Are You Designing With Purpose? 11 Questions To Ask Before Creating

Table of Contents

1. Will You Use A Single Or Double-Column Layout?

Your choice of layout will depend on your content type and intended medium. Single-column layouts are easier to read but require more space than double-column layouts.

Double-column layouts allow you to fit more information on a page or in an area, so they’re great for print publications but they can be hard to read online, which makes them less appropriate when you want your readers’ attention.

Single-column layouts are better suited for email newsletters because they take up less space and load faster than double-column ones do.

However, if you want a more professional look in an article format (e.g., blog post), then opt for two columns instead of one! Just make sure that the left side has enough room so it doesn’t feel cramped while also keeping everything readable and easy on the eyes!

10 Questions to Ask a Client Before Creating a Design Brief

Takeaways
1. Purpose-driven design starts with understanding the intended goals of your project.
2. Asking the right questions before creating ensures your design aligns with the intended purpose.
3. Consider the target audience and their needs to create impactful and relevant designs.
4. Analyze the context in which your design will be used to make informed design decisions.
5. Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback and iterate on your design to enhance its purposefulness.
6. Address potential challenges early by asking about potential limitations and constraints.
7. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure a shared understanding of the design’s purpose.
8. Explore the emotional impact your design should have on users and how it aligns with the purpose.
9. Keep the brand identity and messaging in mind to maintain consistency and coherence.
10. Evaluate the feasibility of your design ideas by asking about available resources and tools.
11. Continuously revisit the initial purpose throughout the design process to stay on track.

2. Will The Design Be A One-Time Use, Or Is It Versatile?

A design that is versatile and can adapt to a variety of uses will save you time and money. This means designing with versatility in mind, which can be as simple as making sure your text is easily readable regardless of how it’s being used. If someone wants to print out your flyer or post it on their fridge, they should be able to do so without any trouble.

If you’re designing something that will only need one use, for example, an invitation or a sign for an event then the design may not need to be versatile. However, even if the project has been created for only one use, take note: does this design have the potential for future projects? Could it be adapted into something else later on?

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3. What Is The Primary Call To Action In Your Design?

The primary call to action is the one thing you want your audience to do after they read your design. For example, if you’re designing a brochure to promote an upcoming conference, it’s important that your key message or call-to-action is clear and concise.

If we were designing this for you, we would ensure that our design included a call-to-action such as “Register Today!” or “Don’t Miss Out!”

Ask yourself: What is the key message or action I want my audience to take away from this design? One way to answer this question is by thinking about what the primary purpose of your design is. If it’s more than one thing, figure out what’s most important and simplify accordingly.

4. Is The Content Clear And Concise?

You’ve got a story to tell, and the most important part is to be able to communicate it in a way that is clear and concise. Clear communication is the key to any project.

The purpose of having good content isn’t just so your audience can read it it’s also so they can understand what you’re saying. If your message isn’t clear, then there’s no point in even trying to get across what you want them to learn or do.

You need to explain things clearly so that people can understand what it is that makes them different from their competitors or why they should choose them over anyone else who might be selling similar products or services.

Here are some examples of effective writing:

“We provide fast shipping because we know how important this aspect of our business is when our customers choose us over another company.”

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5. Are There Bulleted Lists?

Bullet points are the foundation of many UI designs. They should make it easy for users to scan through information and find what they’re looking for.

Bullets should be concise, clear, and easy to read. It’s important that your bullet list is simple and direct so as not to confuse or overwhelm your audience. You want each bullet point to highlight important information without going overboard with words or images.

In general: use bullets sparingly (one or two per paragraph) but make sure that each one has a succinct point that follows this format: “Here’s what we’re doing” + “Here’s why we’re doing it” + “Here’s how you can do it too.”

6. Do You Need To Use Italics, Bold, Or Underlined Text?

Italicized text is best used for titles, foreign words, and emphasis. It’s also not an appropriate way to differentiate between a title and the rest of your copy (a header). Instead, use bold for headings and emphasize key phrases with italics or bold.

Underlined text is great for links; however, it can be distracting when used as a general formatting element in body copy. Don’t underline anything that doesn’t need to be clicked or linked it’s just unnecessary clutter on the page.

7. Will You Use Descriptive Headlines And Captions?

Are you using descriptive headlines and captions to give users a clear understanding of what they can expect when they click on an image or link?

Use specific, not vague headlines that describe the action. As such: “Click here” is okay, but “Read our latest blog post” is better because it gives the user information about what he or she will find when clicking through.

The same goes for captions; be specific about what the image shows rather than just stating its title (e.g., instead of “An example of great design,” write something like “A designer creating mockups in Photoshop”).

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8. Do You Have Pictures, Illustrations, Icons, Or Graphics To Bring Your Point Across?

It’s no secret that visuals are important. They can be used to convey information, reinforce the text, and even help your design look more professional. The best part is that they don’t have to be complicated or distracting from what you’re trying to say.

For example: If you want your readers to take action on something (like buying a product), include an icon in the corner of the page where people can click it and sign up for a free trial (or whatever it is). If there are instructions for how people should use something, use icons or graphics that show exactly what they need to do don’t just tell them!

