Introduction

HOW WE WORK TOGETHER

Thank you for choosing BoonBase. We know that working with a design consultancy such as ours often prompts a few questions and concerns. How successful will we be in interpreting your needs? How can we do it most effectively? How much will it cost? This document is a summary of our modus operandi. It will explain how we do what we do and why.

First things first

The first thing we do on receiving a project from a client is to schedule an information gathering session. The creative team that will be working on the project represent BoonBase during this session. The client is represented by the member(s) of staff relevant to the project. This meeting also acts as a briefing session. During this time we discuss the project’s objectives, the client’s target market and preferences. We also find out the available budget, job specifications, scheduling and any other relevant information. This meeting is very important as it will help you sharpen your focus and objectives and it will help us ensure that what we produce is not only creatively excellent but is also strategically targeted. If we are clear on what you want right from the beginning, we are likely to produce it faster and to your satisfaction.

Our Charges

Like all service organizations, our invoices are based on the time we invest in a project. Currently we bill our time at R400 per hour, about 15% less than what other firms with our experience and quality charge. Project costs range from hundreds of rands to hundreds of thousands of rands. It all depends on our clients’ needs and budgets. We always provide a detailed proposal and estimate for approval before beginning and adhere to them unless project specifications change.

Conflict of Interest

The creative consultancy will not work for two clients who are direct competitors. Where there is concern about possible conflict of interest, it is the responsibility of the creative consultancy to ask the first client if it is permissible to also accept the work of the second.

Developing the Right Ideas

Creativity is often thought to come in a flash of inspiration from out of the blue. This is a misconception. Good creative work arises from processing adequate information and developing it through a series of trial and error. We need to take time to consider several approaches (concepts), develop them, test them and then revise them. In addition, there are usually practical and functional aspects that need to be considered before we present the concepts. This may include sub-contractor availability, printing estimates, scheduling requirements among others. All these combined with the need to schedule our workflow in a professional fashion mean that we normally require up to two weeks before we submit initial concepts for approval. This time period is subject to adjustment depending on the job’s complexity and its urgency.

Presentation and Feedback

It is our experience that it is best to present initial concepts to your project manager and one or two other people related to the project. This ensures that we all stay focused on the problem and its solution. Oftentimes too many personal opinions hinder rather than help the project’s progress. We usually present two initial concepts. These adequately convey what we believe is the best approach to take considering the budget, schedule, objectives and preferences. And because the project is still in its early stages, corrections are neither costly nor time-consuming. This is also a good time to judge whether the work is headed in the direction desired. After presentation, the client gives his/her feedback. The more objective and specific this is the better we will be able to respond to it. We use this feedback to translate the initial concepts into finished work which we present at a later date. Using the feedback from this second presentation, we make further adjustments if required. We also finalise the production timetable and the scheduling of additional services e.g. photography, illustration, animation etc.

Ensuring your Satisfaction

We recommend that the final work be routed to the appropriate decision makers for approval of facts and details in the work. Decisions on subjective issues such as stylistic and aesthetic preferences should preferably be made by your project manager. This person should also be the one responsible for all communication between us and the client. This helps to avoid confusion and errors which can be very costly. During the course of the project, we will keep your project manager informed on our progress. Activities that will affect the schedule or budget are identified and communicated in writing. Our goal is to keep your project progressing smoothly, on time and within budget. This way we will produce even better results than you hired us for.