The document discusses a project where the author created promotional materials for a funeral director business.
There were some legal constraints regarding use of logos but the client provided permission. Financially, there were no constraints.
Communication with the client went well, deadlines were met, and the brief's goals were achieved by creating a range of promotional materials. Time management was efficient by spending time in college editing photos and materials.
The client provided positive feedback and was happy with the agreed outcomes. The author learned about client communication, freelance work, and time management from the project experience.
2. Discuss the constraints you experienced in the project
from a legal (copyright), regulatory (ASA) and
financial perspective.
■ Legal and regulatory constraints are an item that I had to
consider in the production stage of my project. Luckily, my
client owns an independent business and so there weren’t as
many considerations as if I chose to do a bigger business or
corporation. However, there were still constraints. I had to
query about the organisation that my client is a part of so that
I could use their logo to legitimise my work without breaching
any copyright laws. She reassured me that this was fine and
that she has a flexible contract with the Ecclesiastical
Planning Services.This meant that she was able to use the
logo in any promotional materials that she uses to advertise
her business. I used the logo in my work to make it look to a
professional standard.
■ There weren’t any constraints from a financial perspective
that I had to consider.
3. Discuss how well you managed the project.
■ The project was well managed.The communication
was seamless, the time management was of good
standard and the deadlines were met for the client.
They have the material that they can use to
promote their business as agreed in the brief. I
think that the brief was the goal of the project and
that I have achieved this
■ There weren’t any major drawbacks or problems
that held me back from working to the deadlines.
There was a slight issue regarding whether or not I
was able to photograph an actual funeral as the
client felt she didn’t have appropriate customers at
that time. I overcame this quickly and didn’t let it
affect the quality of my final work.
4. Discuss your time management and how you worked
to the agreed timescales.
■ I worked well to ensure that the deadlines that I had
arranged with the client were met and reached.
During the two week period, I met with my client
twice – once to refine the brief and do the initial
photoshoot and a second time to get feedback of
my ideas and production.These two visits meant
that I kept my client in close communication to
ensure that expectation were met.
■ I feel that my time management during the project
was efficient. I was in college every day that I wasn’t
seeing my client to use Photoshop and edit my
photographs and use them in my production.
5. How well did you manage communications?
■ The communication between me and the client was
primarily conducted through phone calls and text
messages.This ensured direct and straight forward
arrangements and not sitting in email inboxes for days
on end. I think that this is definitely the best method to
use, especially with a tight production time of 2 weeks.
It needed to be concise, clear and quick and I think that
this is how I managed it.
■ There were a few points in the project where I didn’t
see or speak to my client for a few days, but I think that
this is okay as we were clear about the arrangements
that we made.
6. How did you meet the requirements of the brief and
achieve your agreed outcomes?
■ To the right is the original brief that I agreed
upon with with client. I sat down with her and
arranged the logistics of what she would like
creating or improving for her business.
■ I used the brief as the criteria that I needed to
meet for the project. I experimented with all
the different types of products that was listed
by her. I kept in mind that she uses lots of
different types of media and so made lots of
different versions and resolutions of each
finished piece to fit this.
■ I made that business look attractive to those
who are looking for a funeral director in the
time of grief. It sells that brand that is
recognisable to her customers.
7. How did you meet the requirements of the brief and
achieve your agreed outcomes?
■ I met the brief by ‘creating a range of
promotional material’ for the client to use.
I tried to be as varied as possible in my
approach to make sure I had a range of
photographs, adverts, posters, business
cards and logos to show to my client and
decide which is most suitable for her
business. For each final piece, I have over
5 different drafts that I have also created
and saved when experimenting with what
was aesthetically optimal.
■ She was happy in the agreed outcome of
the project and it was mutually beneficial.
The work that I have created represents
and presents my client in a very positive
way. She has a range of work that she will
be able to use on all types of media.
8. Client Feedback
■ The feedback that I have from my
client is to the right. It’s what I took
away from a conversation that I
had with my client where she told
me what she likes and what she
dislikes.
■ I took on board her feedback and
went on to continue my
production. I took into account the
branding and style that she already
has on all of her marketing and
advertising. This involved looking
at products existing already on the
internet and physically.
9. What have you learnt here that could help you in
future tasks?
■ I’ve learnt a lot about the real trials, tribulations and
considerations that those who do freelance design work have to
deal with. It’s been insightful to see that style of work put into
practice and it’s good to say that I have some experience in that
type of work now.
■ I’ve had to learn to work independently and make my own
arrangements with the client. Communication has been vital in
being organised and working to tight deadlines.
■ Overall it’s been a productive and insightful few weeks and I feel I
could talk about the experience in potential job interviews that
relate to the project.