Make sure your visuals are simple and easy to understand so they aren’t too busy looking at other things in addition to reading through what you wrote!

9. How Much White Space Does Your Design Have Around It For Easy Reading On Any Device?

Many designers use white space in their designs, but not just “white.” White space (also known as negative space) refers to the area around design elements like text or graphics that don’t contain anything else.

Think of white space as an empty canvas surrounding your design elements. The size and shape of that canvas will determine how easy it is for viewers to read on any device from desktop monitors to smartphones.

If you’re mimicking traditional print layouts for your website, make sure all text has enough breathing room around it so it’s easy for users to read on any device.

10. Are Typography And Font Size Readable And Appropriate For Your Audience’s Needs And Current Technology Preferences?

As you’re designing, are you making sure that the font size is large enough to be read? Are there too many words in a sentence or paragraph? Is it easy to scan different sections of text?

Do any parts of the design need more white space so that people don’t feel overwhelmed by information overload. These are all considerations to make when deciding what typeface is right for your audience not just what looks good in a template!

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11. Did You Ensure That All Necessary Links Work Appropriately In Each Design Format (Email, Print, Web)?

When people visit your website, they should be able to easily find the information they want. This means that all links must work properly and not be broken in any way. Links should also be short enough so they don’t distract from the content of the page or take away from its aesthetic appeal.

Additionally, links should not be too long or short; if a visitor has to scroll through a page before seeing them, it will make them feel like they’re wasting time on your site by having to click several times before finding what they need.

Finally, make sure there aren’t any controversial or boring links on your website; these types of links can lead visitors away from their experience in an instant!

Well-designed pieces have a purpose. Ask these questions before you create anything.

With purpose, you can be sure that your work will solve a problem for your audience and have the impact you want it to.

There are a lot of questions to ask before creating anything. Here are 15 questions you should ask yourself before starting any project:

What is my goal? Why am I doing this?

What do I want people to feel when they use my product or service? How can I make them feel that way?

Who is my target audience and how can I help them reach their goals more easily and efficiently than ever before (or at all)? If there aren’t any existing solutions out there for them yet, what would mine look like?

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Conclusion

This article is the first in a series of three that will be talking about building with purpose. As you’ve learned, many designers have already started down this path and are seeing incredible results.

If you’d like to learn more about designing with purpose, we recommend reading through all three articles or checking out our Designing With Purpose guidebook for a deep dive into this topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between A Design And A Redesign?

I think this question is pretty self-explanatory but let’s go over it anyway. A redesign means going back to the drawing board and building something new from scratch. Designing with purpose means you are trying to solve a problem or make sense of data in order to create something that works for people.

What Does It Mean To Design With Purpose?

Designing with purpose means asking yourself what your users want and need before creating anything on their behalf. It also means focusing on solving problems rather than making things look pretty which is why we say it’s okay if they don’t always agree at first glance (because they will)

What Is The Difference Between Design And Interior Design?

Interior design is the process of creating the space, while designing is what you do in order to help achieve that goal. So while they’re closely related, they aren’t identical. Interior designers are trained designers who have an eye for color, space, and flow.

They use their knowledge of color theory and proportion as a tool for creating beautiful rooms everywhere from homes to restaurants to offices. If you want your home or office space to look great on day one and it does then hiring an interior designer will save you time (and money).

What Are The 7 Elements Of Interior Design?

Colour palette: This determines how your room will look overall by choosing shades that work together well on their own or when mixed with other colors in your space. Pattern & texture:

Whether through fabric upholstery or wall-to-wall carpeting patterns play an important role in defining character within a room; texture adds depth & dimensionality so think about how each material feels against your skin before selecting one! Scale:

The size of furniture relative not only to its surroundings but also to people sitting inside it gives personality back into our lives through intimate experiences like reading quietly by candlelight next door listening to music party instead of sitting at home alone watching TV shows remotely watching movies online instead of driving downtown traffic jams etcetera.

Furniture arrangement: Arranging furniture correctly within any given room helps create order flow organization which ultimately creates a comfortable level of enjoyment environment.

So try placing pieces wisely where ever possible taking care and not overcrowding them at the same time leaving enough room free space around allowing comfortable walkway access passageway movement between different zones segmented areas particular area zone.

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Why Do We Need To Ask These Questions?

Well, if you’re a designer, then you’re probably pretty familiar with the process of creating something from nothing. You’ve probably even had a project or two where everything went according to plan and your design was spot-on (or at least close enough).

But more often than not, there’s going to be some sort of unexpected challenge that pops up during the creation process a client who doesn’t get what they asked for or a situation that arises when you’re halfway through building something.

And if you haven’t thought about these situations before starting on a design project, then chances are good that one will come up while working on your latest project!

What Should I Do If My Design Isn’t Working Out As Expected?

The first thing is always patient it can take time for any idea or product to grow into its final form. It may help to think about what stage of development your work is in right now (the beginning stages? middle stages? end stages?).

And see how far along it has progressed compared with other projects from friends/colleagues/other designers who share similar interests with yours;

This helps keep things realistic by placing them within context rather than comparing apples-to-oranges type scenarios which could lead us astray down dark paths without much hope of ever seeing sunlight again…and THAT’S JUST CRAZY!

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.