The Art of Collaboration: Working with Clients and Creative Teams
Created with Adobe Firefly; Prompt: designers working together, emerald green
It is Thursday at 9:32 in the morning, and you just began your second interview at your dream company. You have been introduced to the team you would be working with if they choose to hire you. One of the designers asks you:
How do you work in a team environment?
These types of questions among several others are the most common as indicated on Indeed.com. Not only will you be given tips here on how to answer those questions in interviews, but you will know how to better work in any team, or with any client, in any environment.
Collaboration In The Design World: What Does It Mean?
“Collaborative design is an approach that involves a group of individuals working together to create and develop solutions to complex problems.” Miro, What is collaborative design?
Collaboration in the design industry is essential in order for the entire team to be successful. It goes beyond just cooperation; It is the exchange of ideas, feedback, and expertise to achieve a shared vision and deliver exceptional results. Embracing the idea of collaboration enhances the quality of all design projects and can strengthen the relationships between clients and the companies you are working for.
Communication and Understanding is Key
“Leaders report increased productivity (72%), increased customer satisfaction (63%), and increased employee confidence (60%) as the top three benefits of effective communication.” Grammarly, “The State of Business Communication: New Threats and Opportunities”
You can improve communication with team members or coworkers you interact with in the following ways:
Encourage Regular Check-Ins: Routine follow-ups and check-ins with your coworkers and teammates are extremely beneficial to keep everyone on task, and makes for a better synergy when working in groups. These checkpoints also provide opportunities for constructive criticism and improvement, which help create even better solutions for clients.
Be Transparent: It is always better to be completely honest with your team. It creates an environment where ideas can flow freely without fear of judgment, and someone’s criticism that they choose to share rather than hide it in fear of hurting the designer’s feelings can lead to an even better idea.
Be Willing To Compromise: Embracing flexibility and compromise encourages a culture of teamwork and collective problem-solving, ultimately leading to more innovative and successful design solutions.
Embracing Feedback
“Ultimately feedback is a gift. It allows us to produce better products with a higher chance of being accepted by our clients, partners, and peers..” Smashing Magazine, How Designers Should Ask For (And Receive) High-Quality Feedback
By embracing feedback with an open mind and a willingness to learn, designers can refine their skills and expand their creative horizons. Constructive criticism plays a crucial role in this process, offering specific insights and suggestions for refining ideas and designs.
Collaborative Tools and Technologies
There are several types of programs that you could use that will make collaborating with others much easier. Sketch recommends platforms for places to chat, places for tasks, and places for hands-on work.
They recommend the following programs:
Communication: Slack, Discord, WhatsApp
Assignments: Trello, Notion, Todoist
Hands-On Work: Miro, Mural, Sketch
Celebrating Successes Together
“Employee productivity increases by 25% when employees feel connected” Dawn Heiberg, “What is employee communication and why it’s more important than ever”
In a collaborative design team, celebrating each other's successes is not just about individual achievements but also acknowledging milestones achieved through collective effort. By recognizing and celebrating these shared victories, designers strengthen their bonds and foster a sense of camaraderie within the team.
This culture of celebration not only boosts morale but also reinforces the importance of collaboration in achieving success, creating a better relationship between clients and creative teams.
When clients witness a team that celebrates successes together, it demonstrates a high level of cohesion and professionalism, instilling confidence in the team's ability to deliver outstanding results. This, in turn, strengthens the trust and rapport between clients and the creative team.
Answer To The Million Dollar Question: How do you work in a team environment?
Recapping on everything discussed is essentially the answer you are looking for. Hiring managers and clients want to know that you are an effective communicator, great listener, open and honest with your team and open to feedback, and that you use appropriate tools and technology to better coordinate in groups. In the design world, solutions are the best when you collaborate with others to ensure its effect on the world.
Hi friends! My full name is Jennifer Noelle McCue, but you can call me Jennifer, or Jen. I am a Multimedia Designer, Social Media Strategist and Artist. Outside of my freelance opportunities, I work for a benefits administration company called Winston Benefits as a Media Designer.
My goal in every project is to be a designer who positively transforms people’s visions and brings them to life, a designer who is the go-to for visual solutions, and most of all, a resource that all types of individuals looking for creative solutions can count on.
