Starting a New GD Job and Want to Start Right

[McBoing]

Hey, everyone!

I am beginning a new job in a small company and I thing this would be a great time to start out as organized as I can.

I would like some advice on creating a checklist of questions to ask the bosses at the beginning of each project to collect all the info I need.

In the past, I had neglected to ask certain questions necessary to proceed. Since I am going to be on my own most of the time, unanswered questions would delay working on a project.

If the "powers that be" are unavailable to answer those questions, I am going to be working very late. I would prefer to get as much information up-front asI can.

I have begun to create a list of questions to ask but I know that I will be leaving some out.

Does anyone have a checklist, method, form or procedure for getting most of the info for a new project?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bruce

[defjoe]

List your questions so we can get an idea of what you want.

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'

[Big Perm-dizzle]

oh and show up early

I get job jackets with most of the info unless the salesman forgets to something

JUST LAUNCHED - www.hirethisdesigner.com (http://www.hirethisdesigner.com) - check it out

[D-Zine]

...and they always forget something! LOL! Salespeople I mean!!!

'Oh we wanted this to be full color, not one color'
'Oh this is a full page, not a half page'

tee hee hee :oP

Yeah good idea...post your questions and we can go from there :o)

http://coastalcarousel.com/GDF/metatag3.jpg

[McBoing]

To add further;

Small creative crafts company. I would be their Art Director/Grunt. Box design. Mockup design and fabrication. Logos. Artwork. So there are not really 'clients' involved. Yet.

What is the project. What do you have to have in your hand? When. How many. Copy on the box. Look and feel. Colors. File types. Printer.

Those type of questions.

It is like getting in an discussion with someone and remembering a really great point hours later, after it would do no good to the arguement.

I would like to have a set checklist for each new project, collect as much info as I can at the very beginning. I have looked on the web for checklists with little luck. Some sites are charging for their templates (ok, I guess) and a Microsoft Project template is overkill.

Does this help my request?

Not really looking for answers, just the questions to ask. [can I coin this phrase?]

Bruce

[PrintDriver]

Usually:
Dimensions
Print process (paper, substrate, overlam, other)
Quantity
Colors
Date needed
Date DUE
(this info gets me far enough to contact a printer for specs, then go from there.)
I'm sure I'm forgetting something from a designer's standpoint. Like asking about 'look' and 'objectives'.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[McBoing]

Thanks PrintDriver!

Those questions are a good start. I have begun to ask, 'What [physically] do you want in your hand, and when?'

That kind of bottom lines it for them. I did that today. I cleared away all the extra information that you don't need at the moment.

BTW: Have you heard any thing good about the HP DesignJet 130? 24 inch printer. This new company is thinking about buying one of these so I can print presentation boards and make package mock ups.

Bruce