Ask what the design must achieve
Identify the audience, message and situation where the work will be used. Ask what is not working now and what a successful outcome would look like. Gather existing brand assets and examples with explanations, not just a mood board.
List every deliverable
Record sizes, formats, editable files, print needs and channel variants. Distinguish a logo from a full identity system or a single graphic from a reusable template set. Confirm which assets the client supplies and when.
Choose the feedback process
Name the decision maker and agree how feedback will be gathered. Set the included concepts, revision scope and review timing in the appropriate agreement. Explain how a new deliverable changes scope instead of quietly absorbing it.
Plan the handoff before designing
Decide how final files will be named and organized, what usage instructions are needed and which licences transfer. Check the output in its intended context. Keep the client brief available when evaluating whether the work is complete.
A worked example
A request for a logo becomes a request for packaging and social templates. Listing those as separate deliverables lets both sides agree the scope before production begins.
YOUR NEXT STEP
A checklist you can use
Use it here or save a plain-text copy. Your selections stay in this page only.
Questions & answers
What should I collect before confirming the booking?
Start with business goal, audience, deliverables, existing assets, decision maker and deadline. Ask only for information needed for the work, and clarify anything that changes scope or scheduling.
How can I use this checklist in EZ Customers?
Create a service and attach an intake form for the preparation questions. Keep the client details and booking together, then use payment requests or file delivery where they fit the service.
Sources & editorial method
Prepared by EZ Customers from official provider pages and public question research. Provider descriptions are a dated selection, not a ranking, endorsement or first-hand review. Planning checklists and worked examples are original editorial material; they are not treatment instructions, legal templates or proof of professional qualification. Confirm current intake, pricing, campus, stock and eligibility directly. No affiliate links or paid placements are included.
- Adobe — creating a design brief ↗ · checked 2026-09-25
- Canva Design School — graphic design basics ↗ · checked 2026-09-25