A business proposal is a form of visual storytelling that informs, provokes thought, and opens dialog. The development of proposals is a combination of thoughtful development, presentation, messaging, and delivery.
Development: Full team (business leader, management, design, and writing) collaboration and participation in brainstorming, story boarding, data collection, drafting, reviewing, and publishing
Presentation: Thoughtful UI/UX packaging and organization, appropriate color palette, strong photography, and clean layout.
Messaging: Information graphics, maps, copy writing, and photography are organized in proper hierarchy and categorized in appropriates chunks of information for best reader comprehension and appreciation.
Delivery: Cohesive design from beginning to end providing a strong representation of the client through branding and values.
Process
Every proposal, report, and document starts with a conversation. First, we discuss the goals, the top 5 most important points we want the reader to remember. Second, we go over the requirements and create a wireframe around those requirements. Almost every RFP has a strict set of guidelines that the proposing firm must adhere to in order to be considered. By creating the wireframe around that, it ensures that the guidelines are met early so that more time can be spent on customizing the message.
I like to sketch the wireframe like a storyboard to provide a visual preview of what the proposal could look like. Using a minimal color palette allows the important messages to stand out. In my years of government services, we were taught to design everything like an elevator pitch. You only have the amount of time it takes to ride the elevator up with your policymaker to inform them of the information they need to know. Quick, easy comprehension is key to getting noticed.
Creative Direction
Many of my sketches were provided to a team of designers who would then produce the digital product. I developed my visual direction in sketches and provided the necessary content and materials in a digital folder to fill those pages.
