidelines? That's okay. Even a logo, website link, or a few examples of materials your church regularly uses can provide helpful direction. Consistency helps people recognize that different communications are coming from the same church, even when the individual designs aren't identical.
6. Photos, Graphics, and Other Existing Materials
If you already have photos, previous designs, documents, or other materials that may be useful, gather those too. Whenever possible, provide the original or highest-quality version available rather than a screenshot or an image.
For photographs, think about what will help tell the story authentically. A real photo from your church, ministry, or previous event can sometimes communicate more than a stock photo.
If you don't have an image in mind, that's okay too. Knowing that at the beginning of the project helps your designer determine what other options may work.
7. Where It Will Be Used and When You Need It
Where will people see it? A graphic for Instagram, an 8.5 x 11-inch handout, and a large banner all have different requirements. If the same message needs to appear in several places, mention that at the beginning. One project may need several coordinated versions rather than one design trying to work everywhere.
And don't forget the deadline. If something will be printed, the design deadline needs to allow time for printing and delivery. If the church plans to promote an event for several weeks, work backward from the date you want promotion to begin.
Good Design Starts With a Clear Message
You don't need to have every design decision figured out before asking for help. That's part of what the design process is for. But having the purpose, audience, priorities, and other practical requirements ready gives the project a strong starting point.
