My breakdown of client projects

From real estate projects, to personal brand projects, to freelancing, to side hustles – this is my system for breaking down design projects.

I have a simple method for breaking down a client project. And it starts with answering these key questions.

The 7 key question for a design project

• Who are the key user types? ( Identify Them )
• What are the ” jobs to be done” for each user type? What do they want to do efficiently?
• What are the success metrics for the client? If we completed everything successfully? what would success look like ? Metrics / Outcomes
• What is the projected timeline for the project?
• What is the project worth?
• Who are the stakeholders involved and what are each of their goals?
• Who is on the project team?

Once you have this information you can synthesize everything together into a cohesive roadmap, strategy and execution plan with stakeholders and the project team.

All sounding terms. But essentially it’s gather all the above information, make sense of the above information into a clear set of goals, create a plan based on said and agreed goals. Put the plan into action with the team. Design, Prototype, Test, and Iterate across the lifecycle of the project. Once you make things put it in front of people. But not just anyone the people who will use the product/service you are designing.

I use an agile methodology. We test and learn along the way. More partnerships with everyone involved. Vs. Let’s make everything in a cave do a big reveal with the client. Then just launch everything into the world at the end in a step by step manner.

Project example

Let’s have a look at the above project in action for a real estate website.

1. Who are the key user types? (Identify them)

• Brokerage
• Realtors / Agent
• Sellers
• Buyers

2. What are the “jobs to be done” for each user type? What do they want to do efficiently?

• Broker – need to maintain the frim and support agents with sales, marketing and advertising.
• Realtors – need to find buyers and sellers
• Seller – want to learn more about brokers and realtors
• Buyers – want to get in touch with a specific agent / realtor about available listings
• Etc. Do for all user types

3. What are the success metrics for the client? If we completed everything successfully- what would success look like? Metrics/Outcome

• Increase inbound seller calls
• Be able to schedule buyers seamlessly for showings
• Have clear buyer and seller data that is accessible and easy to qualify
• Improve the current mobile experience

4. What is the projected timeline for the project?

• A vendor will be selected on 24 February. The project will commence on the 1st of March with a projected completion date of 14th June. (We will be advised further by the selected vendor)

5. What is the project worth?

• $295,000 budget for design and development

6. Who are the stakeholders involved and what are each of their goals? (Add goals to each of these stakeholders by interviewing them)

• Head of Marketing – Jade Mills
• CFO – Joe Radford
• Operations Manager – Carlin Wright
• Project Lead – Ginger Martin
• CEO – Rochelle Maize

7. Who is on the project team?

• Creative Director – Jay L. Heard
• Design Lead – Mako Tsereteli
• Copywriter – Minh Pham
• Developer – Varenka Schill
• Photographer – Ben Jelic

Once you have all this synthesize it together. Collaborate and divide and conquer together