@WanaBeKenobi

Hi Nick and Andrew. This is such a great topic. I infuse the creative process into every project my high school students take on. It’s one of the most important foundational skills a designer can learn. I have my students use a sign-off sheet that walks them through each stage: research, ideation, refinement, execution, and final delivery, to help drive home its importance.

In my advanced class, which runs like a work-based learning studio, students meet with real clients. We always start with an initial sit-down consultation. Discovery comes first. Then, once we understand the project’s needs, we create a proposal that becomes an agreement, once signed, to define the scope and expectations.

That’s why something you mentioned in the video stood out. You said the first step is Agreement, followed by Discovery. That order feels a little off to me. How do you lock in an agreement before you’ve uncovered what the client actually needs?

Also, I’ve been thinking more about how the creative process flexes depending on the type of project. Development is really just whatever that project needs it to be. For a logo, it might mean sketching thumbnails and working through refinements. For an ad campaign, it could mean exploring layouts, choosing colors, writing copy, basically building out the visual and messaging direction. Refinement, too, shifts based on the project. In one case, it’s about polishing sketches. In another, it’s dialing in composition or final messaging before execution. The steps stay consistent, but what happens in each stage should adapt.

One last thought. The word “Agreement” can refer to either a verbal or written understanding, but I prefer to use the term “Contract” which is written and legally binding.