You have your product and your vision. Now it’s just a matter of creating your brand identity and letting the world know all about it.

If you’re design-savvy, this means getting the creative juices flowing and making a knockout design that will tell the world how awesome your product is. For those not creatively inclined, however, they turn to designers to help them flesh out their vision and ideas.

Of course, connecting with designers for your brand can sometimes become an uphill battle of wits and words. Communicating with designers can sometimes be a chore, oftentimes resulting in some lively, if not explosive, conversation.

While one cannot guarantee flawless interaction, keeping these tips in mind may help alleviate the tension and perhaps give way to a more valuable and cohesive partnership with your company’s creative arm.

Share Your Stories

As the creator of your brand or company, you value its origins and development. Sharing how you started, your aspirations for it and specificities of its look and feel not only helps your designer share your vision but also gives them a look into its value and meaning.

Oftentimes, the stories connect the entrepreneur to the designer, and how they interpret this can make the design more personal, creating more value and direction for both parties.

Learn Design Basics

While you may not necessarily need to create your design brand yourself (after all, you hired a designer for that purpose), it helps to know the jargon. Become familiar with the programs and know the steps on how it’s done.

For the entrepreneur, this also gives light to how the design works (it’s not magic!), and it makes you appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into a truly beautiful and solid design.

Work With Like-Minded Folks

Designers and entrepreneurs abound, but what makes a solid partnership is a common idea and vision. Working with someone who shares the same interests, work ethic and style can seriously hone your design direction, so work with a designer who is akin to think like you (or has the same style/work preferences).

Chances are, you may be able to easily form a vision with a developed look and feel that will be beneficial to both parties. (Of course, it’s a touch-and-go situation for some, but once you make your match, the results will be dynamic!)

Keep It Simple, Concise And Honest

Your ideas may or may not agree with the designer’s or you have some expectations that may not be feasible. However hard or awkward it may be, you need to say it (albeit tactfully, of course).

Honesty is key from your end and your designer’s. So make your expectations as clear as possible, be it the timeline, the end result or the overall vision.

Appreciate The Work That Goes Into Designing

Most people think that design comes easily and cost so little, hence their inability to comprehend the rates that go with good design. Just as entrepreneurs put time and effort into building their product or brand, good designers thoughtfully collaborate and create in ways that best promote its value. Good designers actualize your vision – a lot of thought, effort and time goes into that.

Collaborating with designers need not be a harrowing task. In fact, some bonds may even lead to a longstanding partnership of creative vision and mutual benefits.

Keeping these tips in mind can make working with a designer relatively stress-free and who knows? It may even result in a strong partnership that will truly make your vision shine.